The Costcutters team, winners of the Shannon Chamber 2024 Golf Classic, pictured at the prize-giving ceremony at Shannon Golf Club with Irish amateur golfer Áine Donegan, Helen Downes, CEO, Shannon Chamber, and Mick Guinee, chairman and chief executive, Ei Electronics. The team (from left): Andrew Fahy, Tim Crowe, William Hanley and Kevin O Hors will go on to represent Shannon Chamber in the All-Ireland Chamber Champions competition in the K Club in October. Photo by Joe Buckley
Shannon Chamber broke tradition this year by refraining from holding the prize-giving ceremony on the day of the competition, choosing instead to host a special prize-giving ceremony and inviting the top five teams back to Shannon Golf Club to receive their prizes.
This decision proved most beneficial as Irish amateur golfer, Áine Donegan, graced the event to present the prizes as it coincided with Ei Electronics’ announcement of their sponsorship of Ennis native Áine.
The presence of such a prestigious golfer was well received by all attendees who listened attentively to stories from her career, her ambitions for competing in either the Curtis Cup or the Women’s Irish Open, both coinciding on the same weekend in late August, and her plans for turning professional on completion of her studies in the U.S. They firmly have a new golfing hero and with Ei Electronics’ logo on her bag and apparel, hopes are high to one day seeing a Clare company’s name flying high at prestigious women’s golf tournaments.
Speaking after the prize-giving ceremony, which saw the Shannon Golf Classic winning team, representing Costcutters, receive a prize of four pairs of return flights to Paris, sponsored by Shannon Airport, Shannon Chamber CEO Helen Downes said: “We were honoured to have such a special guest as Áine Donegan partake in our prize-giving ceremony and are so delighted that Ei has forged an association with Áine as this will give our members a very special reason for watching her golfing career progress. Ei is a winner in its own right and I know that Áine’s association with such an exemplar company will stand her well in her golfing career.
“When our members signed up to play in the Classic on 20 June, little did they, or indeed we, know that Áine would be presenting the winners with their prizes. It was such a bonus, and we are now hoping for an added bonus when the winning team go to the K Club on 17 October to represent Shannon Chamber in the All-Ireland Chamber Champions golf competition. Capturing 2 All-Irelands in the same year is not too much to ask for!!!! Up the Banner!!!!, “added Ms Downes.
The top five teams in the Chamber Classic were Costcutters, Edwards Life Sciences, AAG Team 3, Signature Aviation and Baker Hughes. All attended the prize-giving ceremony as also did the winner of the men’s longest drive, David Kennedy from the Grant Thornton team.
Ms Downes thanked all sponsors for supporting the event, Ei Electronics as anchor sponsor and associate sponsors CCSL, Smithstown Light Engineering, The Park Inn, PAQIT, ZAGG, Pepper Advantage, Shannon Foynes Port Company, and Shannon Chamber Skillnet, and the 35 tee sponsors.
Goody bags on the day contained gifts from ABC Nutrition, Zagg, Gift Innovations, Shannon Chamber Skillnet, Smitz Café, and Laya Healthcare. Shannon Pantry ensured golfers got off to a good start by treating them to sausage rolls and croissants at the tee-off. And, to ensure that the players had the stamina to keep going, they were treated to burgers and all the trimmings on the 12th by The Park Inn by Radisson Shannon Airport, plus an added extra in the form of a delicious cupcake presented stylishly by Corporate Catering Services Limited.
Prizes were sponsored by Shannon Airport, Trump International Golf Links Doonbeg, Dromoland Castle Golf and Country Club, Mount Juliet Estate Kilkenny, Fitzgerald’s Woodlands House Hotel & Spa, Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa Limerick, Shannon Heritage, One4All, Shannon Springs Hotel, The Strand Hotel, The Inn at Dromoland, Clayton Hotel Limerick, Treacys Oakwood Hotel Shannon, Blarney Woolen Mills and The Creamery Bar and Restaurant.
Plans are underway for hosting the 2025 Golf Classic in Shannon Golf Club. Full details will be posted on the Shannon Chamber website www.shannonchamber.ie/events-training/
