Mulranny golfers are All-Ireland champions

THE HolmPatrick Cup All-Ireland fourball championship was won in impressive style by Mulranny’s J.J. Kelly and Fergus Rothwell in Balbriggan on Friday.

Their 45 points gave them a comfortable three-point win over their nearest rivals and earned them a coveted trip to St. Andrews next May.

The Holmpatrick Cup is a national fundraiser for NCBI and Mulranny members have supported it for number of years.

Now in its 90th year, men from nine golf clubs from around Ireland competed to lift the cup and win a trip of a lifetime to St. Andrews in Scotland. Also competing on the day were ladies from nine clubs for the Granard Cup and also a trip to St. Andrews.

Starting in 1932, it is named after Edina Conyngham, Baroness HolmPatrick, who donated the trophy to NCBI at its inauguration. The Baroness was a granddaughter of the Duke of Wellington.

The All-Ireland finals took place in Balbriggan Golf Club and, in blustery weather conditions, J.J Kelly and Fergus Rothwell triumphantly took the HolmPatrick Cup back to Mayo.

Said Chris White, NCBI CEO: “This is the oldest golf charity tournament in the country with the fitting prize being to play on the oldest golf course in the world in St. Andrews.

“We are delighted to continue to be the beneficiary and it is great to have the event back again after being postponed for an entire year due to Covid-19. The funds raised will assist NCBI continue to deliver frontline services to people living with sight loss. Thank you to all who participated this year.”