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Senator Paul Coughlan apologises for attending controversial golf event

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Former Killarney Senator Paul Coughlan has admitted to the Killarney Advertiser that he did attend the controversial golf outing in Clifden, County Galway last week but said he did so in good faith.

The event, organised by Oireachtas Golf Society, was attended by over 80 people including some of the biggest names in Irish politics.

It took place, last Wednesday night, August 19, the day after the Government announced a range of new restrictions in an effort to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

The measures included a ban on spectators attending sporting events and a limit of six people socialising together indoors.

The Ballydowney politician, a former mayor of Killarney, retired from active politics ahead of this year’s General Election.

He was invited to attend last week’s golf outing and dinner as a former captain of the Oireachtas Golf Society.

The event caused widespread anger in a community who felt forced to live by different rules of the political elite. The fallout forced the resignation of Agricultural minister Dara Calleary and EU Commissioner Phil Hogan’s career is hanging by a thread.

Mr Coughlan refused to be drawn into the political controversy surrounding the event but did offer an apology.

“I am no longer in public life,” he told the Killarney Advertiser. “I do apologise for being there and never set out to hurt anyone. I attended in good faith and I did not intend to cause any offence to anyone.”

Mr Coughlan shared a table with former RTE broadcaster Seán O’Rourke. Mr O’Rourke retired from the state broadcaster in May this year but was hoping to return with a Saturday morning political programme in coming weeks. That has now been cancelled as a result of his attendance at the event.

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Joey Sheehan wins historic sixth Dr Crokes Captain’s Prize

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Accomplished golfer Joey Sheehan scooped the Dr Crokes GAA Club Golf Society Captain’s Prize for the sixth time following the outing at The Killeen Course at Killarney Golf Club on Friday.

Society Captain Niall Botty O’Callaghan and his mother Eileen O’Callaghan hosted the prizegiving function in The Failte Hotel, where Joey was presented with a painting of the fourth hole at Killeen by local artist and Dr Crokes member Paul Downey.


Joey Sheehan won his first Dr Crokes Captain’s prize back in 1997, which was the start of an historic four-in-a-row.

He collected his fifth Captain’s prize in 2006 before adding his sixth with the 2026 title last Friday.

Over the years, he has also won two Dr Crokes Presidents prizes, numerous other society outings, and the Eddie Barry Memorial Cup three times as player of the year.


The prize giving function in The Failte featured speeches from society officer Brendan Keogh, Captain Niall Botty O’Callaghan, and overall winner Joey Sheehan.

During the speeches, a number of recently deceased local people and others from recent years associated with the Dr Crokes Golf Society were remembered.

Among those fondly remembered were Brian O’Regan, John O’Mahony, Ewan MacIndoe, Gerry Collins, Paudie O’Callaghan, Malachy Walsh, and Seani McCarthy.


The Dr Crokes Captains Prize was once again sponsored by Mike Buckley of Kerry Coaches. Following overall winner Joey Sheehan, the full list of prize winners included John Lynch in second, Finian Moran in third, and Liam Hartnett in fourth. Sean Brosnan took fifth place, followed by Maurice O’Donoghue in sixth, John O’Leary in seventh, Paudie Sheahan in eighth, Colm Galvin in ninth, and Eamonn Fitzgerald in tenth.

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Discussion on Irish-American literary voices

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The second series of talks for the new ‘Summer in Killarney’ festival took place at Killarney House in Killarney National Park, focusing on the lives and work of literary figures F. Scott Fitzgerald and Mary Lavin.

The event, titled ‘The Great Irish-American Voices of F. Scott Fitzgerald & Mary Lavin’, featured presentations by authors Gráinne Hurley, writer of Gratefully and Affectionately: Mary Lavin and The New Yorker, and Killarney native Patrick O’Sullivan Greene, author of Gatsby: Death of an Irishman.

Following their presentations, both authors joined Irish Times journalist Ronan McGreevy for a panel conversation exploring the impact of both writers on American literature.

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