GOLF Minister Announces Team Ireland Golf Trust Recipients for 2008
The Team Ireland Golf Trust has today (12th March) allocated a total of €221,500 to aspiring golfers who are pursuing their careers on professional golf tours such as the European Tour, the Challenge Tour, the Europro Tour and the Ladies European Tour. The Trust provides crucial support to golfers who have playing rights on the major tours and young golfers who are starting out on the professional golf circuit.
This year sees Brendan McDaid coming on board as consultant professional golf coach with the Team Ireland Golf Trust. McDaid is resident PGA professional at Rathsallagh Golf Club in Co.Wicklow where he runs the Brendan McDaid Golf Academy.
There will be several key elements to McDaid’s involvement which will all centre on an elite golfer development programme which he will devise. The programme will include an intensive group training week, tournament preparation, qualifying school preparation and individual tuition. McDaid will also liaise with the golfers’ personal coaches to ensure full involvement in the programme, monitor and evaluate the progress of golfers and provide technical input to the work of the committee.
Speaking at the announcement today Minister Seamus Brennan T.D. said; “I am aware of the great work the Trust has done over a number of years to assist talented young golfers to make the transition from amateur to professional international status. Without the initial financial assistance given to them, many of our successful international golfers would not have achieved the success they have achieved. In that context, I can mention Padraig Harrington, now the Open champion, Paul McGinley, Ryder Cup hero, Peter Lawrie, rookie of the year on the European Tour, Damian McGrane, who is having his most successful year yet and also Gary Murphy; all former Trust recipients”.
Twenty-one Irish golfers are supported this year with two female Irish professionals; Rebecca Coakley and Martina Gillen, set to compete on the Ladies European Tour leading the way with the maximum allocation of €20,000 each. On the men’s side, the top allocations of €15,000 go to Colm Moriarty, Michael Hoey, Stephen Browne and Gareth Maybin, all of whom have full playing rights on the Challenge Tour in 2008. A number of players in their first year as tour professionals also receive funding from the Trust including Peter O’Keeffe, Richard Kilpatrick, Niall Turner, Heather Nolan and Marian Riordan.
As part of the Trust’s support package, all the golfers can avail of the world class facilities at the GUI’s National Academy at Carton House. The golfers on the scheme also have free access to the network of service providers such as physiologists, sports psychologists, biomechanists, physiotherapists, doctors etc. offered by the Irish Sports Council to the athletes on the International Carding Scheme and administered by the National Coaching and Training Centre in Limerick. The value of these services to each golfer amounts to approximately €3,000 each year.
Dubliner Stephen Browne, one of today’s recipients spoke of the impact the Trust has had on his career: “The support from the Team Ireland Golf Trust has been of tremendous benefit to me since I turned professional. Golf is becoming more competitive year on year and the financial and specialist support that I’ve received from the Trust is crucial in giving me every opportunity to compete on the international golfing stage. I wish to thank the Trust and its sponsors for assisting my ambition of becoming an established tour professional”.
This is the ninth year of the Trust, which has provided more than €2 million in financial support to golfers to date. The Trust, which is administered by the Irish Sport Council, aims to contribute to an increase in the presence of Irish golf professionals on the various international tours. It is a partnership between state agencies, private companies and the various golf organisations. Financial backing for the Trust is provided by the Irish Sports Council, Fلilte Ireland,the PGA European Tour and, from the private sector, ONE51 Ltd.
Trust Chairman Padraig O’hUiginn stated; “The Trust is all about believing in the potential of the golfers at a time when financial support is so crucial to their further development as professionals. The support of the Trust gives them the necessary platform from which to really progress their careers in the game.”
The Irish PGA, the Golfing Union of Ireland, and the Irish Ladies Golf Union, along with the state and corporate supporters, are represented on the Team Ireland Golf Trust committee, which is chaired by Mr. Padraig O’hUiginn.
For Further Information:
Sinéad McElroy 087-6338512 smcelroy@irishsportscouncil.ie
Austin Mallon 087-6491291 amallon@irishsportscouncil.ie
2008 Recipients
Rebecca Coakley (Carlow) €20,000
Martina Gillen (Cavan) €20,000
Michael Hoey (Belfast) €15,000
Stephen Browne (Dublin) €15,000
Colm Moriarty (Athlone) €15,000
Gareth Maybin (Antrim) €15,000
Brian McElhinney (Donegal) €12,500
Michael McGeady (Donegal) €12,500
Peter O'Keeffe (Cork) €10,000
Michael McDermott (Dublin) €10,000
Richard Kilpatrick (Down) €10,000
Alan Murray (Wicklow) €7,500
Brendan McCarroll (Donegal) €7,500
Niall Turner (Cork) €7,500
Mark Campbell (Dublin) €7,500
Clare Coughlan (Cork) €7,500
Hazel Kavanagh (Dublin) €7,000
Heather Nolan (Clare) €7,000
Marian Riordan (Tipperary) €7,000
Mark Staunton (Galway) €4,000
Paul McDonald (Dublin) €4,000
Total €221,500