James Richard McGee (3 June 1923 – 4 November 1998) was an Irish
basketball player and musician.
He competed in the men's tournament at the
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XIV Olympiad and also known as London 1948) were an international multi-sport event held from 29 July to 14 August 1948 in London, England, United Kingdom. Following a twelve-year hiatus ca ...
.
Biography
McGee was born in Boyle, Roscommon. He joined the
Irish Army in 1938 at the age of 15.
Three years later, he enlisted in the
School of Music
A music school is an educational institution specialized in the study, training, and research of music. Such an institution can also be known as a school of music, music academy, music faculty, college of music, music department (of a larger ins ...
in Dublin where he was a member of the Army No. 1 Band at
Cathal Brugha Barracks
Cathal Brugha Barracks () is an Irish Army barracks in Rathmines, Dublin. A key military base of the Irish Defence Forces, it is the headquarters of 2 Brigade, and houses the Military Archives of the Department of Defence.
History
The barra ...
in
Rathmines.
During this period, he was a member of the Eastern Command basketball team and was selected in 1948 to be a member of the Irish Olympic basketball team that was sent to London.
After leaving the team, he moved in 1951 to
Athlone
Athlone (; ) is a town on the border of County Roscommon and County Westmeath, Ireland. It is located on the River Shannon near the southern shore of Lough Ree. It is the second most populous town in the Midlands Region with a population of ...
to direct the Western Command Band, where he would go on to serve 30 years with.
McGee also served on a
United Nations peacekeeping deployment for six months in
Cyprus during this time.
He was appointed to the post of director of the Defence Force School of Music in 1987, retiring a year later at the rank of
Colonel and as one of the longest serving servicemen in the Defence Forces, having served for 50 years.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:McGee, Jim
1923 births
1998 deaths
Irish men's basketball players
Olympic basketball players of Ireland
Basketball players at the 1948 Summer Olympics
Irish Army officers
Sportspeople from County Roscommon
People from Boyle, County Roscommon