On Friday March 26th 2021, The Ireland Funds hosted its Inaugural Naples Golf Invitational at Tiburón Golf Club in Florida.
The Ireland Funds is grateful to Dan Conley of Northern Litho for inspiring this inaugural event and for serving as a Co-Host alongside National Board Directors of The Ireland Funds America Shaun Kelly and Bill Murphy.
Over 60 golfers and friends of The Ireland Funds came together in what was one of the first in-person events hosted since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After guests enjoyed lunch on the patio and a morning on the driving range, Vice-Chair of The Ireland Funds America Shaun Kelly welcomed everyone before sending the golfers out onto the Greg Norman-designed Gold Course.
Players enjoyed a long day out on the course in the Florida sunshine before gathering outside for cocktails on the Melbourne patio. At the bar, guests were treated to American Single Malt Whisky kindly provided by Vice Chair of The Ireland Funds America and Chairwoman of Virginia Distillery, Angela Moore.
Gene McQuade, Chairman of The Ireland Funds America, opened the dinner program and thanked the Co-Hosts, the event’s sponsors and everyone who came out to support the work of The Ireland Funds during such a challenging time. Gene said that the golf classic was an example of the camaraderie and friendship amongst our network which is what makes The Ireland Funds so special.
He noted that despite the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 crisis, supporters of The Ireland Funds responded spectacularly and together we were able to have an enormous impact on the lives of thousands of women, men and children across Ireland.
Gene thanked Dan Conley for inspiring this inaugural event and noted how he had not only been a great friend of The Ireland Funds through his generosity at events in New York and Florida, but he first started as a Young Leader and is now leading the charge of what we know will become a key event on our calendar going forward.
Awards
Co-Hosts Dan Conley and Bill Murphy presented the golf awards, with Brett Jones winning Longest Drive and Sean Conley winning Closest to the Pin.
Congratulations to Dante DiSabato, Brett Jones, Alex Lefcakis, Buck Paff on winning Low Gross Foursome and Sean Conley, Jeff Daris, Casey White, Nick Woner on winning Low Net Foursome.
Winners received a magnum bottle of wine each from Donelan Family Wines in Santa Rosa which were generously donated by Bill Murphy.
Special thanks to this year’s underwriter sponsors: Dan Conley & The Conley Family, Bill Murphy’s Douglas Management & Realty Inc., Patrick Murphy’s Trident Construction and UBS’ The Weisberg and Matina Groups.
The Ireland Funds looks forward to building upon the success of this inaugural event and hosting this gathering again in 2022.
Sponsors
We are grateful to the following key sponsors: Shaun & Mary Kelly, Gerry Boyle of Commodore Construction, Shane Naughton, and Gene & Peggy McQuade. Special thanks to Michael Brewster of Wells Fargo Advisors, Mercer County Commissioner Timothy M. McGonigle and all supporters for their kind support.
