Matt Roseingrave, a native of Beagh, established world records in Australia in the long jump and the hop, step, and jump. Matt was just on 6ft high, and being of the slight wiry, sinewy type weighed only about 11 stone in condition. Roseingrave was a non-smoker, a tee-totaller and a very quiet man. His career in Ireland was brief, and his activities seem to have been mainly confined to Galway and Connacht, and some incursions into Munster, particularly Clare. The control of sports meetings was not a very exact procedure in his day, and many a contest took place to which neither official status nor press notice was given. However, his most enduring achievements were accomplished in exile, in Australia and New Zealand. The prestige he won for Ireland on Colonial sports fields and the eminence he attained should be remembered. All in all Matt Roseingrave was on the track for some ten years, and during that period he competed in Ireland, the U.S.A., Australia, and New Zealand. In addition to being a great natural jumper he knew all the finer points of the game, excelling especially at what some called “the second jump in the air” when doing a broad jump, or in the final jump of the hop, step, and jump – a “spasmodic wriggle of the hips when at the highest point of the flight through space.”
Affectionately known as “the Boy from Galway” in the Southern Hemisphere, Roseingrave was no specialist in any particular event. On the track, over the hurdles, and in the jumps and weights, he was equally proficient and competed with “impartial zest”. Later biographers of sport referred to him as a “lithe and powerful athlete”, and “an out-and-out champion. His versatility was miraculous”. He was described as a natural athlete, and it was noted he did not work on any particular specialty in training. Various journalists noted that “he was certainly always out of his element in hammer and shot contests, but his knowledge of the game stood to him. In those days a 9ft circle was used, but our hammer throwers were of moderate class then, and all threw from a stand, Scotch style, while Matt took full advantage of the circle.” All reports appear to agree he was “a fine type of sportsman”. Some reporters described him as “a greyhound-like athlete…who jumped with noteworthy grace and cleverness. He was an example of a “thorough sportsman.” Roseingrave was the “beau ideal of an athlete – tall and symmetrical in build – and he knew from A to Z all the fine points of athletics, especially in the jumping, hurdling and field game departments.” Most people who saw him in action will say he was at his best as a jumper in general, and a broad jumper in particular. “To me he appeared to be a top hole jumper, but a veritable king-pin hurdler, and incidentally, I may add he was right in the first class as a wielder of the shot gun. “I must also say that right away through his career here he seldom did much in the way of training – often did no preparation at all.”
Early Life and Family Background
His paternal grandfather, Tobias Roseingrave, was a respected man in South Galway, reflected by positions of esteem he had held during his lifetime. He served the Government administration at times as the Master of Gort workhouse shortly before the Famine arrived in South Galway, and also was the local tax collector in the Gort area by 1855. Matthew’s maternal grandfather, Patrick Molony, was a blacksmith. It can be guessed then that Matthew came from better economic circumstances than most in Beagh in the aftermath of the Famine.
When Matt was just eight years old, the family suffered a tragic loss. His father, Thomas Roseingrave, a small landlord, was murdered by one of his tenants, Patrick Walsh. He died on 29 December 1881, suffering 12 days from injuries inflicted on his head by Walsh.[2] Walsh was arrested boarding the steamer Celtic in Queenstown (modern day Cobh) after the crime, bound for America. When arrested, he denied his guilt, instead blaming a publican for the assault. He was charged at Limerick for the crime on 2 January 1882 and committed for trial.[3] It was initially reported the attack on Thomas was preceded by a dispute as to whether he had paid his rent.[4] Walsh’s trial did not begin until mid-July 1882. Numerous witnesses testified that on 17 December 1881, Rosengrave and Walsh had been drinking in Haye’s public house in Gort. While sitting in a room, Rosengrave took a kettle of water off the fire (which was steaming) and poured it on the Walsh’s hand and head. Hayes, the owner came in, and threw Rosengrave out. Walsh later followed Rosengrave to another pub in Gort run by James Fahey, where they had another drink together. A servant in Hayes’ pub heard Walsh remark “he would be revenged” and took a whip with him as he left the pub and followed Rosengrave. James Fahey too testified Walsh had a whip in his hand when he left. Later testimony from Mrs. Molony, Thomas’ mother-in-law, detailed how later that night she found him near her house badly wounded. “Walsh was going away at the time, with a heavily mounted whip in his hand, and Rosengrave told her to send for the police and have Walsh arrested.” He died 14 days after the assault. Walsh was a tenant to Rosengrave, and while he was found guilty, he was recommended to mercy on the ground that he had been provoked. Justice O’Brien remarked that Walsh had “taken away the life of this man, a man who had been in a respectable sphere of society.” Despite this, the judge decided Roseingrave’s action had provoked the attack and only sentenced Walsh to six months imprisonment.[5]
It seems likely Matt attended the local national school at Lurga, it being the closest geographically to the family home in Curtane. He was later educated at a Jesuit College in Galway, further testimony to the family’s comfortable economic circumstances during this period.[6]
Like many born into this period of Irish history Matt had family connections in both Australia and America. His uncle William Roseingrave (1844-1924) had settled in Australia, while, when last heard of in November 1864, his uncle John Roseingrave “was in the Ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers” in the U.S. Army.[7]
Footnotes
[1] Beagh Roman Catholic parish (Galway, Ireland), Baptism Register, Matthias Rosengrave born 9 February 1873; digital image, “Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915,” Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com), accessed November 2020.
