Mayor of the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) unveils the Mike McTigue Bridge surrounded by Cllr Pat Daly (FF), Michael McTigue, Kevin Rynne and Nicholas Rynne. Photograph: Paul Corey.
AN ENNIS BRIDGE has been renamed in honour of a world-champion boxer from Kilnamona.
Mike McTigue was crowned a champion world boxer in 1923 and on Tuesday May 13th 2025 a bridge in Ennis was named in his memory.
Two years ago in March 2023, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) proposed that Victoria Bridge on the Cusack Rd in Ennis be renamed after the world-champion boxer, a motion which received unanimous support from his colleagues in the Ennis Municipal District.
Among those present at Tuesday’s unveiling of a new plaque at McTigue Bridge were his grand-nephews Nicholas Rynne and Kevin Rynne, relative Michael McTigue and former national senior boxing champion Ollie Markham. Elected members in attendance included Cllr Daly, Mayor of the Ennis MD, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF), Cllr Mary Howard (FG), Cllr Paul Murphy (FG), Cllr Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF) and Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF).
According to an Ordnance Survey Map in 1840 the road was known as New Road when it was first built. It later became Victoria Road, then Cusack Road, the bridge itself is dated to 1840.
Efforts to have some form of recognition for McTigue began back in 2019, Michael McTigue whose father was a second cousin of Mike’s recalled. “Pat Daly put down the motion in 2023 which is the reason he topped the poll in the local elections,” he quipped. “We started this in 2019 but it dragged along with COVID and everything so we are grateful to all elected members and staff of Clare County Council for making this possible”. He encouraged those in attendance to listen to a Clare FM documentary produced by Gavin Grace on McTigue titled ‘The Banner Champion’. “The late Jack Lyons said ‘McTigue’s moved so fast you couldn’t see his fists moving’”.
McTigue’s grand-nephew Nicholas Rynne said he was “very proud” to see a bridge named after Mike. “This is Cusack Rd, it is called after one of the greatest Clare men ever who passed here on his way to founding the GAA which is one of the greatest organisations in the world not just Ireland,” the Kilnamona man said. “Queens have their places but not on Cusack Rd, the name Victoria Bridge didn’t sit right with me. Another great Clare man came on this road on his way to conquer the world, my grand uncle Michael McTigue,” Nicholas added.
Importance of heritage and honouring people was stressed by Nicholas, “there are many great people in Ennis, Laura Brennan, Michael Howard who would have been well entitled to have their name on the bridge, a lot of great Clare people should be honoured”. He continued, “I was never in the Council Chamber before, I was in the Courthouse but that’s another story, it was an honour to see democracy in action, we can be critical of ye at times but it is important to see democracy in action”. He said, “a Kilnamona man never misses an opportunity, I love driving in here, in the corner of a little park by the Maid of Érin is a monument to Clare hurlers, we’re still All-Ireland champions, that monument is a beautiful monument but I would love if it was moved closer to the road because we love our heritage”.
Kevin Rynne who has lived on Cusack Rd across from McTigue Brdge “all his life” was another of the grand-nephews in attendance. “It was always something I wasn’t happy about crossing Victoria Bridge, it is great this has happened because it completes the whole road, we are now remembering two great Clare men who used the bridge and the road”. He added, “some people think only Ennis people should be named after things in Ennis but it is the county town”.
Mayor of the Ennis MD, Cllr Colleran Molloy noted, “If Mike McTigue is looking down, he would be very proud of the efforts”.
She outlined that McTigue was one of eleven sons and one daughter born to Pat McTigue and Eileen McTigue (née Neylon). “He became the first lrish man to win a world championship after lreland had gained its freedom from Britain. In a fight that took place on St. Patrick’s Day 1923 in the ‘La Scala Theatre’ in Dublin he defeated the French Senegalese fighter Battling Siki in the last ever 20 round title fight. The fight which took place in war torn Dublin attracted the world’s press who reported not only on the fight but also on the civil war.
“Mike’s victory was celebrated all over lreland and was remembered with pride by all Irish men and women. Mike returned to a hero’s welcome in America where he continued to be a huge attraction for many years. Mike passed away in August 1966. His funeral was attended by some of the greats of the boxing golden age including Jack Dempsey and Paul Berlendach,” she added.
McTigue emigrated to the United States of America in 1912, travelling as a passenger on the British steamer Baltic. For thirteen years, he fought in America and by 1923 he got a title fight for the World Light Heavyweight Championship.
Civil War was ongoing in Ireland at the time of the St Patrick’s Night fight in La Scala Opera House on Prince’s Street, Dublin. He defeated the then recently crowned champion Battling Siki from Senegal on points after a whopping twenty rounds.
He defended his title against future Hall of Famers Tommy Loughran, Young Stribling and Mickey Walker before losing the title by unanimous decision to the gold medalist wrestler-turned-boxer Paul Berlenbach in 1925.
To mark the centenary of his world-title winning fight, a memorial was erected at Kilnamona Cross, the sculpture was designed by Michael McTigue.
(All photographs by Paul Corey)
