Club History

When the well known Eildon Emeralds Hurling and Football teams folded in 1955 following the completion of the construction of the famous Eildon Weir, many of the players and supporters headed to Sydney for further employment. Others, including John Haugh and two sets of Red and White jerseys, returned to Melbourne. When the St. Mary's club was formed shortly afterwards in Sydney by ex-Eildon Emeralds players the jerseys were requested to be sent north, John Haugh duly obliged, with the older set of course, holding onto the almost new ones with the intention of starting a new Club in Melbourne.

Together with his flatmates, Ben McNamee (R.I.P.), Billy Leo and Pat Kirby, John organised a meeting, with some other Gaels in November 1955 to form the new hurling and football club. Those present at the inaugural meeting were: Jim Geaney (Kerry), John Haugh (Clare), Mick Hoare (Kerry), John Kelly (Wexford), P.J. Kelly (Kerry), Paddy Kirby (Kerry), Billy Leo (Limerick), Ben McNamee (Louth), Morris Moriarity (Kerry), Pat Mulhall (Laois) and Eddy O'Sullivan (Kerry). The name of the Club "Garryowen" was chosen from three names put forward on that night. We played our first Football and Hurling games on Easter Sunday 1956.

During the late 50's and early 60's the Hurlers were moderately successful winning the Knockout in 1959 and the league in 1960, 1961, 1963 and 1964. They took out the double in 1967. With regard to football, apart from winning the Knockout in 1956 and competing in the Knockout final of 1964, the footballers really struggled, At one stage the Club went six years without winning a Football game. However the devotion of families such as the O'Gormans, the McNamees, the Furlongs, the Flatleys, the Laceys and the McMahons never wavered during these lean times, and it was this that laid the foundations for successes in the 70's, 80's and 90's. It was with the arrival of Our "Kerry" contingent (Ted and Nially O'Sullivan, Sean O'Connor - early to mid seventies) that Our Footballing fortunes started to change, culminating with us winning Our First Dr. Mannix Cup in 1976. The 70's, 80's and 90's have been very successful for Garryowen, with us winning 30 hurling titles and 23 football titles. During that time we also appeared in 11 league football finals in a row (1986-1996). 1998 saw the formation of Our Ladies Football Team. They managed to reach the League Final which was a magnificent achievement in their First Year of existence.

Garryowen prides itself in being a family Club. Sean and Kieren O'Sullivan, Dermott Leonard, Kevin Lacey and Thomas McMahon are now seen donning the Red and White colours on a Sunday, as their Fathers have done (and still do). The Garryowen Club also has some of the longest serving members of the G.A.A. with the O'Gormans, the Laceys, the McMahons (Andy and Tom), the O'Sullivans (Ted and Nially), the O'Riordans, the Leonards, the Coynes and the Gallaghers having served the Club for twenty years or more. Garryowen members are also to forefront of administering Gaelic Park with Francie and Stas Collins and Sean and Pauline McIntyre being committee members who worked tirelessly for the ongoing success of the Park.