DONEGAL SPORT is in mourning today following news of the death of former Olympic boxer Pa Sharkey.
The late Mr Sharkey passed away at his home in Mullaghduff.
Sharkey, while based in Australia, represented Ireland at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne.
In the heavyweight division, Sharkey lost out to Swedish puncher Thorner Ashman.
Sharkey really hit national prominence in December 1951 when he won the Irish Junior heavyweight title
In the run-up to the Games, in a bid to leave himself in the best possible condition for Melbourne, Sharkey left a lucrative job at the Snowy Mountain Hydro-Electric Scheme and went to Sydney to work at the building trade for one-third of his previous wage.
Sharkey also represented Scotland and Australia in the ring.
“The Donegal boxing fraternity are sorry to learn of the death of former Olympic heavyweight boxer Pa Sharkey,” said Donegal Boxing Board President Peter O’Donnell.
“To his wife and family and wide circle of relatives and friends we offer our sincere sympathy. May he rest in peace.”
Tags:Donegal’s Olympians, part 3: Pa Sharkey, a change of job and a knockout blow
