Night to remember Fanahan McSweeney

A NOSTALGIC night to honour the memory of the late Fanahan McSweeney will take place on Saturday at the Moran’s Silversprings Hotel, hosted by the Hibernian Athletics Historical Association from Dublin.

It was ten years ago last July that the Castletownroche athlete passed away after a long battle with cancer. His story touched the nation after he appeared on The Late, Late Show, and his book, Living and Loving with Cancer, became a best seller.

As a member of the Grange club and McNeese State University in the 1960s and 70s, Fanahan was one of the outstanding athletes of his time, setting a European Indoor 400m record of 46.3 in 1970.

He competed in the 1972 Munich Olympics, was national champion 11 times, and remained unbeaten over 12 years at the Cork City Sports.

“We will be showing some old films of Fanahan on the night,” said Larry Ryder of the Hibernian Athletics Historical Association, “including one of him winning an Irish title at Banteer as well as that Late, Late Show interview.”

Speakers will include Sean Kyle, Fanahan’s former coach from Ballymena, along with two of his international colleagues from the 1970s, Frank Walley and Donal Walsh.

The evening begins at 8pm and all are welcome to attend.