Monkstown golf club Cork

Members Achievements

Monkstown Golf Club reached the All-Ireland Semi-Final of the Irish Junior Cup on Saturday 7th September 2024 at Athlone Golf Club when they lost out by 3-matches to 2-matches against Abbeyleix Golf Club. They were led out by Ed Farr who lost his match by 6 and 5 against Cathal Phelan, next on the tee was Philip Dorney who had a 4 and 3 win against Enda Rowland, Austin Hynes lost his match by the minimum against Cian Purcell, in the penultimate match Jake Morrisson lost his match by 2 and 1 against Eoghan Fennelly and in the bottom match Kevin Power lost out to James Deegan by 2 and 1.
The previous day they met Castletroy Golf Club in the Quarter-Finals and recorded a 3matches to 2-matches win against the Co. Limerick Club. Philip Dorney led them out and lost his match by 2-hole against John Lynch, next up was Brendan Reidy who lost out by 3 and 1 against Ed Far, Keith Bermingham put the first point on the board with a 3 and 1 win against Austin Hynes, in the penultimate match Seamus Lyons had a 4 and 3 win against Jake Morrisson and in the bottom match Ger Callanan had a 1-hole win against Kevin Power.

The Ladies from Monkstown Golf Club reached the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals of the Women’s Minor Foursomes on Friday 6st September 2024 at Shannon Golf Club when they lost out to the Ladies from Shannon Golf Club by 3½-matches to ½-match. They were led out by Gillian Lynch with Linda O'Sullivan who lost their match against Pauline Nally with Dee O'Connell by 2-holes, next on the tee was Trish Mackey with Sandra Holland who lost out by 5 and 4 against Sandra Ferguson with Marie O'Donnell, the penultimate match of Deirdre Burns with Marie Ruby against Ann Gordon with Carmel McMahon was halved and in the bottom match Ann Mackesy with Linda Lynch lost their match against Joan Hoctor with Mary Fitzgibbon by 3 and 2.

Monkstown Golf Club were Runners-Up in the Quarter Finals of the Irish Junior Cup on Sunday 27th August 2023 at Youghal Golf Club when they went down to Greystones Golf Club by 3-matches to 2-matches.
Colin Daly led them out and lost his match against William O’Riordan by 3 and 2, he was followed by Ronan O’Keeffe who had a 1-hole win against Harry Kirk as did Cian McDonnell against Jack McGovern, in the penultimate match Nick Moore lost his match by 5 and 4 against Toby Murphy and in the bottom match Joshua De Nijs lost his match by the minimum against Chris Boylan.
Monkstown Golf Club won the Final of East Munster Irish Junior Cup on Sunday 2th July 2023 at Clonmel Golf Club when they beat Cobh Golf Club by 4-matches to 1-match.

The Boys’ from Monkstown Golf Club were Runners-Up in the All-Ireland Final of the Boys’ Foursomes on Wednesday 30th August 2023 at Castletroy Golf Club when they lost out to Baltinglass Golf Club on the 2nd Play-Off Hole.
In the top match of Cian McDonnell (2) with James Morrison (5) lost their match against Neil Patterson (2) with Luke Doogue (12) by 1-hole and in the bottom match Ronan O’Keeffe (1) with Callum O’Farrell (12) had a similar win against Connor Gethings (8) with Stephen Patterson (8).
They met the boys’ from Galgorm Castle Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final in the morning and recorded a 2-hole win against the Antrim Club.
They were led out by Cian McDonnell (2) with James Morrison (5) who had a 4-up win against Josh Nicholl (0) with Brendan Mulgrew (4) in the other match Ronan O’Keeffe (1) with Callum O’Farrell (12) lost out by 2-holes against Cole Henderson (2) with Rory Brown (10).
They met the Boys’ from Greystones Golf Club in the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals the previous day and had a 7-up win against Wicklow Club.
Cian McDonnell (2) with James Morrison (5) led the out and had a comfortable 4-up result against Marc Lawless (9) with Ruadhan Murray (11) and in the bottom match, Ronan O’Keeffe (1) with Callum O’Farrell (12) had a 3-up win against Jack McGovern (4) with Milo Doyle (8)

The Boys’ from Monkstown Golf Club won the Final of East Munster Boys’ Foursomes on Monday 24th July 2023 at Clonmel Golf Club when they beat Tramore Golf Club by 2-Holes.

The Ladies of Monkstown Golf Club were Runners-Up in the Final of East Munster Women’s Fourball on Saturday 22th July 2023 at Fermoy Golf Club when they lost out to Cahir Park Golf Club by 3-matches to 2-matchs.

