Fourth Irish International Open Officially Launched

WITH weather fit for the occasion, the fourth Irish International Open on the weekend of May 11^th was launched in glorious sunshine at Glenville Pitch & Putt Club in Dublin on Good Friday. Players, Officials, Dignitaries and members of the local and national media were present at the launch which also saw details of the timesheet for the weekend itself revealed. Eamon Birchall (PPUI President), Myles McMorrow (FIPPA Vice-President), Anthony Malone (Dublin County Board PPUI Chairman), Dermot Looney (Mayor of South Dublin County Council) and Eamon Maloney T.D. (Dublin South West) were some of the attendees alongside members of the Glenville Club and Organisation committees for the event.

            Defending Irish Open Champions Damien Fleming (Gents) and Tracey McGrath (Ladies) were also present at the launch along with Irish No 2 and No 4 ranked Gents Jonathon Goodall and JR Crangle respectively. Ireland’s No 1 ranked Lady Player Chrissie Byrne along with fellow Kildare players Marian Byrne and Tara Dillon were present as well as local favourite Linda Thomson from the host club. Gay Peelo (President) and Frank Ruane (Chairman) spoke on behalf of Glenville at the launch with all speakers expressing their delight that the Irish Open is returning to the Pitch & Putt Calendar and looking forward to welcoming all 143 of competitors from both near and far to the nation’s capital in three weeks time. Thanks were also extended by the Glenville club to their sponsors Absolute Limos, Alan Kidd Insurance, Beaumex, Daly’s Supervalu Aylesbury, Denis J Ryan & Associates, Greene’s Barbers, KKS and Nolan Kitchens at the launch.

            The timesheet for the event was formally revealed at the launch by Eugene Notaro (Organising Committee) with the event starting off at 8.30am on Saturday morning. Play will be in Fourballs over 36 holes with the exception of the first group of Paddy Ryan, Denis Monaghan and Australia’s James Rogerson who will start off in a Three Ball. The Final Group will tee-off at 1.30pm on Saturday with play expected to continue long into the evening. Sunday sees the Final 18 holes which will be played in reverse order with the leaders expected to tee-off around lunchtime on Sunday May 11^th. The Overall Prize for the event is open to both Ladies and Gents players.

            The draw sheet is available for viewing on the Glenville Facebook page at present and will be distributed fully in due course. A collection of photos from the launch is available on the PPUI’s Official Flickr page at the following link https://www.flickr.com/photos/ppui/sets/72157644063781871/ while there are further photos available through the Glenville Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.651497971566811.1073741828.131995046850442&.

            In the run-up to the event, a number of features and interviews with some of the launch’s participants will feature on the PPUI website prior to the start of the competition.  

Jason O’Connor

Communications and Press Officer

PPUI