[2] Gort Superintendent Registrar’s District (County Galway, Ireland), Death Register, Group ID 6524870, Thomas Roseingrave, died 29 December 1881; digital image, “Civil Records,” IrishGenealogy.ie (https://www.irishgenealogy.ie), accessed November 2020.
[3] Pall Mall Gazette, 03 January 1882, p. 10.
[4] Stamford Mercury, 06 January 1882, p. 3.
[5] Irish Times, 21 July 1882, p. 7.
[6] “College Boys in Field Sports”, Freeman’s Journal (Sydney, NSW), 13 February 1897, p. 16.
[7] John had not served with the 9th Pennsylvania Volunteers, but had instead served in the Connecticut 9th Regiment, Company A for the duration of the U.S. Civil War, mostly in Mississippi, Louisiana and Virginia. He volunteered for service 27 September 1861, and mustered out on 26 October 1864.
Sport in Ireland & U.S.A
1890-1892
By August 1890, at just 17 years old, Matt was noted as winning a number of events at the Tubber Sports and Races, County Galway in “rather showery weather,” about three miles from Gort. The events were keenly contested. At the conclusion of the day’s sports the prizes, which were numerous and costly, were distributed by Mrs. H. De Blaquiere, on whose grounds the sports were held. Matt won the pole jump at 10ft 4 inches, tied the high jump at 5ft 4inches with his brother W. Roseingrave (it could have been William or Walter).[1] The following year, 22 August 1891, he competed again at Tubber. He came second in the 100 yards flat race, won the long jump at 22ft 3inches; won the hop step and jump at 48ft 4inches. He also won the high jump at 5ft 10 inches, beating his elder brother William by just one inch.[2] He also cleared 9ft 6in. in pole jumping, tying with W.J. De Blaquiere.
In the early days, no specific style was enforced in the hop, step and jump. To combat that, Michal Cusack of G.A.A. fame, posted the following in the press in the mid-1880s “I want competitors to take two hops and a jump if they prefer that mode of projecting themselves, to taking a hop step and jump. I have never heard of two steps and a jump being objected to and I am certain I never objected to such a course although I am decidedly of opinion that the performance would be poor, there being too much of the running in it and too little of the jumping.”
On 10 October 1891, Matthew and his brother William were prosecuted in the Petty Sessions in Gort for trespassing at Drumguane townland, property of the local landlord Robert J. Lattey “in pursuit of game by entering on complainants land having a gun and three dogs with him.” Ultimately, the complaint was withdrawn by Lattey, but the local R.I.C. District Inspector took up the charge and they were charged under the Provisions of the Peace Preservation (Ireland) Act 1881 for not having licenses for their guns. Intriguingly, the case against William was dropped, but Matthew, aged just eighteen, was fined £5, or to be jailed in Galway Jail for one month as an alternative. He paid the fine on 17 September 1892.[3] On 7 November, the case same charge (unlicensed guns) was taken up against both brothers by Daniel O’Herlihy, an Excise Officer, to be later withdrawn.[4] Why he was prosecuted twice we cannot be sure, but it is very telling that Matt arrived in America just 9 days after his initial prosecution in Gort. Was the run in with the law the push which encouraged Matt to leave Curtaune? Was he running from the law? He arrived in Boston, Massachusetts, on 19 October 1891 aboard the S.S. Cephalonia.[5] The boat had departed from Liverpool initially, stopping at Queenstown (Cobh) on the way. Considering passage times about this time took about ten days or so, I am not entirely convinced that Mattstuck around to await his month in jail, if he had defaulted his £5. It is interesting that he did not pay the fine until almost a year later. In fact, he returned from the U.S., departing from New York, arriving at Queenstown aboard the S.S. Servia on 11 September 1892.[6] Just six days later he paid off his fine in Gort from the previous year! Newspaper articles written later inform that Matt joined the Manhattan Club, which he reputedly represented for 3 years (which is incorrect), his best performance being 22ft 8in for the long jump and 45 ft 8 in for the hop, step and jump.