Michelle Sharkey were selected on the Munster Girls’Under-18 team to participate in the Interprovincial Championships at Hilton Templepatrick Golf Club from 19th to 21st July 2022, the others on the squad were Ella Moynihan and Lucy Grattan (Tralee Golf Club), Alicia Burke (Killarney Golf Club), Sadhbh Bullock and Laura Southern (Castletroy Golf Club), Maisie Breen (Dungarvan Golf Club) Katie Savage (Kanturk Golf Club) was the non-travelling reserve they were managed by Edel Randles from Castlegregory Golf Club and captained by Laura Guest from Lee Valley Golf Club.     

Cian McDonnell was selected on the Munster Under-14 team to participate in the Interprovincial Championships at Hilton Templepatrick Golf Club from 18th and 19st July 2022, the others on the squad were was Oran Barrett (Cork Golf Club), Donnacha Halpin (Shannon Golf Club), Anthony Hayes (Dungarvan Golf Club), Justin Dennehy (Douglas Golf Club) and Darragh Nolan (Fermoy Golf Club) the non-travelling reserve was Ronan Dawson (Tramore Golf Club) they were managed by Des Molyneaux from Ballybunion Golf Club and captained by Frank O Mahony from Limerick Golf Club.    

Michelle Sharkey was selected to represent Munster on the Girls’ Under-18 Interprovincial Team at Mount Wolseley Hotel and Golf Resort on October 9th and 10th October 2021, the others on the squad were Lauren Kelly (Ballykisteen Golf Club), Sadhbh Bullock and Laura Southern (Castletroy Golf Club), Corrina Griffin and Alica Burke (Killarney Golf Club) and Maisie Breen (Dungarvan Golf Club they were managed by Kiara O’Keeffe and captained by Aoife Lowry from Tipperary Golf Club.

Cian McDonnell was selected to represent Munster on the Boys’ Under-14 Interprovincial Team at Mount Wolseley Hotel and Golf Resort on October 9th and 10th October 2021, the others on the squad were Gordon Sillett (Ballykisteen Golf Club), Jack Clohessy (Ennis Golf Club), Barry O'Connell with Sean Reddy (Douglas Golf Club) and John Doyle (Fota Island Golf Club) they were managed by Dave Taylor from Muskerry Golf Club and captained by Phil Cooney from Lee Valley Golf Club.  

The Ladies of Monkstown Golf Club won the Munster Final of the Irish Ladies Intermediate Cup when they beat the Ladies of Lahinch Golf Club by 3½-matches to 1½-matches at Lee Valley Golf Club on Sunday 1st September 2019.
The were led out by Mary Egan who won her match against Marie O'Connor by 3 and 2, she was followed by Liz Whitaker who had a 1-hole win against Anne Vaughan, she was followed by Fabienne Moloney who beat Yvonne Morrison by 3 and 2, in the penultimate match Grace Coakley lost her match against Evelyn Lyons by 5 and 4 and the bottom match of Sue McGuire against Emma Frazer was recorded as a halve when called-in.

The Ladies of Monkstown Golf Club won the Munster Final of the Minor Cup when they beat Dromoland Castle Golf Club by 3-matches to 2-matches at Tipperary Golf Club on Sunday 2nd September 2018.

They were led out by Sieglinde Murphy (22) who won her match on the 19th against Sarah Fox (22), she was followed by Jane O'Hagan (23) who lost her match against Mary O'Donnell-O'Brien (23) on the 19th, next on the tee was Nina Kearney (23) who lost her match by 2-holes against Claire Bracken (26), in the penultimate match Martina McCarthy (24) who went up the 19th against Michelle Bennett (27) in the bottom match Catherine Rice (26) had a 2-hole win over Dorothea Madden (27) and with it a place in the National deciders.

They made their way to Knightsbrook Hotel & Golf Resort to participate in the All-Ireland Deciders where they met Connaught Champions Gort Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final on Thursday 27th September and won their match by 3½ -matches to 1½-matches against the ladies from Galway.

They were led out this time by Jane O’Hagan who had a resounding 9 and 8 win over Ann Nolan, next on the tee was Sieglinde Murphy who drew her match against Roisin Walsh, she was followed by Mary O’Sullivan who lost her match against Susan Madden by 3 and 1, in the penultimate match Martina McCarthy had a 2-hole win over Patricia Skehill and in the bottom match Catherine Rice won her match against Margaret Whelan by 3 and 2.

