Legends of Irish Boxing: Anthony 'Socks' Byrne

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Tony Byrne “Sock it to him Anthony!”

[from the Appletree Press title Legends of Irish Boxing published by Appletree Press]

A full half-century had gone by since Tony Byrne had first been honoured by the people of Drogheda. As Tony recalled, in 2006, he had returned to a changed Ireland:
“There was very little money in Ireland back then but things are a lot better now. We had to go and request some pocket money from the Irish Olympic Board while we were in Melbourne as we just had no money. Today with sponsorship and all that, the athletes are a lot better off than we were, but I can’t complain. I’ve had a good life and am comfortable now in Canada. One thing is for certain that the town of Drogheda is special to me and I have never, ever got it out of my system.”
The people of Drogheda felt the same about their most famous son as this poem by William Frank Godfrey shows:

Tony ‘Socks’ Byrne
Socks, how we admire you,
Hardman’s Gardens has no finer son.
You did us proud in Melbourne,
And a Bronze you bravely won.
Drogheda will now remember,
Your Golden Jubilee
And erect a fitting monument,
To honour your memory.
You carried the Flag for Ireland,
In that Olympic Opening Parade
And made us all so very proud,
In Drogheda on that day.

One final query needs to be cleared up definitively about Tony ‘Socks’ Byrne – where did the nickname ‘Socks’ come from? A number of theories abounded as to how Byrne acquired the name including one that he always fought with his socks around his ankles. Another theory refers to his use of socks on his fists when punching the bags at the Tredagh Club. However, the man himself is happy to clear up the confusion for once and for all.
“The name ‘Socks’ came about as every time I fought as a schoolboy the crowd shouted at me to ‘sock’ it to my opponent,” he said. “It sort of stuck and I became known as ‘Socks’ throughout my career.”
Today, Tony, and his wife Honor, still live in Edmonton in Canada. He has great memories of a life and career in boxing that has given him much pleasure. He retired some years ago and carries a business card with him that states on the front:

Anthony Byrne Esq. Retired–
No Worries, No Work,
No Money and No Responsibilities

On the back of the card, there is a line which sums up Tony’s carefree attitude to life:

If I pass out from overwork bring me to,
If I am still a little shaky, then bring me two more

From the Appletree Press title: Legends of Irish Boxing by Barry Flynn.

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