The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
THE late Dr Patrick Hillery’s association with Lahinch Golf Club was recalled at the famed links course on Tuesday evening when a seat dedicated to his memory was unveiled.
The decision to honour Dr Hillery was made by the club’s council last year under the captaincy of Austin Slattery. A household name in Clare, the Spanish Point-born doctor was a TD, government minister and Ireland’s first European Commissioner before serving two terms as president of Ireland up to 1990.
At this week’s ceremony, Mr Slattery recalled Dr Hillery’s association with the Lahinch club from when he became a member on June 24, 1950. He spoke about the cups Dr Hillery won as a member of the club, the Resident’s Cup in 1952 and the Bogberry Cup, an open matchplay competition, in 1953.
In 1980, when he was president of Ireland, he won the Golf Links Cup on the August Bank Holiday Monday, a major stroke play event which attracted a huge entry.
In 1963, Dr Hillery was the club captain and during his term at the helm, he oversaw the development of the Castle Course and the building of the new clubhouse. In 1992, he was president of the club in its centenary year when his close friend, Brud Slattery, was the club captain. Dr Hillery served as club trustee from 1970 to 2008.
He was a keen golfer who played off a single figure handicap for many years and regularly played with Greg Young, Paddy Leyden and Brud Slattery and was, in the words of Austin Slattery, “always a great ambassador for Lahinch”.
Amongst the big gathering on Tuesday evening were the late Dr Hillery’s wife, Maeve; his son, John and John’s wife, Caroline and family, as well as members of the wider Hillery family.
Replying on behalf of the family, John spoke of his father’s love of his native Clare and, in particular, his love of golf in Lahinch. He also spoke about well-known local man PJ Queally, who used to caddy for his father at Lahinch.
The seat dedicated to the late Dr Hillery is located “at the highest point in the heart of the links, on the ninth tee with a view down to his beloved Spanish Point”.
The attendance at Tuesday’s ceremony also included club captain Eugene Gilligan and lady captain Anna Glynn, along with members of the council and many club members.
