Peter O'Connor was an Olympic champion, a World Record holder and an Irish nationalist. His world long jump record in 1901 stood for 20 years and his Irish record stood for 90 years. The O’Connor family moved to the gate lodge off Ashtown Lane in 1880 for Peter’s father Edward to take up the position of Caretaker of the newly completed reservoir. It was from the doorstep of this gate lodge that Peter began to perfect his hop, step and jump across the laneway to the grass margin. He ultimately succeeded in not only reaching the grass margin but went many feet beyond.
