John O'Grady

John O’Grady from Ballybricken, County Limerick, was the first person to carry the Irish flag at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games. He was a nephew of the great Ned O’Grady (1850-96), native of Ballybricken, and Irish putting 42-lb. weight champion in 1874 and 1875. John O’Grady competed in the shot put at the Olympics in 1924, but his throw of 12.75 metres did not qualify him for the final. He won 17 titles, mainly in shot put and the 56-lb. weight throw, at the Irish Athletics Championships from 1914-28.

At the Tailteann Games O’Grady won five titles, winning the shot put, putting 28-lb. weight and 56-lb. weight for height in 1924, and the putting 28-lb. and 56-lb. weight for height in 1928. Both John O’Grady and his uncle Ned O’Grady are interred in Kilmurry cemetery, County Limerick. A memorial to John O’Grady was unveiled in Limerick city on 22 November 1937 by Frank O’Dea, president of the National Athletic and Cycling Association. The memorial takes the form of a 56-lb. weight resting on a limestone pedestal.

Personal Best: SP – 14.45 (1924).