John O'Connor was a founder member of the club and his seven sons were prominent rugby players, runners and oarsmen of national and international renown.

Born in Athlunkard Street, Limerick, the seven brothers - Mick, Charlie, Jack, Thade, Joe, Bryan and Jim - set an impressive record with 47 medals.

It was not till 1969 that another led to a glorious period for the club with probably the finest collection of players since the great nine in row team.

Having won the league title in its second and fourth year (1992, 1994), Garryowen reached two finals and a number of semi-finals only to fall just short.

In playing terms a garryowen is a very high kick with a deliberately long time in flight rather than pure distance, named after the rugby club[1] designed to put the opposing team under pressure by allowing the kicking team time to arrive under and compete for the high ball.

It is thought to have come part of the modern lexicon in the early 1920s as one of the great Garryowen teams that won three Senior cups from 1924 to 1926 used this tactic to the utmost.

The 'garryowen' was immortalised as a 'descriptive' to the British sporting public by the doyen of BBC Rugby Union commentators Bill McLaren who frequently used it in his decades on air between 1953 and 2002.