John Francis Shouldice (12 March 1882 – 15 February 1965) was an Irish Gaelic footballer, revolutionary, Gaelic games administrator and civil servant. His championship career at senior level with the London and Dublin county teams spanned sixteen seasons from 1901 until 1916.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Seán Seoldús | ||
| Sport | Gaelic football | ||
| Born |
John Francis Shouldice 12 March 1882 Ballaghaderreen, County Mayo, Ireland | ||
| Died |
15 February 1965 (aged 82) St Stephen's Green, Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Occupation | Civil servant | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
|
Geraldines Hibernians | |||
| Club titles | |||
| Dublin titles | 4 | ||
| Inter-county(ies) | |||
| Years | County | ||
1901–1903 1908–1916 |
London Dublin | ||
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Leinster titles | 1 | ||
| All-Irelands | 1 | ||
Born in Ballaghaderreen, County Mayo, Shouldice was one of twelve children born to Henry and Christina Shouldice (née Meighan). He was educated locally before emigrating to London in 1899. Shouldice remained in London until 1906 when he moved to Dublin to take a position with the Department of Agriculture.[citation needed]
After moving to London, Shouldice first played competitive Gaelic football with the Hibernians club, winning four successive county senior championship medals between 1901 and 1904. He later played with the Geraldine's club in Dublin (no connection to modern Geraldine Patrick Morans of Cornelscourt) and won four more county football championship medals.[citation needed]
Shouldice made his inter-county debut during the 1901 championship when he was selected for the London senior team. He played in three successive All-Ireland finals without success between 1901 and 1903. Shouldice later joined the Dublin senior team. The high point of his career was the winning of the All-Ireland title in 1908, this becoming the first Mayo-born player to claim a winners' medal. He also won a Leinster medal that year. Shouldice continued to play with Dublin until 1916, by which time he was joined on the team by his brother Frank.[2]
After being inducted into the Gaelic League and the Irish Republican Brotherhood during his time in London, Shouldice joined the Irish Volunteers in Dublin in 1913 and was later appointed lieutenant. He was in command of Reilly’s Fort during the 1916 Easter Rising before eventually surrendering at the Four Courts. After a period of internment, Shouldice continued his Volunteer duties before playing an active role in the Irish War of Independence.[citation needed]
Shouldice also became involved in the administrative affairs of the Gaelic Athletic Association, serving as secretary of the Leinster Council for ten years. He died in Dublin on 15 February 1965.[citation needed]
Honours edit
- Hibernians
- London Senior Football Championship (4): 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904
- Geradlines
- Dublin Senior Football Championship (4): 1908, 1910, 1914, 1915
- Dublin
References edit
- ^ Murphy, Judy (4 March 2016). "Family story shines a light on modest hero of Ireland's struggle for freedom". Connacht Tribune. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
- ^ McCarthy, Damian (8 April 2016). "The 'most disloyal' Shouldice family". The Anglo-Celt. Retrieved 25 July 2017.