Belfast hero John McNally, the first Irish boxer to win an Olympic medal, has died aged 89.
John McNally won a silver medal at bantamweight at the 1952 games in Helsinki at the age of 19.
McNally, born in the Pound Loney in West Belfast, recalled with fondness the acclaim with which he was received in his home city upon his return from Finland.
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“There was a hero’s welcome, all the people from the Loney, the Falls, York Street and the Shankill,” he said in the book he wrote with Barry Flynn about his life and career, John McNally, Boxing’s Forgotten Hero .
McNally, who retired from boxing in 1962, said of the sport in Ireland: "Boxing is the easiest to get into, if you are good you are well taken care of, but what I like about the boxing fraternity is they are all one religion in this country. The only religion they have is boxing."
The West Belfast man was always convinced that he should have won gold and was left devastated with the decision.
Of the bout, he said: "It was the last day of the Games and the host nation had not yet won a gold medal, so there was a lot of weight on the Finn's shoulders to deliver.
"It came down to the three judges and the British judge gave it to me, while the American and the Austrian gave it to Hamalainen. I was devastated and in floods of tears because I was convinced that I had won the gold medal."
McNally went on to contest the European Championships in Warsaw the following year and came away with bronze.
Before turning pro, he represented Europe against the US in the Golden Gloves and was the victor over three American Golden Gloves champions.
He was inducted into the Irish Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008.
John's unprecedented podium finish at Helsinki marked the beginning of an extraordinary 70 years of achievement for Irish boxers at Olympic games.
Boxing, as Ireland's most successful Olympic sport, has claimed 18 of the country's 35 medals. Nine of Ireland's boxing medals have been won since 2008.
Tributes have been pouring in for McNally following his death.
His nephew Eamon McNally tweeted: "Sad news today to hear the passing of my great uncle John McNally Ireland's 1st Olympic Boxing Medalist the man that set the bar for Irish boxing. Was an honour to lift the same Ulster senior trophy as him many years kater. Irish sporting legend."
IABA's Chief Executive, Fergal Carruth, commented: "John was an absolute gentleman and will be fondly remembered by many in the Irish boxing family.
"A standout, naturally gifted boxer, John paved the way for all of Irish boxing's Olympic success, winning our first ever medal (silver) in 1952.
"IABA hall of fame inductee John McNally was the first of a very select group of 18 Irish Olympic boxing medallists when he was beaten by the narrowest of margins by the home country Finnish fighter in the gold medal contest in Helsinki.
"His success as a boxer will be forever remembered by all who love boxing in Ireland."
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