i know this is a bit of a ridiculous question but does anyone know how a garryowen got its name in rugby and if its called that throughout the world out just here?
[disclaimer]I am no major rugby fan but I do watch a lot of sports so take in all the big games,so I am not expert.[disclaimer] I always just assumed it was a certain way the garryowen club in Limerick played and then name stuck,kind of the way any team who was playing the long ball game back in the 80s/90s was playing like wimbledon. I have only ever heard Irish people use it.
I am not a rugby fan and dont know much about it, but one of my mates was saying it came from the way garryowen used to play and they used the up and under ball alot so thats how they got the name !
From their website "Garryowen Football Club was founded in Limerick in 1884, and takes its name from the Garryowen area of Limerick. The word Garryowen - the gardens of John - relates to the association in the 12th century between St. John's Church and the Knights Templar whose house in Limerick was dedicated to St. John the Baptist. The idea for the founding of Garryowen originated outside Trehy's house (facing Carey's Road) when a small group including amongst others Alderman Mike Joyce MP, Alderman Tom Prendergast, William Prendergast (his brother), felt that Limerick should have a first class senior rugby club. After a number of meetings held in the Catholic Institute, the club was formally constituted at a meeting held on 19th September 1884, in the Athenaeum (later the Royal Cinema), in Upper Cecil St., and from those humble beginnings, one of rugby football's greatest institutions began. The name Garryowen came to symbolise Limerick and Ireland for our exiles all over the world. The marching song of the US 7th Cavalry is Hurrah for Garryowen and in the First World War, the Munster Fusiliers dribbled a ball shouting Up Garryowen as their war cry, as they went over the front into battle. The white five-pointed star on the left breast of the Garryowen jersey represents the then five mediaeval parishes of Limerick - St. Mary's, St. Munchin's, St. Michael's, St. Patrick's and St. John's."