North Clare honours runner Pat McMahon’s Olympic legacy

The people of North Clare gathered last week to celebrate the achievements of Liscannor native Pat McMahon, recognised as one of Ireland’s earliest world‑class distance runners.

McMahon’s most notable performance for Ireland came at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, where he finished twelfth despite extreme heat, high altitude and an illness that hospitalised several teammates.

His career also flourished in the United States. After beginning his running in London, he was recruited to Oklahoma Baptist University, winning 48 of his first 50 races. He claimed the American Cross Country Championships titles in 1965 and 1966 and placed second in the 1971 Boston Marathon, narrowly beaten by Álvaro Mejía.

Following his athletic career, McMahon faced deportation while working as a teacher in Massachusetts. Intervention by former U.S. Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill secured his green card, allowing him to remain in the United States.

Source: Clare Champion. Photo: Dahlia E. Akhaine / Pexels.