Changing of the guard at County Tipperary Golf & Country Club - new captains in place

The are very fortunate to have two excellent new Captains to take on the mantle of leadership in our golf club last week in the persons of Captain Daniel Kennedy and Lady Captain Mary O’Donnell. They take over a club in wonderful shape from two very had working and very capable outgoing Captains, Jacinta Coman and Darren Hayes.

At AGM of both the Ladies and the Gents club there was an air of excitement and enthusiasm as we look back at the year just gone and look to the future. While the highlight of our club was the participation in the mixed competition right up to the all Ireland semi final, many would suggest the increased involvement of so many members in all our competitions was very important. There is a great scene of belonging and enthusiasm among all the members.

Outgoing Lady Captain Jacinta Coman passed the pin to our Incoming Captain Mary O’Donnell.

Captain Jacinta in her finial address thanked her committee for all their hard work, Secretary Judy Hayes, Treasurer Helena Ryan and assistant Treasurer Sheena Ryan, Handicap Secretary Frances Boyle, Competitions Secretary Caroline O’Dwyer, Junior Convenor Marie Graves, PRO Niamh Chadwick, Vice-Captain Mary O’Donnell and Teresa Canny. A special thanks to Anne Grace who retired from the committee and a welcome to Carmel Lowth who joined the committee.

She thanked Captain Darren Hayes and all the men in the club who supported the ladies in their pub quiz, scrambles and pink days.

She acknowledged the great work Pauline Tracey and Kay Crosse put in on a Tuesday morning and the generous contribution to the south Tipperary hospice.

Speaking at the Men’s AGM outgoing Captain Darren Hayes thanked Brian Slattery for giving him the opportunity to be captain.

He thanked Lady Captain Jacinta Coman for her help and support and cooperation through the year saying it was a pleasure to work with her. He thanked the committee for their help and support to him throughout the year. He thanked Proprietor Jeff Leo and said that we very much appreciate all the investment he has made in the course. He said we are looking forward to the opening of the new Driving Range in the near future. He thanked Brian Webster and all the staff on the course, he thanked Marian and the staff in the Golf Shop, he thanked Richard and all the staff in the in the venue. He thanked all the members and said it was such an honour to be Captain of Co Tipperary Golf & Country Club. He wished Captain Daniel Kennedy and Vice Captain Danny O’Dwyer the very best for the year ahead.

He wished the incoming Lady Captain Mary O’Donnell and Lady Vice Captain Marie Graves the very best for the year ahead.
He wished incoming Captain Daniel Kennedy the very best for 2024 as he handed over to him.
Captain Daniel thanked Darren for giving him the opportunity to be Captain. He thanked Danny O’Dwyer for accepting the position of Vice Captain and said he looked forward to the year ahead, working with the committee and the members to continue the wonderful work of those who have held the position in the past.

Outgoing Lady Captain Jacinta Coman (left) congratulates Lady Captain Mary O‘Donnell as she takes over as Captain of Co Tipperary Golf & Country Club.

Outgoing Lady Captain Jacinta thanked Jeff Leo for his generous support throughout the year and giving the course for the two pink days and our open day and Richard and all his staff in the venue. She acknowledged the great work that the green keepers lead by Brian Webster put in. She thanked Michelle Crowe who has retired from the office this year, Mary, Marian and Colin. Mile buiochas to all those who helped out with our Pink days and open day, be it decorations, coffee morning, a friendly face, selling tickets, registering visitors etc. Our donation to breast cancer research was €14,500 in 2023. She thanked all our sponsors on the Thursday evening scrambles, Coolmore, Flan & Joe McGlinchey, O’Dwyer steel, O’Connor Julian Vets and Paddy Fitzgerald. She said the Scrambles were very well supported with the new format of 2 ladies and 2 men proving very popular. Thanks to our open day Sponsor Sandra Hennessy of Be-Dynamic marketing.

Finally, she thanked Mary O’Donnell for agreeing to be her vice-captain and being by her side this past year especially the last few months. She wished her well in this new role and also, welcomed vice-captain Marie Graves, and thanked everyone for giving her the opportunity to be lady Captain 2023 and wished everyone a Happy Christmas.

Mary O’Donnell the incoming Lady Captain addresses the meeting she said she have been blown away by the encouragement and great offers of support received from all the ladies in this unique and friendly club, as incoming Lady Captain it was an honour and privilege to represent the club, and hoped to continue to work hard and represent the club to the best of her ability. She thanked Jacinta and extended a big thank you to her on behalf of all the members of the Golf Club on the tremendous work, dedication, time and energy Jacinta has put into the club and congratulate her on all her achievements over the year.

She acknowledged the ladies committee who are dedicated in providing a first class facility and making golf an enjoyable activity for everyone that plays here in Dundrum, and making it inclusive for all levels of golf. Her two key goals this year are to involve as many people as possible in the interclub competitions and win a pennant. She thanked Marie Graves for accepting the role as her Vice Captain and wishes her a very enjoyable year. She concluded by wishing everyone a safe and happy Christmas and an enjoyable year of Golf ahead.