MIKE MCTIGUE

'Bold' Mike McTigue was an Irish-American professional boxer who reigned as the undisputed light-heavyweight boxing champion of the world from 1923 to 1925. He was the first light-heavyweight champion to be recognized by The Ring

Michael Francis McTigue (Mike McTigue) was born in Lickaun, Kilnamona, in County Clare, Ireland, on 26 November 1892. He was recorded in the 1901 Census of County Clare. McTigue emigrated to America in 1912 when he was 20. He traveled as a steerage passenger of the British steamer Baltic, which arrived at the Port of New York on 21 September 1912. He was the brother of fellow boxer Jim McTigue.

He was 38 years old when his boxing licence was revoked and had been fighting for 21 years. After his enforced retirement, McTigue ran a successful bar on Long Island until the late 1940s. He succumbed to poverty and ill health and was confined to various hospitals around New York for the last ten years of his life. He finally died at New York's Queen's General Hospital on August 12, 1966. He was survived by his widow and two daughters.

McTigue was honoured in his native parish when the porch of the church was named after him. Kilnamona's Community Centre was opened in 2001 and named in his honour.