Christy Ring’s ‘blood and bandage lady’ tracked down

It is arguably the most iconic sports photograph in the Irish Examiner archives. And, 64 years on, we’ve finally tracked down the Blood and Bandage Lady in the picture.

The historic snap, first published on July 14, 1952, was taken after the Munster hurling final when a virtuoso display by Cork legend Christy Ring helped defeat three-in-a-row champions Tipperary and began Cork’s run of three Munster and All-Ireland titles in succession.

In the picture, Ring, bruised and bloodied from battle, leans on the woman, who is trying to capture the moment with her own box camera. The picture hangs in Páirc Uí Rinn — the Cork stadium named in Ring’s honour — but until now the woman’s name had not been known.