Athlone golf club Roscommon

Members Achievements

Young Darragh McGrath was selected on the Connaught Under-18 Interprovincial Team played at Ballykisteen Golf Club on 21st and 22nd August 2023.
The other members of the team were Aodhagan Brady & Luke Harrison (Co. Sligo Golf Club), Charlie Mooney (Ballinasloe Golf Club), Cathal Penney (Athenry Golf Club), Aaron Quigley (Castlebar Golf Club) and Conor Stapleton (Connemara Golf Club).
They were Captained by Captain - John Waters (Oughterard Golf Club) and Managed by Manager - Shane Quigley (Castlebar Golf Club).

Athlone Golf Club won the Connaught Final of the Pierce Purcell Shield when they beat Cregmore Park Golf Club by 4-matches to 1-match at Roscommon Golf Club on Sunday 12th August 2018.

They were led out by Ian Holmes with Eamonn Higgins who had a 2-hole win over Tom Hillary with Gerard Burke, they were followed by Michael Ryan with Denis Earley who lost their match against Brendan Lynskey with Des O'Reilly, next up was Liam Browne with Denis Hellen who won their match on the 19th against Matt Kavanagh with Seamus Langan, in the penultimate match of Shane Connaughton with John Costello recorded a 2 and 1 win over Keith Loughnane with Mick Molloy and in the bottom match Paul Burke with Declan Corcoran had a similar score when beating John Culkin with Tom Concannon and their place in the All-Ireland Deciders.

They made their way to Thurles Golf Club to participate in the All-Ireland Finals and were drawn against Ulster Champions Ballyclare Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final on Thursday 4th October and had a 3-matches to 2-matches over the Antrim team.

They were led out by Ian Holmes with Eamonn Higgins who lost their match against Jason Thompson with David Carmichael by 3 and 2, they were followed by Michael Ryan with Denis Earley who had a 1-hole win over John Green with Gerry McCullough, next on the tee was Liam Browne with Denis Hellen who again had that 1-hole win over James Scott with Colin McGookin, the penultimate match of Shane Connaughton with John Costello went 4 and 3 to Philip McIntyre with Alan Clelland in the bottom match Declan Corcoran with Paul Burke had to go up the 19th against Charlie Thompson with Jordan Hagan before securing the point and their place in the All-Ireland Final.

They met Munster Champions Nenagh and were led out by Ciaran O’Connor with Tadg Mannion who recorded a halve against Denis Corrigan with Martin Fogarty, they were followed by  Michael Ryan with Denis Earley who lost out to Ger Clifford with Tom Quinlisk by 3 and 2, next on the tee were Liam Browne with Denis Hellen who halved their match against Pat Ryan with Mark O’Dwyer, in the penultimate match of Aidan O’Driscoll with John Galvin had a crushing 8 and 6 loss to David Hickey with Martin Reddan and in the bottom match Paul Burke with Declan Corrigan lost out to James Reddan with Pat Hogan Jnr. by 5 and 3 this was the Tipperary Clubs second win in three years.

Athlone Golf Club won the Connaught Final of the Irish Senior Cup at Co. Sligo Golf Club when they beat Roscommon Golf Club by 4-matches to 1-match in the decider in 2015.

First on the tee was Colm Fitzgerald who halved his match against Alan Creavan when called in, he was followed by Niall Carroll who also got called in against Tommy Grehan, he was followed by Conor Rice who had a 4 and 3 win over Enda Daly, in the penultimate match Thomas O’Connor beat Dan O’Brien by 4 and 3, in the bottom match Kevin Sheehy beat Liam Casey by 3 and 2.

They made their way to Carton House to compete in the All-Ireland deciders, where they were drawn against Leinster Champions Maynooth University in the All-Ireland Semi-Final. They were led out again by Colm Fitzgerald who lost his match against Ronan Mullarney by 4 and 3, next up was Niall Carroll who went down to Kyle McCarron by 2 and 1, he was followed by Daniel O’Connor who halved his match against Declan Loftus, in the penultimate match Thomas O’Connor also halved his match against Stephen Kinch and in the bottom match Kevin Sheehy lost out to Jack Walsh by 3 and 2. The other members of the team were Sean Doyle, Conor Rice and Donie Shine they were Captained. Managed and selected by Patrick Kenny.
Maynooth went on to win the green pennant when they beat Knock Golf Club in a very close final by 3-matches to 2-matches.  

