Shane Irwin

Monkstown ProShop Team

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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 →

Irwin looking forward to 2022

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Monkstown PGA Professional Shane Irwin.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

For the first time since qualifying as a PGA Professional, Monkstown’s Shane Irwin is looking forward to a normal season.  The Limerick native traded in his hurley for a golf clubs a few years back and started his PGA training.  Irwin completed his PGA studies in 2020 but the past two years were interrupted with several lockdowns.  Like plenty of others in golf, he thinks 2022 will be a bumper year for the sport and he has already seen a big increase in the numbers out golfing.

PGA Professional Shane Irwin pictured at the Trackman fitting studio at Monkstown Golf Club.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

“The winter was much busier than previous years due to not having any sort of lockdowns compared to previous years” explained Irwin.  “In the first few months we had fantastic weather which got a lot of golfers out onto the course.  It really was our first proper winter using the Trackman studio with lessons and custom fitting.  The main areas I think golfers are working on this for this part of the year in particularis the short game and putting.  Indoor facilities like this, especially in the cold winter months,  gives a  golfer important putting and swing analysis along with video technology.  After each lesson we can also send a video summary to each golfers which includes some drills to work on.”

Irwin has been based in Monkstown for just over five years.  In that time he has completed his PGA studies, qualifying in 2020.  Monkstown is now home to three PGA Professionals with Cian McNamara leading the team.  While Cian and Shane are from Limerick, there was a Corkman added to the team recently.  Shane Livesey joined from Douglas last month, and just last week he completed his PGA studies to become a fully qualified PGA Professional.  With three teaching pro’s, access to facilities is key and Irwin is delighted with facilities available to members and guests.

PGA Professional Shane Irwin practicing his putting at the Trackman fitting studio at Monkstown Golf Club. Pic: Niall O’Shea

“We’re looking forward to the club opening the new short game facility.  It will be a great addition to the already fantastic work been done by the club and it will benefit the club teams, Juniors and Members short games massively.  Once the short game area opens in May we will be providing a service with short game demo days featuring the leading brands to test and compare wedges and putters for players.”

While Shane is part of the pro shop team, he’s delighted to be part of the wider team that Continue reading →

McNamara set for new season in Monkstown

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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 →

Irwin qualifies as PGA Professional

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Monkstown Pro Shop’s Shane Irwin who recently received graduated as a PGA Professional.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Monkstown based Shane Irwin recently completed his PGA training and the Limerick native is now a qualified PGA Professional.  After three years of training, Shane passed his final exams to receive his degree level qualification from the University of Birmingham.  Shane joins a number of recently qualified golf professionals in Cork, including Alan Gleeson, Davey Barry and Ciaran McKenna.

Prior to working in Monkstown Shane had worked in the industry in South Africa and the US, and that experience gave him the confidence to know that a career in the industry was the way to go.  In 2017 he moved to Cork to take up a role in Monkstown Golf Club.  After spending a few months working in the pro-shop, .n September 2017 he started his PGA training.  Having worked in the US and South Africa prior to that.  It was the next step in a plan for Shane.  Traditionally the PGA apprenticeship was based around learning on the job, but now the degree level course has a Continue reading →

Cope Classic 2021

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Pictured at the launch of the annual Cope Foundation Golf Classic, sponsored by O’Flynn Exhams Solicitors, at Monkstown Golf Club are Micheal O’Mullain, Partner at O’Flynn Exhams Solicitors, Shane Irwin, Monkstown Golf Club, Sean Abbott, Chief Executive at Cope Foundation and Brian Hurley from Monkstown Golf Club.
PIC Darragh Kane

The Cope Foundation Golf Classic will take place in 2020, and it promises to be another great event for the Cork charity.  After successful events in Douglas Golf Club and Cork Golf Club, the popular classic now returns to Monkstown for the 2020 staging on Thursday 17th and Friday 18th September.  Rescheduled from the regular August date due to Covid-19, the event will be run under the guidelines that apply at th time and the organising committee are now working on building the timesheet to ensure another successful event.

The event has been running for 24 years and has raised over €1.65 million.  It started in Rathsallagh in Co Wicklow and regularly had the sold out signs up for the two day event.  After Rathsallagh closed in 2015 the event moved to Cork, rotating between Monkstown, Douglas and Cork.  Last year’s event in Douglas was another great success with close to €50,000 raised over the two days.  As well as prizes for each shotgun start, the overall winner Continue reading →

Irwin wins PGA Assistants Championship

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Shane Irwin PGA AssistantsMonkstown’s Shane Irwin held his overnight lead to claim the PGA Assistants title in Nuremore yesterday, winning by a margin of five shots over the field.  Rounds of 76 and 72 yesterday were more than enough to keep a healthy distance between himself and the pack as the Limerick native went on to claim his biggest PGA win to date.  Irwin’s impressive 69 and 67 on day one gave him a great start, he had a six shot lead at the halfway stage.

