Cork leads the way at Melbourne GAA club celebrations

This year will mark a significant milestone for Garryowen GAA Club in Melbourne, as the club celebrates 70 years of promoting Gaelic Games across all four codes on the far side of the world.

Founded in 1956, Garryowen has long been a focal point for the Irish community in Melbourne, offering generations of emigrants a home away from home through sport.

Over seven decades, the club has played a central role in sustaining Gaelic football, hurling, camogie, and ladies football in Australia, while preserving strong cultural and sporting links with Ireland.

That link is especially strong with Cork, and it remains a defining feature of the club today.

The current leadership team includes President Diarmuid Vaughan from Bishopstown; vice-president Niamh O’Mahony, Ballygarvan, and treasurer Eoin Ryan, Clonakilty.

Cork influence is equally evident across the coaching and management teams. The Garryowen men’s footballers are managed by Mark Driscoll, Bishopstown, with Gearóid Barry, Clonakilty, on board as a selector.

The ladies football side is under the guidance of Aoife Nic a Bhaird, Éire Óg, while the hurling management of Seanie O’Leary, Watergrasshill; Jamie O’Keeffe, Blackrock, and Brian Hegarty, Carrignavar.

This Sunday Garryowen will once again take centre stage by hosting the Ted O’Sullivan Garryowen 9’s Tournament at Gaelic Park, Melbourne.

One of the biggest one-day Gaelic games events outside Ireland, the tournament will feature 190 games across all four codes, with 49 teams and 882 players taking part throughout the day.

Off the field, the club continues to place a strong emphasis on community and wellbeing. Garryowen have once again chosen Pieta House as their charity partner for the tournament, reflecting an ongoing commitment to mental health awareness and support, an issue of particular relevance within sporting and emigrant communities.

As Garryowen look ahead to their 70th anniversary celebrations, the current playing panel underlines the club’s deep Cork roots. In 2026, players from more than 30 Cork clubs will represent Garryowen in Melbourne, spanning all four codes.

These include:

Men’s Players • Alan O’Sullivan (Bishopstown) • Billy McConville (Bishopstown) • Brian Murphy (Ballinora) • David Byrne (Tracton) • Conor O’Regan (Barryroe) • David Murphy (Barryroe) • Brian Buckley (Dromina) • Cian O’Brien (Ballygiblin) • James McCarthy (Kilworth) • Peter McSweeney (Grenagh) • Declan Geary (Castlelyons) • Michael Geary (Castlelyons) • Ted Kearney (Barryroe) • Darragh O’Callaghan (Watergrasshill) • Mark Quinn (Dohenys) • Alan Sheehan (Dohenys) • David Collins (Dohenys) • Tom Collins (Dohenys) • David Andrews (Shamrocks) • Jordan O’Connor (Ballincollig) • Sean Ryan (Ballinscarthy) • Eoin McCarthy (Aghinagh) • James O’Reilly (Gabriel Rangers) • Brian Clifford (Bishopstown) • Sean McCarthy (Tadhg MacCarthaighs) • Dan O’Keeffe (Dromtariffe) • Eoin O’Donovan (St Michael’s) • Jeff Daly (Fermoy) • Paudy Clancy (Fermoy) • Sam Oakes (Bishopstown) • Cathal Fanning (Douglas) • Eddie Goggin (Gabriel Rangers) • Ryan Scully (Bishopstown) • Jack O’Driscoll (Goleen) • Ryan O’Sullivan (Adrigole).

Ladies players • Aoife Nic a Bhaird (Éire Óg) • Aoife Santry (Rosscarbery) • Debbie O’Mahony (Kilmeen & Kilbree) • Eimear O’Dea (Naomh Fionnbarra) • Eimear O’Reilly (Courcey Rovers) • Emer Reardon (Ballinhassig) • Eva Goggin (Gabriel Rangers) • Lucy Hicks (Bride Rovers) • Máiréad Landers (Carrigaline) • Michaela Sheehan (Bishopstown) • Máiréad Supple (Muintir Bháire) • Myra O’Sullivan (Rockbán) • Niamh O’Mahony (Ballygarvan) From Bishopstown to Barryroe, Rosscarbery to Fermoy, Blackrock to Carrigaline, the red and white of Garryowen continues to be worn with pride by Cork men and women thousands of miles from home.

For many, the club is about far more than football or hurling, it is a social hub, a support network, and a vital link to home.

Seventy years on, Garryowen GAA Club remains a powerful symbol of the GAA’s global reach and of Cork’s lasting influence wherever its people settle.