It was the first time the combined team have sealed the overall title while the men were victorious for the first time since 2021.
And after a thrilling final day victory over England, Women’s Captain Quigg said she was feeling a mixture of elation and emotion on a great day for Irish amateur golf.
“The whole week was just incredible from start to finish, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a team like it in my life,” said Quigg.
“They bonded so well. We talked about playing for your country on the back of the Olympics. We could see the hysteria that it created around the room. We tapped into that, looked at and spoke about it.
“We play golf most of the year as individuals and there is only once or twice that you come together and pull on the jersey and play for your country. It’s not something you can take for granted, it’s a privilege. For us to go and do that and achieve it together with the men and women was just an unbelievable experience.
“Many of our players are turning pro now on the back of this and to send them off with that winning feeling for their last game for Ireland, it was very very special. It was very emotional as well because we have seen them throughout their career, at the start of their journey and to watch them finish by winning a medal was special.
“Working with Niall, Helen, Donal, Michael and Damien, we have had many laughs together and to share it with them was pretty nice as well.”
The Curtis Cup will be next on the horizon for Sara Byrne (Douglas), Beth Coulter (Kirkistown Castle) and Áine Donegan (Lahinch), while Byrne is one of the contingent who will go professional.
Meanwhile, in the Men’s event, the six debutants shone bright with Seán Keeling (Roganstown) and Luke O’Neill (Connemara) unbeaten through the week, while Ryan Griffin (Ballybofey & Stranolar), Paul Coughlan (Casltknock), Josh Hill (Galgorm) and Thomas Higgins (Roscommon) all making significant contributions.
Hugh Foley (Royal Dublin) accounted for 4.5 points from his five matches, Liam Nolan (Galway) led from the front all week and Colm Campbell enhanced his reputation by playing an influential role in another Home Internationals win.
“It was a difficult start to the week with some clubs not arriving until Tuesday night and luggage until after the tournament had started but the players didn’t use this as an excuse,” said MacSweeney.
“From the gun, the mindset was to get stuck in straight away and the men’s foursomes pairings laid a great foundation, losing out in just one of the 12 matches played through week.
“Delighted for everyone, delighted for coach Michael, team manager Damien and I’m also delighted for Naoimh and Helen who I have really enjoyed working with over the past three years when we come together for the Home Internationals. We also want to wish Áine, Sara and Beth the best of luck in the Curtis Cup.
“The support of family, friends during the week was appreciated too, and it was great to have former Irish Internationals Dermot McElroy, Paul McBride, Conor Purcell, Cormac Sharvin, John Murphy and Johnny Caldwell, who were playing in the Challenge Tour event at nearby Newmachar, in attendance at various times.
“Murcar Links provided a great playing challenge, while many of its members volunteered as scorers and spotters through the week, which Ireland’s team and management were keen to acknowledge.”
Meanwhile, Shane Kenneally (Kinsale) and Deirdre Smith (County Louth) got their respective tournaments off to the perfect start as the Irish Senior Men’s and Women’s Amateur Close Championships enters its all-important final stroke play round tomorrow.
A stiff test lay in store for the early starters in Kilkeel as high winds and scattered showers rolled in throughout the morning while those teeing up during the afternoon session enjoyed a more typical summers day.
One of those who enjoyed the improving conditions was Kenneally, the reigning Irish Senior Close Champion found himself one of only three players to sign for a sub-par round, opening his week with an impressive -3 69, to lead the way after day one.
“Very happy with that. We had the best weather of the day, still windy, quite strong, but we didn’t have the rain they had this morning” said Kenneally.
“Started with a three-putt bogey on our first hole the tenth but then settled down after that and got a few birdies and happy enough with the round. Kept it in play, got in trouble twice but kept anything higher than a bogey off the card and threw some birdies at it, happy enough with that game of golf.”
Six birdies across his afternoon helped put the Kinsale golfer in the driving seat as attention now turns to the final stroke play qualifying round tomorrow and with 18 holes left to play before the last 16 is decided, keeping the ball in the short grass will be important once more around the County Down parkland fairways.
“It is tight you can’t be wild. There is a few holes where you get a little more room than others but there’s a lot of irons off tees especially with the dog-legs. You have to keep your wits about you. You can’t let loose on any tee out there,” said Kenneally.
“I’m happy with my round so I’m sure I’m there or there abouts. We’ll see tomorrow, another round.”
Irish Senior Men’s Amateur Open Champion Stephen Browne was one of the early starters who had to battle the damper conditions and despite bogeys on seven and nine, put together a solid -1 opening round of 71, carding four birdies across his opening nine holes, giving the Hermitage golfer a positive start to the week.
“Just picked off a couple of birdies here and there so I was three under going through and I had three good chances to go to four under and I three-putted the seventh to go back to two and it was the only time I was in the trees all day was on nine, so I made bogey on nine to finish off but I would have bitten anyone’s hand off for a one under start,” said Browne.
“It will be a really fun match play golf course so hopefully I can keep it together tomorrow and make the cut and get into the match play.”
Leading qualifier in 2023, Smith is on course to repeat that feat once more as the County Louth golfer also got her championship off to a strong start, carding a +2 round of 76, highlighted by birdies on two and ten, playing her way three shots clear of the chasing pack heading into the second round.
“Conditions were really tough today particularly for the first six holes it was blowing a gale, and it was very difficult to pick your clubs and it’s hard to find where the wind is coming from so happy enough. It is a course I am not that familiar with, so I’ll take it, especially in the conditions,” said Smith.
“It is all about qualifying and just keeping the big numbers off your card and just trying to qualify into the match play, sure then it’s a brand-new tournament.”
Former Irish Senior Women’s Amateur Open Champion Suzanne Corcoran leads the way in the Women’s Over 60 category. The Portumna golfer signed for an opening round 79 to sit at +5 while Frank Flynn (Laytown and Bettystown) takes a five-shot lead into round two of the Veteran Men’s over 60 category having finished his day with a +1 round of 73. Flynn brings some fine form into this event having claimed the Men’s 65-69 title at the Irish Senior Men’s Amateur Close Championship just last month.