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When Ali Came to Ireland
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Wikipedia article
'When Ali Came to Ireland' is a 2012 Irish documentary film directed by Ross Whitaker. It tells the story of how Killorglin-born circus strongman and publican, Michael "Butty" Sugrue, put up 300,000 and persuaded the renowned American boxing champion Muhammad Ali to make his first visit to Ireland to fight against Alvin Lewis in Croke Park on 19 July 1972.[http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/columnists/michael-moynihan/new-years-treat-as-alis-dublin-date-relived-on-the-box-217226.html New year's treat as Ali's Dublin date relived on the box] Irish Examiner, 2012-12-17.
Ali went to Ireland with an entourage on 11 July 1972 to spend time training for the fight."The Big Fight: Muhammad Ali v Al 'Blue' Lewis", Dave Hannigan (2002). . While there, he was interviewed for RT Television by Cathal O'Shannon and was taught the rudiments of hurling by Eddie Keher.[http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/how-a-circus-strongman-lured-the-ringmaster-muhammad-ali-to-dublin-28951041.html How a circus strongman lured the ringmaster Muhammad Ali to Dublin] Irish Independent, 2012-12-22.[http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/end-of-the-long-road-to-get-ali-s-visit-on-film-1.5760 End of the long road to get Ali's visit on film] Irish Times, 2012-12-31.
Ali won the Lewis fight with a technical knockout in the 11th round, and Sugrue lost a lot of money bankrolling it. The documentary was first broadcast on RT One on 1 January 2013.[http://www.irishcentral.com/ent/New-documentary-focuses-on-When-Ali-Came-to-Ireland---VIDEO-183927081.html New documentary focuses on "When Ali Came to Ireland" - VIDEO] Irish Central, 2012-12-18.[http://www.rte.ie/presspack/2013/01/01/when-ali-came-to-ireland/ When Ali Came to Ireland] RT Press Centre, 2012-12-20.[http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/glove-story-the-day-the-lord-of-the-ring-bewitched-ireland-28954937.html Glove story: the day the lord of the ring bewitched Ireland] Irish Independent, 2013-01-05.
Ali returned to Ireland twice in later years. He took part in the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics in Dublin in 2003,[http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=3484739 Legend of Ali-Lewis fight in Dublin grows with each year] ESPN, 2008-07-18."Muhammad Ali to attend Olympics", Sunday Mirror, 2003-06-15. and he visited the birthplace of his great grandfather, Abe Grady, in Ennis in 2009, where he was made an Honorary Freeman of the town.[http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0901/121240-alim/ Ennis honours Muhammad Ali] RT News, 2009-09-02.
Cast
* Muhammad Ali
* Butty Sugrue
* Alvin Lewis
* Cathal O'Shannon
* Jimmy Magee
* Rock Brynner
* Eddie Keher
* Dave Hannigan
* George Kimball
Awards
'When Ali Came to Ireland' won the 'Best Sports Programme' award at the 10th Irish Film & Television Awards.
References
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