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“The secret to fencing consists in two things: to give and to

not receive”~ Moliere "Moliere Quote", 2019)

Shirley  Armstrong, born 14 August 1930 to 21 December 2018, was a professional fencer who gained notoriety in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome competing on behalf of the Republic of Ireland. A trailblazer, Armstrong here became the first Irish female fencer to compete at an Olympic Games,("Committee | Fencing Ireland", 2019)("Olympic Federation of Ireland", 2019) along with her fellow trinity college friend Maeve Kyle ("Committee | Fencing Ireland", 2019)(Watterson, 2016). Armstrong won a multitude of awards over the span of her career, notably in 1963 where she won nine medals in Foil at the Irish National Fencing Championships, 6 Gold, 2 Silver and 1 Bronze. Along with her husband, Patrick. J. Duffy, a fellow Olympian Fencer they became a formidable couple in the fencing sphere.

In her early life Armstrong attended Trinity College Dublin and still maintained an affinity with Trinity College, often contributing to their history of art and architecture catalogue with gifted pieces. In Armstrong’s later life she took over her husband’s dealings with the Irish Academy of Arts, "Aceademie d’ Armes", founded by her husband in 1952. The Academy is the professional body in Ireland for the registration, regulation and training of Fencing Masters. Armstrong died in Roscommon University Hospital, 21 December 2018, at the age of 88.

Early Life

Armstrong was born on 14 August 1930 in Antrim in Northern Ireland. From a young age Armstrong displayed a keen interest in fencing. In 1944, when Armstrong was fourteen she  won the first prize in the Howth, Sutton and Raheny Horticultural Society’s show for fencing. . Armstrong attended Trinity College in Dublin in 1948, achieving a BA in History of art and classical. While studying her degree Armstrong was allowed to explore other avenues of her passion, she delved into the world of artistry. Writing many articles on the subject of sketching and famed painters (Gubbins,1986)(Vaughan, et al. 2010).