Death of NACA ace McGrattan

ATHLETICS: Eamonn McGrattan, a multiple NACA champion, has died aged 62. A native of Cabra in Dublin, McGrattan won 18 NACA All-Ireland titles over distances ranging from four miles to the marathon, at cross-country and on the road.

He ran with Brothers Pearse AC and later Guinness AC and Dunboyne AC.

McGrattan was popularly known as the "barefoot tiger" as he often ran without shoes in cross-country races.

His greatest success was at the marathon distance; he won NACA titles in 1971 (in record time), 1972 and 1974.

He represented Ireland internationally on numerous occasions, and in his only indoor race he beat the European 3,000-metre steeplechase champion Gaston Roelants of Belgium.

While preparing for the inaugural Dublin City Marathon in 1980, McGrattan broke an arm while working at St James's Hospital in Dublin just a week before the race. He competed nonetheless and was among the leading finishers.