Chapter Name:WHO'S WHO

REV. FRANCIS WILLIAM ST. JOHN TAMPLIN, M.A. -was
educated at Trinity College, Dublin. He was ordained in 1916 and ,wasRector in Portarlington from 1918 to 1925. He was captain in 1923.
T. F. SHANAHAN -was captain in 1924. He was Manager at theNational Bank, Mountmellick.
M. J. CAHILL -was bornjn N enagh, County Tipperary. An assistant county surveyor with Laois County Council, he was hon. secretary to the Club in 1922. A prominent member for many years, he served three terms as captain -1927, '32 and 1936. He resided for a time at Barrowbank House, before changing to Kilmalogue House, Patrick Street,Portarlington.
P. CAFFERKEY -was captain in 1928. He was an associate of MessrsMcEvoy's, Mountmellick. He was winning prizes at Garryhinch as early as 1916.
J. S. PEPPER -Captain in 1929, he was Manager at the NationalBank, Portarlington.
T. TYNER -Captain in 1930, he was a schools' inspector and resided at Patrick Street Portarlington. He played a leading role in the negotiations to purchase the Course from Messrs. Ainsh & Co. Ltd., in
1935.
J. KEANE -Manager at the National Bank, Mountmellick, he was captain in 1931. He was elected to Honorary Membership in 1934.
JAMES F. HEAPHY -was captain in 1933 and was attached to the National Bank, Mountmellick. He held the amateur course record in the 1930s with a score of 69.
JOHN HOPE -Captain in 1937, he was the proprietor of a Hardware
business, first at French Church Street, and later at The White House,
Main Street. Portarlington.
A. F. ROLLESTON -was a solicitor and he resided in Portlaoise. His ancestral home was Ffrankford Castle, Dunkerrin, Roscrea, where his father, the late Major Rolleston, C.F., died in 1913. He served three terms as captain -1939, '40 and '41.
T. W. LEAHY- Captain in 1942, hewas a secondary school teacher at the Christian Brothers Schools, Portarlington.
REV. N. CULLEN -was a Catholic Curate attached to Clonbullogue Parish. He was captain in 1943. He transferred to Graiguecullen that year.
JAMES J. DALY -was a native of Clonaslee, County Laois. He joined the Club in 1936. A court clerk, he was captain in 1945 and '46.
HAROLD HAINSWORTH -was a native of Yorkshire. He was a very prominent and hard working member of the Club. He served on many sub-committees and held the hon. secretaryship from 1936 to 1943. He
was Captain in 1947. He was a commercial traveller.
J. F. HOGAN -was a native of Mountrath, County Laois, where his father was dispensary doctor. He was captain in 1944. Manager of the Munster and Leinster Bank, Portarlington, he was brother of the late Dr.
W.J. Hogan, also a member of the Club, who was dispensary doctor in Portarlington for forty three years from 1923.
MICHAEL J. FINNEGAN -was a native of Castleblayney, County Monaghan. A B.E., B.Sc., graduate from U .C.D. in 1926, he was Bord na Mona Manager at Clonsast. He joined the Club in 1943. He played off 12
handicap and was a member of the Barton Cup winning team in 1950.Captain in 1955, he was president in 1962 -63.
DR. T. J. KIRBY -was a native of Ballyadams, County Laois, where his parents were national school teachers. He was educated at the local national school, Knockbeg College and U.C.D., where he qualified in 1927. He obtained his D.P.H. two years later.After qualification, he held resident posts at St. Vincents and Mercers'Hospitals. Later he was an extern assistant at the Rotunda.His first dispensary appointment was at Borris-in-Ossory, and he transferred from there to Monasterevan in 1937.Medical officer to Moore Abbey Institution, he was a member of the Society of Industrial Medical Officers. He was a life long member of theIrish Medical Association.During his student days he was a prominent all-round athlete. He was School-boy All-Ireland high jump champion and he won many prizes forDiscus and Shot. He retained his interest in sport and athletics throughout his career. He was a magnificent golfer, playing off a handicap of 2 in his heyday.Joining the Club in 1940, he was captain in 1952, and president in 1956 and '57. He was a member of the team that won the Barton Cup in 1950.He was a founder member of the Midland Medical and Dental Golfing Society.He was accomplished and much in demand as an after dinner speaker.His friends will remember his witty and erudite speeches which he delivered, mostly off-the-cuff, at the many medical and sporting functions which he loved to attend.Prior to his joining Portarlington Golf Club, he was a member of Woodbrook, Mountrath, Abbeyleix and The Heath Clubs.
