Society enjoys a Mayo homecoming 

Golf: The Dublin-based Mayo Golf Society was set up 67 years ago, certainly making it one of the oldest societies in the country. Its founders had one aim in mind and that was to use the game of golf as a conduit to bring Mayo people together, thereby fostering camaraderie, friendship, networks and connections in an era when rural electrification was only in its infancy and the telephones were to be found only in the local post office. Therefore, through the golf society and the Mayo Association in Dublin, young people arriving in the capital had a ready-made link of communication with access through its members to information on accommodation and work opportunities.

Those founding fathers deserve great credit for having the foresight, vision and commitment to establish the society in 1958 and they can bask in the reflected glory of 67 years of enjoyment for so many members and guests.

The Mayo Golf Society, up until recently, was for people of Mayo DNA, but now includes a number of members, male and female, from outside the county. The society plays seven outings a year from mid-April to mid-October in golf courses relatively close to Dublin. Already this year they have held outings to Powerscourt, Stackstown and Beaverstown gold clubs, while on July 12 they will play the president’s prize at Kilcock Golf Club followed by the captain’s prize at Clontarf Golf Club on August 22. The final two outings of 2025 will be to Luttrellstown on September 19 (vice captain’s prize) and Rush Golf Club on October 17.

For the first time in its history however, the society also recently went on a weekend outing back to its roots, playing Castlebar and Westport golf courses. They had a most enjoyable weekend and were joined by former Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, and former Mayo footballers Willie McGee, John Finn, Peter Ford, Tom Byrne and Joe Cuddy.

The top four places in the Castlebar scramble were filled, in order, by Fr John Regan, Michael Ludden, Conor Ludden and Fintan Brett. The winner of the Westport stableford was Colm Reilly with 37 points, Runner-up was Terry Madden on 36 points with the same score by John Reid in third place. Noreen Geraghty and Kevin O’Boyle were fourth and fifth place, both on 34 points, while John Finn finishing sixth on 33 points. John Finn also won the longest drive while nearest lady to the pin was Una Stephens.

It is hoped to make this weekend away an annual event. Anyone at all with Mayo DNA who play golf in or around Dublin are encouraged to join the society where they will received a warm Céad Míle Fáilte. Contact society captain Kieran Kenny on kierankenny555@gmail.com.