Athlone Golf Club won the Connacht Final of the Jimmy Bruen Shield when they beat Galway Bay Golf Club in the Provincial Final by 3-matches to 2-matches in 2013. First on the tee was Padraig O’Connor with John O’Connor who lost out to Tom Molloy with Damien Coleman by 4 and 3 they were followed by Conor Rice with Mark Kelly who had a 4 and 3 win over Keith Harte with Richard Noonan next up was Tony Corry with Gerry Kelly who lost their match against Mark Shields with Mark Gantly by 1-hole the penultimate match of Thomas Golhooley with Michael Ryan went 4 and 3 to Kevin Bird with Goran Dujkovic. So it was down to the bottom match of John Rice with Desmond Rush against Martin Molloy with Mick Scanlon to decide where the pennant went and the Athlone pare clinched their place in the All-Ireland deciders with a 4 and 3 win.
They made their way to Royal Tara Golf Club in Meath to compete in the National Deciders where they were drawn against Ulster Champions Tandragee Golf Club from Co. Armagh. They were led out by Thomas Golhooley with M. Evens who lost out to S. Burns with J. Rowe by 2 and 1 next up was Conor Rice with Mark Kelly who went all the way to the 18th before conceding the point to P. Handley with C. Fearon they were followed by Tony Corry with Gerry Kelly who went down by 2 and 1 to G. Haire with M. Bannerman in the penultimate match C. Quilty with Michael Ryan halved their match against W. Jardine with W. Small the bottom match also went to Tandragee when John Rice with Desmond Rush lost by 3 and 2 to E. Nixon with J. Quinn.

Athlone Golf Club won the Connacht Final of the Barton Shield at Westport Golf Club in August 2008. It was on to Monkstown Golf Club outside of Cork City where the met Munster Champions Limerick Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final on Wednesday 17th September 2008.

First on the tee was Mark Rowe with Aidan Dooley against Michael O’Kelly with Martin Poucher who lost their match by 4-holes, they were followed by Ciaran O’Connor with Kelan McDonagh and they lost there match by 1-hole giving Limerick Golf Club a comfortable passage into the All-Ireland Final the following day.

Mark Rowe was selected on the Connacht team for the Interprovincial Matches played at Portmarnock Golf Club from 11th to 13th August 2004.

Athlone Golf Club were Connacht Champions of the Irish Senior Cup in 2003 and were drawn against Portmarnock Golf Club in the Semi-Finals at Lisburn Golf Club on 12th September, when the team on the day was Kevin Sheedy, Hugh Feeney, Mark Rowe Padraig O'Boyle and James Joyce. Mark Rowe beat Colm Moriarty's fellow Walker Cup player Noel Fox by 3 and 1. However Portmarnock went on to win yet another Blue Ribon when they beat Mallow in the All-Ireland Final.

Athlone Golf Club were Runners-Up to Ballinasloe in the Connaught Finals of the Barton Shield at Galway Golf Club, when the team was Mark Butler, Mark Rowe, Hugh Feeney, Colm Moriarty and Padraig O'Boyle. They were managed by Seamus Moriarty.

Athlone Golf Club were Runners-Up in the Connaught Finals of the Jimmy Bruen Shield at Galway Golf Club in 2002. The team was Mick Butler, Jimmy Murray, Tom Dolan, Frank McGowan, Dermot Fagan, Eamonn Hardieman, Cieran O'Connor, Ken Skeffington, Michael Ryan, John Costello, Conor Fitzgerald, Liam Johnson, Declan Corcoran and Derek Kenna. They were captained by Pat Larkin.

Athlone Golf Club won the Cecil Ewing Shield in 2001 when the beat Castlebar in the final by 6.5 matches to 3.5 matches. The team was Michael Healy with Sean Kearney, Brendan Mahon with Bob Gilhooley, Adrian Downes with Aidan McGrath, Gerry Feary with Pat Carolan, Tom Browne with Brian Quigley, Kieran Horkan with Paul Ainsworth, Donald O'Brien with Tom Hurst, Martin Lydon with Paddy McWalter, Michael Staunton with Michael McGing and Louis Walsh with James Roche.

Colm Moriarty, won the South of Ireland Championship in one of the best golf matches I have had the pleasure of seeing at Lahinch on July the 31st. He was subsequently selected on the Irish Team for the Home Internationals at Royal St. David's Golf Club in Harlech, Wales, from September 11th-13th 2002.

Colm Moriarty, had a dream start to the 2003 season when he and Justin Keogh (Birr G. C.) headed to Australia in February to represent Ireland in the New South Wales Medal and the New South Wales Championship. Colm returned rounds of 64,67, 68 and 70 to leave the International field in his slip-screen, in The Medal.

Then it was on to Sydney for the Championship where he completed the double in the match-play Championship never been taken past the 34th hole. I was speaking to Colm in early 2002 and was wondering if he had a Major in him, he has convinced me by now, with his performances and dedication that he is a good one in the making.

