Honest John Purcell Athletic Track Gate Unveiling And Book Launch
On Tuesday's Morning Focus, Alan went on a trip to John Sullivan Lees Road to view the unveiling of a gate in John Purcell's honor and to the launch of Seamus O'Sullivan's book that he had written about John Purcell called "Hero of Renown". The two events were hosted by the Mayor of Ennis Municipal District, councillor Clare Colleran Molloy. Born in May 1860 in Ballymaley, Barefield, Honest John Purcell was the world record holder in the long jump in the 1880s and is regarded as one of the world’s greatest all-round track and field athlete during that decade. An American Report selecting the top 10 greatest athletes of the decades up to the 1990s listed John Purcell at Number 9 for the decade of the 1880s. It is understood that John earned the title ‘Honest’ John Purcell due to the high standard he imposed on himself, frequently requesting that record-worthy distances achieved would not be officially recorded.