Loughrea golf club Galway

Members Achievements

Adrian Callanan won the Connaught Club Volunteer of the Year in 2023.

Oscar McCready was the non-travelling reserve selected on the Connaught Under-18 team to participate in the Interprovincial Championships at Hilton Templepatrick Golf Club from 19th to 21st July 2022, the others on the squad were  Cathal Penney and Aaron Gilligan (Athenry Golf Club), Tom Cafferky and Charlie Mooney  (Ballinasloe Golf Club), Adam Challoner (Galway Bay Golf Club), Luke Harrison (Co. Sligo Golf Club) and Charlie Kelly (Athlone Golf Club) they were managed by Shane Quigley from Castlebar Golf Club and captained by John Waters from Oughterard Golf Club.

The Ladies Loughrea Golf Club qualified for the All-Ireland deciders of the Intermediate Cup at Limerick Golf Club on Thursday 16th September 2021 by winning the Connaught Finals and were drawn against Waterford Castel Golf Club in the All-Ireland Quarter Finals; they won their match by 3-matches to 2-matches.
First on the tee was Tanya White who lost her match against Vivieene Keller by 1-hole, next on the tee was Geraldine Kelly who had a bad day when going down to Sally Brennan by 7 and 6, she was followed by Mary Glynn who had a 4 and 3 win against Mary Kennedy, in the penultimate match Anne Kelly lost out to Margaret Guerin by 4 and 3 and in the bottom match Jane Beatty secured the match with a 2 and 1 win against Margaret Gallagher.
Having accounted for the Ladies of Waterford Castle Golf Club by 3-matches to 2-matches in the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals the previous day they met the Ladies from Athy in the Semi-Finals on the Friday and lost their match by 3½-matches to 1½-matches.First on the tee was Tanya White who had a 4 and 2 win against Amy Kelly, she was followed by Chris Murray who lost her match against Heather Hegarty by 4 and 3, next up was Mary Glynn who lost out to Siobhan Smyth by 3 and 2, in the penultimate match Anne Kelly against Joan McDonald-Hyland was halved when called-in and the bottom match of Jane Beatty went 6 and 5 against Mary Mahon.  

Oscar McCready was selected to represent Connaught in the Boys’ Under-16 at Mount Wolseley Hotel and Golf Resort on October 9th and 10th October 2021, the others on the squad were Aodhagan Brady and Luke Harrison (Co. Sligo Golf Club),  Padraic McNeela (Oughterard Golf Club), Charlie Mooney (Ballinasloe Golf Club) and Cathal Penney (Athenry Golf Club) the non-travelling reserve was Aaron Quigley (Castlebar Golf Club)they were managed by Rory O’Connor from Strandhill Golf Club and captained y Martin Hynes from Athenry Golf Club.

Loughrea Golf Club won the Connaught Final of the Irish Junior Cup in 2017 when they beat Galway Bay by 3½-matches to1 ½-matches on Sunday 13th August at Galway Bay Golf Club.
They were led out by Andy Champion who lost his match by3 and 2 against Colm Beakey, he was followed by Evan O'Doherty who beat Keith Gavin by 3 and 2, next on the tee was Paddy McMahon who had a 2 and 1 win over Paul Glynn, in the penultimate match Paudie Hynes had a 3 and 1 win over Trevor Horan and the bottom match of Brendan Dunne against Tom Molloy was declared a halve when called-in and they had booked their place in the All-Ireland Deciders.
They made their way to Carton House Golf Club in Co. Kildare to participate in the deciders and were drawn against Munster Champions Ballybunion Golf Club on Wednesday 20th September in the All-Ireland Semi-Final and lost out to the eventual winners by 3½-matches to 1½-matches.
They were led out by Padraig Hynes who lost his match against Philip Byrne by 2-holes, he was followed by Evan O’Doherty who had a 3 and 1 win over Frank Geary Jnr. by 3 and 1, next on the tee was Paddy McMahon  who recorded a 4 and 3 lose to Ronan Cross, in the penultimate match David Byrnes went all the way up the 20th before relinquishing the point to Adrian Walsh and in the bottom match Brendan Dunne match against Brian Slattery was declared a halve when called-in.

