Home Internationals return to County Sligo G. C.
As a result of the efforts of two County Sligo Golf Club (CSGC) members Declan Howley and Ken Cunningham (R.l.P.) who were both members of the Connacht Council of the G U I, County Sligo Golf Club was selected as the venue for the Home Internationals in the year l991.
This was the first time that the Home Internationals were played in Connacht. It was a very successful tournament which merited praise from the four Unions and the participating players. CSGC will host the Home Internationals for the second time in the year 2011.
History of the Home International Competition
The history of the Home International Competition has been chequered. The format as it exists today evolved eventually after experiencing a lot of problems. Portmarnock was the first club to organise an international match between Ireland and Scotland played over the Portmarnock Links on 6th March, l892. Prior to the Open Amateur Championship at Newcastle a match was played between England, Scotland and Ireland in l900. Individual matches were played Ireland - v - Wales and England - v - Scotland in l913.
The l914-18 World War caused a curtailment of the Championships and International matches. The Irish Championship recommenced in l9l9. International matches were not renewed until l923. Home International matches with teams representing England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland were played. In l925 an Irish delegate requested that International matches between Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales be played annually. Prior to this the R & A had taken over control. They refused this request as the R & A did not wish to discontinue the Scotland - v - England matches which they had revised six years earlier. Eventually the quadrangular International Competition was set up. The first event took place at Troon in August l932.The Competition conditions were laid down and with minor alterations have stood the test of time.
Ireland’s Success in the Internationals
Ireland has enjoyed considerable success in the Home Internationals winning nine titles outright and tieing on five occasions.
The event has also been played at the following Irish venues: Royal County Down; Portmarnock;Killarney; Portrush; Lahinch; Ballybunion; and County Louth.
County Sligo members involvement in Home Internationals W. Campbell l906; Cecil Ewing l934-58; J.R. Mahon l938-55; Ken Kearney l988-02; Sean McTernan 2002-05; David Dunne l997.
The 1991 Irish team at County Sligo G.C.
R. De Lacy Staunton (non playing Captain, (Castlerea)
Raymond Burns (Banbridge),
Richard Coughlan (Birr)
Tom Corridan (Castletroy)
Jody Fanagan (Milltown)
Niall Goulding (Portmarnock)
Padraig Harrington (Stackstown)
Robert Hutton (Ardglass)
Liam McNamara (Woodbrook)
Garth McGimpsey (Bangor)
Gary McNeill (Warrenpoint)
Denis O'Sullivan (Cork)
The Club looks forward to staging the Internationals in 2011and hope that some of the Club's promising young golfers will make the necessary progress required for selection on the team, to be captained by our own member Dr. Kevin Flanagan who will serve a 3 year term as Irish captain from 2009 to 2011.