Dan Coyle

Dan Coyle was another of the fine hammer throwers Ireland produced in the 1930s and 40s. Hailing from Dundalk, he was coached by Ireland’s Olympic champion Dr. Pat O’Callaghan. Coyle was a member of the Cúchullain Athletic and Cycling Club in Dundalk, which he co-founded in the mid-1930s and later became club chairman. Shortly before the 1948 Olympics he joined the Dublin Crusaders Club.

Although Coyle won the Irish hammer title seven times between 1938-48, he never set a national record because O’Callaghan’s world record mark of 58.76 set in 1937 was unbeatable at the time and not bettered by an Irishman for 20 years. Unfortunately, Coyle failed to qualify for the final at the 1948 London Olympics after finishing 19th in the qualifying round. He reached the qualifying mark with his third and final throw, but it was deemed to be a foul.

Coyle also won Armagh titles at discus and javelin. After finishing runner-up in the 1949 Irish Championships, he announced his retirement to concentrate on his business. An apprentice butcher as a youngster, he opened his own shop in Dundalk in 1936 and later ran a successful wholesale butchery business.

Because Ireland had produced several top hammer throwers over the years, it is reported that Adolf Hitler had them filmed prior to the 1936 Berlin Olympics for the German coaches to study their techniques. It is believed that Coyle and O’Callaghan were two subjects of the film.

Personal Best: HT – 51.89 (1939).