Known as Matty
Matthew “Matty” Stack grew up in Churchtown during the turbulence of World War I, surrounded by siblings and the looming spectre of war. His older brother Michael was the first to enlist, joining the Royal Munster Fusiliers and leaving home for the muddy, uncertain world of military life. Eager to prove himself, Matty lied about his age and signed up with the Irish Guards at just fourteen, barely passing as old as he was. The reality of war was brutal: Michael endured the horrors of gas attacks at Hulluch, and Matty, the youngest in his regiment, struggled to keep up with older soldiers until the Army discovered his age and sent him home in shame.
Michael fought bravely but was killed in action during a nighttime raid in July 1916, his loss causing deep sorrow for the Stack family. Matty, devastated and unable to express his grief, began boxing—at first as a way to fight through his pain and keep his brother’s memory alive. He became a fierce competitor, eventually earning the title of Middleweight Champion of Ireland. But Matty’s journey didn’t end there. He crossed to England and entered the gritty world of fairground boxing booths, fighting multiple challengers each day for the entertainment of raucous crowds. Under the watchful eyes of both men, like Alfie Gannon, Matty learnt to read people and adapt his fighting style, becoming a crowd favourite and a mainstay of the circuit.
As the years wore on, Matty’s life changed. He traded boxing gloves for honest work at the Ford motor plant in Dagenham, joining a wave of Irish immigrants seeking stability during the economic hardship of the 1930s. With a growing family of his own, Matty found community among fellow Irish workers, and when World War II broke out, Ford relocated many employees—including Matty—to Royal Leamington Spa for the war effort. There, he rose to senior foreman, overseeing the manufacture of ammunition boxes and playing a crucial role on the home front. Although Matty was exempt from military service because of his Irish citizenship, his leadership and work ethic proved invaluable during wartime.
Boxing never left Matty. Even after hanging up his gloves, he frequented the famous Stratford Mop fair, drawn by the boxing booths and the camaraderie of old fighters and promoters. One day, Matty watched a young Dick Turpin battle his way through three punishing rounds, with his younger brother Randolph cheering him on from the sidelines. Matty recognised the hunger and resilience that had once driven him, so he struck up a conversation with the brothers. In time, Randolph Turpin—then just a boy—would go on to become a world champion, but on that day at the fairground, it was simply one boxer recognising greatness in the making.
The above is a condensed version of Matty Stack’s story. Matthew Stack 1899–1989 FULL CHAPTER HERE (PDF Format)
Hello! I’m searching for any details about the Stack family from Churchtown, Cork, Ireland. If you have stories, old documents, or even just a memory about the Stacks from this area, I’d love to hear from you—please feel free to leave a comment below. We value every piece of information you provide.
If you’re part of the younger generation of the Stack family, I’m especially glad you’re here. You’re welcome to share this website with any other Stack relatives you know:
Stacks_of_Cork The Whole Family
Thank you so much!
Peter Stack email me at: stacksofcork@gmail.com.
Michael fought bravely but was killed in action during a nighttime raid in July 1916, his loss causing deep sorrow for the Stack family. Matty, devastated and unable to express his grief, began boxing—at first as a way to fight through his pain and keep his brother’s memory alive. He became a fierce competitor, eventually earning the title of Middleweight Champion of Ireland. But Matty’s journey didn’t end there. He crossed to England and entered the gritty world of fairground boxing booths, fighting multiple challengers each day for the entertainment of raucous crowds. Under the watchful eyes of both men, like Alfie Gannon, Matty learnt to read people and adapt his fighting style, becoming a crowd favourite and a mainstay of the circuit.
As the years wore on, Matty’s life changed. He traded boxing gloves for honest work at the Ford motor plant in Dagenham, joining a wave of Irish immigrants seeking stability during the economic hardship of the 1930s. With a growing family of his own, Matty found community among fellow Irish workers, and when World War II broke out, Ford relocated many employees—including Matty—to Royal Leamington Spa for the war effort. There, he rose to senior foreman, overseeing the manufacture of ammunition boxes and playing a crucial role on the home front. Although Matty was exempt from military service because of his Irish citizenship, his leadership and work ethic proved invaluable during wartime.
Boxing never left Matty. Even after hanging up his gloves, he frequented the famous Stratford Mop fair, drawn by the boxing booths and the camaraderie of old fighters and promoters. One day, Matty watched a young Dick Turpin battle his way through three punishing rounds, with his younger brother Randolph cheering him on from the sidelines. Matty recognised the hunger and resilience that had once driven him, so he struck up a conversation with the brothers. In time, Randolph Turpin—then just a boy—would go on to become a world champion, but on that day at the fairground, it was simply one boxer recognising greatness in the making.
The above is a condensed version of Matty Stack’s story.
If you’re part of the younger generation of the Stack family, I’m especially glad you’re here. You’re welcome to share this website with any other Stack relatives you know:
Thank you so much!
Peter Stack email me at: stacksofcork@gmail.com.
Author of the upcoming book “The Stacks of Churchtown Cork”
INDEX OF PAGES
Home Page | Michael 1896-1916 | Hannah 1898-1982 | William 1899-1903 | Matty | Mary 1901-1947 | Margaret 1903-1904 | William 1907-1990 | Catherine 1906-19?? | Eliza 1907-1971 | Patrick 1908-1913 | Margaret 1910-1993 | John 1911-1980 | Denis 1912-1913 | James 1915-2003 | Norah 1916-2005 | Bridget 1918-1980 | Ellen 1920-1920 | Michael 1922-1923 |