The Roscommon connection to Katie Taylor’s Croke Park fight
Tom Heaney (New Zealand) and Bartley Madden (Ireland) fought at Croke Park in August 1926. Madden, who moved to Ballymurray at an early age, was the last Irish fighter before Katie Taylor to headline a boxing event at Croke Park. Picture: British Pathé.
As Katie Taylor prepares to bring the curtain down on her illustrious boxing career, she will create one more slice of history when she becomes the first Irish fighter to headline a boxing card in Croke Park in 100 years.
In the lead up to Taylor's fight many have referenced Muhammad Ali’s July 1972 fight with Al 'Blue' Lewis in Croke Park, a contest which saw “The Greatest” prevail by an 11th round knockout in front of 18,000 fans.
However, back in 1926, a fighter by the name of Bartley Madden fought Tom Heeney, a New Zealand native, who had family links to Cork, at Croke Park in August, 1926.
Madden was defeated on the judges scorecards after a fight that lasted 20 rounds. This was the second time he fought in Croke Park; in 1923 he beat George Christian inside the distance at the Dublin venue.
Madden was born in Caltra in 1890. His father Mr. T. R. Madden, owned a successful nursery at Ballymurray which led the family to move to Roscommon.
Bartley proceeded to represent Roscommon where he lined out in midfield before also lining out for Connacht in provincial matches.
He was selected for the British Navy, and it was in the physical training he received there that formed the backbone of his boxing career.
He fought Leo Gates before 80,000 people the day Jack Dempsey defeated Luis Firpo at the New York Polo Grounds in 1923, and, two years later, future title holder Gene Tunney became the first and only man to knock the one-time Irish champion out.
One year later, he fought Heeney in Croke Park. Thereafter, he mainly fought in America.
In March 1930, he fell 23 feet from the Treasury Building in Washington, DC. Despite broken ribs and a shattered hip, he remained conscious, speaking intermittently in his distinctive west of Ireland accent, claiming it was an accidental tumble while sightseeing.
He died at the Dispensary and Emergency Hospital from internal injuries, aged just 39.
As Katie Taylor paves the way for young Irish men and women, Madden’s name will forever be linked with the biggest night in Irish boxing history.
To watch the fight highlights from Madden's bout in 1926, click here.
