December 19 1924
IT is learned that the recently cemented union between the Northern and Central governing bodies of athletics in Ireland show signs of weakening if not complete disintegration. The Central body show a marked hostility to what is known as the Conference Committee, which is comprised of four representatives from NI and AAA, the ICA, and the Cross-Country Association – the old governing bodies in the North.
According to the drafted rules a Provincial Council can only be established when three counties form what are known as County Committees. Several attempts have been made during the year to get these county boards formed, but only two (Belfast and Co. Down) have, so far, got going. Consequently, there is no Provincial Council in the North, and the Conference Committee have been acting as such during the past season. The attitude of the Central body implies that if a Provincial Council cannot be formed in the North athletics and cycling must be governed from Dublin.
There is certain to be something interesting to the athletic world when the Conference Committee holds its next meeting.
The paper-thin unity within athletics and cycling under the National Athletic and Cycling Association (NACA) of Ireland umbrella was quickly torn asunder with the sports becoming divided on partitionist lines for decades.
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“Freeman’s Journal” final appearance
Our Dublin Correspondent wired last night: -
“Today will see the last appearance of the “Freeman’s Journal” and other publications of the Freeman’s Journal Co (1919) Ltd, Dublin. The “Freeman” newspaper was founded 161 years ago”.
The sad and indeed tragic news conveyed in the above short message will be read with feelings of sincere regret by Irish people all over the world and of profound sympathy with the members of the “Freeman’s Journal” staffs and with the proprietors of the great newspaper who would not have taken the extreme course of ceasing publication until no other alternative remained.
The “Weekly Freeman”, “Evening Telegraph” and “Sport” were issued from the same office. Their colleagues of the Irish Press sympathise sincerely and deeply with the editorial and other staffs of the staunch old “Freeman’s Journal” and its companion papers. Many – in fact a majority – of all the men who made their mark in the Irish newspaper world during the past century were at one time or another associated with the “Freeman’s Journal”.
One of Ireland’s most well-known newspapers, the Freeman’s Journal, appeared for the last time on 19 December 1924 after being in business since 1763.
