TAKE A WELL DESERVED BOW
An amazing summer of Irish sport
by Service Dealer Ireland Editor, Alan Mahon
 
Alan Mahon

It has been an amazing summer of Irish sport so far, particularly sport that has been, and is about to be, played on turf.

 

Begining with the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, which took place at Lahinch Golf Club in early July, we saw how immaculately Course Superintendent Brian McDonagh and his greenkeeping staff presented the course. Two weeks later we witnessed a most memorable Open Championship at Royal Portrush where Shane Lowry triumphed so emphatically. This was the first time since 1951 that The Open was staged in Ireland and to have an Irish winner was the icing on the cake. Course Manager, Graeme Beatt, his staff and volunteers did the country proud in their course preparations. I hear on the grapevine that Nowlan Park has won the 2019 County Pitch of the Year for the second year in a row, thanks to John Coogan and his team. More about this in a future edition of Service Dealer Ireland.

 

Looking ahead we have the Dublin Horse Show taking place this week at the RDS in Dublin. Gary Deakins is the Head Groundsman there and he is busy preparing the turf for this event. We have the All Ireland Hurling final on the 18th of August in Croke Park which will see Kilkenny and Tipperary battle it out for the Sam Maguire Cup. This will be followed by the All Ireland Football final two weeks later at the same venue. Croke Park pitch is maintained by the very able Stuart Wilson and his staff.

 

Then there are the less publicised sporting events which take place around the country - the county community games; soccer and GAA summer camps; club hurling, camogie, and football matches; the captain’s and president’s prizes in golf clubs and much more. Full credit go out to the groundstaff of these wonderful venues for creating superb quality playing surfaces.

 

The summer so far has not just been a successful story for sport. We must also not forget the lovely parks and gardens that exist all over the country. Many are so beautifully maintained and manicured. They are important for our tourist industry, earning millions to this sector.

 

I do think, however, that some credit for these well maintained sportspitches and areas of amenity must go to the dealers around the country who have supplied mowers and equipment to help the groundspeople make their lives a lot easier, resulting in successful sporting events and leisure venues. After all, these places need reliable equipment in order for the groundsman or groundswoman to carry out their tasks. It doesn’t matter if it is a highly sophisticated fairway mower; a strimmer used to edge bunkers or a hover mower to get at those difficult to mow areas, all are important for the success of turf maintenance.

 

But supplying equipment to the sportsclubs and gardens is not the end of the story for the dealers. There is also the after sales service; the repairing of broken down machines; the supplying of spare parts. Some dealers have been called out at unsocial hours in order to see that their custumers are well looked after.

 

So dealers of Ireland, take a well earned bow, you deserve it. Keep up the good work you are doing. It is your input which contributes, in no small way, to the high standard of sportspitches and grounds that exist and flourish all over Ireland.

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