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Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Magnificent Muhammad Ali proves a knockout at the American Ireland Fund gala

Posted on Friday, May 06, 2011 at 11:48 AM

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He dominated the room and the event despite the fact that he can no longer speak and can barely wave when acknowledged.

That heavenly body that made him perhaps, the greatest athlete in history is bent and stooped now, Parkinson's disease will do that,but somehow, the magic of Muhammad Ali shines through.

He was guest of honor at the American Ireland Fund dinner in New York last night, a daring change from the usual recipients of such awards.

He's Irish too and as his wife Lonnie Ali related, he remembers with intense pride the extraordinary reception in 2007 when he visited Ennis, the town in County Clare where his great grandfather Abe Grady left for Kentucky in 1860.

He later married a freed slave and their granddaughter Odessa Lee Grady Clay gave birth to Cassius Clay in 1942.

Incredible to think that just a few miles away another Irishman, Fulmouth Kearney left for America in the 1850s and he would become an ancestor of another towering African American figure, Barack Obama.

Obama, Ali and Martin Luther King are arguably the three most important Black leaders of the last century. Two of the three have some Irish roots as well

When it comes to Ali even the most august of figures becomes kids again. Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny reeled off almost every fighter that Ali faced and confessed his life-long devotion to the champ.

I'm proud to note that it is another Irish man Dr. Pearse Lyons of Alltech, a global animal health company based in Kentucky, who has funded many of Ali's charitable ventures in the past number of years and has proven a true friend to him.

The other main honoree of the night, Coca-Cola senior executive Irial Finan, also fondly recalled his own Ali obsession and the incredible contribution he made to history.

It was as always, a wonderful night, a stunning $3 million was raised for charity and the 1,500 or so present came away well satisfied.

But Ali made the night special. When you are The Greatest, no one can top that.

Sick and ailing or not, it still holds true for Muhammad Ali.

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seagreen | May 07, 2011, 03:43 PM EDT

I'll echo that, he is a decent man that lived his convictions

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Ernesider | May 07, 2011, 02:29 PM EDT

The GREATEST! The likes of whom, as the song says unless you be thinking Cathal McConnell, you'll never see again.

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Searlit | May 07, 2011, 12:26 PM EDT

Of course, I don't like boxing. It's brutal. I always liked Muhammad Ali, though. @ cillowen, his Irish ancestor wasn't a slave, and why oh why must you bring up the most vilest of men in your post?

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mcdolan | May 07, 2011, 11:49 AM EDT

Nice story, Niall. He is and was 'The Greatest'.

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cillowen | May 07, 2011, 10:44 AM EDT

what a shame - a great human with Irish blood flowing through his veins. He stood up to the man but took beatings like none other - the results we sadly see. Now Obama - there must be millions more as a consequence of Cromwell's shipping those 60k irish as slaves to procreate with africans - all for the man. Great Protector doing what it took.

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empressjad | May 07, 2011, 09:40 AM EDT

I've met this man many times over the years, and he's a true gentleman!

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elektros | May 07, 2011, 04:06 AM EDT

My favourite boxer of all time, a real gentleman and Irish as well

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semperfidelis | May 07, 2011, 12:00 AM EDT

Ali was and always will be " the greatest". Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, God bless you, Muhammad Ali. Thanks for the report, Niall, good work.

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