Gay Biddlecombe
The Iron Man .. a legend
This is Mick Murphy who I met recently on a trip to Southern Ireland. And his story is an amazing one and he is now a legend in Ireland. A Kerryman he was born in 1933 in poverty. At the age of 8 he dreamt of being a circus performer and soon became one . He took up cycling in 1957 and the following year won the Ras Tailtean, the toughest cycling race in Ireland. He trained with weights made made of stones and still uses them! He drank cow's blood and raw meat. For three days he rode with a broken collar bone, stole a bike when his broke down and became a legend when he won. Was nicknamed "The Iron Man" . He also was a boxer and wrestler (hence the cauliflower ear). You can google to find out more. Thats his picture winning the race on wall. He is a wonderful old man and seems happy now though he lives in poverty but is obviously lonely and likes nothing better than to show his press cuttings.How sad old age can be.
The Iron Man .. a legend
This is Mick Murphy who I met recently on a trip to Southern Ireland. And his story is an amazing one and he is now a legend in Ireland. A Kerryman he was born in 1933 in poverty. At the age of 8 he dreamt of being a circus performer and soon became one . He took up cycling in 1957 and the following year won the Ras Tailtean, the toughest cycling race in Ireland. He trained with weights made made of stones and still uses them! He drank cow's blood and raw meat. For three days he rode with a broken collar bone, stole a bike when his broke down and became a legend when he won. Was nicknamed "The Iron Man" . He also was a boxer and wrestler (hence the cauliflower ear). You can google to find out more. Thats his picture winning the race on wall. He is a wonderful old man and seems happy now though he lives in poverty but is obviously lonely and likes nothing better than to show his press cuttings.How sad old age can be.