• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Irish America

Irish America

Irish America

  • HOME
  • WHO WE ARE
    • ABOUT US
    • IRISH AMERICA TEAM
  • IN THIS ISSUE
  • HALL OF FAME
  • THE LISTS
    • BUSINESS 100
    • HALL OF FAME
    • HEALTH AND LIFE SCIENCES 50
    • WALL STREET 50
  • LIBRARY
  • TRAVEL
  • EVENTS

John B. Kelly

John B. Kelly: An American Champion

September 17, 2020 by 1 Comment

This story first appeared in Irish America in the summer of 1996 as the games of the Games of the XXVI Olympiad began. John Brendan Kelly, father of Princess grace of Monaco, won two Olympic Gold medals in 1920 and one in 1924, competing in a sport which was the reserve of gentlemen, the single and double sculls. He remains the only American ever to win the Gold in single … [Read more...] about John B. Kelly: An American Champion

Primary Sidebar

Featured Video

Featured Podcast

News from the Irish Post

  • Woman and baby found dead in Co. Tipperary

    THE BODIES of a woman and a baby have been found at a property in Co. Tipperary. The discovery wa...

  • 'They all had names': Belfast City Council unveils plaque at workhouse Famine grave where 10,000 were buried

    BELFAST CITY COUNCIL has unveiled a plaque marking the spot of the city's last Famine grave, wher...

  • Fire causes extensive caused to commercial premises in Waterford city

    A LARGE fire has caused extensive damage to a commercial premises in Waterford city. Fire brigade...

  • Young man dies following collision in Co. Wexford

    A YOUNG man has died following a road traffic collision on Co. Wexford. The incident occurred on ...

May 10, 1869

The Transcontinental Railroad was completed. The first spikes were driven in 1863 during the Civil War, and over the following 6 year period, over 2,000 miles of track was laid entirely by hand over rugged terrain including the Sierra Nevada mountains. The Central Pacific Company built East from Sacramento, while the Union Pacific built West from Omaha, Nebraska. Both teams tried to beat the other’s record for track laying. The Central Pacific concocted a plan to lay 10 miles in a day. Eight Irish tracklayers put down 3,520 rails, while other workers laid 25,800 ties and drove 28,160 spikes in a single day. On May 10, 1869, at Promontory Summit, Utah, a golden spike was hammered into the final tie.

Footer

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Give a Gift
  • Newsletter

Additional

  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Terms of Use & Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2026 · IrishAmerica Child Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in