John O'Donnell was an Irish track and field athlete entered to compete in the 100m mens event at the London Games in 1948. However, due to severe administrative dispute, he and sevral other atheltes were deemed ineligible at the last minute and were marked as "did not start" (DNS). In 1946 he became seriously involved in athletics and from 1946 to 1951 won five Irish sprint titles and second in three, eight Leinster championships and one hundred meters championships for Munster in Limerick in 1947.
He was honoured to be selected for the 1948 Olympic Games in London. He was listed on the Olympic Games programme to compete in the 100m. When he left the army he started work at Guinness and he joined the Guinness athletic club. He was captain of the club for 16 years. John O'Donnell found his feet again when he set up the community games in 1969 this coincided with the arrival of Brother Perkins from Drimnagh Castle in Dublin to the CBS in Limerick. Limerick Community Games were born. John took the role as chairman.
Athletics
