Cian McNamara

Brown & Brown to sponsor Irish PGA Championship

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

Diarmuid Nolan, CEO of Brown & Brown Ireland, pictured (centre) with Cian McNamara, Head PGA Golf Professional at Monkstown Golf Club; Michael Doorley, Chairman of Monkstown Golf Club; Conor Dillon, Manager of The PGA in Ireland, and Ada O’Sullivan, Former Curtis Cup Captain, R&A Open Championship Committee Member, and Monkstown Golf Club member, at Monkstown Golf Club, Cork, as Brown & Brown (Ireland), one of the country’s leading insurance brokerages, announces that it is the new title sponsor of the 115th Irish PGA Championship, which returns to Munster for the first time since 1997. The Championship will take place from 4–7 August 2025 at Monkstown Golf Club.
Picture: Michael O’Sullivan / OSM PHOTO

With the 2025 Irish PGA Championship set to take place in August, Monkstown Golf Club is making its final preparations to host the prestigious event for the first time in its history.  The club, which has undergone a large scale bunker redevelopment and significant upgrades to its practice facilities, is ensuring that players will experience championship-level conditions when competition begins on August 5th.

Last week the PGA announced Brown & Brown, one of the country’s leading insurance brokerages, has announced that it is the new title sponsor of the 115th Irish PGA Championship.  The tournament, now named The Brown & Brown Irish PGA Championship, marks the event’s return to Munster for the first time since 1997, bringing together Ireland’s top PGA club professionals in a battle for a large prize fund.

The tournament returns to Munster for the first time since 1997, when Paul McGinley claimed victory at Fota Island, and the former Ryder Cup Captain was delighted to see Brown & Brown getting involved.  “I’m thrilled to see Brown & Brown backing Irish golf. It’s a proud and exciting moment for the sport. Having met Diarmuid and the Brown & Brown team through Continue reading →

Monkstown Improvements Continue

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

Monkstown Golf Club.  Pic: Niall O’Shea

Monkstown is continuing the set the pace when it comes to course improvements, the club have nearly completed phase one of their bunker redevelopment programme.  Monkstown Manager Maurice O’Meara explained what has been involved in the six month plan.  “Phase one of our bunker programme commenced in October 2023 which covered the entire back nine.  We plan to open the new bunkers and have them back in play in early April.  Phase two is planned to commence in October 2024 and will follow a similar timeline and will hopefully be completed and re-opened in April 2025.”

“The programme is a complete redesign of the existing bunkers, and modernisation with new and Continue reading →

Monkstown Academy Opens

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

Monkstown Golf Club range and front nine overlooking Cork Harbour.  Pic: Niall O’Shea

Monkstown Golf Club recently unveiled their latest development, and new practice range and teaching academy.  The golf club has invested in a number of capital projects over the past two years and the newly opened range compliments the short game area which was opened last year.

The covered range was built at the northern end of the existing practice area, maximising the potential of the 320 yard area.  Monkstown General Manager Maurice O’Meara oversaw the project and while the opening date was a little bit later than planned, the finished product is a credit to the club and the team involved.  “The academy has exceeded all expectations and has been Continue reading →

Monkstown ProShop Team

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

Cian McNamara, Shane Irwin and Shane Livesey pictured at Monkstown GC Pro Shop.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

The short game area and the new academy has been a real boost for the team of PGA professionals who work in Monkstown.  The club has a long history of great club professionals including Peter O’Hare who started in 1908 when the club was founded, Jack Higgins, David Brown, Jim Higgins and Finbar Condon.  Batt Murphy will be known to many having served as club pro for several decades.  Starting in 1974, the popular pro had almost 40 years service before his retirement.  Morgan O’Donovan took over from Batt in 2010, and was an instant hit with members.  Unfortunately Morgan passed away in  2012 after battling a long illness.

Monkstown PGA Professional Cian McNamara pictured in the teaching and fitting bay at the new academy and range. Pic: Niall O’Shea

The current pro shop team is comprised of three PGA Professionals.  The team of thee is led by Limerick native Cian McNamara who has spent the last ten years in Monkstown.  Cian was and Irish International and a South of Ireland champion as an amateur, as well as spending three years in East Tennessee with Seamus Power.  Over the last decade Cian has built a great reputation as a Club pro.  As well as operating the proshop, Cian is busy teaching members, guests, teams and Continue reading →

McNamara set for new season in Monkstown

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

Cian McNamara, Monkstown’s Club Professional.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Like most club professionals, Cian McNamara was busy last week getting ready for the reopening of golf.  It’s eight years since Cian landed in Monkstown, and the Limerick native has made Cork and Monkstown his home.  Like everyone interested in the sport, Cian was counting down to the reopening of golf.  He is expecting a busy restart to golf, and he’s expecting a busy summer.  “I certainly believe with the long lay-off from golf, golf tuition will be busy over the summer months” said McNamara.  “With Golf Ireland determined to play championships and inter-club events it will also add to the golf tuition demand which will be great.  Custom fitting is certainly a big area that has emerged over the last few years.  With PGA Club Professionals providing the opportunity to compare different models while using various launch monitors it gives the customer the assurance that the purchase they make is certainly suited to their technique.”