He died at his home on November 30th 1971. Earlier in the year he had reached his 70th birthday.
His wife, Maureen, shared her husband's outdoor and sporting interests and was herself a very fine golfer "I was playing off 17 at the Curragh and cycling there and back to play in everything so Iwas delighted to change to Garryhinch -a course I know well from playing there with my mother who was a good golfer".
Recalling her memories of the 1940s at Garryhinch, Maureen said: "There was no electricity and no telephone but we had gas lighting and a gas cooker. The wives did all the catering and cooking -hard work but great fun. At that time the pars in all golf clubs were for 'Men Only', but there was a small hatch in the main room where we could order a drink from the bar -indeed very few of us drank at all". Maureen also fondly remembers the sing-song and the celebrations that took place there after matches and victories won -" As evening closed they would always sing "The Garryhinch Anthem" "Who killed Cock Robin" -in harmony".Happily, she is still with us, and is playing more golf than ever before
and is enjoying it. She was hon. secretary in 1969 and Lady President in 1982 and '83. She is an Honorary Life Associate Member of the Club. She is a native of Abbeyleix, Co. Laois, and resides in Monasterevan.
P. J. CONRAN -joined the Club in 1933. A consistent golfer, he was captain in 1949. He resided in Mountmellick.
C. S. LOVE -Captain in 1953, he was Manager at the National Bank,Portarlington.
REV. M. J. FOYNES -was a Catholic Curate in Portarlington. He jjoined the Club in 1948 and was captain in 1954.
E. J. TYNAN -Captain in 1956, he was originally from Ballybrittas, County Laois. He was a publican at Station Road, and later at Main Street, Portarlington. Later still he was the proprietor of a hardware business before moving to Athy, County Kildare.
P. D. "DES" BYRNE -was born in Portarlington and was educated at the Christian Brothers, Portarlingtonand Blackrock College. He is now the longest serving member of the Club which he joined in 1936. Hon. Secretary in 1949, he was Captain in 1957. Garage and Stationery Stores proprietor, he was President in 1969 and '70. A good golfer, too, he reached 8 handicap.His favourite course is Killeen, Killarney, Co. Kerry.His wife, May, also a keen golfer, was hon. secretary to the Ladies Branch in 1966. She was Captain in 1969 and president in 1981.
E. A. "Ted" PARKINSON -Captain in 1958, is a native of Tramore, County Waterford. He joined the Club in 1944. For a time, he played off 6 handicap. He recalls the year 1960 when he won the Captain's Prize when playing off 9 handicap, and later that year when he annexed the President's Prize with two strokes less. Another highlight of his golfing career was the winning of the Holmpatrick Cup with his friend and partner Tony Tynan, in 1965. He carried out much valuable work by his careful selection and planting of trees on the Course in the 1950s.He was president from 1971 to '73.His favourite course is Mullingar.
He is a trustee of the Club and he resides in Monasterevan.
JAMES J. O'SULLIVAN -A native of Kerry, he joined the Club in
1941. He was hon. secretary from 1954 to '57 and again in 1960. He was captain in 1959. A Customs & Excise Officer, he resides at The Villa,Garryhinch, Portarlington.Sons -Very Rev. Dennis, P.P. Monasterevan, James J. Jnr., District Justice, and George, Solr., are also keen golfers. Fr. Dennis was probably the youngest member of the Club to have won the Rolleston Cup. He achieved victory in this competition in 1946, at the age of 16, when he
returned a score of 130 for 36 holes to beat Or. Tim Kirby by one stroke.James represented the Club at Barton Cup level and performed with distinction in many competitions.George, the youngest of the trio, excelled and lowered his handicap to 4.A fine consistent golfer, he was captain in 1971.At the time of writing he is a Trustee and Legal Adviser to the Club.His wife, Gemma, was Captain of the Ladies Branch in 1985. She was hon. secretary in 1982 and again in 1985.

