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All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge is launched in Kilkenny City
A number of famous faces were in attendance at Michael Lyng Motors
Kilkenny hurling players, from left, Eoghan Lyng, Adrian Mullen and Huw Lawlor at the launch of the 24th annual Circet All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge in Michael Lyng Motors, Kilkenny. Pic: Sportsfile
Reporter:
Kilkenny People Reporter
25 Jun 2025 3:30 PM
Email:
sport@kilkennypeople.ie
The launch of the 24th annual Circet All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge took place in Michael Lyng Motors, Kilkenny on Tuesday.
Kilkenny’s recent Leinster SHC winning full-back and Michael Lyng ambassador Huw Lawlor was among those in attendance ahead of the county’s eagerly-anticipated All-Ireland semi-final against Tipperary on Sunday week.
Joining him were Kilkenny greats Eddie Keher and Tommy Walsh and Dublin legend Barney Rock as well as Clare icon Davy Fitzgerald who has joined Keher and Rock in becoming patrons of the Challenge.
In aid of GAA-related charities, the Circet All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge will be contested by four-person teams representing their GAA clubs on the golf course for the honour of winning a specially-commissioned Waterford Crystal Liam MacCarthy Cup.
The wonderful Killeen and O’Mahony’s Point courses will again host the Challenge with all proceeds raised going to GAA-related charities.
Run on an entirely voluntary basis in which all proceeds go to charitable causes, the Challenge is the premier golf competition for GAA members. The Challenge has been raising funds for GAA-affiliated causes and members in need for several years. In 2024, the beneficiary was Glenflesk clubman Jerry O’Leary, who suffered life-affecting injuries after a fall the year before. The Challenge were able to present a modified vehicle to Jerry’s family at last year’s event.
Previous beneficiaries include The Dillon Quirke Foundation, Ian O’Connell (Spa), Fionn McAnaney (Raharney), Conor Connolly (Castlederg) and Darragh Dooley (Ballyduff Lower). In the Challenge’s continuing commitment to Ian, Davy Fitzgerald unveiled a new vehicle to Ian at today’s launch.
“The Circet All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge goes from strength to strength thanks to the great commitment of our sponsors and the work of our volunteer committee,” said Circet All-Ireland GAA Golf Challlenge chairman Liam Daniels. “Circet have been integral to our successful charitable pursuits over the years and I wish their team Donegal the best of luck in Saturday’s All-Ireland quarter-final.
“Michael Lyng and his beloved Rower-Inistioge have been competing in the Challenge for many years and I want to extend my appreciation to him, his family and great business for hosting our launch this morning.
“To Davy Fitzgerald and our great patrons Eddie Keher, Seán Kelly, Barney Rock, Gerry O’Reilly and Declan Devine, a most heartfelt thank you. They are all great GAA people because they know the meaning of the GAA is giving.”
Davy Fitzgerald said: “I am very happy to be asked to be involved with this charity launch, which has made a difference to so many people over the years. It’s about sport and people in sport helping people who can’t be in sport.
“I believe in many ways sport is playing a big part in holding society together. We all know that we have been living through fast changing times in Ireland; times which have tended to take us away from one another as neighbours and in general as a community.
“We know that two concepts that hold Irish society together are family and community. Family has always been very important to us as has community. I came from a family that had a history of giving and that giving for the most part was giving back to the community.
“Sport is invaluable. It helps us grow up, physically, mentally and emotionally. It is important that we respect it and the people who play sport and those who are involved in it.”
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