Inaugural Munster Golf Outing in aid of seriously injured rugby players
What an amazing day! The IRFU Charitable Trust’s first Munster Golf Outing, kindly sponsored by our Golf Partner Pinergy , in aid of seriously injured rugby players, was a brilliant success. The sold out event took place in the stunning Fota Island Golf Club, on the Deerpark Championship Course, on Friday 23rd June 2023. Despite overcast conditions, spirits were high with plenty of banter and smiles as the Munster Rugby Community came together in support of all seriously injured players across the Island of Ireland of which six are in Munster.
Three of the Munster seriously injured players and their families and friends joined us on the day including Brendan Glynn with his wife Deirdre and daughter Grace, Danny Noonan and Mick O’Connell. They were joined by a host of special guests including Joy Neville, Billy Holland and Jonny Holland – who were part of our evening Q&A with MC Daire O’Brien which took place after a gourmet, and very delicious, BBQ. Prior to the BBQ, guests were treated to complimentary Guinness and Rockshore – kindly sponsored by Diageo. All present were also joined by URC Munster Champions Shane Daly, Alex Kendellen, Niall Scannell and Rory Scannell; and a very, very special guest – the URC Trophy itself! These were not the only surprise guests, as teams and guests also had the opportunity to have their photo taken with the Triple Crown and Six Nations Trophies – as well as the URC Trophy. Make sure you take the time to watch the video of the event (shown to the right), kindly created by our Video Partner Get Broadcasting.
Driven by the Charitable Trust’s Munster Team of volunteers: Pat Collins, Michael Keane, Bertie Smith, Colette Vogel and in particular – led by Ed Kenny, we would like to thank the Munster Team and all the volunteers who were there on Thursday and Friday, with special thanks to Sandra Collins and Hilary Sheridan for running the Raffle. The Raffle was our most successful at a golf outing and to echo Mick O’Connell’s words, reflects the kind and generous nature of the rugby community. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Raffle prizes – which were excellent (and can be viewed on the images of the table card below). And thank you to all our Golfers and guests who donated so generously.
In addition to the Raffle, we ran a Silent Auction which included some incredible and unique items including a signed and framed jersey from Peter O’Mahony – the jersey Peter wore when Ireland beat France in the Guinness Six Nations in February this year. There was also huge interest and plenty of bids for the team signed and framed Munster Jersey commemorating the URC Championship title. Thank you to all who contributed lots to the Silent Auction (again, these can be viewed on the images of the table card); and thank you to all those who placed bids.
Back to the golf! Twenty four teams participated, starting on the 1st and the 10th tees on a time sheet. Every golfer received not one, but two Goody Bags with an array of gifts – all of which can be seen to in the images of the Table Card. Thank you to everyone and all businesses who contributed to the wonderful Goody Bags – certainly the heaviest we have ever had! Following a warm welcome by the IRFU Charitable Trust Chair, Michael Whelan, Ed Kenny and Cilliam Moloney (Pinergy Corporate Account Manager for Cork) presented the winning prizes to: 1st place were Secure Management Systems with a very impressive score, securing the first team prize of Golf Bags, kindly sponsored by Pinergy. Rochestown Nursing home were second, and won a stunning Conscious Convert throw each. In third place, winning the Eoin O’Connor Hampers, kindly sponsored by Tipperary Crystal, was one of our Guest Teams with Shane Daly, Alex Kendellen, Tom Walsh and Michael Whelan. We had two ‘Nearest the Pinergy’ winners, kindly sponsored by Powerscourt Golf Club: Billy Holland on the front nine and Marc Sheridan on the back nine. And finally, John Waldron took home the Longest Drive, sponsored by Kearys Motor Group. Thank you to all of our twenty four teams and all those businesses who sponsored Tee Signs.
The purpose of the Golf Outing is to raise awareness for the Charitable Trust in Munster and in particular to raise awareness around the 35 seriously injured amateur rugby players around the four provinces whom the Charitable Trust supports. The Fota Island Resort was the perfect setting for this event and the support and kindness of the team at Fota, in particular Clodagh Stanley, was immense and greatly appreciated. As a key objective was to raise awareness for the event, we would like to pay special thanks to our media partner for the Munster Golf Outing – Corks96fm. Their team joined us on the day sharing photos and reels during the outing as well as prior to the event: running radio ads, a radio competition and interviewing Brendan Glynn – all helping to raise awareness for the Trust – the work we do and importantly, who we do it for. Thank you Donal Lenihan for kindly offering to be our voice for the radio ads.
A very heartfelt thank you to Munster Rugby as well for their support in raising awareness for the Golf Outing, including big screen advertising in both Musgrave Park and Thomond Park; as well a match programme advertising. Munster Rugby also had a team on the day captained by Munster Rugby COO, Philip Quinn. The support from Munster Rugby and the wider Munster Rugby Community was incredible and very much appreciated.
Finally, we would like to thank our Golf Partner Pinergy for being our primary sponsor on the day. Pinergy also support our Leinster Golf Outing and their commitment to the Charitable Trust, in helping support seriously injured players and their families, is exemplary.
Thank you again to all for such an amazing event. We will be back!