REV. B. O'CONNELL -Captain in 1960, he was president in 1964 '65. He was a Catholic Curate in Mountmellick at that time.
P. J. CONROY -A native of Laois, he joined the Club in 1958. He was captain in 1962. A veterinary surgeon, he resides in Mountmellick.
J. B. FLYNN -was Captain in 1963. He joined the Club in 1960. He was
Manager at the Munster & Leinster Bank, Portarlington.
AIDAN O'DONNELL -Aidan is a long-time member of the Club, He was hon. secretary in 1959 -The Club's Golden Jubilee year. An excellent single-figure golfer, he was elected captain in 1966.A keen sportsman, he played senior football with Laois and was a regular member of Jamestown football teams where his father, the well known Joe O'Donnell, was Principal at the national school. He is a District Justice.
JACK DUNPHY -was born in New Ross, County Wexford. Moving to Portarlington in the 1930s, he joined the Club in 1938. He held the office of Treasurer from 1956 to '58 and again in 1961, in which year he was Captain.A B. Comm. graduate from U.C.D., he joined Bord na Mona where he had a highly distinguished career, holding successively appointments as Works Accountant, Inspector, Assistant Chief Accountant and Chief Accountant.His wife, Janey, was president of the Ladies Branch in 1963. She washon. secretary in 1941.They reside at The Elms, Portarlington.
P. J. MULLANY -was born in Boyle, County Roscommon. He waseducated at Blackrock College and the DublinSchool of Pharmacy. It was in the mid-fifties that he moved to Portarlington where he set up a flourishing business at Main Street. He joined the Club in 1956 and soon reached 8 handicap. He was Captain in 1967.Breda, his wife, was captain of the Ladies Branch in 1968.
P. J. KELLY -was born in Portarlington. He was educated at Portarlington Christian Brothers Schools and Knockbeg College, Carlow. A member of the well known family of the late E. J. Kelly, Merchant, Portarlington, he was captain in 1968. He was a regular member of the Club's Barton Cup teams for a number of years.
, A. DUNPHY -joined the Club in 1964. Hewas Captain in 1969. He was Manager at the Munster & Leinster Bank, Portarlington.
R. J. MOTHERW A Y -joined the Club in 1965. He was hon. secretary in 1967; president in 1977-78 and captain in 1970. He was Manager at the National Bank, Mountmellick.
H. SWEETMAN -A native of Wexford, he joined the Club in 1960. Hon. secretary from 1964 to '66; captain in 1974, he was president in 1977 and '80.His wife, Celeste, was captain of the Ladies Branch in 1983. They residein Mountmellick.
JOHN WEBSTER -Born in Portarlington, he joined the Club in 1963.He was captain in 1975. An Insurance Agent, he resides at Treascon,Portarlington.
TOM HAINSWORTH -was born in Portarlington and has been a member of the Club since his juvenile days. Company Represen tati ve, he served two terms as Captain -in 1972 and '78.He quickly developed skill as a golfer and played off 7 handicap.His most abiding memories of his golf at Garryhinch to date are his three victories in the Captain's Prize in 1969, '75 and '77.He is son of the late Harold Hainsworth.
His favourite course is Grange, and he resides in Killenard, nearPortarlington.
SEAMUS McCUSKER -Born in Rhode, County Offaly. He joined the
Club in 1966. Captain in 1977, he was President in 1984 and '85. One of the Club's most consistent golfers, he plays off 5 handicap. His favourite course is Killarney. An electrical contractor he resides at Shanderry,Portarlington.
