“Windy, wet, wild but wonderful!” – The IRFU Charitable Trust 2025 Connacht Charity Golf Outing
“Windy, wet, wild but wonderful!” whispered a rain-soaked golfer returning to the Galway Bay Golf Clubhouse to submit a very damp scorecard! Like the golf, the weather was a mixed bag at the second IRFU Charitable Trust Connacht Charity Golf Outing, kindly sponsored by Pinergy, which took place Thursday 11th September at Galway Bay Golf. Many thanks again to Pinergy for being our Golf Partner and long term supporter. The morning started out sunny and stunning but just as the shotgun siren sounded at 12midday, the wind picked up and the rain bit. Thankfully the majority of the afternoon was sunny but then golfers were quickly reminded they were playing on the Wild Atlantic Way with another deluge before escaping to the warmth of 2 Iron Bar and the post-golf drinks reception kindly sponsored by Coca-Cola HBC Ireland.
The Trust Team arrived Wednesday afternoon and early Thursday morning for setup – many thanks to Linda Black, Paul Casserly, Yvonne Comer, Gordon Fahy, Padraig Moran, Marc Sheridan and Michael Whelan. Registration kicked off from 11am with golfers receiving another packed Goody Bag – many, many thanks to everyone who contributed to the Goody Bag – you can check out the list of contents in the Table Card on this page. Before teeing off, golfers were treated to tea/coffee and probably the best breakfast bap ever! Just before 12midday the golfers made their way on to the course, with Ronan from Galway Bay Golf taking the siren to the far end of the course so everyone could hear the siren blast at 12midday for the shotgun start.
We were delighted that Galway Bay FM were once again our Event Media Partner on the day. Many thanks to Yvonne Kelly, Séan O’Maolchiaran and Ollie Turner for being with us on the day; as well as Ronan Lardner who ran a live broadcast from Galway Bay Golf promoting the event. Ollie Turner had the pleasure of interviewing the four special guests from Connacht Rugby, a video of which you can see on this page along with interviews with other guests, before they headed out to play their round. Many thanks to Shayne Bolton, David Hawkshaw, Byron Ralston and Shane Jennings for joining us on the day; and a big shout out to Shane Jennings in particular for being the voice for our Radio Ads on Galway Bay FM. Many thanks for all the support from Connacht Rugby, especially Stephen Long; not just for this event, but throughout the year. We also greatly appreciate the support from the Charitable Trust’s National Media Partner, DMG Media; and in particular Business Plus for all the advertising and promotion for the event – thank you Wini Moore, David Vaz and Fintan Gavigan.
Many thanks as well to Aerogen, our “Longest Drives” sponsor for the second year running, who also took a team. And we were delighted to welcome back another sponsor from 2024 – Intersport Elverys who very kindly sponsored “Nearest the Pins”, the second team prize, donated to the Goody Bag and took a team! Both Aerogen and Intersport Elverys are massive supporters of rugby and we greatly appreciate their support, in particular John Power and Philip Staunton from Aerogen and Intersport Elverys respectively. A special mention to Ted Carty, Oliver Carty & family for sponsoring the 3rd Team Prizes with incredible Hampers! As always, it is humbling to witness the support from the wider Connacht Rugby community, in particular the Connacht Rugby Clubs who once again supported the event including Buccaneers RFC, Castlebar RFC, Galwegians RFC and Gort RFC who all fielded a four-ball; Carrick on Shannon RFC, Claremorris RFC, Creggs RFC, Tuam RFC and seriously injured player Tommie Kyne’s club, Corrib RFC who all very kindly sponsored Tee Signs; and Sligo RFC who kindly made a generous donation. Not to mention all the corporate supporters, many already mentioned above, who also kindly contributed in any way they could. We greatly, greatly appreciate all the support from everyone; all of whom you can see on the Table Card on this page. And as you will hear in the interviews around the course with Galway Bay FM – all in attendance are first and foremost rugby fans, fans who want to give back to the game by supporting those who have left more on the field than most of us. To all golfers, to all individuals, clubs and businesses around Connacht, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Without the ongoing support of rugby people, the Charitable Trust could not continue to care for all 37 of our seriously injured players and their families. Our Care Group of Volunteers are always in touch with the injured players and family members to ensure they have what they need to continue to live their lives to the fullest. Along with the emotional support, the Trust, through the generosity of the entire rugby community in Ireland, support with functional needs including physiotherapy, medical care, and in particular mobility, especially wheelchairs, home alterations and vehicle adaptations. As mentioned before, Tommie Kyne, seriously injured in 2005 playing for Corrib RFC, had a particular vehicle very close to his heart adapted – his digger! As Tommie says, he can barely hold a tea cup, but with the adaptations made to his digger with the help of the Charitable Trust, he can now be out and about on the land working, something that he loves to do.
