Cloughaneely Golf Club begin new clubhouse development with sod-turning ceremony

An historic day for Cloughaneely Golf Club on Saturday, with the turning of the sod for the new clubhouse coinciding with the annual season opener, the Captains' Drive-In. 52 golfers, plus many other locals and dignitaries, joined them for this momentous morning.

Proceedings got under way with incoming Captain, Joseph Mangan, welcoming all attendees, before making a beautiful and poignant speech which covered the club’s past, present and future. Joseph was then joined by Lady Captain Noirín O’Grady, President Martin Mortimer, and Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher to complete the ceremonial turning of the sod. Also present were Michael Friel (Assigned Certifier), Denis McGee (DCC Councillor), Shaun Mulligan (Mulligan Building Services – the main contractor), John Curran (Údarás na Gaeltachta), and Paul Doherty (Lead designer). The club would like to thank Pat the Cope in particular, for all his hard work in helping us secure funding for our clubhouse project from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.

With the sod turned it was time for the main event, the Drive In! Joseph Mangan did his best to delay his maiden shot of the year with yet another long monologue, yet when his granddaughter Saorlaith walked out from the crowd and placed a ball on a tee for him, he could delay no further. Joseph proceeded to hit a rocket down the middle of the fairway, surprising himself and others! Lady Captain Noirín followed Joseph with her tee shot perfectly struck, also finding the centre of the fairway. It was then onto our returning President, Martin Mortimer, to complete the Drive In. Despite cries of ‘2 out of 3 ain’t bad’ from the crowd, Martin stuck a magnificent wood right down to the bottom corner of the fairway, nearly 200 yards closer to the green than his tee shot last year.

The members then proceeded to play an 18-hole scramble, in glorious sunshine, and most made their way to the Strand Road Bar & Kitchen for refreshments afterwards. Lady Captain Noirín spoke briefly thanking all for attending on such a significant day in the club’s history, before presenting the prizes to the winners: 1st Place – Mark McGinley, Paul Ferry, Brendan Sharkey & Michael McGarvey 52.7 (-7); 2nd Place – Paul Doherty, Gerard Doran, Sandra McGinley & Stephen Doohan 54.8 (-6); 3rd Place – Chris McCallion, Bernie McCallion, Owenie McGee Jnr & Seamus McGee 57.9 (-5).

The club would like to express our sincere gratitude to all our sponsors, members and supporters, at home and abroad, whose assistance has helped us reach this point. If any others are interested in helping us, be that sponsorship or otherwise, please contact any committee member or email the club on cloughaneelygolfclub@gmail.com.

Included in picture are: 

Martin Mortimer, Joseph Mangan, Noirín O’Grady, Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher, Michael Friel, Roisín McGee, Denis McGee, Shaun Mulligan, John Curran, Joe McGarvey and Paul Doherty.