MARY McKENNA PRESIDENT-ELECT OF I L G U

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION

The Irish Ladies Golf Union is pleased to announce to its members that Donabate’s Mary McKenna has been appointed President Elect of the ILGU with her Presidential term of office starting in January 2013.

The appointment is well merited following a long successful career both as player and more recently as administrator. She made her International debut in 1968 and won her first Irish Championship a year later. It took her little time to establish herself among the elite golfers of the time and by 1975, the consensus that Mary was to take over the mantle of the retired Philomena Garvey was realised.

In an unbroken 22 years challenge from 1968 to 1989, she reached 12 finals, winning 8, seven of which were secured in a purple patch between 1969 and 1982 when it seemed as if she might seriously establish a base to threaten the seemingly unassailable total of Garvey’s 15.

While graciously Mary would acknowledge that the great Garvey was “positively worshipped” by the golfing youth of her day, the supremacy enjoyed by Mary in the Irish Championships afforded her similar status and respect. Power and length were twin characteristic assets that gave her a first tee psychological edge.

She represented Great Britain & Ireland on 9 successive Curtis Cup teams from 1970 and 10 Vagliano Trophy teams from 1969. During this time she collected many District titles including numerous 36 hole Scratch Cups and contributed significantly to Leinster’s domination of the Ladies Inter-provincials for over 20 years.

More recently, Mary has captained the Irish Ladies team for two years from 2002 and later the Girls Junior European team in 2006. She was honoured with the captaincy of the GB&I Curtis Cup teams in 2008 and 2010 and the Vagliano teams of 1995, 2007 & 2009. She currently sits on the ILGU’s High Performance Committee supporting the development of the game at all levels and is never short of an encouraging word for her fellow competitors and in particular talented juniors.

Mary takes up the presidential reigns in January 2013 when the current ILGU President Marjorie McCorduck (Roscrea) completes her two year term.