Colm is one of four Irish golfers selected on the Walker Cup panel for 2003. Colm was selected on the Irish Team for the Eisenhower Trophy played in Kuala Lumpur from 24th to the 27th October 2002 and got to the Semi-Finals of the West of Ireland Open Championship at Co. Sligo on April 2nd 2002.

Colm Moriarty was selected on the six-man Irish team for the European stroke play championship from the 22nd to the 25th August 2001. Colm won the Mullingar Scratch Cup with 19-under par for three rounds. The record for the Mullingar Scratch Cup is 20-under over four rounds. I have no doubt Colm would have smashed this if one of the rounds wasn't rained off. Colm was the Leading Irish player in the Home Internationals and won the Athlone Scratch Cup. Colm first represented Ireland at Senior level at Maidstone Club, New York, 0n 13-14 October 1999. He played

Hugh Feeney was selected on the Connacht Boys' team for the Interprovincial Championships at Headfort Golf Club from August 28/30/2002.

Athlone won four Connacht Championships in 2001. They won the Mixed Foursomes, the Cecil Ewing Shield, the Junior Under-15 and the Junior Under-18 the same year.

A. Geoghegan was selected on the Connacht Ladies team in the AIB Interprovincial's at the Island on the 8th to 10th August 2001.

Athlone duo Gerard O'Kennedy (6) and John Duggan won the All-Ireland Golf as Gaeilge Holmpatrick Cup at Ceann Sibeal in September 2001. They returned a fine score of four under par, yet the standard was so high they only collected the cup on a count-back over the last three-holes.

Lelia Comber and Valerie Brennan qualified for the National Finals of the Kellogg's Nurti-Grain Ladies Golf Challenge at Druid's Glen Golf Club on the 21st of August 2001.

Prior to 2001:

Athlone Golf Clubwon the All-Ireland Barton Shield at Portmarnock G. C. in 1959, when the team was P. Cawfield, Fr. J. Solan, J. O'Sullivan and P. Hughes.

Tom Rogers was President of the GUI in 1978. Dr. Harry Rice was the Irish International Team Captain in 1970.

Athlone won the Connacht Inter-Club Youths Championship in 1995, when the team was Mark Butler Colm Moriarty, N. Coyle, they were managed by Myrl Carroll. They won it again in 2000, when the team was Colm Moriarty, Mark Rowe and James Joyce.
They were All-Ireland Finalists in the Barton Shield in 1987, when the team was M. O'Riordan, P. O'Boyle, P. Egan, B. Burke, M. Herney and P. O'Loughlin.

They were Connaught Champions in the Barton Shield at Co. Sligo in 1994, when the team was Niel Kelly, Paddy Egan, Paddy O'Boyle, Mark Butler, Tom Campion and Niall O'Carroll, they were managed by Seamus Moriarty. They were Provincial Winners of the Bulmers Barton Shield and Senior Cup in 1986, when the team was B. Burke, P. O'Boyle, M. Harney, M. O'Riordan and they were captained by P. Egan. They were Conaught Champions of the Bulmers Barton Shield and Senior Cup in 1984, when the team was D. Reynolds. P. O'Sullivan, P. O'Boyle, M. O'Riordan, M. Tallon and A. Llyod.

They were Connaught Champions in the Irish Junior Cup in 1995, when the team was N. Coyle, P. McHale, K. Sheehy, M. Butler, S. Moriarty, C. Moriarty and P. O'Boyle, they were managed by T. Moriarty. The same year they won the Connaught Bulmers Jimmy Bruen Shield, when the team was D. Lally, K. Sheehy, F. McGowan, T. Dolan, W. Owens, E. Higgins, T. Campion, S. Kiernan, C. Moriarty, P. O'Boyle, P. Kiernan, M. Butler, V. Carr and T. Corry. They were managed by D. Fagan and E. Shanahan.

They won the Jack O'Sullivan Trophy in 1994, when the team was Peter Keenan, Willie Owens, John Joyce, Michael Hayes, Michael Butler, Padraig O'Boyle, Jimmy Reilly, Tom Collins, Sean Reynolds, Frank McGowan, Bob Deignan and Michael Ryan. They were managed by Billy Kennedy and Ger O'Kennedy.

They won the Hibernian Cecil Ewing Shield in 1996, when the team was Pat St. John, John O'Carroll, Frank Starkin, Benny Dunne, Tom Morris, Michael Downes, Denis O'Sullivan, Jimmy Fox, Aidan Gallagher, John Costello, John Killilea and Brendan Mahon.
Athlone were the beaten finalist in the Connacht section of the Jimmy Bruen Shield in 2000.

