Danny Reddin

Danny Reddin was born and raised in Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin. He briefly enlisted in the Armed Forces in 1927 at the age of 13 for two years, then once again around 1930, joining the Army School of Music. A multi-sport athlete, he was active in basketball, snooker, pitch and putt, as well as football, in the latter playing with a service team, winning three All-Army medals and Cunningham Cups.

A member of the Western Command basketball team while posted to Custume Barracks, Athlone, Reddin was one of six fellow Western Command servicemen (alongside Bill Jackson, Tommy Keenan, Frank O’Connor, Dermot Sheriff and Paddy Sheriff) selected for the Irish basketball team at the 1948 Olympics. Also a long-time member of the Western Command Band, he played the clarinet and saxophone. Reddin retired from the Irish Army as a company sergeant after more than 44 years of service in June 1975, but sadly died six months later.