1893
In June 1893 he competed at the sixteenth annual sports at Limerick Amateur Athletic and Bicycle Club Sports at Market’s Field, Limerick. In front of a large crowd entertained on a fine day by the Manchester Regiment band, Matt won the long jump open handicap, with a handicap of 2 feet at 22ft 2 inches, and also won the High Jump open.[7] His prizes were presented to him by Miss Barrington of Glenstal. In early August he competed at Nenagh Annual Gaelic Athletic Sports on the 3rd, which had an “enormously large attendance.” Matt came second in the Running High Jump to J. M. Ryan of Golden, Tipperary, who would be an eventual Irish high jump champion. Matt also competed in the 440 yards flat race but did not place, coming 5th. He came third in the first heat of the 100 yards flat race, but did not progress. He won the pole jump and the running long jump.[8]
Just four days later he competed again at Ballinasloe Sports as part of the Bank Holiday festival on the grounds of the Agricultural Society in front of a reported crowd of 8,000 people. By now, Matt had started to build a reputation for himself, and it was reported “Rosengrave, of Gort, got over 5 feet 7 inches in the high jump, and will probably do 4/5 inches more before the end of the season…” This was an above average distance at the time. Mulligan of Mullingar beat Matt closely in the hurdles. Prizes were distributed by the Countess Clancarty, who, with the Earl, was an interested spectator during most of the day. The proceedings were enlivened by the band of the South Lancashire Regiment, who played a selection in the enclosure.[9]
At the close of 1893, Matthew placed 4th in world in the men’s triple jump (also known as hop, step and jump), with a distance of 47ft. 14 inches.
1894
On 26 March 1894, an “M. Roseingrave, The Square,” was recorded as being resident in Gort, on dog license records. Although we cannot be certain this relates to Matt, the two dogs, one bitch and one dog, were both red setters, hunting dogs.[10]
At Araby Sports, Ballsbridge, Dublin, held 13 May, Matt competed in the 100 yards flat handicap. He placed first in the heats, second in the second heat, and third in the final heat. He also competed in the 440 yards flat handicap, but did not place.[11] On 6 June 1894, Limerick Amateur Athletic and Bicycle Club annual meeting was favoured with “real summer weather” and the largest attendance seen in years. Matt participated in the 100 yards flat handicap (Open) and won a number of heats but did not place in the finals. He placed second in the long jump open handicap to John J. Flanigan of Kilmallock,[12] and jumped 20ft. 11 inches (with a handicap of 1ft), winning a biscuit box for his efforts (Flanigan won a clock for his efforts). He placed first in the High Jump (open), representing Gort F.C. with a 5ft 9inches jump and came first in the 120 yards hurdle, with a 5 yds handicap. Lady Barrington distributed the prizes.[13]
At the end of June, the Irish Athletic Championships was held at Ballsbridge. The weather was gloriously fine, and there was many entries which were reported to be “highly representative in character as well.” James M. Ryan (1870-1900) of Ballyslatteen, Tipperary, the Irish record holder, did not defend his title to the high jump championship, and it was won by Roseingrave, with the “moderate height of 5ft 7in." Newspaper reports informed that his success in 1893 and 1894 had attracted much attention. Although he competed in the 100 yards flat race handicap, he did not place. He passed the heats in the 120 yards hurdle and the 500 yards steeplechase handicap, but did not place in the finishing races.[14] Later reports suggest he also won the long jump and 120 yards hurdle championships, although contemporary newspapers do not confirm this.