They met Ulster Champions Malone Golf Club in the All-Ireland Final the following day and recorded a 3½ -matches to 1½-matches win before collecting the green pennant. They were led out again by Jane O’Hagan who recorded a 3 and 2 win over Deborah Wilson, next up was Sieglinde Murphy who had a bad day against Hilary Agnew when going down by 7 and 6, she was followed by Nina Kearney who had a 2-hole win over Wendy Reid in the penultimate match Martina McCarthy beat Margaret Crossey by 3 and 2 and the bottom match of Catherine Rice was recorded as a halve when called in.

Monkstown Golf Club won the Munster Final of the Irish Senior Cup when they beat Castletroy Golf Club by 3-matches to 2-matches at Cork Golf Club on Saturday 13th August 2016.

They were led out by Nick Moore who lost out to Andrew McCormack by 3 and 2 he was followed by Donal McDonnell who went down to Mark Campbell by 1-hole next up was Martin Poucher who had a very comfortable 6 and 5 win over Jack Ryan, in the penultimate match Sean Desmond had a 1-hole win over Cian O’Donnell and delivered the point to clinch the pennant in the bottom match Eoghan Long beat Cian Daly by 6 and 5.

They made their way to Carton House Golf Club to compete in the All-Ireland deciders and drew Connacht Champions Co. Slgo Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final. They were led out by Sean Desmond who lost his match against David Brady by 2 and 1 next up was Donal McDonnell Jnr. Who had a 3 and 2 win  over Declan Reidy he was followed by Nick Moore who recorded a halve against Ruairi O’Connor in the penultimate match Martin Poucher went down  by 2-holes to T. J. Ford and in the bottom match Eoghan Long lost his match against Mark Morrissey by 4 and 3.

Co. Sligo Golf Club went on to beat Castle Golf Club in the All-Ireland Final the following day with a score of 3-matches to 2-matches, this was a bitter sweet victory for the men from Rosses Point as team member Mark Rooney passed away a few hours later at the tender age of 38.

Monkstown Golf Club won the Munster Final of the Jimmy Bruen Shield on their home course in August, their centenary year 2008.

They were drawn against Connacht Champions Strandhill Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final on Friday 19th September 2008. First on the tee was Ken Tracy with Donal McCarthy who had a 4 and 3 win over David Lindsay with David Keane. Next up was Nick Hayes with Carl Toal who had a convincing 8 and 6 win over Darragh Higgins with Patrick Hickey. They were followed by Denis Daly with John Barry who put the 3rd point on the board with a 6 and 5 win over Gerry Kilbride with Dessie Timbs. John Tobin with Niall Kennedy halved their match against Patrick Togher with John Howley, as did David O’Leary with Mark Hickey against Liam Kavanagh with Colin Walsh. Their 4-matches to 1-match saw them comfortably through to the All-Ireland Final against Leinster Champions Clontarf Golf Club the following afternoon.

First up was Ken Tracy with Donal McCarthy who lost out to Mark Brennan with Niall Lyons by 2-holes. They were followed by Nick Hayes with Carl Toal who lost out to Michael Fahy with Sean Stone by 3 and 1. Next up was Denis Daly with John Barry who halved their match against Conor Harrington with Tim O’Connell. The penultimate match of John Tobin with Niall Kennedy say the North Dublin pairing of Michael Kellett with Neal O’Flynn record a convincing 6 and 5 victory and indeed the green pennant. The bottom match of Dave O’Leary and Mark Hickey was halved with Stephen Kealy and Tony Stanley. So it was not to be for Monkstown to record their 2nd Jimmy Bruen Shield in their hundred year history.

The Ladies of Monkstown Golf Club won the Munster Final of the AA-Insurance Challenge Cup in 2008 they made the journey to Limerick Golf Club to compete in the National deciders; where they met Mid-Leinster Champions Tara Glen in the All-Ireland Semi-Final and had a comfortable 4 matches to 1 match over the young club. First on the tee was Leone Levis (30) who beat Aileen O'Hanrahan (30) by 5 and 3, she was followed by Ger O'Keeffe (30) who had a 4 and 2 win over Margaret Mooney (30), next up was Ruth Coulter (33) who beat Eilish McCarthy (32) by 3 and 2, the penultimate match of Brenda Geary (33) was halved against Triona MacDonald (32), in the bottom match Barbara Hanan (36) halved her match against Deirdre Turley (35)

They met Connaught Champions Athenry Golf Club in the All-Ireland Final the following day and lost out by 3½ matches to 1½ matches in the decider, Leone Levis (30) led them again and won her match by 6 and 5 against Pauline McEvoy (31), she was followed by Ger O'Keefe (30) who lost her match by a similar margin against Sara McDermott (31), Ruth Coulter (33) had a similar result against Martha Breen (32), in the penultimate match Brenda Geary (33) lost her match by 2 and 1 against, in the bottom match Barbara Hanan (36) halved her match against Carmel Burke (35).   

