Golfers across Cork dusted off their clubs to participate in the 29^th annual Rotary/MSD Charity Golf Am-Am at Bandon Golf Club. 90 teams came together to raise over €10,000 in order to support local community groups and initiatives across Cork. Having generating over a quarter of a million in funds for various voluntary organisations in Cork to date, this year’s competition saw one of the largest attendances since the event began!

The event, supported by MSD, with local leadership from the company’s facility in Brinny, has supported 40 charities over its 29 years in existence. Some of the charities to benefit from fundraising at this year’s Rotary/MSD Charity Golf Am-Am include Aid Bandon Children, Bandon Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber, and Cork Simon, as well as the special needs classes in local Cork schools.

The winning ladies’ team included Bandon locals, Catriona Murphy, Aisling Armitage and Emer O’Leary, with first place in the men’s competition going to Andrew Kingston, Richard Kingston and Mervyn Good. Awards were presented to the winning teams by Michael Walsh, MSD alongside Dave Walsh, Captain Bandon Golf Club and Margaret O’ Flynn, Ladies Captain Bandon Golf Club. Prizes up for grabs on the day included a wide range of golfing apparel and equipment such as golf bags, putters and clothing from the Bandon Pro Shop.

Barry Mulcahy, Site Manager of MSD’s facility in Brinny, said: “MSD are delighted to once again partner in the Rotary/MSD Golf Am-Am fundraiser – raising such a significant amount and seeing a tremendous turnout makes it all the worthwhile. MSD is committed to helping improve health and wellbeing in our communities and we are delighted to support such a great local event that provides much needed support to a large number of voluntary organisations in Cork.” 

Adding comment, Dermot Kavanagh, Director of Cork Simon Community, said, “MSD has been an ongoing generous supporter of Cork Simon and the people we support. None of our services for men and women who are homeless are fully funded – support from companies like MSD is crucial in helping us deliver the right housing and the right supports for people who would otherwise have nowhere else to turn.  We’re very grateful to Bandon Rotary and MSD for their help and support in this important event, and also for their ongoing support throughout the year. It’s helping people who have lost everything to turn their lives around and start leaving homelessness behind them.”

Speaking at the event, Robert Merrick, President of Bandon Rotary Club; “On behalf of the Bandon Rotary Club, I’d like to thank all the teams who took part in our annual fundraiser and gave us one pf our largest turnouts yet!  I’d also like to thank our sponsor, MSD, for their continued support and generosity, and Bandon Golf Club, for hosting the event on their world standard golf course once again. Since the event began, we have been able to donate over €250,000 to those who need it most in our local community.”