The Ladies of Loughrea Golf Club won the Connacht Final of the ILGU Intermediate Team at Co. Sligo Golf Club in 2015 and went on to lose out to Leinster Champions Malahide by the narrowest of scores in the All-Ireland Final when the last match was decided by sudden death play-off.
The team on the day was Sharon Mooney, Martha O Neill, Ronnie Norris, Anne Kelly and Geraldine Keely they were managed by Frances Blake.

Loughrea Golf Club won the Connaught Final of the Pierce Purcell Shield in 2009 and was drawn against Ulster Champions Letterkenny Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final at Tullamore Golf Club in September.

They were led by Brendan Dunne with Paul Hynes who lost out to Brian O'Donnell with Tony McMonagle by 3 and 2. They were followed by John Greally with Gerry Fahy who beat Pat McMonagle with Kieran Sweeney with the minimum 1-hole victory.

Next on the tee was Noel Maher with Lee McGahon who last to John Russell with Kieran Walsh by 3 and 2. The penultimate match of Uinsinn Finn with Cathal Murray saw the Galway pair have a very convincing 6 and 5 win over Ed Margey with Brendan Roache. So it was all down to the bottom match to decide who would progress to the All-Ireland Final, Tony Slevin with John Creavan gave it their best shot against Kenny King with Shane Sweeney but the Donegal pair prevailed with a 3 and 2 win to proceed to the final and eventual green-pennant winners, their first and only the 4th in the history of Donegal Clubs.

Loughrea Golf Club did the double in the Connaught Cups and Shields when they beat Tubbercurry Golf Club by 3 matches to 2 matches in the Pierce Purcell Shield at Enniscrone Golf Club on 12th August 2006.

It was back to Enniscrone Golf Club for the National Finals, where they where drawn against Ulster Champions Tandragee Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final on Thursday 14thSeptember.

First up was Gerry Lynch with Aidan Donohue against Philip Mehaffey with Sean McReynolds who clinched their match on the 19th -hole. They were followed Ronan Killeen with Derek Keane who beat Don Johnston with Terry Davies by 2 and 1. Next up were Johnny Greally with Paul Keane who halved their match against Harry Hall with Keith Steenson. With all to play for Kevin Greally with John Flynn clinched Loughrea’s place in the National Final when they halved their match with John Hanna and Barry Steenson. Matt Kavanagh with John Dervan put the icing-on-the-cake with a convincing 7 and 5 win over Billy Wilson with Jim Padlow.

They were drawn against Munster Champions Charleville Golf Club on the Friday, who had gone down to the wire against Leinster Champions Woodlands the previous day.

First on the tee were John Flynn with Kevin Greally who lost out to John Carroll with Dermot Whelan by 2 and 1. They were followed by Gerry Lynch with Aidan Donohue against John O’Keeffe with Pat O’Shaughnessy who recorded a 3 and 2 victory for the Munster men. Next up were Ronan Killeen with Derek Keane who had a comfortable 5 and 4 win over Paddy Kelly with Francis Finn. The penultimate match saw Johnny Greally with Paul Keane lose out to Seamus Lyons with Pat Nagle by 1-hole. The final match of John Dervan with Matt Kavanagh against Tom Barrett with Steven Moloney say Loughrea win by the 1-hole margin.

Loughrea Golf Club won the Connaught Final of the Jimmy Bruen Shield in 2006, when they beat Gort Golf Club at Enniscrone Golf Club on 13th August by 3 and a half matches to 1 and a half matches.

It was back to Enniscrone Golf Club for the National Finals, where they where drawn against Leinster Champions Rosslare Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final on Friday 15th September.

