Dromoland Castle have announced that it has signed rising star Sara Byrne as its Touring Professional for the 2024-25 season.
Fresh from capping off a sensational final collegiate season at University of Miami being named a Women’s Golf Coaches Association Second Team All-American at the weekend, the Douglas native is hopping back across the pond to join one of her homeland’s most prestigious golf resorts.
Byrne is certainly no stranger to Dromoland Castle’s impressive Ron Kirby- and JB Carr-designed 18-hole, 6,824 yard par 72 championship course. In September, she closed off her summer in style, impressing home crowds by finishing as the top amateur at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open hosted by the 500-acre County Clare estate. Byrne shot a final round 70 to bring her score to -4 and finish in the top 40.
It was a fitting finish to her three months back home, the summer break brought Sara Irish caps, professional events, and her second national title when she won the Irish Women’s Close in June. Now, having completed her final year with the UM Hurricanes, the 22-year-old is back on Irish shores and eager to keep up the momentum.
She says: “Last summer in Ireland was absolutely fantastic. I loved every second of it. Then I went back over to the States and closed out my time there in one of the best ways possible. I can’t think of a welcome back to Ireland than becoming a partner to one of the country’s most incredible golf resorts and being given the opportunity to do what I love and continue to grow as a golfer in these amazing surroundings. While playing around the world, I will proudly have the Irish golf flag and Dromoland Castle on my bag. I’m excited for the future and now having a relationship with an Irish club makes me feel right at home.”
Eamonn O’Donnell, Director of Golf at Dromoland Castle said: “Sara has been on an incredibly exciting journey in her golfing career, particularly over the last 12 months. We’ve been following her fantastic progress and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome her into the Dromoland Castle fold as our newest Touring Golf Professional. She has a huge amount to offer and we’re confident that, whenever she gets the opportunity, she’ll feel very at home on our championship course.”