The UCC Staff Golf Society did a rare double recently, winning the 2023 Intervarsity Trophy.  Having won in St Margaret’s in Dublin in 2022, the society did a rare double with a win last month in Athenry.

Atlantic Technological University were the hosts this year and Athenry Golf Club was in great condition to host the tournament. As usual there were 9 teams taking part in the competition; Atlantic Technological University, University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin, National University of Ireland, Galway, University College Dublin, Dublin City University, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Munster Technology University, Technological University of the Shannon.

Each team had ten members and the UCC Team members were society President Eddie McCarthy who played with Dan Walsh.  Captain Aileen Finn played with Maria Carroll, Maurice Conway played with Pat Quinn, Frank Morrissey played with Dr Owen Jump, Barry O’Brien played with Conor McCarthy.  UCC won by a margin of eight points, scoring 149 points from their four counting cards.

UCC’s Maurice Conway also won the Longest Drive Award in the men’s competition.  The President, Professor John O’Halloran was delighted to congratulate the Team on their double victory in the Quadrangle.  Captain Aileen Finn was delighted with the win and she thanked JP Quinn, Head of the UCC Visitors Centre for their ongoing support.

The society is one has been running for over five decades, and in 2019 they celebrated their 40^th anniversary.  The idea for a staff golf society came about following a conversation between the late Eric Tully and Robert Mc Namara which in turn led to the establishment of the UCC Staff Golf Society.  They was first registered with the GUI in 1979.  McNamara was instrumental in contacting staff members, who he knew were golfers, and encouraging them to form an inaugural committee.

The first meeting took place in Tully’s office in The Lee Maltings.  Eric chaired the meeting, Robert was secretary and they were joined by Gary Prendeville, Chris Synnott and Paddy O’Regan.  An outing to Mallow was agreed upon and Robert assembled the prizes with twelve golfers taking part in the first event.  The original twelve were Robert Mc Namara, Eric Tully, Gary Prendeville, Chris Synnott, Paddy O’Regan, Diarmuid McCarthy, Joe O’Mahony, Cyril Deasy, Fr. Sean McGann, Eoin Shorten, Conor O’Brien and Mr McCullagh.

From the small outing to Mallow the society grew steadily, providing a welcome opportunity to play especially for those casual golfers who were not members of any club.  The UCC Staff society continued to maintain a strong membership, and a very active group with a large number of members attending most events. The UCC Staff Golf Society is open to all UCC staff and they always welcome new members.