*Aideen Walsh and Áine Donegan. Photograph: John Mangan
THOUSANDS of golf followers will descend on Dromoland Castle this weekend to witness many of the game’s leading female golfers compete for the Irish ladies open title with locals backing Clare duo Aideen Walsh and Áine Donegan.
Amongst the participants will be two young Ennis ladies who have been climbing up the golf ladder during the past year.
Good friends Aideen Walsh and Aine Donegan started playing golf with the junior section at Woodstock Golf Club and speaking to The Clare Echo ahead of the eagerly awaited Irish open, they both fondly recalled their involvement in the junior section at Woodstock.
“Both my parents and my older brother played and I only live across the road from the Woodstock club. Everyone came here during the summer, James Meade was down here doing wonderful work when we were both juniors, everyone in the estate played. Anne Marie (Russell, the golf club manager) was here, James Meade was brilliant with the juniors and that work is continuing under Ross Darmody and his team,” Áine explained.
Aideen recounted, “James Meade had an open night here maybe fifteen years ago. My brother went up to join up and once I saw him play I was mad keen then, I was the first ever junior girl member here in Woodstock. I played loads of different sports but I knew after a few years that golf was the one I was going to take to the next level”.
Experience of playing in the competition last year will stand to Aideen. “I am lucky enough to be based at home and I was very grateful to Dromoland for the invite to play last year and they have done the same this year. I really enjoyed playing in the event last year, there probably were a lot of nerves. This year I want to go and enjoy it. I did very well last year and did myself proud and I am just going to try and do the same this year. This season I did my first full international schedule. The start of the year was really busy. The summer has been kind of quiet but I am just back from a tournament in Manchester. There is always something to play for”.
On the other hand, Áine will be teeing off in The Irish Open for the first time. “I was away last year and lucky for me they changed the date and I don’t have to go back to college for another week or two. I can’t wait for this. I have had a great summer, I have been in good form and the target is to continue the form. Thankfully, I have had a few weeks off and I can’t wait to get started now”.
Having The Irish Open in Co Clare for a successive year is a big plus. “As I have got older I have realised how good the golf is in Clare with the likes of Doonbeg, Lahinch and Dromoland. We are very lucky in this county to have a lot of good golf courses and then the junior programmes, like what’s here in Woodstock. Not many people from the same club progress into Irish teams and into elite amateur golf. It shows that they are doing something right here in Woodstock and it wouldn’t surprise me if another person comes from Woodstock and turns out to be very good”, Áine admitted.
Both girls have been part of Irish senior lady cup winning teams with Lahinch. “Aine has been a member there since she was a kid, I applied seven years ago and was lucky enough to get in. For me it certainly has brought my game on because I wasn’t on any international panels, Aine would have been. Playing golf with the top ladies there, we have a great panel and we have won three senior cups”, outlined Aideen.
A business student at Louisiana State University, Áine said that she is likely to try break into the professional ranks when her studies conclude. “I have two years left in college and will probably give rhe Pro game a go after that. I always said I might not but playing in the US Open this year made me realise that I have to give it a go. I will be going into my third year in college now. Golf is huge in college in the US, when I get back we are going off to Charleston for our first tournament”.
Teaching in Ennis along with golfing is worthwhile for Aideen. “I am one of the few remaining working amateurs in golf in Ireland and I am very happy to still teach and play amateur golf, I love my job as an amateur and as a teacher. I want to try and play for Ireland, I love that,” said Aideen who has done most of her teaching at Scoil Chriost Ri in Cloughleigh. “I am not sure yet what I am going to do this year. I have a couple of tournaments left and we will see then”.
Playing in front of a home crowd is an experience to savour. “I suppose it will bring a little bit of added pressure, it just depends on whether or not you like people watching you. I do, but you would be hoping that you wouldn’t mess up. It’s very rare that you get to play in such a big event in front of a home crowd in any sport. I think it will be great,” commented Áine.
“Dromoland is a lovely course. I am always playing there. I do a lot of my practice there after school as my coach is based there. I am ready to go this week”, Aideen remarked.
There is no doubt but that Clare golf fans will be cheering on both Áine and Aideen this week as they compete alongside many of the leading professional lady golfers in the world and all are confident that the Clare duo will again do themselves, their families and all in the local golf scene proud.