Ada O'Sullivan was selected as Captain of The winning Curtis Cup team for 2004.

Lady Captain Mary Rea, Captain Jim Long and R. A. Dunlea, qualified for the National Finals of the Mercedes-Benz Irish Independent Executive Golf Classic at The K Club on August 12th 2002.

Lady Captain Harriet Ferriss and her Captain's Prize winner Ada O'Sullivan were leading qualifiers in the Volkswagen-Irish Independent Lady Captain's Classic at Limerick Golf Club in August 2001. Ada with more than one hundred Irish caps and playing off scratch together with Harriet off 20 proved to b for the opposition when they won by 3-shots. They went on to play in the National Finals at Druid's Glen on October 1st. They came 3rd on a count back in gales described by Eamonn Darcy as "the worst I've experienced here"

P. O'Sullivan was elected to the council of the Munster Branch of the GUI for 2001.

Prior to 2001:

Monkstown won the All-Ireland Barton Shield at Cork G. C. in 1933.

Monkstown Golf Club won the All-Ireland Jimmy Bruen Shield at Portstewart G. C. in 1995, when the team was Peter Aherne, Finbarr Coakley, Dick Dunlea, Roy Downey, Andrew Fitzgerald, John Foster, John Hayes, Donal McCarthy, Michael McSweeney, Noel Miller, Brian Morrissey, Jim O'Brien, Michael O'Sullivan, Paddy O'Sullivan, Sars Smith and Martin Walsh, they were managed John Byrne.

Monkstown won the Munster Final of the Irish Junior Cup when the beat Tralee. They went on to meet Warrenpoint in the All-Ireland semi-final at Lahinch on 21st September 2000. The squad was Sarsfield Smith, Jim Long, Andrew Fitzgerald, John Herbert, Roy Downey, Martin Daly, Stuart Roche and John Hayes. They beat Warrenpoint in the Semi-Final 3 to 2, but went down to Moate in the National Final. The team was Roy Downey, Andrew Fitzpatrick, John Herbert, N. Miller and Jim Long.

Monkstown Golf Club won the All-Ireland Irish Mixed Foursomes in 1974, when the team was John Bbeale, John O'Reilly, Paddy O'Sullivan, Paddy Byrne, Pat Keilher, Pat Goggin, Madeline Higgins, Catherine Thompson, Madeline Corbert, Deirdre Donegan, Sheila Williams and Sheala Daly.

The Ladies of Monkstown Golf Club won the ILGU Junior League in 1982 and 2001.

They won the Munster Junior Cup in 1996 and 2000.

They won the Irish Junior Foursomes in 1990.

They won the Southern District Junior Cup in 1999.when the team was J. G. Musgrave & E. S. H. McCarthy won by 2-holes and C. A. Murphy & J. F. Niholson they won by 4-holes.

Lady Captain in the Millennium Ada O'Sullivan (0) and her Captain's prize winner Maura Long (34) booked their place in the National Finals of the Volkswagen-Irish Independent Lady Captains Classic when they shot 39pts. in the Regional Qualifying round at Limerick Golf Club in August 2000. They went on to compete in the final at Druid's Glen on 2nd October, where they came fourth with 31 points.

Members who played representative golf for Country or Province;

T. W. Egan represented Ireland as a Senior International from 1952 to1969 playing 54-times won 26-matches halved two and lost 26-matches accumulating 54-points. He represented Munster as a Senior Interprovincial from 1956 to 1969 playing 72-times won 36-matches halved ten and lost 26-matches accumulating 82-points;

R. Fleury *was selected for the Ireland as a Senior International in 1955. He represented Munster as a Senior Interprovincial in 1956 playing 4-times won 1-match halved two and lost 1-match accumulating 4-points;

A. H. Patterson* represented Ireland as a Senior International in 1913;

J. Collins represented Ireland at international Youths level from 1978 to 1979 playing 7-matches, won 3-matches halved one and lost 3-matches accumulating 7-points. He represented Munster at Youths’ Interprovincial level from 1977 to 1979 playing 12-times won 9-matches halved one and lost 2-matches accumulating 19-points;

Eoghan Long represented Munster at Youths’ Interprovincial level from 2008 to 2009 playing 10-times won 4-matches halved two and lost 4-matches accumulating 10-points. He represented Munster in the Boys Interprovincial Championships in 2006 playing 4-times won 1-match and lost 3-matches accumulating 2-points;

