Ireland competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. 59 competitors, 51 men and 8 women, took part in 54 events in 12 sports. No Irish athletes received an Olympic medal in their sport.
Athletics
Men's 400 metres Fanaghan McSweeney Heat — 47.1 (→ did not advance)
Men's 800 metres Frank Murphy Heat — 1:51.1 Semifinals — 1:49.2 (→ did not advance)
Men's 1.500 metres Frank Murphy Heat — 3:43.3 (→ did not advance)
Men's 5.000 metres Michael Keogh Heat — 13:57.8 (→ did not advance)
John Hartnett Heat — 14:34.6 (→ did not advance)
Men's 10.000 metres Neil Cusack Heat — 28:45.8 (→ did not advance)
Men's 3.000 metres Steeplechase Edward Leddy Heat — 8:47.4 (→ did not advance)
Men's Marathon Danny McDaid Final — 2:22:25 (→ 23rd place)
Des McGann Final — 2:28:31 (→ 42nd place)
Donie Walsh Final — 2:31:12 (→ 47th place)
Men's Shot Put Phil Conway Qualifying Round — 16.69 m (→ did not advance)
Women's 800 metres Claire Walsh Heat — 2:08.98 (→ did not advance)
Mary Tracey Heat — 2:04.18 (→ did not advance)
Women's 1.500 metres Mary Tracey Heat — 4:16.43 (→ national record, did not advance)
Women's 100m Hurdles Margaret Murphy Heat — 15.89 m (→ did not advance)
Women's Pentathlon Margaret Murphy Final ranking — 3770 pts (→ 27th place)
Boxing
Men's Welterweight 67 kg Joe Darcy unable to compete due to injury.
Men's Light Middleweight (– 71 kg) Christopher Elliott
First Round — Bye Second Round — Defeated Farouk Kesrouan (LEB), 5:0
Third Round — Lost to Emeterio Villanueva (MEX), TKO-3
Canoeing
Cycling
Four cyclists represented Ireland in 1972.
Individual road race Liam Horner — 38th place Kieron McQuaid — 40th place Peter Doyle — 69th place Noel Taggart — did not finish (→ no ranking)
Team time trial Liam Horner Peter Doyle Kieron McQuaid Noel Taggart
Equestrian
Fencing
One fencer represented Ireland in 1972.
Men's foil John Bouchier-Hayes
Men's épée John Bouchier-Hayes
Judo
Rowing
Men's Single Sculls Seán Drea Heat — 7:47.64 Repechage — 7:50.27 Semi Finals — 8:27.70 B-Final — 7:55.33 (→ 7th place)
Sailing
Ireland contested the Finn, Flying Dutchman, Tempest and Dragon class sailing events. The highest finishers were David Wilkins and Sean Whitaker, who ranked 8th in the Tempest event. The Dragon event, in which Ireland ranked 16th, was contested by a crew that included Robin Hennessy, Treen Morris, Harry Byrne and Joe McMenamin. MacMenamin, who was "six weeks shy of his 60th birthday" at the time, was Ireland's oldest Olympic athlete.
Shooting
Four male shooters represented Ireland in 1972.
Trap Dermot Kelly Gerry Brady
Skeet William Campbell Arthur McMahon
Swimming
AthleteEventHeatSemifinalFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankAndrew HunterMen's 100 m freestyle 56.09 37 Did not advanceBrian CliffordMen's 1500 m freestyle 18:09.28 colspan=2 Did not advanceLiam BallMen's 100 m breaststroke 1:09.68 Did not advanceMen's 200 m breaststroke 2:33.47 colspan=2 Did not advanceAisling O'LearyWomen's 800 m freestyle 10:18.05 colspan=2 Did not advanceChristine FulcherWomen's 100 m backstroke 1:10.63 Did not advanceWomen's 200 m backstroke 2:33.73 colspan=2 Did not advanceAnn O'ConnorWomen's 100 m breaststroke 1:19.13 Did not advanceWomen's 200 m breaststroke 2:53.04 29 colspan=2 Did not advanceBrenda McGroryWomen's 100 m butterfly 1:08.52 Did not advanceAnn O'ConnorChristine FulcherBrenda McGroryAisling O'LearyWomen's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay 4:26.34 colspan=2 Did not advanceChristine FulcherAnn O'ConnorBrenda McGroryAisling O'LearyWomen's 4 × 100 metre medley relay 4:45.56 colspan=2 Did not advance
Weightlifting
References