Francis Kirby,County Antrim, IRE – Highland Games & Strongman
Highland Games
Francis Kirby County Antrim has been on the strength scene for over a decade.He has tried and performed well in strength sports like Strongman and Power-lifting.Today we honour him here for his greatest achievement-2X Irish Highland Games Champion 2005 and 2006. A real proven champion,with this back to back result.
This Irish record breaker in throwing events,has shown to be a fierce competitor on the field,but a sleeping lion off it.With little training and practice he performs highly in all strength sports.Though i cant help but wonder how far he could of took his power with real practice .A real talent in the Irish strength world,now in our Hall Of Fame for Highland Games.
Strongman
Francis “Super Grip”Kirby as a Strongman was top drawer. He was a northern competitor the whole of Ireland feared. He competed in many Strongman competitions at top level -Ireland Strongest Man finals ,numerous Britain Strongest Man competitions to international events like the World Strongman Cup.
Francis Kirby known on the circuit to this day as his nickname” super grip”. A name earned and given by his fellow competitors . Given so,as it was rare Francis Kirby never lost any grip events and made his Strongman “Hercules Hold “and “Farmers Walk” Strongman event second to none!
Though Francis never won the All Ireland Strongest Man, he came close being on the podium on two occasions finishing 3rd twice in 2001 and 2003. But Francis “Super Grip” Kirby was most famous in Ireland by getting his Legendary status in Ulster Strongest Man, by winning 5 of it titles spanning almost a decade- 2002 ,2003,2006,2008,2010. This was done with force as he faced some of the best and strongest men ever in Ireland. Francis record of 5 x times in Ulster Strongest Man ,a “major” in our ISA Strongman calendar has yet to be beat in any Irish Strongman result. We are pleased to say Francis Kirby you are now given the ISA induction into the Hall Of Fame . Well done on becoming a Irish Strongman Legend!