14/07/2025
Pat McGrath
by Michael O’Dwyer
Pat McGrath was born on 22 February 1866 at Longford, Glen of Aherlow, County Tipperary. He was the fourth of five children of Michael McGrath, a farmer, and Margaret McGrath (née Nagle). His parents got married in the parish of Galbally and Aherlow on 14 February 1857. The first national athletics championships of the newly founded Gaelic Athletic Association were held at Tramore, County Waterford, on 6 October 1885. There were thirteen championship events held and of those seven were won by athletes native of County Tipperary. The winner in each event obtained a gold Celtic cross medal and a prize to the value of three pounds, while the second in each event obtained a silver Celtic cross medal. Pat McGrath won the two events he competed in, the high jump and long jump. Peter Kenny of Carrick-on-Suir won the 100 yards and 120 yards hurdles, and Jim Mitchell of Emly won the hammer (unlimited run and follow), 56 lb weight (unlimited run and follow) and throwing 14 lb weight (with follow, no run). Thomas Ryan of Murroe, a police constable in Clonmel, won the shot-put (7 feet run, no follow) and putting 28 lb weight (with follow, no run). The remaining four championship events were won by Timothy J. O’Mahony, Rosscarbery (440 yards), J. J. Manning, Sixmilebridge (mile), Dan Fraher, Dungarvan (triple jump), and John Hennessy, Cork (3 miles walk). Pat McGrath and Bob Frewen, Gortavoher, are known to have represented Aherlow at the first annual meeting of the executive committee of the Gaelic Athletic Association on 31 October 1885 at Hayes’s Hotel, Thurles. Bob Frewen was the first captain of Aherlow GAA club in 1885 and became national treasurer of the organisation in 1887. Having joined the Royal Irish Constabulary in 1886, and after completing his training in Dublin, Pat McGrath was posted first to Carrick-on-Shannon, and to Derry in 1890. He retained his high jump title at Ballsbridge, Dublin, in 1886 and at the Irish Amateur Athletic Association championships he won the high jump in 1889 and 1890. Pat McGrath resigned from the Royal Irish Constabulary in 1891 and later emigrated.
Titles Won at Senior National Championships:
Irish Amateur Athletic Association Championships
1889 High Jump 5 ft 10 in. (1.78 m)
1890 High Jump 5 ft 7 in. (1.70 m) TIE
Gaelic Athletic Association Championships
1885 High Jump 5 ft 3 in. (1.60 m)
1885 Long Jump 21 ft 6 in. (6.55 m)
1886 High Jump 5 ft 10 in. (1.78 m