First up on the tee was Brian Farragher and Barry Horgan whom had a convincing 3 and 2 win over Liam Brett and Eoin McCarthy. They were followed by Andrew Kilmartin and Gerry Farragher against James Doyle and Michael O’Connor who overcame the Leinster men on the 19th. Next up were Albert Mannion and Frank Carty who lost out to Ian Lynch and Jonathan Stewart by 2 and 1. The penultimate match saw Trevor Horan and Frank Joyce pitched against Tiarnan Rossiter and John Skerritt who lost out by a similar result. It was all down to the final match of Darragh Burke and Greg Glynn against Ken Maher and Tom Kennedy, alas the result went in Rosslare’s favour by 3 and 1. So near but yet so far.

Congratulations to Hannagh O'Connor who beat County Longford's Ann Hayes in the final of the Connacht Junior Championship in 2006.

Loughrea Golf Club won the Connaught Final of the Bulmers Junior Cup and were drawn against Skerries Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Finals at Lisburn Golf Club on 11th September 2003. They lost out to Skerries who were to won the All-Ireland pennant when beating Clonmel in the final in the afternoon. The team on the day was Eamon Hannon, Peter Power, Albert Mannion, Cathal Madden and Gerry Glynn.

Loughrea won the Bulmers Pierce Purcell Shield Connaught Championship, when they beat Enniscrone by 3 matches to 2 at Galway Golf Club in 2002. The team was Brendan Hardieman, John Manicle, Martin Kennedy, Noel Kelly, Alan Greally, Trevor Horan, Jarlath O'Connor, Brian Fahy, Dara Keary, Padraig Murray, Johnny Grealy, Joe Cahalin, Mick Daniels and John Dervan. They were captained by Danny Hynes. They were drawn against Munster Champions Woodstock Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Finals at Galway on September 5th 2002

Patsy Lynch was Captain of the Connacht Boys' team for the Interprovincial Championships at Headfort Golf Club from August 28-30 2002. 

Prior to 2001

Loughrea won the Connaught Bulmers Jimmy Bruen Shield in 1996, when the team was Gerry Bond, Declan Curley, Paddy Madden, Joe Cahalan, Connor Waters, Gerry Allison, Kieran Counihan, Pat Gill, Gerry Madden, Kenneth Colleran, Gerry Glynn and Michael Casserly. They were managed by John Counihan Jnr.

They won the Connacht Junior Inter Club Championship in 1995, when the team was Kenneth Colleran, Gerry Madden, Adrian Herlihy, Connor Waters, Dylan Lawless and Wayne Lawless. They were managed by John Counihan.

They won the Connacht Senior Inter Club in 1998, when the team was A. Clarke, J. Caffery, J. Counihan, P. Madden, J. Rooney, M. Raleigh, V. Leahy, Joe Cahalan, P. Lynch, F. Perry, A. Mannion, V. Ryan and C. Smalle.

They won the Cecil Ewing Shield in 1998, when the team was K. Morrissey, Brendan Hardieman, M. Burns, L. Healy, M. Moloney, P. Lynch, P. Keane, J. Kelly, M. Carey, J. Counihan, G. Connaire, F. Stewart and G. Lynch.

They won the Bloomfield Cup in 1998 when the team was, G. Madden, L. Shannon, J. Cahalan, P. Gill, B. Hogan, J. Counihan, P. Madden, V. Leahy, G. Bond, C. Barry, P. Lynch, A. Clarke and F. Joyce. They won it prior to that in 1995, when the team was Adrian Madden, Pat Gill, Pat Waters, Austin Clarke, Ronan O'Dea, Tony Ryan, Gerry Glynn, John Counihan Jnr. Leo Connolly and Gerry Bond. They were captained by Patsy Lynch.

They won the Central Towns in 1982 when the team was P. Gilchreest, M. Conway, N. Colleran, G. Gately, B. Blake, K. Hayes, N. Kelly, K. Dervin, V. Prendergast and they were managed by M. O'Neill.

They won the Connaught Shield in 1958, when the team was T. Dervan, A. J. Wellwood, J. Kennedy, D. Ryan, J. Hannafin, D. Duffy, M. Kennedy, P. Corcoran, N. McNally and M. Dyar.

They were Connacht Runners-Up in the Irish Junior Cup in 1996, the Pierce Purcell Shield in 1995, Junior Cup 1995 and the Cecil Ewing in 2000.

