Physique of the Irish Race

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 39, 24 September 1903, Page 20

Physique of the Irish Race

We (' Saturday Review ') have often been struck by the astonishing number of Irishmen to be found among American athletes It is scarcely too much to say that the greatest weight-putters, hammer-throwers, and jumpers in Britain and the States have all been Irishmen, or of Irish extraction. The success of the Americans in the Palma competition at Bisley, though done in the main to the perfection, we may say the excessive perfection, of their weapon, may be claimed as an Irish victory. The first three names were all Irish— surely an extraordinary instance of the way in which Irishmen come to the front as soon as they leave their own country. But, in these days, Ireland is being claimed as the play-ground of the Empire One may hope that it will become a playground on which Irishmen will remain to develop their native genius. We , have heard much lately of the degeneration of British physique." It is probable that the physique of the men in some parts of Ireland is the best in the civilised world, not excluding the Sikhs ; and perhaps the Tawarcks only excel them fiom among the less civilised. As to the perfection of the weapon which these three Irishmen held so straight, i is said that the elevation, the test of the gun, and its sights, rather than the man's steadiness were perfectly accurate in every shot fired by the American team.