Launch of the 14th Annual All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge in Aid of Opt For Life and Local Waterford Charities

Tuesday 30.04.2013

Launch of the 14th annual All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge in aid of Opt For Life and local Waterford charities

Croke Park, Dublin April 30th 2013: The 14th annual All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge was officially launched today by Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, Liam O’Neill in Croke Park.

For the third year running, golfing Gaels from across Ireland, the UK and the USA will descend on Waterford Castle Golf Club this September 12th to 14th for the number one GAA golf competition.

All profits from this year’s Challenge will go to Opt For Life, the campaign to make organ donation an opt out system on the island of Ireland, and local Waterford charities.

Since its first staging in 2000, the All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge has transformed into the must-play competition for golfing Gaels aspiring to bring glory to their club.

Galway club Sarsfields successfully defended their All-Ireland title last year, bringing the specially-commissioned Waterford Crystal replica of the Liam MacCarthy Cup.

The Challenge is a two-day competition contested by four-person teams with GUI handicaps representing their GAA clubs on a four-ball better-ball basis.

Aside from the team prize, this year’s winners will also receive a training weekend for one of their club teams courtesy of Derg Isle in Scarriff, Co Clare (www.dergisle.com).

This year, entries will be taken for the All-Ireland final, which will be held in Waterford Castle GC, Co Waterford from Thursday, September 12th to Saturday, September 14th.

Teams from Chicago, New York and a healthy contingent from the UK will once again compete this year. Introduced last year, the one-day singles competition on the Thursday will also be returning.

Speaking at yesterday’s event, GAA president Liam O’Neill said: “Last year, I encouraged the organisers of the Challenge to increase their numbers participating and I am delighted to see they are expanding the competition.

“It gives me great pleasure that Opt For Life and local charities in Waterford will gain awareness and funding from the success of the Challenge.”

All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge organising committee chairman Liam Daniels said: “We are grateful for the GAA’s support for the Challenge and thank Liam O’Neill for welcoming us to Croke Park for today’s launch.

“This year’s charities couldn’t be more worthy and we will be encouraging all our players this year to get fully behind the Opt For Life campaign.

“Through the Challenge, not only have we fostered relations between Gaels but we’ve also recruited a host of new GAA members.”

The All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge is open to all GAA clubs who enter teams selected from their 2013 members.

The competition is run as a four-ball better-ball format – 3/4 their Golf Union of Ireland (GUI) handicap. Both men and women are invited to compete, with the handicap limit set at 20 for men and 28 ladies.

Spaces for the final in Waterford Castle GC are limited but for more information, please contact Liam Daniels at allirelandgaagolf@gmail.com or on 087-2746271.

Along with Challenge patron, Kilkenny hurling legend, Eddie Keher, a host of GAA luminaries and Challenge supporters attended today’s launch including Opt For Life’s Joe Brolly and Ciaran Whelan, Davy Fitzgerald and Barney Rock.

Sportsfile will be issuing photographs from today’s launch as well as the All-Ireland final in Waterford Castle, Co Waterford.

All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge roll of honour:
2012 Sarsfields (Galway)
2011 Sarsfields (Galway)
2010 Tipperary (New York)
2009 Claremorris (Mayo)
2008 St Brigids (Dublin)
2007 Waterford (New York)
2006 St Brigids (Dublin)
2005 Claremorris (Mayo)
2004 Cavan Gaels (Cavan)
2003 Midleton (Cork)
2002 Parnells (Dublin)
2001 Drumragh Sarsfields (Tyrone)
2000 Boherlahan/Dualla (Tipperary)

For more information, contact All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge organising chairman Liam Daniels on 087-2746271 or allirelandgaagolf@gmail.com

Follow us on Twitter (@golfgaa, @lifeyourlegacy), Facebook (www.facebook.com/allirelandgaagolfchallenge) or visit our websites (www.gaagolf.com, makelifeyourlegacy.com).