Mayo film-maker tells Sheridan story

Mayo’s magnificent Olympian


A Mayo film-maker has brought Martin Sheridan’s story to life

Feature
Rob Murphy

MAYO film-maker CiarΡn Ó hEadhra is behind a new documentary which will be appearing on Irish screens next Sunday, July 22.
No Earthly King, to be shown on Setanta Sports (free-to-air channel) at 8.45pm, is centred on Irish athletes who competed in the first four Olympic games.
“The film explores the history and the mythology behind the perception that Irish athletes ignited the concept of Olympic protest,” Erris native Ó hEadhra told The Mayo News.
“It explores the period of the first four Olympic games, where Irish athletes won 25 gold medals competing for other countries by necessity rather than choice.”
At the heart of the story is a Mayo man, Martin Sheridan from Bohola, who won five Olympic gold medals between 1904 and 1908. As well leading the world in discus and shot putt, Sheridan was also famed for a slight to the King of England when he claimed the American flag dipped to no earthly king.
“I first became aware of the Sheridan story about 20 years ago when my family moved back to Ireland from England, to a house in Dublin which was owned by the Clarkes from Bohola,” Ó hEadhra explained. “They had a considerable collection of memorabilia relating to Sheridan, and I think his story always fascinated me.”
Ó hEadhra is a producer and director at Asgard Media in Dublin, but he also has a home in his native Doolough outside Geesala. He spent two years on this project, which is presented by Matt Cooper.
The programme will be given added promotion next Thursday when the Today FM star presents his drive-time show, The Last Word, from the Martin Sheridan Centre in Bohola.
“It will be great for the people of Bohola and the surviving members of the Sheridan and Clarke families to have such attention placed upon such a great Mayo athlete,” said Ó hEadhra.
“His story has so much depth that we could have focused an entire documentary solely on his life, but it was just part of an incredible period in Irish sport.”
The documentary follows a number of famed athletes of that time including John Boland, Peter O’Connor and Tom Kiely. While normally a film such as this would be completed in 16 to 18 months, this project was extended due to the huge amount of information.
“Taking the two years worked in our favour,” said Ó hEadhra. “During the film-making process a considerable amount of new information came to light, including a hugely revealing piece of evidence which was the posting of John Boland’s diary online.”
Boland was a gold medalist in the tennis event at the first modern Olympic games in Athens. While his medal was considered part of the British haul, he insisted on an Irish flag being raised in his honour. His story is even more remarkable as he had simply been in Athens on holiday and had not intended to enter the event.
“This documentary took us off in completely different directions then we had originally planned and helped us identify the myths and the facts,” said Ó hEadhra. “Delving into the stories, we uncovered material that we could not have imagined finding, and I think the viewer will be able to really get a feel for the thinking behind some of the politically motivated actions by the athletes.”
Filming took place in Athens, London, New York, St Louis and around Ireland, with the crew receiving some invaluable help in all locations.
“We really did receive brilliant support on this,” said Ó hEadhra. “Everybody had their own little stories which helped us piece together the narrative. One source in particular, Ian McGowan in New York, was an immense help. He has effectively become the historian behind the Irish American Athletic Club, the leading club by far in those early games.
“They were a huge part of the Irish community in New York and a focal point for expats and athletes of all backgrounds. Ian has retained a huge amount of invaluable documents, including newspapers and interviews.”
The story will take you on a journey through an extraordinary period in Irish sport. A small island with no independent political status took on the strength of the then dominant sporting powers of Great Britain and the United States and had tremendous success, making a statement in more ways than one.