A night of nostalgia and memories at Old Conna

It was a trip down memory lane last week for the members of Old Conna Golf Club as it celebrated its 30th anniversary.

Club member and chairman of the 30th anniversary celebrations committee Brendan Connolly said it had been a great night with members relishing the chance to catch up with each other off the course.

‘It was a great night. We celebrated not only 30 years of Old Conna Golf Club but also 40 years of its predecessor Dublin Sports. Old Conna came out of Dublin Sports and prior to that it was associated with Pat Quinn.’

Brendan has compiled a book detailing the history of the club dating back to its inception which he presented on the night to club president Declan O’Neill. A number of the Old Conna Golf Club founding members were present at the anniversary celebrations including John Byrne, John Keating, Con Gallagher, Ignatius Campbell and Ken Gleeson.

During the evening the guests enjoyed a number of presentations including the history of Dublin Sport and the purchase of the land at Old Conna, the financing of the land, the history of the land which dates back to the Riall and Roberts families in the 1850s. Brendan also gave a presentation detailing the club’s history having read 40 years of minutes from club meetings.

In 1986 Dublin Sports bought the land from developer Owen McDermott and renowned golf course designer Eddie Hackett designed the immaculate course.

‘It was a great night’, said Brendan. ‘We had a big historical display which everyone was really interested in.’

John Byrne, John Keating, Con Gallagher, Ignatius Campbell and Ken Gleeson, who were original members of the Dublin Sport Golf Club which evolved into Old Conna Golf Club.

Michael Neary, Brendan Connolly, Mary Watts and John Fagan from the History and Archive Committee which compiled a history of the club.

President Declan O’Neill, Ladies’ Captain Mary Jones and Captain Pat Keogh.