CORK GOLFERS HONOURED FOR INTERNATIONAL EXPLOITS
KANTURK’S Mairead Martin and Mitchelstown’s Valerie Clancy have been honoured by Killarney Golf and Fishing Club at a special reception held at the 2011/12 Irish Open venue last Wednesday.
Alongside Irish Senior Mary Sheehy from Tralee, the three international golfers, all members of Killarney Golf and Fishing Club, were joined by friends and family for the big occasion.
Lady Captain Mary O’Rourke made a presentation to each in acknowledgement of the trio’s exploits.
Mairead and Valerie were both part of the Irish Girls Team that sealed the country’s first triumph in the Home Internationals in Wales just last month.
Kanturk’s Maired (16) had already been selected for a number of international teams prior to this monumental achievement, while Mitchelstown’s Valerie (15), who plays off a scratch handicap, is the reigning Munster Senior Open and Mid-Leinster Ladies Champion
Tralee’s Mary Sheehy teed up for Ireland in the European Seniors Team Championships in Poland on the back of some impressive displays on the domestic scene.
Mary, who is a member of Tralee and Ballybunion as well as Killarney, was a dominant presence at the competition, winning all but one of her matches, and sealed a 3-2 win over Belgium, as well as the title, with a spectacular 50 foot putt. Her excellent performance was enough to secure her berth on the Irish team at the ongoing Senior Women’s Home Internationals in Scotland.
Speaking at the reception, Lady Captain Mary O’Rourke said “we believe that Mairead, Valerie and Mary will inspire other young people in Killarney to take up the game with a belief that they can achieve”
“This presentation is not only to honour their achievements, but also to show how proud we are to have them in our club.”
Their names have been added to the Roll of Honour in the club’s Presidents’ Room along with previous international players, and their photos now sit proudly in the clubhouse.