Why the name, St. Laurence O'Toole

St. Laurence O'Toole was born in 1128 near Castledermot, Co. Kildare. He became an abbot of Glendalough, after he was taken into sanctuary there. Despite his importance, he was holy and virtuous and his charity was extraordinary. He died at EU in Normandy on the 14th November, 1180. He was canonized in 1226, the last Irish saint until Oliver Plunkett in 1975.

Alan Stanley Pole Vault into sawdust pit Carlow 1960s

Early Successes

Since its affiliation to AAI, St. Laurence O'Toole Athletic Club has produced many athletes who have been very successful locally and nationally. While at the same time, it has been producing top class international athletes for Ireland. Some of the well known names in the club back in the early days were:
Beatrice Byrne or better known as Beatrice Lambert was the first athlete to break into the International scene for the club during the late 70's.
Harry Southern became the club's first senior male to compete internationally. He specialized in the javelin event.
Sally Curry became one of the club's middle distance internationals.
Paul Hogan was an international hammer thrower for the club and he has won Irish National and British National titles.
Patricia Amond is the club's most internationally capped athlete at the present moment and has as many as 32 internationals to her name. She has also won many Irish National and British National Championships.

The club has also produced athletes who achieved American scholarships:
Conor Boyle - Manhattan.
Geraldine Hendricken - Providence.
Siobhan Kavanagh - Arkansas.
Mark Murray - East Tennessee University.
John McGrath (R.I.P.) - Manhattan.
The club's latest international athlete on the scene is David Kidd, who recently came 7th in the World Junior Championships - Walk Event. His aim now is to compete in the Olympics.

Future Developments

At the moment, the club has proposals to develop existing facilities to cater for the increasing numbers of participants within the area. It is the club's ambition to provide:
Extend Indoor facilities to cater for Pole Vault, Shot, Hammer etc,.
Upgrade the 400 meter track with a synthetic surface.