O'REILLY'S GOLF NEWS
By Eamon Prendeville

Sandymount-based O’Reilly’s Golfing Society revisited Clontarf Golf Club for this year’s Captain’s Prize and in perfect course and weather conditions the competition was fierce with high scoring the order of the day.

Brian Boru would have been proud of the manner in which Sandymount man Pat Ryan destroyed the opposition to capture Captain Lillian Foran’s prize with a fine 43 points off a 16 handicap.
The closest followers were Colm Mackey with 39 points off 17 and Frank Carroll also with 39 points off 28.

I suspect Colm was making a gigantic effort to make this writer eat his words about Colm’s comparatively poor form this year and he surely went close.

The front nine went to Tom Keenan (19 pts) and the back to Sandymount solicitor Michael Cusack (18 pts). Remarkably Paul Brown and another Sandymount solicitor, John McKenna had a tie for ‘nearest the pin.’

The other prize winners were Doug Dowling, Tadhg Twomey, Dave Howell, Frank Robertson, John Foudy, Jim McGillian, Michael Horgan, Brendan Doherty and Nick Norman.

The accolade of ‘Golfer of the Year’ was deservedly won by Roly Fitzgerald, who had an average of 39 points for his four best rounds off a 9 handicap – great golf by any standards, and I suspect there is better to come in ‘99.

All in all, it was a great year for the society, ably led by Captain Lillian Foran, who spared no effort in ensuring that ‘98 was the best year to date.

The pressure is now on Colm Mackey, the incoming Captain for ‘99 to top that – no better man!
Finally, the members of the society have noted with heartfelt joy the continuing recovery of Ken and Angela Cleary’s son Keith from a recent serious road accident.

Footnote: There were turkeys galore at the ‘Turkey Shoot’ outing at Leixlip Golf Club on the 4th of December, with yours truly surprising even himself to pip Ken Cleary and David Rossitter.
Practice makes perfect! Roly Fitzgerald, 'Golfer of the Year’

 

HALF MOON NEWS
By Tom McLaughlin

 

As readers have been aware from previous reports, this year has been the Centenary year of the Half Moon Swimming club on the Great South Wall.

There have been many celebratory activities during the year. The highlight was, undoubtedly, the Centenary Ball, which was held at the Alexander Hotel, Merrion Square. Over two hundred guests attended, and all enjoyed themselves immensely.

We were honoured by the presence of our special guests: Mary O’Malley, President of the Irish Amateur Swimming Association and her husband. Harry Kavanagh, President of the Leinster Branch of the F.A.S.A and his wife Nuala. Gerry Moore President of the Irish Water Polo Association and his wife Betty. Conor Sheridan, Chairman of the Irish Water Polo Association.

Sean Cromien, former Secretary of the Department of Finance, and a current member of the club, gave a very amusing address and proposed a toast to Ireland.

A former club member, ‘Dinny’ from Glenroe in the person of Joe Lynch, regaled the guests with his memories of the club and concluded with a parody song on ‘Galway Bay’.

There were a large number of excellent prizes of T.Vs, radios, washing machines and a star prize of a leather Chesterfield Suite valued at £1200. There was a presentation of a beautiful piece of Dublin Crystal to Michael Fitzpatrick, President of the club, in recognition of over forty years service.

The Centenary Ball was a lovely culmination to our year, and a special thanks is due to our Vice Chairman, Ben Kealy, who attended to 90% of the many details involved in organising the event. He dealt with the hotel bookings, the guest list, sponsers, printers, table plans, decorations, and on the night acted as a very competent master of ceremonies.

The Water Polo Section of the ‘Half Moon’ are also due congratulations for their many successes this year.

They have won the following: Irish senior Cup, National League, Leinster Senior Cup, Leinster Senior League, and they were also the first Irish team to win a game in the European Championships. That’s quite a record for our local club.

Half Moon will recommence their swimming classes for boys and girls aged 4 years to 10 years on Sunday 3rd January 1999 at the Sportsco Pool, South Lotts Road, Dublin 4.

This could be the first step to becoming a champion swimmer or water polo player!

 


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