Birr golf club Offaly

Members Achievements

Billy Donlon won the Irish Senior Men's Close 70+ category in Lough Erne Golf Club in July 2024.

The Boys’ of Birr Golf Club were Runners-Up in the Leinster Central Regional Final of the Fred Daly Trophy when they lost out Baltinglass Golf Club by 4-matches to 1-match at Enniscorthy Golf Club Thursday 27th July 2023.

Birr Golf Club won the Offaly Golf Championship and the Loughnane Trophy on their home course on Sunday 16th October 2022 when the team was John Dwyer, David Cox, Paddy Hogan, Thaddeus Clancy, Tom Rigney, John Conniffe, Ger Claffey, John Kelly and Pat Horan Non-Playing Captain.

Birr Golf Club won the Central Towns in 2006, when they beat Tullamore Golf Club at Tullamore the team was, Tony McCormack, Fintan Dolan, Tom Moylan, Tony McTague, John Delaney, K. P. Kelly, Ciaran Slevin, Tom Wright and Michael Stephens, they were managed by Paddy Kirwan and Derek Ryan.

Birr Golf Club were Runners-Up to Mullingar Golf Club in the Leinster Final of the Barton Shield at Luttrellstown in 2002. The team was Michael Horan, Seamie Breen, Justin Kehoe, Kenny McGarry and Joe Lyons. They were captained by Michael Lyons.

Lady Captain, Mary Grennan (20) and her Captains Prize winner Kathleen Dooley (17) were beaten into second place on a count back, when they qualified for the National Finals of the Volkswagen-Irish Independent Lady Captains Classic at Co. Sligo Golf Club in August 2002, when they returned 40 points. 

Justin Kehoe won the World Universities Championship and was selected on the Irish Team for the Home Internationals at Royal St. David's Golf Club in Harlech, Wales, from September 11th-13th 2002. 

Justin Kehoe was selected on the Irish Team to play in the Eisenhower Trophy in Kuala Lumpur from the 24th to the 27th October 2002.

Justin Kehoe won the South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch in 2001. He played the most remarkable golf I have ever seen in my life. Yes I have seen "The Tiger" and others. Justin opened up with birdie, eagle, birdie had another on his way to the turn. He then proceeded to ream off four birdies in a row to finish the match. I don’t expect to see that sort of golf again around Lahinch, mind you he did have two three-putts. Justin was selected on the six-man Irish team for the European Strokeplay championship in Denmark on the 22nd to the 25th August 2001, won by none other than Stephen Browne. He then joined his fellow U. C. D students, including Mark Campbell, Paul McDonald and Mark O'Sullivan. when winning the All-Ireland Bulmers Barton Shield at Newlands Golf Club 20th September 2001.

Justin Kehoe was selected together with Graham McDowell, representing Ireland at the Belgium International Juniors, from 22nd to 26th August, 2000. He played for the Irish Youths team against Scotland at Cork G. C. in June, 1999. He also played Leinster Youths in 1998 and 1999 at Waterford G. C. and in April 1999 when they won the Interprovincial Championship having played Leinster Boys from 1996 to 1997, winning 10 of his 12 matches.

A. McIntyre qualified for the National Finals of the Irish Times-Mitsubishi Motors Women's Masters. She returned 30 points in the semi-final at Glasson Golf Hotel & Country Club on the 23rd of August 2001. Then it was on to Galway Bay & Country Club for the Final on 13th September.

Prior to 2001:

Birr won the Irish Mixed Foursomes at Galway in 1979.

They won the Barton Cup in 1994, when the squad was P. Madden, J. O'Neill, T. Nevin, M. McGarry, F. Golding, J. McMenamin, M. Horan, M. Tracey, P. Kirwin, M. Yates, E. Nevin and F. Horan. They were managed by M. Lyons and S. Breen.

Y. Guinan was selected on the I. L. G. U. Junior squad in November 2000.

Joe Lyons went from 3.6 to 0.9 between Jan and July in 1999-that takes a lot of good golf at his level. He won the Gort Scratch Cup in May, followed by the Birr Scratch Cup.

Members who played representative golf for Country or Province;

 Richie Coughlan played Walker Cup at Quaker Ridge G. C. N. Y. in 1997. He represented Ireland as a Senior International from 1991 to 1997 playing 23-times won 12-matches halved three and lost 8-matches accumulating 27-points. He represented Ireland at international Youths level from 1991 to 1995 playing 22-matches, won 16-matches halved two and lost 4-matches accumulating 34-points. He represented Ireland at Irish Boys level from1989 to 1991 playing 23-times won 14-matches halved two and lost 7-matches accumulating 30-points. He represented Leinster at Senior Interprovincial level from 1990 to 1997 playing 27-times won 12-matches halved one and lost 14-matches accumulating 25-points. He represented Leinster as a Youth Interprovincial from 1990 to 1992 playing 18-times won 12-matches halved one and lost 5-matches accumulating 25-points. He won the Joe Carr Perpetual Award in 1990, with 115 points;

Justin Kehoe represented Ireland as a Senior International from 2000 to 2003 playing 28-times won 13-matches halved four and lost 10-matches accumulating 30-points. He represented Ireland at international Youths level from 1999 to 2000 playing 10-matches, won 8-matches halved one and lost 1-match accumulating 17-points. He represented Ireland at Irish Boys level in 1998 playing 11-times won 7-matches and lost 4-matches accumulating 14-points. He represented Leinster at Senior Interprovincial level from 1999 to 2003 playing 23 -times won 13-matches halved five and lost 5-matches accumulating 31-points. He represented Leinster as a Youth Interprovincial in 1998 to 1999 playing 12-times won 6-matches halved one and lost 5-matches accumulating 13-points. He represented Leinster at Boys  Interprovincial level from 1996 to 1997 playing 12-times won 10-matches and lost 2-matches accumulating 20-points;

W. Donlon represented Ireland at Senior (55+) in 2010 playing 3-times won 1-match halved one and lost 1-match accumulating 3-points;

Steven Grant represented Leinster at Senior Interprovincial level in 2007 playing 5-times won 1-matches and lost 4-matches accumulating 2-points;

History of Birr

Founded 1893, affiliated 1893.

In August 1893, the King's County Chronicle published an account of a game of golf which was played on the grounds of Mr Marshall's estate at Barrone Court near Birr. By October, a club had been established and members were invited to bring their friends who could obtain tea on the links. The club survived at Barrone Court until 1909 when it was decided to relocate to the Glenns on the Birr - Banagher road. The lands were leased from the Rosse Estate for a fee of one shilling per year payable in two half-yearly instalments. The course has been carved out of natural woodland and eskers and its post-glacial provides a strong challenge for even the most accomplished golfers. The undulating fairways, the ridges, hills and hollows represent the nearest inland equivalent to the links courses around our coast.

"In August 1893, the Kings County Chronicle published a harbinger account of the game of golf, which had been talked about in the town and in the barracks of Crinkle as a new addition to the existing opportunities for disportment. In the article, golf is referred to as another form of exhilaration, No doubt about that but there is about the game being an ancient one. It was then but in its infancy.

"With tennis flourishing, cricket prevailing, and polo occasionally making its appearance, it might have been thought that the round of local out0door amusements was complete. But another form of exhilaration is added by the introduction of an ancient game. The golf Tournament at Baronne Court lately held came as an interest accessory to the catalogue.

The participation in the game by ladies who have established a reputation for cricketing is something to rely on. In their hand the result lies. The zealous interest they demonstrated in promoting the happy meeting on Mr Marshall's links needs only continuance to ensure the success that we hope will attend their efforts.