A who’s who of Irish professional golfers, as well as friends and staff accumulated over his 35 years of service, were at Dundalk Golf Club last week when the PGA convened in Ireland to celebrate Michael McCumiskey’s recent retirement To say goodbye.
cCumiskey retired in May and the occasion was marked by a pro-am and dinner organized by Dundalk Golf Club, where the PGA was headquartered in Ireland for up to a year of his tenure.
“I was appointed in 1986 and we moved to Dundalk the following year,” recalls McCumiskey.
“It was a really happy marriage. We sponsored the club whenever possible, held events there and had a great relationship with all the managers. “
The newest, John O’Sullivan, was the driving force behind the day celebrating the longstanding PGA Ireland executive retirement and dedicated service.
“I told John when I was about to retire and he immediately said there should be an event at the club to celebrate this,” McCumiskey explained. “Not only did he talk about it, he got the club to approve the event. Then he worked tirelessly to find sponsors for the day and to make it the great success it was. “
The event also celebrated the longstanding partnership between Dundalk Golf Club and the PGA in Ireland, and Conor Dillon, McCumiskey’s successor, added: “You did an extremely good job of doing the event and gave it exceptional support. The weather was good, the field was oversubscribed and Michael got the perfect dismissal. “
Forty amateur teams from all over Ireland competed alongside the 40 professionals for the Michael McCumiskey Testimonial Pro-Am, which, at Michael’s request, was a fundraising campaign for the PGA Benevolent Fund.
The top awards were shared by Simon Thornton (Tulfarris Golf Resort) and Colm Moriarty (Glasson Lakehouse), who both shot five under par rounds of 67 over a course in excellent condition to finish first, two strokes ahead Tim Rice (Limerick Golf Club.). ) and Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge Golf Club).
Golf was followed by a presentation dinner at which Michael Kavanagh, Captain of Dundalk Golf Club, Captain of Dundalk Golf Club, Trevor Giff, Captain of the PGA Ireland, Michael Kavanagh, and PGA Chief Executive Robert Maxfield paid tribute to Michael’s contribution to Irish golf. PGA Irish President Gary Chambers presented Michael with a Galway Crystal Plate donated by the country’s PGA members in recognition of his 35 years of service.
Referring to McCumiskey’s work for the PGA in Ireland and the Association, PGA General Manager Robert Maxfield said, “It is a testament to the great esteem Michael is held in Ireland that today’s event has been so well supported. This appreciation is the result of 35 years of dedicated, exemplary and loyal service to the PGA to its Irish members and the Association. I thank him for his invaluable contribution and wish him a long, happy, healthy and well-deserved retirement. “