Jack O’Grady carried the Irish tricolour as flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony of the 1924 Paris Olympic Games and competed in the men’s shot put.

From the Ballybricken area of Limerick, O’Grady was a specialist weight-thrower who established world’s best marks for putting the 28 pound shot, the 56 pound weight from the shoulder and the 42 pound weight, and was one of the most imposing athletes on the Irish team.

He finished 17th in the shot put in Paris with a throw of 12.75m and later received instruction in the correct technique for the event from the Irish-American hammer legends Matt McGrath and Pat McDonald when they visited Dublin for the Tailteann Games.