Ben McKenna (1939 – 26 March 1992)[1] was an Irish cyclist. He won the Rás Tailteann in 1959.[2][3]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Gentle Ben |
| Born | 1939 Stamullen, County Meath, Ireland |
| Died | March 26, 1992 (age 52) Templemore, County Tipperary, Ireland |
| Team information | |
| Discipline | Road bicycle racing |
| Role | Rider |
| Amateur team | |
| 1955–77 | St. Patrick's East Meath |
| Major wins | |
| Rás Tailteann, 1959 Tour of Ulster, 1960 | |
Early life
editMcKenna was born at Cottage Hill, Stamullen in 1939; his family later moved to Julianstown.[4]
Career
editMcKenna was a founding member of St. Patrick's East Meath cycling club in 1955.
He first competed in the Rás Tailteann in 1956, and won the competition in 1959.[5] He finished second in 1961 and 1964.
McKenna also won the Rás Laighean in 1958,[6] the Mick Beggan Memorial in 1959 and the Tour of Ulster in 1960.[7] He retired from cycling in 1977.
Personal and later life
editMcKenna was Chief Commissaire for the 1983 Rás.[8] He also had a role in the reunification of the politically divided Irish cycling world, which culminated in the creation of Cycling Ireland in 1987.
McKenna married Grace Bosonnet and had six children; he died in 1992 aged just 52.
Legacy
editThe Ben McKenna Memorial is an annual cycling race held in Balbriggan.[9][10][11]
McKenna was inducted into the Cycling Ireland Hall of Fame in 2017.[12]
References
edit- ^ "Plaque unveiled to honour the achievements of local cyclist". Independent.ie.
- ^ "Meath Chronicle - Meath - the spiritual home of cycling". Meath Chronicle.
- ^ Daly, Tom (27 January 2019). The Rás: The Story of Ireland's Unique Bike Race. Collins Press. ISBN 9781848891487 – via Google Books.
- ^ Muircheartaigh, Micheál Ó (31 May 2007). From Borroloola to Mangerton Mountain: Travels and Stories from Ireland's Most Beloved Broadcaster. Penguin UK. ISBN 9780141911649 – via Google Books.
- ^ "1959 Ben McKenna The Hard Way To Win The Rás". www.rastailteann.com.
- ^ The Irish Times (Tuesday, May 27, 1958), page 7.
- ^ Archives, Cycling. "Ben McKenna". www.cyclingarchives.com.
- ^ "Garda Cycling Club". www.facebook.com.
- ^ "Cassidy takes Ben McKenna Memorial". 8 April 2001 – via www.rte.ie.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ "Ben McKenna - Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club". www.orwellwheelers.org.
- ^ "ARMSTRONG TAKES BEN McKENNA MEMORIAL CUP". www.irishcycling.com.
- ^ Cubes, Website design and website development by Blue. "Cycling Ireland - Hall of fame". www.cyclingireland.ie.
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