By Jimmy Kennedy

It is fair to say that without Tommy Madden there would never have been a Derrydonnell Athletic Club. He was at all times the ‘main man’, and without his input, his organisational ability, and his prolific athletic talents the club would never have achieved the greatness that it dId. Even today Tommy Madden is the driving force behind producing a record of the club’s history, and Tommy is the touchstone for all the former club members and athletes now scattered throughout Ireland, England, and The United States of America.

“Madden the Runner”

“Madden the Runner”, as he was known the length and breath of Ireland, was rightly regarded in the 1950s and 1960s as one of Galway’s and Ireland’s finest athletes. Had circumstances allowed, and with the proper training, there is no doubt that Tommy Madden would have been an Irlsh Olympian, and a successful one.

Shanaglish Sports Champion

The famous Shanaglish Sports at that time was one of the top sports meetings in the country and it attracted competitors from the very best clubs. Tommy Madden dominated the running events in 1956 winning the half mile, the mile, the twenties, and the three miles races on the same day. Later in 1959 Tommy finished second in the AII Ireland One Mile Championships on a grass track at the lveagh Grounds in Dublin. The wlnner that day was Joe Cunnlngham who a short time later broke the Irish one mlle record.

Multi-Talented Sportsman

All rounder Tommy was also an accomplished hurler, cyclist and even walker. He won a county Intermediate hurling medal in 1961 with Newcastle Club, and had a famous victory in 19 in a walking race from Galway to Spiddal and back. He showed tremendous promise as a cyclist before deciding to concentrate on runnlng, when in 1952 he won a stage of An Ras Chonnachta and a Junior All Ireland medal on the bike

J.B.D’s Top Ten Sportsmen

But it is for his Cross Country successes that Tommy will best be remembered, and for being a major player in Galway’s three All Ireland Senior successes, finishing second individual to Willie Morris, and Mick Molloy in 1959 and 1966 respectively. Earlier I 1956 he was third individual at the All Ireland Finals in Clonmel, and fifth Individual in Harristown in Dublin in l957. That same year he was one of J. B.D’s Top Ten Sports stars of the year in The Connacht Tribune, in the company of Sean Purcell, Frank Stockwell, Christy O’Connor (Senior) and Joe Salmon.

  Sports Star of 1965

Eight years later in 1965, Tommy was still going strong winning the CountyGalway and the Connacht individual Senior Cross Country titles. He was also Connacht 3000 metre champion and Co. Galway 1500 metre champlon as well as the winner of several road races, and was awarded the County Galway Sports Star of the Year Award for athletics, which was presented by Michael 0’Hehir                                     

Best Ever Team Performance

While 1966 must rate in any observers book as a truly great Galway performance, Tommy Madden believes that the victory at Powerstown Park in Clonmel in 1956 was the best team performance by a Galway squad during his time, and he salutes the other scoring members:  Willie Morris, the individual winner, Tom Meehan (Tuam), Paddy Hanniffey (Kilconeiron), Bernie Ruane (Derrydonnell) and Martin Egan (Shanagllsh).

Dead-heated with Willie Morris

In February 1959 The Connacht Tribune reported:  “On Sunday The AgriculturalCollege grounds In Athenry the greatest finlsh to a grueling race was witnessed by a large crowd. After completing 9 miles in the County Senior Cross Country Championships, Willie Morris, the All Ireland Senior titleholder and his Derrydonnell club mate Tommy Madden dead-heated for the county title. The three Judges were unanimous that both runners breasted the tape together.”

A Legend in his Own Lifetime

Tommy Madden is a legend in his own lifetime, and it was Tommy, his parents and family members that were the glue that kept Derrydonnell Athletic Club together for over twenty five years.