The Irish Examiner Killarney Golf & Fishing Club All Ireland Golf Societies Challenge Cup

29 July 2008

Fifty Golf Societies from all corners of Ireland enjoyed a wonderful day of golf in Killarney on Monday 28th July for the second annual All Ireland Golf Societies Challenge Cup, which was organised jointly by the Irish Examiner and Killarney Golf & Fishing Club. 

The competition was organised to celebrate the grass roots of golfing in Ireland and golf societies from all over the country were invited to compete in a special one day tournament, through the award winning golf pages of the Irish Examiner.

Entry to this competition was free of charge and gave Golf Societies the opportunity to compete together and enjoy golf on one of Ireland's great Championship Golf Courses, Mahony's Point, which is one of the three Championship Courses at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club.  Over 300 Golf Societies from all over Ireland submitted entry forms, which appeared in The Irish Examiner and the first 50 Golf Societies drawn, were invited to send 2 representatives to compete for the coveted Challenge Cup.

Shirley O'Regan, Irish Examiner, who attended today's competition and presented the prizes to the winning teams, stated "The Irish Examiner is delighted to be associated with this event in such a beautiful part of the country.  The response to the competition from our golf readers has been phenomenal and it was great opportunity for me today to meet some of them, who travelled from the four corners of Ireland to compete in the competition."

The winning team were the New Beginners Golf Society, Pat O'Sullivan and Jerry Molyneaux on 46 points; in second place The Four Seasons Golf Society, Tony O'Sullivan and Richard Crowe on 45 points; in third place The Killarney Post Office, Liam Hartnett and Noel McCarthy on 44 points; forth place was Midleton GAA, Anthony Wall and Pat Hayes on 44 points.

The front nine winners, Wellington Road Golf Society, Charlie McCarthy and Jerry O'Donoghue on 22 points.  The back nine winners was the Harry Joe Golf Society, George Ryan and Donal Hurley on 24 points.

After the prize giving a dinner was hosted by Killarney Golf & Fishing Club in the Club's restaurant overlooking the lakes.  At the dinner Maurice O'Meara, General Manager at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club stated "Not only was today a celebration of the strong tradition of Golf Societies in Ireland, but it was great to see such high standard of golf played today on Mahony's Point.  Killarney Golf & Fishing Club has always been a very popular choice for societies with the wide range of variety and value we offer on our three courses and it is great to give something back to the golfing community in this way."