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Murphys of Mullaghbawn

Michael Murphy left Mullaghbawn in South Armagh for Liverpool at the start of the 20th century. It was here he married Mary Pender. This is the story of their nine daughters and one son, their children and grandchildren. "Cead Mille Failte"

Tuesday, September 09, 2014

James Maurice Herlihy - Uncle Jim

Des Herlihy has been adding to his research on his father's brother Jim. I'll let him tell the story.
My Uncle, Jim Herlihy, was my father's brother; he used to visit us when we were kids in New York. Below is a Wikipedia entry I wrote a while ago.
'James Maurice Herlihy was born in Kilkenny, Ireland on 29 January 1914 and died in San Francisco California on 23 October 1962. Jim was the second child of Maurice O'Herlihy and Ellen O'Herlihy (née O'Regan). His siblings were Lil, Patrick, Kathleen and Sheila. The family home was at 28 Wolfe Tone Street, Kilkenny. He went on to have a professional career in England and mostly in Liverpool. He boxed for Ireland in a tournament in Nottingham. Jim kept a record of his career made up of programmes and newspaper clippings. The programmes are very rare. He was a sparring partner of Bruce Woodcock, a British champion. Pete Best, the first drummer of The Beatles, was the grandson of Johnny Best who was a Director of Liverpool Stadium. Johnny Best arranged a fight for Jim at the Tower Blackpool in February 1943. The letter to the promoter in Blackpool is signed by Johnny Best and it is in Jim's scrapbook. Jim's fee for this fight was £20.'
I have his scrapbook in which he meticulously recorded his press cuttings. I have added photos of his trophies: runner up in 1937 as a Middleweight in the Irish National Championships and the winner as a Middleweight in the 1938 Leinster Championships. He also won a trophy for a tournament in Derry in 1938.
You will see a photograph of the Heavyweight Champion of the World, Joe Louis when he visited Liverpool during WW2. On the far right of the photo is Johnny Best, the grandfather of Pete Best, the first drummer of The Beatles. You will also see a letter from Johnny Best arranging a fight for Uncle Jim in Blackpool.
Now a quiz question. Which World Heavyweight Boxing Champion signed a contract for Liverpool FC? Answer: Joe Louis. During his visit to Liverpool a Director of Liverpool FC asked for Joe Louis' autograph. The only paper he had with him was a Liverpool FC contract and that is what Joe signed. This was told to me by a member of the Merseyside ex-Boxers' Association who set the question himself. I have added this last bit to fend off any nonsense from my bluenose cousins and friends!
McCanns and Goodhearts please note the O'Regan link: Margaret Goodheart MuirDeirdre McCann McInerneyMary Kay MulliganEileen McCann Ninivaggi Alice SinatraAnne McCann.