D. McDonnell represented Munster at Youths’ Interprovincial level in 1999 playing 4-times won 1-match and lost 3-matches accumulating 2-points;

P. O’Keeffe represented Munster at Youths’ Interprovincial level from 1976 to 1977 playing 7-times won 5-matches and lost 2-matches accumulating 10-points;

Miss Ada O'Sullivan was selected to play for Ireland in the European Ladies Team Championships at Nordcentre Golf and Country Club, Finland in 1997, at Golf Club Milano, Monza in 1995, at Royal Haagsche, Holand in 1993 and she played for Ireland in the Ladies Home Internationals at Lahinch, in 1997, at Longriddry, in 1996 and at Wrexham in 1995, having played for the Irish Girls in 1980. She won the Stroke Play Foursomes together with Miss Bridget Gleeson of Killarney in 1983 and again together with Miss Eileen McDaid of Skibbereen in 1990.

History of Monkstown

Instituted 1908, affiliated 1908. The first general meeting of Monkstown Golf Club took place in April 1908. Mr. A.H.Exham was in the chair. He was a member of the Monkstown Improvement and Amusements Committee, whose task it was to investigate the setting up of a golf club. Other members were : J.F.Maguire, J.H.Hogan, G.A.Goulde, A.G.Boumphrey and J.S.Cummins. The club had 350 members including ladies. The Golfing Annual 1908/09 records "The course of nine holes is in Lord De Vesci's demesne, with the old castle , built in 1643, as the clubhouse ." The course measured 2,500 yards and was laid out by Peter O' Hare (the club professional) and was opened on 14^th April 1908 by Mr. Exham , the Vice -President  The first President was The 5^th Viscount De Vesci and the first Captain was Mr. J. F. Maguire.   The club purchased the 9 hole course land and castle from the De Vesci estate in 1959 for £ 4,000 . Then in 1966 the club purchased 62 acres at the adjoining Parkgarriff for £ 12,500   and in 1967 the club sold the castle (club - house) and some 32 acres for £ 22,000 .   The club then set about extending the course to 18 holes . This work was done mainly by Tom Carey  (Life Honorary Member)  a club member / civil engineer, who designed , laid out and constructed 10 new holes on the Parkgarriff land . The construction cost of the 10 new holes was £ 20,000 . The new 18 hole course and a new clubhouse was officially opened by the then Taoiseach Jack Lynch on 2^nd October 1971 .  In 2008 , the club's centenary year, a magnificent new clubhouse was built at a cost of approximately 4 million euros and today the amenities of club and course are being enjoyed by the members and visitors .

What the Club tells us:

Monkstown Golf Club rejoices in its distinguished history and its unique setting overlooking Cork’s glorious harbour.

The Club, which was founded in 1908, has evolved into a mature parkland layout with a challenging course and excellent clubhouse facilities. The facilities are much sought after by both members and visitors alike. It has a strong and vibrant membership and for visitors planning a golfing trip to the Cork area, a visit to Monkstown is a must.

The original nine holes of the course draw the golfer to the crest of the hill and offer marvellous panoramic views of the broad sweep of the River Lee and Cork’s busy lower harbour. It is worthwhile taking a moment, while your partners play, to savour the unique overview of the historic port of Cobh as well as the islands of Haulbowline, which is the Irish Naval base and Spike Island which is today a stunning visitor centre managed by Cork County Council.

The grandeur of the site is emphasised by the many stately old trees that help to define the fairways and enrich the sylvan setting while also, of course, offering the keen golfer a reason to proceed with a degree of caution.

The Club celebrated its centenary in 2008 and has hosted many Golfing Union of Ireland and Irish Ladies Golf Union events throughout its history.

The antiquity of the site is evoked by the old Castle which dates back to 1636 and was the Clubhouse until 1971. It is fitting that the outline should form the crest of the Club since its inception in 1908. The Castle has recently been tastefully restored to its former glory.

The course was extended in 1971 and the back nine, where several water features provide a nice contrasting challenge, help to complete a layout that demands subtlety and courage in equal measure. It offers golfers of all levels a challenge that is stimulating and interesting and one that demands the use of every club in the bag.

Monkstown Golf Club is conveniently situated just ten minutes drive from both Cork Airport and Cork’s city-centre. See our location map for directions. The old garrison town of Cobh, formerly Queenstown, with its colourful past is also but a short drive away and is reached via a river-ferry crossing.

Just as adjacent to the south-west is the distinctive town of Kinsale, the gourmet capital of Ireland with its generous quota of distinguished restaurants, its quaint narrow streets and many hints of its military and Spanish connections.