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Golfing in the Glenns

Tue, 12 May, 2009

Historic Day
On Friday 1 May the curtain came down on 100 years of golfing on the old course. Birr Community School Classic set the ball rolling at 9.30 and consigned the 1st, 2nd 4th and most of the 5th to the pages of history. The comments on the new course were generally favourable and when the new greens on the 7th and 12th come into play in the near future golfers are in for a treat. Some regret the closure of the 5th tee with its panoramic views. Perhaps it can be used as an alternative for the 7th. The lakes are an attractive feature with the new 5th not as intimidating as forecast. The greens are a little slow at the moment. Obviously improvements will come with time. Despite the overnight rains, weather conditions were perfect on Friday and the course staff under Daragh Finneran and the Development Committee under Bernard Kennedy had the course in splendid shape.
At the presentation that evening Captain Tommy Rigney thanked Collette Mulrooney and the school’s Parents’ Committee for organising the classic and congratulated all the winners. Headmaster Tom Foley thanked the Captain and members for the use of the club. He noted that many pupils availed of the facilities and down through the years the club provided an outlet for the boys and girls from the locality. He reserved special thanks for the Parents’ Committee and all the teams and sponsors who had contributed so generously. The monies collected will be put to good use for the benefit of the pupils.
All told a very successful ‘new beginning.’+
For your diary
Thurs. 14 May. Seniors outing to Mullingar.
Fri. 15 May. All day. Finals of the Union of Irish Golfing Societies (UK)
Sat. Societies. Pierce Purcell in Cill Dara.(12.00)
Sun. 17 May. Lady President Mary Ryan’s prize to the members.
Tues. 19 May. Open Day.
Fri.22 May. Irish Wheelchair Classic. Contact: Kathleen Carroll. 086 68417616.
Results
Hackett Cup 32 qualifiers on 74 and under.
L.M.C. Seniors Alliance. Tullamore Golf Club on Mon. April 27th. 1. Fintan Dolan (15) Birr 38 pts. Cat. A. 1. Paul Daly (14) Thurles 37 pts; 2 Sean Moylan (9) Birr 35 pts. Cat. B. 1. J.J. O’Neill (15) Tullamore 38 pts ; 2. Vincent Clarke (15) Tullamore 35 pts. Cat. C: 1. Gerry Stakelun (15) Thurles 35 pts; 2. Liam Skelly (19) East Clare 37 pts. Gross: Sean Hunt (4) Thurles 29 pts.
Next Outing at East Clare Golf Club on Tues 19th May. Tee ; 9am to 2pm - contact John Doyle for time-sheet.
Birr Seniors. 1st Tom King Arthur Jackson Patsy Mc Guinness 35; 2nd Arthur Joyce Tony Hogan Jim Madden Tom Wright 36.
Birr Community School Classic. 1st Michael Yates PJ Lowry John Murphy and Fintan Dolan 93 pts. 2nd Ger Claffey Yvonne Claffey Pat Gleeson and Carina Gleeson 90 pts. 3rd Nicholas Kennedy Kevin Brumell Ray Murray and Brendan Delaney 89 pts. 4th Tom Feehan Francis Murray Seamas Maloney Conor Roche 89 pts. 5th John Troy Benny Beale Pat Scully and Ken Killeen 88 pts. 6th Adrian Sheils Jim McMenamin Laurence Smyth and Robert Sheils 87 pts. 7th Francie Horan John Wims Sean Moylan Tom King 86 pts. 8th Michael Lyons John Maher Paul Darcy and Alan Franks 86 pts. 9th Paddy Hogan Mark Devery Brendan Carroll and Frank Kenny 86 pts.
Men’s long drive. Conor Roche. Ladies Long Drive. Kay Kelly. Ladies nearest pin. Christine Bruce. Men’s nearest pin:John Maher.
Fr. Starken Classic: 1st Siobhan Tynan Helen Lee Ann Fitzgerald and Deirdre Hughes Athlone 92 pts. 2nd Eddie Kelly Luke Small Denis O Sullivan Michael Hevin Atlone 90 pts. 3rd Joe Slevin Conor Slevin Denis Flynn Sean Craven 90 pts. Longest Drive: Men Tom Rigney Longest Drive Ladies; Catherine Reilly. Nearest pin: Conor Slevin.
Sun. 10 May. Mixed Scramble: 1st Brian Guinan Carina Gleeson Eugene Hennessy 46.2 2nd Sean Ryan Bernard Kennedy Evelyn Kennedy 47.2 3rd Donal O Brien Niall O Brien Mary Lonergan 49.2.
Seniors: 1st C Loughnane A Hughes M Davis 45; 2nd M Hynes B Donlon F Boland 45.
Union of Irish Golfing Societies (GB)
A very special welcome to the members of the Union of the Irish Golfing Societies from our neighbouring island. A great gathering of golfers under their President P J Boyle arrived in the area and are based in the County Arms Hotel. They represent dozens of Irish societies from all over the UK and have arranged a very busy schedule with competitions taking place in several courses in the region. The main inter club competition will take place in Birr on Friday. Each team will consist of six players with the five best cards to count. Presentation and dinner that evening in the Co. Arms Hotel. We wish our visitors a very successful week and extend a cead mile failte to all.
Honour for An Taoiseach
On Friday last Captains Tom Rigney and Mary Sullivan were delighted on behalf of the members to bestow Honorary Life Membership on Taoiseach Brian Cowen and his wife Mary. In thanking the Club, An Taoiseach said he was deeply grateful for the honour and looked forward to playing the course when time allowed. He wished the members every success with the new development and congratulated all in having the foresight to extend the course and add to the many attractions available to all who visit the area.
Birr Credit Union
Members should note that the Club has a special arrangement with Birr Credit Union for the payment of subscriptions. For further information and details of the scheme please contact the Credit Union at (057) 912 0889.
Inter Club
Well done to our Central Towns team on an excellent victory over Curra West. (Not easy at the best of times) The team under managers Bernard Kennedy and John Kelly won four at home and one away. At home were: Jonathan Yates, John Yates, Aiden Hogan and Mark Corrigan. Away were Martin Young, Rody Molloy and Bernard Kennedy. In the next round they play the winners of Templemore/Thurles.
Best of luck to our Pierce Purcell team under President Tony McCormack who play in the qualifiers in Cill Dara on Saturday. The team is: Bernard Kennedy/Paschal Foley. Matt Feenane/Padraig Moylan, Mark Corrigan/ Tony McCormack, Roddy Molloy/Aidan Farrelly Enda Carroll/Louis Vaughan.
Ladies’ Golf
Team News. The Junior Foursomes second leg against Cill Dara takes place on this Thursday, 14 May at 3.30 p.m. in Birr. The team of Frances Ashe / Mary Grennan, Lady President Mary Ryan / Maura Flannery and Ena Guilfoyle / Rita Delaney will be playing their first ‘home’ match this year and we wish them well. Team Manager, Vera Smyth.
Club website
Remind your overseas friends that Golfing in the Glenns is available online at www.birrgolfclub.com/ Also check the new Birr Historical Society’s website with useful links at www.birrhistsoc.com/
Sympathy
The members offer sincere sympathy to Barry Hayes and his family on the death of his father Stan last week. Stan was a member of the Club for many years enjoyed his game immensely and his friendly presence will be missed. May he rest in peace.

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