“I didn’t expect to win but I expected to do well.  I went for a lesson with coach Eddie Doyle a couple of weeks ago and I did feel confident,” said the 24-year-old.  “The first day was very good. I played some solid golf in round one. The second round was very similar and I managed to pick up a few birdies.”  Holding the top spot was a new experience for Shane, but he retained a comfortable margin despite much tougher conditions on day two.  “It was tough over the final 36-holes. I had never led a PGA tournament or anything like that.  I tried to stick to the game plan and Continue reading →

Irwin six ahead in PGA Assistants Championship

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shane irwin monkstown_dec 2018

Shane Irwin (Monkstown) 

Monkstown’s Shane Irwin has an impressive six shot lead going into the second day of the PGA Assistants Championship at Nuremore in Co Monaghan.  The Limerick native had two impressive rounds yesterday, shooting 69 and 67 on the par 71 track.  Irwin had the hot hand with nine birdies in the 36 holes.  He opened his second round with a bogey but recovered quickly with two birdies to get into the red for his round.  One more bogey followed on the back nine but he also added four birdies to sign for a four under par 67.

That left him six ahead of the field, St Annes’ Gary McGrane on level par.  Fota Island’s Jack Howard is eight place, and will be hoping to catch up a few places, and Shane Livesey is just outside the top twenty.

The final 36 holes will be completed today.

Howard runner up in Irish Club Professional at Dromoland

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Jack Howard (Fota Island)Jack Howard finished runner-up in the Irish Club Professional Tournament in Dromoland last week, losing out to Damien McGrane after a play-off.  Howard, representing Fota Island shot a four under par 68 to lead the tournament.  That included important birdies on the 17th and 18th to get into a tie for the lead.  It was in impressive round from Howard in a strong field, and it included seven birdies.  At the end of the round the two leaders were tied on -4, and unlike other PGA events it was on the a play-off.  After halving the first play-off hole, McGrane put the pressure on by hitting the green on the short par four 10th.  When Howard missed his 12 foot birdie attempt the former European Tour winner tapped in or birdie to claim the title.

Davey Barry and Shane Irwin were the next bet placed Cork golfers, they both carded one par rounds of 73 to get a top ten place, while Cian McNamara and David Ryan were three back in a share for 24th place.

While Jack will be disappointed at missing out on the win, there are several positives.  As well as the prize money for second place, the high placed finish means that the 22 year old will now be able to enter several of the high profile events as the Irish Continue reading →

Busy times for Monkstown’s Shane Irwin

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shane irwin monkstown_dec 2018

Shane Irwin

Monkstown’s Shane Irwin will have a busy few months ahead, as he closes off his second year of training as a PGA Professional.  The Limerick native has spent two years in Cork, working with Cian McNamara in the Monkstown ProShop.  In September 2017 he started his PGA training, having worked in the US and South Africa prior to that.  It was the next step in a plan for Shane.  “First year was very interesting for me as I went straight to the states to work in the golf industry after my leaving cert, so it was all a new experience for me” explained Irwin.  “Going to the states was in itself a learning, the way the American golf industry works and the contacts and friends I have made benefited me greatly to bring all that knowledge back home to Ireland.  The plan was always do America and play in South Africa and come back to do my PGA studies.”  Traditionally the PGA apprenticeship was Continue reading →

Irwin wins in Monkstown

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Shane Irwin April 2018Monkstown’s Shane Irwin captured his first professional win on Monday when he won the Morgan O’Donovan Perpetual Trophy at his home course.  The Limerick native shot a 65 to claim the final event in Munster PGA winter series.  Irwin had a great start, he had a birdie on the second, and the had four in a row from the fourth to the seventh.  Two more birdies followed on the back nine but he also had two bogies.  Holding the lead from the back nine was crucial as he had one shot to spare over the holder David Higgins.  Cian McNamara was third a further shot back.  It was a double win for Irwin, he partnered Monkstown President Ada O’Sullivan won the pro-am competition.  The pair scored 47 points to finish three points ahead of the field.  Needles to say, Shane was delighted with his win.  “It’s always nice to win, especially against such good players that were playing today’s event” said the Monkstown assistant.  “To win is always great no matter what your playing.  I didn’t except to have any great intentions as myself and Cian had so many things on our mind regarding the event.  I must say that today’s event was a great success for everyone the club, and it was a great day to remember Morgan O Donovan and what I’ve been told a humble and great man he was not only in Monkstown but everywhere he worked and played.”  The Monkstown pro-am marked the start of a busy summer season for PGA Professionals and Shane is looking forward to the season.  “I’ll be Continue reading →