Henry Dixon (Gaelic footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Anraí Mac Riocaird | ||
| Sport | Gaelic football | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Born |
2 March 1918 Claremorris, County Mayo, Ireland | ||
| Died |
29 December 1998 (aged 80) Tuam, County Galway, Ireland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
| Nickname | Henry the horse | ||
| Occupation | Publican | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
|
Carramore Garrymore Mayo Abbey Claremorris | |||
| Club titles | |||
| Mayo titles | 1 | ||
| Inter-county(ies) | |||
| Years | County | ||
1947-1954 | Mayo | ||
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Connacht titles | 3 | ||
| All-Irelands | 2 | ||
| NFL | 2 | ||
Henry Patrick Dixon (2 March 1918 – 29 December 1998) was an Irish Gaelic footballer. He played with a number of clubs, including Garrymore and Claremorris, and also lined out at inter-county level with the Mayo senior football team.
Career[edit]
Dixon's club career spanned four decades and four different clubs. After beginning his career with Carramore and Garrymore, he won a Mayo JFC title with Mayo Abbey in 1944.[1] Dixon won a second junior title, this time with the Claremorris club, in 1960. He claimed a Mayo SFC medal with Claremorris in 1961 before bringing his club career to an end with a man of the match display in a defeat by Ballina Stephenites in 1962.
Dixon first appeared for Mayo in 1939, however, his emigration to England that year halted his inter-county progress. In 1944 he played with the Mayo junior team, while also making a few appearances for the senior team.[2] Dixon was a non-playing substitute when Mayo were beaten by Cavan in the 1948 All-Ireland final. He became a regular member of the team the following year and claimed his first silverware after victory in the National League.
Dixon was at centre-back when Mayo claimed back-to-back All-Ireland SFC titles after defeats of Louth in 1950 and Meath in 1951.[3] He continued to line out for Mayo until 1954. His inter-county performances also earned inclusion on the Connacht team, with Dixon winning a Railway Cup medal in 1951.[4]
Personal life and death[edit]
Dixon was born into a farming family just outside Claremorris in March 1918.[5] He spent a number of years working in England g World War II. After returning home, Dixon opened his own pub in Claremorris in 1956.[6]
Dixon died after a period of illness on 29 December 1998, at the age of 80.[7]
Honours[edit]
- Mayo Abbey
- Claremorris
- Mayo
- All-Ireland Senior Football Championship: 1950, 1951
- Connacht Senior Football Championship: 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951
- National Football League: 1948–49, 1953–54
- Connacht
- Railway Cup: 1951
References[edit]
- ^ "History of Mayo Gaels". Mayo Gaels GAA website.
- ^ "Henry Dixon, a Mayo great". Mayo News. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ "Oliver Dixon: the man who rubbed shoulders with European royalty". Western People. 17 May 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ "Henry Dixon's medals on display in St. Colman's Credit Union Claremorris". Claremorris CU website. 25 October 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ "Henry Dixon". Irish Genealogy website. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ "10 years on, Nally still prays for raider he killed". Irish Independent. 25 October 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ "Henry Dixon, legendary Mayo football, dies at 81". Mayo News. 6 January 1999. Retrieved 3 December 2022.