By Jimmy Kennedy

All Ireland Champion over Nine Miles

A native of Newcastle, Athenry, Willie Morris came late to the sport of running and cross country and competed in his first athletics event in 1949 at the age of thirty. He was immediately recognised as a natural and talented runner. Between 1950 and I960 he never finished outside the top eight in the All Ireland nine miles Senior Cross Country Championships. He won the event on four occasions: in 1953 at Belfleld in Dublin; in Powerstown Park Clonmel in 1956; back to back individual titles in 1958 at the Agricultural grounds In Athenry, and the following year in Dunleer, Co. Louth.

Unbeatable Cross Country Champion

At his best Morris was unbeatable and thrived in the taxing cross country courses, through ploughed fields, and over dry stone walls. Most of the time Willie ran in his bare feet, claiming that shoes only held him back over this difficult terrain. Between 1950 and 1971 (inclusive) Willie Morris took part in a total of twenty one consecutive All Ireland Senior Cross Country Championships, and was a consistent top ten finisher during that time.

Greatest Achievement

Possibly one of his greatest achievements was his fantastic team performance in the great Galway team victory in 1966. Underdogs Galway swept to victory in terrible conditions at Dromoland in Co. Clare with four Galway men in the first five positions. All they needed after that was two more fairly well placed finishers to take the team title. At 47 years of age Willie Morris obliged as the fifth scoring man home in 10^th position and their sixth scoring man just ten further places behind. This was a magnificent performance at any age from a man who had won every honour in the sport.

Marathon Champion

After successive All Ireland Senior Cross Country Titles In 1958 and 1959, many observers believed that Willle Morris had reached his peak, and when he turned his attention to the All Ireland Marathon (26.2 miles) in 1968 he wasn’t given much of a chance. Willie, however, confounded his critics with a marvelous display of running, courage and stamina and he came home in front with a huge margin to spare. The following day in the Irish Independent Tom Cryan wrote: “One or the biggest ovations of the day was reserved for Galway man Willie Morris. A Cross Country star down the years he tried his luck in the Marathon and won on his own”.  

Super Human Achievements    

Willie Morris was and still is a star in the minds of all who ever knew him and the record of his super human achievements will hold pride of place in the annals of Galway sporting history.