100-Hole Fundraiser for Kevin Bell Trust at Portsalon Golf Club

Two members of Portsalon Golf Club completed an exhausting challenge on Monday last in aid of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.

Claire and Kevin McGonagle teed off at Portsalon at 4.30 am at the start of a 100-hole golf challenge and completed the feat at 8.15 pm, tired but very satisfied.

The fundraiser was the brainchild of Kevin, a native of Kincasslagh in West Donegal and was undertaken in response to the work of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust when Claire's brother, Aidan McGarry, sadly passed away at his home in Texas in February. Through the amazing work of the Trust, Aidan's final wish was realised and he was repatriated home to his beloved Loughgiel in Co Antrim for burial.

Speaking from her home on Tuesday evening, 24 hours after the challenge, Claire said: "We actually did quite well, pace wise. We actually started at 4.30 am in the morning and we had it done at 8.15 pm. We had a wee bit of time to spare. There wasn't much energy to spare."

No buggies were used as the pair walked the full 100 holes. "We had our own motorised trolleys and at different times people came along and caddied for us. The whole purpose of the event was that we were walking.

"I don't want to see a golf course for a few days," says Claire, who said they didn't record a score but she said that Kevin was four over on one of his rounds and "I was three over on one of my rounds with a person caddying for me."

The pair, who live in Ramelton and play out of Portsalon, are extremely competent golfers with Kevin playing off a handicap of 5 and Claire off 6.

Claire and Kevin with their support crew after completing the 100-hole golf challenge at Portsalon.

Claire and Kevin surrounded by their friends after completing the challenge

Claire takes up the story surrounding the event. "My brother, Aidan, he lived in America with his family; his wife is American. He loved home. He was diagnosed with brain cancer when he was 52 years old; he bravely battled for 18 months. When he first let us know, the first thing he said that if anything happens to him he wanted to come home to be buried.

"But he was hopeful of beating it and making a full recovery. When he passed away, that was the one thing we wanted to make sure we could do for him," said Claire. "He passed away on the 6th of February this year at the age of 54.

"Loughgiel is big hurling country and it was probably one of the things he missed most when he was in America. He could watch it on GAAGO but he missed being there. Anytime he was home he wanted to get to the local hurling games and if there was a big game in Croke Park, that was a bonus.

"He was a huge fan of the Loughgiel. He was still living in America when they won the All-Ireland in 2012. He followed a local hockey team in America and that was close, but not the same," says Claire, who was helped out in organising the challenge by her brothers Sean and Paul McGarry.

The fundraising page can be supported here

Alternatively, if anyone would like to leave a donation in the golf club shop this week, please do so and it can be passed on to Claire and Kevin.

"We are overwhelmed by the support we have received. There was a bunch of envelopes left for us in the clubhouse. Neither of us had the energy to open them. The support locally here in Donegal, the support from the club was tremendous and yesterday Kevin and I played the first 18 holes on our own. Then on the second his brother came out quite early and one of the members met us half-ways out," said Claire, who added that the arrival of others kept them spurred on.

"The financial support which has been given to the charity is very humbling as well. And also the support we have got from the Loughgiel area as well, my own work place and Kevin's workplace. Anyone who knows us has contributed," said Claire, who said she hoped that the challenge will highlight the work of the Kevin Bell Trust.