He is wheelchair-bound and requires intensive physiotherapy as well as other medical support.
But he is now mobile again after being presented with the keys to a new modified car, thanks to the 23rd annual Circet All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge at Killarney Golf and Fishing Club.
Jerry and his family were handed the keys at Scott’s Hotel on Friday thanks to sponsors Circet and long-standing backer Michael Lyng Motors.
The event was attended by patrons, such as Kilkenny and Dublin greats Eddie Keher and Barney Rock, as well as the inspirational Ian O’Connell, the Radio Kerry presenter who became paralysed after a 2017 cycling accident.
Golfers representing their GAA clubs converged on Killarney to compete and raise funds for Jerry with a fourball event contested by 45 teams from across Ireland and the US.
Run entirely voluntarily with all proceeds going to charitable causes, the Challenge remains the premier golf competition for GAA members.
The committee also confirmed that last year’s Challenge raised €65,000 for The Dillon Quirke Foundation, which was established by the Quirke family in memory of their son Dillon, who passed away playing for his beloved Clonoulty-Rossmore at Semple Stadium.
The Foundation is saving lives with its cardiac screening programme for children and young adults.
“Thanks to our fantastic sponsors, Circet, our great friend Michael Lyng and our many special patrons and pals, we were able to present Jerry and his family with a vehicle on Friday that we truly hope makes their lives a little easier,” said Liam Daniels, the organising chairman of the Circet All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge.
“The greatest satisfaction we get is helping out GAA people in need and helping to make a difference. We were humbled to do something for Jerry, a beloved member of his club Glenflesk and highly respected in his communities of Barraduff and Glenflesk.
“To have Dan Quirke, father of Dillon and a long-time supporter of the Challenge, present as we confirmed €65,000 was raised for The Dillon Quirke Foundation, was incredibly special. The Foundation is a phenomenal initiative, and long may it last.”
Big Irish presence confirmed for Concession Cup in Georgia
Lahinch’s Aideen Walsh speaks to the media before the KPMG Women’s Irish Open earlier this year. Credit: Tristan Jones / LET
There will be a significant Irish presence at the Concession Cup at The Landings Golf and Athletic Club in Georgia from November 4-9.
The Ryder Cup-style event pits the top mid-amateur and senior players from Europe against their USA counterparts, with women taking part for the first time in this year’s fifth edition.
Carol-Semple Thompson and Danny Yates will captain the US squad against a strong European crew led by men’s captain Tore Sviland and women’s skipper Elaine Ratcliffe.
The US won the last match at Valderrama in 2022, but there will be a strong Irish contingent in the European squad this year, with Mathew McClean, Caolan Rafferty and Hugh Foley joined by Jessica Ross and Aideen Walsh and vice-captain Deirdre Walsh from Milltown.
No joy for Foley and McClean in Bridges Cup held in South Korea
Matthew McClean and Hugh Foley celebrate winning their matches at the 2022 US Mid-Amateur at Erin Hills in Wisconsin. Picture: Steven Gibbons/USGA
Royal Dublin’s Hugh Foley, Malone’s Matthew McClean and Portmarnock’s Darragh Coughlan could not stop the United States from claiming a third straight win in The Bridges Cup in South Korea.
First played in 2022, the Americans claimed a 17-15 win in the elite mid-amateur event at Haesley Nine Bridges.
The US won the first fourball session 5-1, and while Foley and McClean won twice in foursomes and once in fourballs to help Europe cut the gap to just two points heading into the singles, it was not enough.
Foley, McClean and Australia’s Lucas Michel won the first three singles, but the USA won six of the last nine to halve the session 6-6 and retain the trophy.
Portmarnock defeat Irish Golf Writers’ Association to retain Joe Carr Cup
Brian Tector, Captain of Portmarnock Golf Club, receives the Carr Cup from Brian Keogh, Honoary Secretary of the Irish Golf Writers’ Association.
Last week’s annual match between Portmarnock and the Irish Golf Writers’ Association ended in victory for the hosts by 4.5 matches to 2.5.
Captain Brian Tector received the Joe Carr Trophy, a replica of one of the great man’s West of Ireland triumphs, after the annual match featuring men and women from the host club and the IGWA.
Portmarnock is hoping one day to host the AIG Women’s Open and The Open, and while changes to the course are inevitable should these historic events come to the capital, it remains to be seen what will be agreed.
Perhaps the only certainty (should the hopes of the R&A and Portmarnock be realised) is that the par-four 17th will serve as the 18th hole, given the huge grandstands required at an Open Championship.
Should that happen, the testing 18th would become the opening hole, adding considerably to those first tee butterflies.
World Ranking Points for Flogas young guns
Rognanstown’s Mark Cadden won the Flogas Irish Junior Open Elite WAGR Tour event at Lough Erne
Irish juniors struggle to play enough qualifying events to be ranked in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and earn spots in many big championships.
It is a player’s WAGR ranking rather than his or her handicap which helps organisers decide fields, and the arrival of WAGR approval for events on the Flogas Irish Junior Tour’s Under-21 Elite WAGR Tour is a godsend to young players up to the age of 25.
There are many requirements for an event to be considered eligible for WAGR recognition, but it may surprise many that the minimum field size is just eight players.
The preferred strokeplay format for WAGR events is 54 holes but while the final round at last weekend’s Flogas event at Lough Erne was cancelled due to the arrival of Sunday’s storm, Roganstown’s Mark Cadden will be included in this week’s WAGR ranking for the first time.
He shot rounds of 70 and 72 to win by six strokes from Gweedore’s Pádraig Ó Dochartaigh on level par.
The first Flogas Irish Junior Open Elite WAGR Tour event of 2025 will take place at Roganstown Hotel & Country Club from January 1-3.