Past Captain, Pat Larkin (9) and his playing partner, Helen Costello (12), Mountbellew G. C., were leading qualifiers at Galway Bay, in the Spar-Irish Independent Mixed Pairs Championship with a score of 52pts. This is a very novel event, in that the first six holes are played as a scramble, followed by foursomes over the next six and finishing with singles.

Members who played representative golf for Country or Province;


Eddie Dunne represented Ireland as a Senior International from 1973 to1979 playing 23-times won 7-matches halved three and lost 13-matches accumulating 17-points. He represented Connacht at Senior Interprovincial level from 1973 to 1984 playing 70-times won 28-matches halved four and lost 38-matches accumulating 60-points;

Kelan McDonagh represented Ireland as a Senior International in 2010 playing 3-times, won 0-match and lost 3-matches accumulating 0-points;

Colm Moriarty represented Ireland as a Senior International from 2001 to2003 playing 17-times won 11-matches halved one and lost 5-matches accumulating 23-points. He represented Ireland at international Youths level from 1998 to 2000 playing 22-matches, won 14-matches and lost 8-matches accumulating 28-points. He represented Ireland at Irish Boys level from 1996 to 1997 playing 10-times won 3-matches halved one and lost 6-matches accumulating 7-points. He represented Connacht at Senior Interprovincial level from 1997 to 2002 playing 35-times won 10-matches halved three and lost 22-matches accumulating 23-points. He represented Connacht as a Youth Interprovincial from 1997 to 1999  playing 18-times won `10-matches halved one and lost 7-matches accumulating 21-points. He represented Connacht at the Boys Interprovincial from 1995 to 1996  playing 12-times won 7-matches halved one and lost 4-matches accumulating 15-points;

N. Kelly represented Connacht at Senior Interprovincial level from 1990 to 1992 playing 8-times won 0-matches and lost 8-matches accumulating 0-points. He represented Ireland at international Youths level in 1990 playing 1-match and lost 1-match accumulating 0-points. He represented Ireland at Irish Boys level from 1988 to 1989 playing 6-times won 3-matches and lost 3-matches accumulating 6-points;

Pat O’Sullivan represented Ireland at international Youths level in 1989 playing 2-matches;

P. Egan represented Connacht at Senior Interprovincial level from 1973 to 1986 playing 27-times won 4-matches halved one and lost 22-matches accumulating 9-points. He represented Connacht as a Youth Interprovincial in 1971  playing 2-times won -matches and lost 2-matches accumulating 0-points;

K. McDonagh represented Connacht at Senior Interprovincial level from 2007 to 2010 playing 24-times won 12-matches halved two and lost 10-matches accumulating 26-points;

P. O’Boyle represented Connacht at Senior Interprovincial level from 1981 to 1984 playing 14-times won 3-matches and lost 11-matches accumulating 6-points;

Ciaran O’Connor represented Connacht at Senior Interprovincial level from 2006 to 2009 playing 19-times won 7-matches halved four and lost 8-matches accumulating 18-points. He represented Connacht as a Youth Interprovincial from 2005 to 2007  playing 15-times won 6-matches halved one and lost 8-matches accumulating 13-points. He represented Connacht at the Boys Interprovincial in 2003  playing 4-times won 0-matches halved one and lost 3-matches accumulating 1-point;

J. O’Sullivan represented Connacht at Senior Interprovincial level from 1956 to 1965 playing 9-times won 4-matches halved two and lost 3-matches accumulating 10-points;

Pat O’Sullivan represented Connacht at Senior Interprovincial level from 1980 to 1982 playing 10-times won 2-matches and lost 8-matches accumulating 4-points. He represented Connacht as a Youth Interprovincial from 1997 to 1999  playing 16-times won 7-matches and lost 9-matches accumulating 14-points;

Mark Rowe represented Connacht at Senior Interprovincial level from 2001 to 2006 playing 23-times won 5-matches halved four and lost 14-matches accumulating 14-points. He represented Connacht at the Boys Interprovincial from 1997 to 1998  playing 12-times won 6-matches halved one and lost 5-matches accumulating 13-points;

J. Solon represented Connacht at Senior Interprovincial level from 1956 to 1960 playing 24-times won 4-matches and lost 20-matches accumulating 8-points;

R. Blaine represented Connacht as a Youth Interprovincial in 2008  playing 3-times won 0-matches and lost 3-matches accumulating 0-points;

Mark Butler represented Connacht as a Youth Interprovincial in 1996  playing 1-times won 0-matches and lost 1-matches accumulating 0-points. He represented Connacht at the Boys Interprovincial from 1993 to 1994  playing 12-times won 6-matches and lost 6-matches accumulating 12-points;