Unfortunately Tommie could not join us for the post-golf dinner and Q&A but were delighted to welcome Tommie’s wife Teresa. The post-golf activities started with a Drinks Reception (once golfers had a very welcome hot shower!) from 5pm to 6pm, kindly sponsored by Coca-Cola HBC, which included Aperol Spritz, Finlandia Vodka and Three Cents Tonic Water, and of course Coca-Cola. Special thanks to Robert Lahiff and his team from Coca-Cola HBC for all the support again this year. The three-course dinner was outstanding in 2024 and was even better this year! Thank you all the team in Galway Bay Golf and the Connacht Hospitality Group, in particular Dean Montgomery as well as Jan, Roisin, Tatiana, Caoimhe, Ross and Ronan already mentioned, for all the support and looking after us all so well. We look forward to continuing our Partnership in 2026 and beyond.
A fantastic Q&A entertained golfers and guests alike with the highly entertaining James Heaslip of DNG once again our MC. Thank you James again for your support and as mentioned, a very special thank you to the four Connacht Rugby players: Shayne, David, Byron and Shane, for taking part in the Q&A. What shined through was the excitement and optimism in the camp for the new season ahead. With the new Dexcom Stadium, a new and very highly respected Head Coach in Stuart Lancaster, as well as other key appointments, the season ahead for Connacht Rugby will be watched with eager anticipation by all rugby fans! From all of us at the IRFU Charitable Trust, the very best of luck and stay safe!
To the winners! First up, the Longest Drives, sponsored by Aerogen and presented by Dave Mescal; Yvonne Comer won the Ladies Longest Drive and Declan King from Alrí Construction won the Men’s Longest Drive. Sponsored by Intersport Elverys, and presented by Mark Staunton, the Front 9 Nearest the Pin was won by Colin Gannon; and the Back 9 by Peter O’Hara. Last year’s winners, Alrí Construction came third this year with a score of 60.8, winning the incredible Hampers from Oliver Carty & family, kindly present by Ben Carty. Runners-up “The Best Drivers Probably” with a score of 60.3 won the Cobra Golf Bags kindly sponsored by Intersport Elverys, and presented by Mark Staunton. And finally, the IRFU Charitable Trust 2025 Connacht Charity Golf Outing winners – Avita Communications (2) with a winning score of 59.3. Avita Communications fielded two teams and it was great to see Kevin, John, Edmund and Frank presented with their winners prizes of TaylorMade TP Black Putters from Pinergy representative JP Roux. Many, many thanks to all prize sponsors as each and every prize was greatly received.
Many congratulations to all winners, especially Avita Communications Team 2, who now go on to represent Connacht at the the 2026 IRFU Charitable Trust “Irish Rugby 150th Golf Cup” which takes place in Fota Island Golf Resort on Friday 19th June 2026.
The Raffle Draw, ably managed by the very entertaining James Heaslip followed by the prize giving with over 20 Raffle Prizes to be won – a list of which you can see within the Table Card on this page. You can also see the six fantastic Silent Auction Lots on the Table Card which ended the night. Many thanks to everyone who contributed to the Raffle Prizes, in particular Aldi who provided Vouchers for all four of the Trust’s Provincial Charity Golf Outings; and deep gratitude to those who provided the Silent Auction Lots, in particular The Sandymount Hotel and Dubarry of Ireland.
The IRFU Charitable Trust 2026 Connacht Charity Golf Outing will be announced soon, so please come back and visit to ensure you book your four-ball for another great event next year.
Finally, on behalf of all seriously injured rugby players and their families, across all four provinces, thank you all so, so much for your support – it is greatly, greatly appreciated.
