James Edward Heron was an Irish high diving and springboard diving champion.
Background
Eddie Heron was born in the north inner city of Dublin, Ireland. His father, Michael, worked as a butcher and was from Carlow. His mother, Mary Heron (née Kennedy) was from Dublin.
At the age of eleven his father had to help him from the pool following a swallow dive which the boy performed at the Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire) Regatta.
Career
Indeed young Heron learnt to dive before he could swim. Heron"s first major successes took place in 1924 when he was thirteen. A month later he competed in the Tailteann Games, coming third in the Men"s Plain Diving competition.
Between then and 1950, he dominated Irish diving, winning thirty-four national titles in both high diving and springboard events.
Although Heron retired from competitive diving in 1950, he was persuaded to take part in the 1968 Irish three-metre springboard championship held at Blackrock Baths in Dublin. He continued to take part in diving exhibitions and competitions well into his sixties.
In July each year, swimmers compete for the Eddie Heron Cup in a race from Dun Laoghaire to Blackrock. This is organised by Heron"s former club, Sandycove Swimming Club.
A plaque in honour of Eddie Heron has been erected near the now-demolished Blackrock Baths where he competed for many years.