The 1894 season was a busy one for Matt and he next competed in Galway Town Sports on 10 July. With the exception of a few showers, the day was almost perfect. The performances were noted in “some cases very good, especially in the hurdle and flat races where Roseingrave of Gort, competed.” Roseingrave won the high and long jumps, the 100 yards open, the hop step and jump, the 120 yards hurdle handicap (owing 19 yards) in 19 1-5 seconds, and placed second in the throwing 28lb. On the whole the sports, considering that this was the initial meeting, were very successful.[15] The following month, 6 August, he won the running high jump handicap with a height of 5ft 9 inches, and the 120 yards hurdle at Ballinasloe Sports on a beautifully fine day.[16] Just three days later he won the High Jump, long jump, hop step and jump, 120 yards hurdle and placed second in the pole jump, at Nenagh Athletic Sports.[17] In this contest, he beat Mowney of America, and T. Riley on the long jump, covering 22 ft 8 in.
At the close of 1894, Matthew placed second in world in the men’s triple jump (also known as hop, step and jump), just 10cm behind the best in the world at 14.65m (48ft 1in.). The 1894 season was by far Matt’s most successful to date, and at the tender age of just 21, things were going to improve significantly in the immediate future.
1895
Little references to Matt’s athletic participation were located in 1895. Newspapers reported by 5 August 1895 “Rosengrave, Gort, a good all-rounder sportsman, who can hold his own at any game and secure a prize with rod or gun, as well as sprint or stay a distance, doing on one occasion in his own neighbourhood, as proved by a gentlemen holding an important Government appointment, five miles in fifteen minutes? Rather a tall order, but sworn to by the timekeeper, who believes it to this day. Well, be that as it may, Rosengrave showed up well at Ballinasloe (Monday), he jumped 22ft 10in in the long jump, but he was disqualified for over stepping the mark, (owing to a slight touching of the tape with the tip of his toe). First in the high jump and the 220 (confined to Galway), and one or two minors made up his total, and no one objected to his luck, for he is most popular. Earl of Clancarty was an interested spectator and a most capable judge during the day, and the prizes were presented by the Countess Clancarty to the successful competitors. In the evening, a display of fireworks took place in the vicinity of the sports field on the grounds of the Agricultural Society’s enclosure fair green. Tuam Sports on Tuesday, the second on tour, was a nice meeting carried out in fine but cold weather. Rosengrave coming second (in the 28lb hammer throw) and also securing the medal for the best all-round performances.”
On 15 August, the Gort Bazaar Athletic Sports (under the Irish Amateur Athletic Association Laws)[18] took place at the Sports Field and were largely attended. Roseingrave was reported as being at his best, and made an Irish record (although some newspapers claimed this too was a world record) with 23ft 5in. in the long jump (also known as the broad jump), and the world record with 50ft 1in. in the hop, step and jump. From a grass take off, Roseingrave’s first jump was 21ft 10in., his second was 22ft 10in., but he touched the tape slightly, and was disallowed. In his third jump he broke the Irish record (previously held by Pat Davin, Matt beating the record by 3 inches) with 23ft 5in. on a perfectly level grassy ground. Michael Cusack was an onlooker here and asserted that the ground appeared to be as level as a “billiard table.” His scores for the broad jump in 1895 were far above average at the time. As for the hop, step and jump, it was suggested by later reporters that Matt was one of the earliest men “for whom it was claimed that he had surpassed Dan Shanahan’s (of Kilfinane) Irish record of 50 feet 0 ½ inches, which had been set on 6 August 1888 in Limerick. It was stated that he had beaten it by half an inch.” However, the performance never received any official recognition. That he should have approached Shanahan’s distance at all was sufficient distinction, and subsequent authenticated jumping proves that he was capable of such a feat. He also won a number of other events; second in 220 yard handicap (losing to his brother Thomas); High Jump Handicap, at 5ft 7 ½ in.; 120 yards hurdle handicap.[19] It was reported this was his last appearance at athletic sports. He was “in business in Gort, and cannot find the time to train or leave home to compete.” He finished the 1895 season, placed seventh in world in the men’s triple jump (also known as hop, step and jump), at 14.046m (46ft 1in.).
This was Matt’s last accolade in Ireland, as he departed Liverpool aboard S.S. Orotava on 12 December 1895, arriving in Sydney on 26 January 1896.[20] Roseingrave left Ireland with one Irish championship to his credit; the high jump under I.A.A.A. laws, which he won in June 1894 in Dublin with the moderate leap of 5 feet 7 inches.[21] Later commentators and biographers of Matt’s earlier athletic achievements noted “reliable information as to his Irish performances are rare, and he does not appear to have been a very frequent competitor.” Although I have uncovered a number of achievements in newspaper searches and articles outlined above, there is no doubt that many more of his accolades likely went unreported.