The Ladies won Connacht Cup in 1968, when the team was Mrs. J. J. Fanning, Mrs. W. Hickey and Mrs. E. Pringle.

Members who played representative golf for their Province;

C. Waters represented Connacht at Senior Interprovincial level from 1999 to 2001 playing 15-times won 3-matches halved two and lost 10-matches accumulating 8-points;

History of Loughrea

Loughrea Golf Club moved to its current location in 1954 and began as a testing nine hole course. The course was redesigned and expanded to 18 Holes in 1992. This development was undertaken under renowned course architect Eddie Hackett, one of the most prolific course designers in Irish golf history.

Further expansion occurred in 2002 when additional land was purchased and developed adding 1,000 yds approx to the length of the course. Four new holes and greens were constructed and three others modified. This development resulted in making the course a Par 71 for Men and Par72 for Ladies.

We are proud of all these developments and the way they have enhanced our course. The course poses an inviting and exciting challenge and is considered a true and fair test for all golfers.

We hope that all players, members and visitors, will enjoy the challenge our course poses and the hospitality of the clubhouse.

What the Club tells us:

The game of golf has been a tradition in Loughrea for almost a century.

The original course – the first of three – was located at Knockanima/Earslpark on elevated lands adjoining the Eastern boundary wall of what was then The Workhouse and now known as St. Brendan’s Hospital. A feature of the layout of the course was that one hole was sited at the Long Point on the lakeside of the Woodford road.

When that original spread was first used is difficult to pin-point. Before the outbreak of the Great War however, it was decided that a more suitable if less scenic site having fewer stone walls bisecting it, should be found. Sites as Baunoge, Masonbrook and Caheronaun were viewed but eventually 60 acres of hilly land beside the Kincullia road at Caheronaun were secured at a nominal rent.

The founding fathers of this new enterprise as recorded in the club membership card for 1914, which has been loaned to me by Mrs. Eilish Pringle whose late father Mr. J. J. Hanafin, was a member of the committee. The committee was: President, John J. Smyth, Esq., J. P. Masonbrook; Vice President, P. J. Davy, Esq., J. P.; Captain, Charles Shubrick Graham, Esq., Solicitor; Hon. Treasurer, P. Glynn, Esq., National Bank; Hon. Secretary, D. V. Lambkin; Committee: Revd. Robert Bradshaw, Killinan; Rev. H. Brennan, Adm., J. J. Byrne, A. D. Comyn Ll.d, solicitor, Laurence Conway, E. C. Fitzpatrick, J. J. Hanafin, J. Hosty, A. M. Toole, R. H. Bell.

By the mid 1920’s support for the club began to come an ever widening section of the whole community. So rapid was growth that by the late 1930’s the club deemed it feasible to secure the services of a resident professional and Mr. J. Gaffney from Dublin was appointed. That in addition to being a competent teacher he was also a top class player was evidence when he established a course record of 29 shots for Loughrea’s 9 hole spread.

During the emergency restrictions of the World War II era it became increasingly difficult to obtain the clubs goods needed and interest waned to such a degree that the club as such ceased to function. Only a mere handful of super enthusiasts led by the late Mr. Paddy Corcoran who paid the greenkeeper, Charlie Kiernan, out of his own resources, kept the flag flying.

Amongst those who in time came to share Paddy Corcoran’s dedication and commitment in the 1940’s was the late Dr. Martin Dyar. In time he became chief motivator in having the land for the present course purchased from the late Mr. Larry Smyth, Earlspark. His dream of a new 9 hole course at Graigue became a reality and was declared officially open by the late Dr. William Philibn, Bishop of Clonfert in 1954. Had Dr. Dyar survived to see ‘his’ spread extended to it’s now magnificent holes, he would be a happy man indeed.

An excellent spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship has always prevailed in the Loughrea club and it’s friendly atmosphere has won favourable comment from visiting players down through the years.

The newly extended course has been solidly laid on the foundation of the old 9 holes and will ensure that Loughrea is a place where a game of golf will continue to be enjoyed.