Eddie Jordan

The death was announced today of Eddie Jordan, an icon of Irish sport and Irish motorsport executive, broadcaster, racing driver, and businessman. From 1991 to 2005, Jordan served as founder and team principal of Jordan in Formula One. Born in 1948, Jordan was a well known figure in Irish sport since the early 1970s. Here we look back through the pages of the Irish Newspaper Archive for some early reports on his career.

Our picture below shows Eddie Jordan of the Mullingar club leading a Kart race in Drogheda in September 1972 courtesy of the Westmeath Examiner newspaper.

A bank official in Mullingar in the early 1970s, Eddie Jordan played a pivitol role in the promotion of karting in the town. 

In 1974 Jordan was involved in the organisation of North v South Formula challenge, sponsored by Ford of Cork, which was an additional race at the Dublin University -Club's Easter Monday Mondello Meeting.

The Irish Independent explained:

Sixteen cars will be on the grid and the top competition is expected from the N.I. drivers such as Tim Sherry and Harry Acheson in Crossle 25F'S and Brian Edgar in a new Van Diemen: while the Southern challenge will be led by David Kennedy,  Eddie Jordan and Bernard Devaney.

In late 1974 the Irish Press would write with optimism about the future of motor racing in the country and pointed out that much of its success was down to the Jordan. It continued:

The man who deserves full credit for this vast improvement is 28-year-old Eddie Jordan from Dundrum. He has worked unceasingly throughout the year improving standards in Formula Ford, to the extent there should be nearly 30 drivers in the class next year.

Jordan showed how competitive Formula Ford racing in this country is when he went on a six-race end-of-season visit across the water. He was regularly in the first three in all the races whereas here he finished further down the field on many occasions. He plans on replacing his two-year-old Crossle with a more up-to-date machine and then should start winning races over here.

This class of racing is a great favourite with spectators and should attract a major sponsor with big prize money next year. I gather one firm is interested already and is talking in terms of four figures money support for next season….

For more information search the pages of the Irish Newspaper Archive (www.irishnewsarchive.com)