P. A. DUNNE -Peter "Peenie" Dunne was born in Kilcooney,Geashill, County Offaly. Brother of Donal, he joined the Club in 1963. A keen competitor, he has developed into a fine Fourball player. His lowest
handicap was 8.Course Manager in 1976, he was instrumental in having the Automatic greens irrigation system installed. He was captain in 1979.A Draughtsman by profession, he is a tremendous asset to the Club and has done much to promote its interest.A footballer of note, he played with the great Offaly team of the 1960s.He resides at Patrick Street, Portarlington.His wife, Eve, was captain of the Ladies Branch in 1986, and was hon. secretary in 1981.
MICHAEL J. CULLITON -Captain in 1980, his death a short time later caused much sadness in the Club where he was highly esteemed. A farmer, he was a native of Mountmellick, County Laois.
BRENDAN MARTIN -surveyor, is a native of Tullamore, County Offaly. He was captain in 1981. His lowest handicap was 9. His favourite course is O'Mahoney's, Killarney, Co. Kerry. A Building Contractor, he resides in Dublin.
LIAM McMAHON -Born in Portarlington, he joined the Club in the 1970s. With lots of natural flair, he played for a time off 6 handicap. He was captain in 1982. A Building Contractor, his Firm is well known
throughout the Midlands.
NOEL McMAHON -is a member of the same family and like his brother, Liam, is a very useful golfer, playing off 12 handicap. He was captain in 1984.
M. RIDGE -is a member of the Garda Siochana, Detective Branch. He is a native of Costello, County Galway. Joining the Club in 1975, he was hon. treasurer in 1980 and '81. He was captain in 1985.
His favourite course is Portmarnock.
JAMES V. BRADY -was born in Gurteen, Arva, County Cavan. He received his preparatory training at Wateraughy national school before entering St. Patrick's College, Cavan. He played senior football for many years with his native Cavan, Ulster and U.C.D. where he qualified as a Veterinary Surgeon. Moving to Portarlington he joined the Club in 1968 and for a time played off 6 handicap.His most memorable year is his year as captain, in 1986, and hisfavourite golf course is Portarlington.
REV. FR. JOHN KEARNEY -earlier referred to -was born in Ballymoon, in 1870. He was educated at Knockbeg College and Maynooth.He was a member of the Abbeyleix Golf Club in 1895, and was captain of Maryboro (Portlaoise) Golf Club in 1903. His other clubs were Bagenalstown and Portarlington, while his favourites were Portmarnock and The Curragh.Well known in G .A.A. circles, he was for a number of years chairman of the Laois County Board.It was during his tenure of office that the great boom in hurling came and his organising ability and tact are said to have been largely responsible for the success of that period.
T. M. FLETCHER -A welcome visitor to the Club in midsummer of '87 was T. M. Fletcher and his wife. He was attached to the Munster & Leinster Bank Ltd., Portarlington in the thirties and joined the Club in 1934. He was Hon. Secretary to the Club from 1942 to '44. Born in Banbridge, County Down, his lowest handicap was 9.Now Hon. Treasurer to the Kilkeel Club in County Down, his favourite golf course is Grange.
PAT O'MAHONY -originally from Mountmellick, now domiciled in Portarlington. His extraordinary talent and flair and excellent form on the course over the past few years have been the essence of consistency. 5' 10" and lean of frame he is a dominant figure in weekend competitions. A 4 handicapper (1988), the course record must soon be added to his ever growing list of successes.

The Club too has produced young players of vast potential. Maura Mansfield and Mick Turley were in that mould. Maura was a member of a six-girl first Junior International team to play Wales in 1965 and won her place on that team by a brilliant performance in the Irish Girls Close Championship at Ballycastle in August of that year, beaten only narrowly by the eventual winner.
In 1985, Mick Turley performed creditably in the Irish Boys Close Championship in Mullingar with rounds of 78 and 75 for a total of 153, to the winner's 142, to take joint ninth position.