Tributes paid to ‘great character’, former ‘Echo’ pitch & putt columnist Vincent Allen

TRIBUTES have been paid to former employee of The Echo Vincent Allen, who has been remembered as “a great character” who will be sadly missed.

Mr Allen, of Blarney St, in Cork City, passed away in the presence of his loving family and in the care of the staff at the Mercy University Hospital (MUH).

A patron of Pitch & Putt Ireland and founder member of St Anne’s Pitch & Putt, he was also pitch-and-putt correspondent at The Echo. For over 50 years, his weekly column was essential reading for the pitch-and-putt community.

Vice-chair of St Anne’s Pitch and Putt Club, Mr Allen was elected press officer in 1969 and took over the established pitch-and-putt column in The Echo.

He received the Pitch and Putt Union of Ireland Hall of Fame award at the 1990 national convention at the Hotel Blarney and having resigned from Cork County Board in the mid-1970s, he took on a publicity role with Munster Council in the 1980s and also served as a Central Council delegate.

'A true gentleman'

Condolences poured in online, with people from all walks of his life paying tribute to “a true gentleman”.

Former colleagues remembered “many the laugh” had in the office, while friends and neighbours remembered him as “a legend in pitch and putt” and “a great character”.

Paying tribute to Mr Allen, president of Douglas Pitch & Putt Club, Finbarr O’Donnell, offered his deepest condolences to his wife, Phil, and the Allen family.

Mr Allen is missed by Phil, son Ken, grandchildren Emily and Mollie, great-granddaughter Alayah, daughter-in-law Regina, nephews, nieces, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, relatives, wonderful neighbours and a large circle of friends.

Requiem mass will take place today at 2pm in the Church of the Most Precious Blood in Clogheen, followed by private cremation.