Tony Reddin - Early Life

Early Life

Martin Charles Reddington was born in Mullagh, County Galway in 1919. His family, although having the surname Reddington, were always known as the Reddins, with Martin being referred to be his nickname of Thaudy. When he moved to Lorrha the locals misheard this nickname and he became Tony Reddin. Reddin grew up on the family farm and was educated at the local national school. He learned his hurling skills on the family farm. When ploughing the fields he would carry a hurley and ball, striking the ball into the air and trapping it on the stick on its way down. To sharpen his reflexes he would practice against a rough stone wall from close distance, catching the sliotar as it rebounded in different directions. Times were tough, however, in post-war Ireland. He tried in vain to make a living on a small holding of land also being farmed by his brother and the rest of their family, so at the age of twenty-eight he made the decision to leave. England was booming, however, the Mullagh man had a great love for the game of hurling and when he got the offer of a job on a farm in Lorrha in Tipperary, he took it.

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