Michael G. Tubridy

Capt. Michael Gerard 'Mick' Tubridy[1] (1923 – 16 April 1954) was an all-Ireland winning Gaelic footballer and an international showjumper.[2]

Mick Tubridy
Personal information
Irish name Mícheál Ó Tiobraide
Sport Gaelic football
Position Left wing-forward
Born 1923
Kilrush, County Clare, Ireland
Died 1954
Dublin, Ireland
Occupation Stud farm manager
Club(s)
Years Club
1940s
 Army
Inter-county(ies)
Years County Apps (scores)
1945
 Cork 3 (1-3)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles 1
All-Irelands 1
NFL 0

He was born in Kilrush, County Clare,[3] one of ten children of Patrick F. Tubridy (died 1947). He entered the Irish Army as a cadet in November 1941, serving at Ballincollig, County Cork.[2]

He joined the Cork Gaelic Football team and played as a left wing-forward for the Cork senior team in 1945.[4] Tubridy played for the team for just one season in the 1945 championship. It was a successful year as he won a set of All-Ireland and Munster winner's medals. At club level Tubridy played with the Kilrush Shamrocks and Army clubs.

In 1945, he transferred to the Irish Army's Equitation School and achieved many showjumping successes on horses such as Bruree and Ballyneety.[2]

After retiring from the army on 25 January 1954, he was manager of Joe McGrath's Trimblestown Stud Farm in Kildalkey, county Meath.[5]

He died on 16 April 1954 following a riding accident at Trimblestown and was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery on 19 April 1954.[6] He was survived by his widow Dorothy (née Lawlor), known as Dot, and one daughter, Aine.[6]

The Kilrush Shamrocks playing field is officially named "Captain Tubridy Memorial Park" in his honour, although it is affectionately known as "the Cricket Field". It is located 1 mile south of Kilrush on the road to the Killimer car ferry.[3]

Dorothy Tubridy

Through her husband's equestrian activities, Dorothy ('Dot') Tubridy became friends with Ethel Kennedy, and after his death she remained close to the entire Kennedy family.[7] She became a brand ambassador for Waterford Crystal and Donegal Carpets in the United States, and was instrumental in encouraging the visit of president John F. Kennedy to Ireland in June 1963. Dot also became a writer and a radio and TV commentator, and was a well-known celebrity in 1960s Ireland.[8]

Some sources have described Dot as an aunt of broadcaster Ryan Tubridy[9] while Ryan Tubridy himself, in his biography of John F. Kennedy, referred to Dot as his cousin. In fact there is no apparent immediate family connection between Ryan Tubridy and either Dorothy (née Lawlor) or her late husband Capt. Mick Tubridy.

References
  1. Middle name in Ireland, Civil Registration Indexes, 1845-1958 https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F1S4-J4W
  2. `Death of Captain Tubridy', Irish Times, 16 April 1954.
  3. ""Club History"". Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2012.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). Kilrush Shamrocks. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  4. "County profile: Cork". Hogan Stand. Archived from the original on 16 February 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  5. `Irish Army Champion Rider to Manage Stud Farm', Irish Times, 8 Jan 1954, p.7. (This article wrongly describes him as a native of Gort, county Galway.)
  6. Irish Times death notice, 16 Apr 1954.
  7. O’Connor, Joseph E. "Dorothy Tubridy, Oral History Interview – 8/8/1966" (PDF). John F. Kennedy Library. John F. Kennedy Library. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  8. McQuillan, Deirdre. "All the president's women". The Irish Times. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  9. McBride, Caitlin (9 September 2009). "Revealed ... Tubridy's secret relation is Edward III". Evening Herald. Independent News & Media. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2009.
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