A. Dooley represented Connacht as a Youth Interprovincial in 2005  playing 4-times won 1-match and lost 3-matches accumulating 2-points;

G. Egan* represented Connacht as a Youth Interprovincial in 1966 playing 2-times;

B. Kenny represented Connacht as a Youth Interprovincial in 1977  playing 3-times won 0-matches and lost 3-matches accumulating 0-points;

K. McDonagh represented Connacht as a Youth Interprovincial from 2008 to 2009  playing 12-times won 4-matches halved two and lost 6-matches accumulating 10-points;

N. O’Carroll represented Connacht as a Youth Interprovincial from 1990 to 1992  playing 9-times won 0-matches and lost 9-matches accumulating 0-points;

D. Reynolds represented Connacht as a Youth Interprovincial from 1982 to 1984  playing 7-times won 3-matches and lost 4-matches accumulating 6-points;

Ritchie Blaine represented Connacht at the Boys Interprovincial in 2004  playing 5-times won 2-matches and lost 3-matches accumulating 4-points;

Hugh Feeney represented Connacht at the Boys Interprovincial from 2002 to 2003  playing 9-times won 2-matches halved two and lost 5-matches accumulating 6-points;

Kelen McDonagh represented Connacht at the Boys Interprovincial from 2006 to 2007  playing 12-times won 5-matches halved two and lost 5-matches accumulating 12-points;

Charlie McMickan played in the inaugural Boys under-15 Interprovincial Championships in 2010, playing 3-matches won 1-match and lost 2-matches accumulating 2-points;

The Ladies of Athlone Golf Club won the Connacht Intermediate Trophy in 2003, the All-Ireland Jefferson Smurfit Team Championship in 1984 and 1995.

They won the Connacht Cup in 1967.

Athlone won the Connacht Trophy in 1977, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1966 having first won it in 1957.

Kay & Niamh O'Regan won he Lancôme Trophy in 1985.

A. Geoghegan and S. Donnelly won the All-Ireland May Fitzgibbon Memorial Trophy in 1987.

Cathryan Mannion won the L.G.U. Golf Pin in 1994.

Lily O'Sullivan won the Connacht Junior Championship in 2003,

Celeste O'Regan won the Connacht Junior Championship in the Millennium

Mary Hynes won the Connacht Junior Championship in 1998

Niamh O'Regan won the Connacht Junior Championship 1988

Rosemary Kearon won the Connacht Junior Championship in 1979

Lola Lyster won the Connacht Junior Championship in 1975

Primrose Cotton was the first Lady in Athlone to win the Connacht Junior Championship in 1965

Pat Eaton won the Western District Golden Years Tournament in 2001.

History of Athlone

Instituted 1892 affiliated 1895

Founded in 1892 as "Athlone Garrison Golf Club" it was during the early years, the preserve of British Army Officers, their wives and members of the Royal Irish Constabulary. Prominent among the early enthusiasts were Majors Harrison and Gaussens and Lt. Hamlin of the Royal Artillery.

At the turn of the century, leading business and professional people began to take an interest in the game. Those who played an important part in the development of the club at the time included P. V. C. Murtagh, J. Lyster, Dr. C. J. McCormack, J .J. Coen and P. B. Bingham. Because of this influence, a new constitution was drawn up and the Club was renamed "Athlone Golf Club".

The original Course was at the "Batteries" on land adjacent to the Victoria Barracks, now Custume Barracks. Because of the urban development this course had to be abandoned in 1920. It had however left an indelible mark on the history of Irish Golf by producing one of the country’s greatest amateur golfers. He was John Dillon McCormack who won three Close Championships and played for Ireland twenty-four times. In 1924 he was selected for the Walker Cup Team but had to turn down the opportunity for personal reasons.

Following the loss of the "Batteries" a new course was laid out at Garnafailagh, two miles north of the town. Golf continued there until 1938, when it was found desirable to move to the present beautiful setting on the west bank of the River Shannon and Lough Ree at Hudson Bay. The course was designed by J. McAllister of Portmarnock Golf Club.
Significant modifications and redevelopment, ongoing over the years, including the instillation of a course watering system in 1964, updated and automated in 1996.

The construction of a new clubhouse 1n 1972, the refurbishment and development of Ladies and Gents locker rooms, the construction of a new entrance and a Pro-Shop in 1998, all combined to provide members and visitors alike with facilities of exceptional standards. Today Athlone Golf Club stands as a golfing Mecca for all enthusiasts and a lasting tribute to the men and women of yesterday.