25 not out - Kilbrittain GAA Club Golf Classic stronger than ever

A lot has changed over the past 24 years, both in the spheres of Gaelic games and golf, but the annual Kilbrittain GAA Club Golf Classic remains a fixture.

First run in May 2000, the event has been held every year since despite the various obstacles put in the way, not least the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. This year’s edition, to be held on Friday, May 17 – as usual, at Bandon Golf Club – will be the 25th consecutive running of the golf classic, which has grown year on year.

The day has become an important annual fundraiser for Kilbrittain, especially since the development of the club’s new pitch over the past half-decade, and the longevity has ensured that support has remained steady. Last year’s was one of the most successful yet, with an entry of 74 teams.

Having come on board as main sponsors in 2022, Irish Yogurts Clonakilty are once again the primary backers of the classic and it is also a significant year for the West Cork outfit as they celebrate 30 years in business.

Specialising in award-winning traditional style yogurt with many different ranges, from fat free yogurts to full fat Greek styles, custard styles to high-protein yogurts and multi-award- winning crème fraîche (three stars at The Great Taste Awards 2023 and 2023 Great Taste Golden Fork Nominee for Ireland), Irish Yogurts Clonakilty have themselves become a tremendous success story in West Cork.

“It was an easy decision to come on board as main sponsor of the Kilbrittain GAA Club Golf Classic for the third year,” said Irish Yogurts Clonakilty account manager Oliver O’Brien, on behalf of Diarmuid and Mary O’Sullivan.

O’Brien was speaking at the launch of the event over the weekend at the club premises in Clashavanna. Kilbrittain GAA Club chairperson Dermot Hayes expressed his gratitude to Irish Yogurts Clonakilty for their sponsorship and looked forward to a great day on May 17 at Bandon GC, a organisation which counts many Kilbrittain citizens among its burgeoning membership

“The timesheet is now open and we expect huge interest this year,” Dermot said.

“I also wish to the thank the past main sponsors and all the teams and tee-box sponsors that have supported the classic over the last 24 years.

“Without their support, the classic would not be the success that it is today.”

Initially sponsored by O’Mahony Crowley Accountants, the classic has also received backing over the years from O’Connor Coaches, Keohane Readymix, Animal Health Laboratories and Henry J Lyons Architects.

Over the years, Kilbrittain’s golf day has attracted some well-known sporting names, including former Cork hurlers Diarmuid O’Sullivan, Ronan Curran, Kieran Murphy and Darren Sweetnam. The latter, a native of Dunmanway, later played rugby for Munster and another former Munster man, Frankie Sheehan, has also teed it up.

In 2023, former Limerick hurlers Ciarán Carey and Tom Condon were among the large turnout.

For those wishing to enter the competition this year, teams of three are €210 with meal and €165 without. Sponsorship of a tee-box or green can be secured for €75.

For entry or advertisement, contact a committee member as soon as possible to ensure a time-slot. Committee chairperson Tomás Brennan can be reached at 086-3263503.

On the field, Kilbrittain have already claimed some silverware in 2024, beating Barryroe three weeks ago to win the Micheál Holland Cup, a game which doubled up as a RedFM Hurling League Division 6 clash.

Barryroe will also provide opposition for Kilbrittain in the Co-op SuperStores Cork Premier JHC, with Ballygarvan in the same group as the Carbery neighbours – the trio were also in the same section in 2023 – while Nemo Rangers make up the quartet.

Since the restructuring of the county championships for 2020, Kilbrittain have reached the final of the fifth-tier competition once – 2021, losing to Lisgoold – the semi-finals twice (2020 and 2022) and the quarter-finals last year.

Former Cork hurler John Considine, a native of Glanmire but living in Kilbrittain for the past two decades, is the manager of the team this year, having succeeded Jamie Wall.