Tommy Gibbons visited Ireland in 1920
In 1920, the boxer Tommy Gibbons went to England to try to get a rematch with Boy McCormick. While there, he visited the home of his father in County Mayo. For those unfamiliar with Irish history, this was during the Irish War of Independence and there were numerous killings in County Mayo from 1919 -1921 and Bloody Sunday was only a few months later.
Here is a quote from “How I Fought The Champs” by Tommy Gibbons:
“Gradually now, I was working up my poundage. Jumping around the country, I fought such middleweights and light heavies as Christiee, Chip, Bartley Madden, Len rowlands, Larry Williams, Australian Mick King and a lot of others. I was winning steadily. Then came what later seemed like a minor setback but which at the time bothered me considerably. Boy McCormick, the British light heavyweight champion was touring the country and our paths crossed in Portland, Oregon, early in 1920. McCormick was fast and a good boxer but didn’t seem particularly tough to me. So I was both surprised and peeved when it was called a draw at the end of ten whirlwind rounds. Eddie Kane tried to get him for me again but we couldn’t catch up with him in this country. I was determined to beat him so when he sailed for home, we followed him to England on another boat. We popped challenges all over the place but we never got a tumble. McCormick was apparently satisfied and didn’t want to fight me again. We even trailed him to the Isle of Man to try to talk him into a match personally. he was polite and friendly but told us quite frankly he wasn’t interested in stretching his luck. I was struck by the attitude of the English sporting public on this matter. In the United States a champion who refused to fight would be called “yellow” or worse names by the fans. The British merely regarded it as McCormick’s own business. He was champion and if he didn’t choose to box me, that was his right as holder of the crown.
Finally we gave up in disgust and went over to Ireland to visit County Mayo. I fell in love with the country at once and the people treated us like kings. It was like old home week, meeting relatives I’d never seen and the time passed all too quickly.”— Thanks to Tim Gibbons for supplying this text, and for hosting it on the Gibbons Family Archive blog
There he visited “Aunt Nora’s” family. This was probably the family of Nora Naughton who married Tommy’s brother John Joseph Gibbons in Ireland. John immigrated to America with the Gibbons family in 1884, but Nora did not come to America until 1897. Tommy visited Nora’s mother, sister, and brother.
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| Aunt Nora Gibbons’ family in Ireland | Aunt Nora’s Family | Nora’s homestead |
Tommy also visited Michael “Mocky” Dolan who was an uncle to Tommy. Mocky married Bridget Gibbons who was the sister of Tommy’s father, Thomas John Gibbons. There is a family story that says that a fight between Mocky and Tommy’s dad lead to the Gibbons’ coming to America.
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| Mochy Dolan and Tommy Gibbons | Tommy at the Dolan’s home | Tommy at the Dolan’s home |
Tommy’s father, Thomas John Gibbons, had a brother Patrick Gibbons who stayed in Ireland. Tommy visited with Patrick while he was in Ireland. We know very little about Patrick Gibbons or his family.
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| Uncle Pat and Tommy Gibbons | Uncle Pat and his Nephew are standing in the center |
Uncle Pat and his Nephew are standing in the center next to Tommy. |
Tommy visited his family’s homestead while in Ireland. Tommy was born in America, but his parents and a number of his siblings were born in Ireland. The homestead is in the townland of Glennagashleeny near the town of Tourmakeady in county Mayo. This is in the parish of Ballinrobe and the Gibbons family records refer to the parish church in Partry which is just to the North East of Tourmakeady. A number of Tommy’s photos refer to Ballyhean which is a town and parish between Tournmakeady and the large town of Castlebar.
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“Home of my parents
Glenagashaleen,Tourmakeady, County Mayo, Ireland”
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“Same” | “Stream running past Dad’s home in Glenagashaleen” |
We also have a couple other photos from Tommy’s trip to Ireland.
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| Philip Gibbons with two other men. We do not know who Philip Gibbons is. |
Pat Maloy with another gentleman. We don’t know who he is also. |
Railway Hotel in Westport |
You can also view the ship manifest showing Tommy Gibbons returning to New York after his trip.
If you are interested in more information about the Gibbons homestead in Ireland or some of our family connections in Ireland, feel free to contact us, Cami and Tom Gibbons, Duluth, MN