McNamara has helped drive several changes in Monkstown and one of the most exciting developments was the opening of a new Trackman studio last year.  The studio has the latest technology including an indoor driving bay and a putting area, and this gives members a real advantage when it comes to analysis and custom fitting.  “The reac Continue reading →

Monkstown set for Bumper Season

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

Looking back down the 18th fairway from the clubhouse in Monkstown. (Niall O’Shea)

It isn’t the year that any captain or committee would have wanted, but that doesn’t just apply to golf this year.  Despite the lockdown and the phased schedule of re-opening, golf courses and clubs are now fully open following the introduction of phase three earlier this week.  While it’s still far from normal, Monkstown is getting back to business, has added over 50 new members and has a large membership looking forward to the second half of the year.  Monkstown Captain Shane Horgan is delighted that the summer season is finally underway.  It was a very different first half of the year for the Captain as he explained.  “Strange is a pretty good word for it, though in some of my weaker moments over the last few months I might have been tempted to describe it differently from time to time” said Shane.  “I fully expected to face some challenges during my year of office, but I anticipated that those challenges would be broadly Continue reading →

Top Ten finish for Davey Barry at Irish PGA Championship

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

Davey BarryDavey Barry continued his solid run of form with a top ten finish at the Irish PGA Championship in Bunclody.  After a very impressive 68 yesterday, the Douglas Pro finished with a one over par 73, which saw him claim 7th place.  It’s his fourth top ten of the season after positive results in Dromoland, Malahide and of course his win in the Conor O’Dwyer Pro-Am in Kilkea Castle.  There were two birdies on Davey’s card today, bringing his total for the week to 10.  At the start of the season he committed to give €10 to charity for every birdie he had in competition.  He already has close to 40 birdies in the bag for the season and with a few more events left on the calendar.  He’s headed for Derry this evening for the City of Derry Pro Am which Continue reading →

Super 68 from Davey Barry at Irish PGA Championship

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com
Davey Barry pictured on the range at Douglas Golf Club.Picture: Niall O'Shea

Davey Barry pictured on the range at Douglas Golf Club. Picture: Niall O’Shea

Davey Barry jumped into contention at the Irish PGA Championship in Bunclody, a second round 68 saw him move 15 places on the leaderboard into a tie for third place.  Barry went out in a level par 37 after two birdies and two bogies.  A birdie on the 10th started his back nine nicely, and he went on the have three more to sign for a four under par 68.  Added to his opening 74, he’s now on two under, five shots off the lead.  And the change in form had a lot to do with a new putter according to the Douglas GC Professional.  “I spent an hour on the putting green last night with a new putter, and it worked pretty well.  I also hit 16 greens so that also helped” said a delighted Davey.  “I played well yesterday but the putting was off.  Today was much better though.”  Barry’s 68 was one of only three scores in the 60’s.

Cian McNamara is in 20th place with Padraig Dooley and Jack Howard Continue reading →

Brian & Cian conquer Monkstown challenge

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com
Monkstown Golf Club 180 Hole Challenge

Brian & Cian still smiling after completing ten rounds of golf

Monkstown Golf Club was the place to be last Saturday, with warm sunshine, a members barbeque, chipping competitions for adults and kids, it was a really enjoyable atmosphere.  That wasn’t the case for everyone as there were two players out on the course completing their final round in a 180 hole challenge.  Monkstown PGA Professional Cian McNamara and General Manager Brian Hurley set themselves a pretty unique challenge of playing ten rounds of golf in one day.  Just after 9.30pm, Cian and Brian had their chance to sit back and enjoy the atmosphere and the hospitality.  Close on 17 hours after they started out, they putted out on the 18th green for the final tine after completing all 180 holes.

The day started at 4.30am – 28 minutes before dawn broke, when both golfers hit the first ball.  A crowd of members gathered at the first tee, including the Captain and President to cheer McNamara and Hurley as the set off on the Continue reading →