It is notable that, similar to circumstances in 1891, Matt had had a run in with the law just before he left Ireland. On 29 June 1895, Matthew, with a residence in Gort was this time charged for unlawfully selling intoxicating liquors earlier in the month. He was fined 2 shillings 6 pence and also had to pay costs of 1 shilling.[22] It is unclear if this had anything to do with Matt’s decision to leave Ireland for a second time.
The next blog post will focus on his life in Australia and New Zealand. Please contact me via the site in the meantime if you have any information or pictures you would like to contribute.
Footnotes
[1] Freeman's Journal, 20 August 1890, p. 7.
[2] Freeman's Journal, 24 August 1891, p. 7.
[3] Gort (County Galway) Court of Petty Sessions, Order Book CSPS 1/4879-4955, Robert J. Lattey vs. Matthew and William Rosengrave, 10 October 1891; digital image, “Ireland, Petty Session Court Registers, 1818-1919,” Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com), accessed November 2020; Gort (County Galway) Court of Petty Sessions, Order Book CSPS 1/4879-4955, Robert J. Lattey vs. Matthew and William Rosengrave, 10 October 1891; digital image, “Ireland, Petty Session Court Registers, 1818-1919,” Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com), accessed November 2020.
[4] Gort (County Galway) Court of Petty Sessions, Order Book CSPS 1/4879-4955, Daniel O’Herlihy vs. Matthew and William Rosengrave, 7 November 1891; digital image, “Ireland, Petty Session Court Registers, 1818-1919,” Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com), accessed November 2020.
[5] United States, Treasury Department, Customs Service, Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Boston, Massachusetts, 1820-1897, S.S. Cephalonia, arrived 19 October 1891, p. 886, Line 381, Matt Rosengrave; digital image, “New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957,” Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com), accessed November 2020.
[6] United Kingdom and Ireland, Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and successors: Inwards Passenger Lists, Liverpool, England, S.S. Servia, arrived 12 September 1892, p. 89, Line 23, Mat Roseingrave; digital image, “UK and Ireland, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960,” Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com), accessed November 2020.
[7] Freeman’s Journal, 15 June 1893.
[8] Freeman’s Journal, 4 August 1893.
[9] Evening Herald (Dublin), 12 August 1893.
[10] Gort (County Galway, Ireland), Court of Petty Sessions, Dog Licence Registers, CSPS 2/0512, 26 March 1894, M. Roseingrave; digital image, “Ireland, Dog Licence Registrations, 1810-1926,” Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com), accessed November 2020.
[11] Freeman’s Journal, 15 May 1894, p. 7
[12] John J. Flanagan (1869-1938) was the first Olympian to win three gold medals for the same event (the hammer) in successive Olympic Games when he represented America in the Paris 1900, St. Louis 1904 and London 1908 Olympics.
[13] Cork Constitution, 07 June 1894, p. 6.
[14] Freeman’s Journal, 2 July 1893, p. 7
[15] The Freeman's Journal, 12 July 1894, p. 7.
[16] The Freeman's Journal, 07 Aug 1894.
[17] The Freeman's Journal, 10 Aug 1894, p. 7.
[18] The Irish Amateur Athletic Association or IAAA was a governing body for athletic sports in Ireland between 1885 and 1923. The IAAA was formed as the Irish offshoot of the English Amateur Athletic Association in 1885. This was partially in reaction to the formation of the more nationalist Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in 1884.
[19] Irish Independent, 19 August 1895, p. 7; “Irish News – Irish Atheletes”, Southern Cross (Adelaide, SA), 15 Nov 1895, p. 4.
[20] Australia, New South Wales Passenger Lists, Unassisted Passengers, Sydney, S.S. Orotava, arrived 26 January 1896, Line 10, M. Rosengrave; digital image, “New South Wales Passenger Lists,” findmypast (http://www.findmypast.ie), accessed November 2020.
[21] Celt, “Famous Irish Athletes of the Past – No. 15 Matt Roseingrave of Gort,” An Camán Vol. 2, no. 34 (1933): pp. 9-10.
[22] Gort (County Galway) Court of Petty Sessions, Order Book CSPS 1/4929, C.M. McDonald RIC vs. Matthew Roseingrave, 20 June 1895; digital image, “Ireland, Petty Session Court Registers, 1818-1919,” Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com), accessed November 2020.