The newly named “Flogas Vision Ireland Holmpatrick and Granard Cups” are underway.
The action began with the Munster Regional Final at Castletroy last Friday, closely followed by the Connacht/Ulster Regional at Strandhill on Monday.
In 2024, over 15,000 people from 212 clubs around the country took part with one male pair from each club advancing to the Holmpatrick Regionals and one female pair advancing to the Granard Regionals.
The Holmpatrick Cup was established in 1932, and Granard Cup the following year.
They are two of the longest running charity club competitions in Ireland where all proceeds from the events go to Vision Ireland, formerly known as NCBI.
Vision Ireland were delighted to announce that Flogas, a staunch supporter of Irish professional and amateur golf, has agreed to sponsor this historic golf event.
“Vision Ireland, Ireland’s national sight loss agency, has been supporting and empowering people who are blind or visually impaired since 1931,” said Flogas’ Marketing Manager, John Conroy.
“The Holmpatrick and Granard Cups are very much part of the Irish golfing calendar for so many years. We are delighted to be part of such a historic event and to be able to support Vision Ireland’s efforts in raising vital funds for their much-needed services.”
He was speaking at the launch of Vision Ireland’s groundbreaking new service, The Wayfinding Centre, which is an innovative, multifunctional centre which is driven by the need to make transport accessible for everyone in Ireland.
The centre prioritises the provision of travel training programmes designed to help those with disabilities and access requirements build the skills and confidence to navigate public transport safely and easily.
The men’s team from Castletroy Golf and the ladies’ team from Woodstock won the Munster Regional Final with the men’s team from Strandhill and the ladies team from Ballinamore Golf Club winning Connacht/Ulster Regional Final.
The Leinster Regional will take place at Wicklow Golf Club on 26 August followed by the Dublin Regional at Lucan Golf Club on 27 August.
The top three winners of both the Holmpatrick and Granard regional finals will advance to the grand final which takes place in Mullingar Golf Club on 13 September 2024.
The winners of the Granard and Holmpatrick Cups will get to experience a golfer’s trip of a lifetime to historic St. Andrews.
They will stay for three nights at the magnificent Rusacks Hotel and play three St Andrews golf courses including the Eden, the New Course and the Castle Course.
“The Flogas Vision Ireland Holmpatrick and Granard Cups raises essential funds for Vision Ireland and enables us to continue to provide essential services for people in Ireland with vision impairment,” said Vision Ireland’s Joanne McCarney.
“We are absolutely delighted that Flogas have come on board to sponsor this historic event, it will give us the opportunity to not only raise money but to develop this event even further. We would like to thank all the clubs who have taken part and especially the clubs who very kindly hosted the regionals and final events free of charge.
“Without our sponsor, the clubs that host these regionals and the support of Irish golfers, this event just would not be possible.”
About Vision Ireland
For nearly 90 years, Vision Ireland has sought to transform the environment for people with vision impairment through counselling, rehabilitation, the provision of supports and assistive technology and the opening of pathways to learning, employment and social inclusion.
Vision Ireland has a network of centres, training facilities, support groups and library services, which is supported by 128 frontline professional staff, offering a comprehensive menu of free services to over 8,000 people from all age groups every year. Over 55,000 people in Ireland are living with sight loss.
