Chapter:Honorary & Life Members lest we forget them

Over the years, the Club has used its prerogative to elect people, with the necessary qualifications, as honorary or life member, to its membership. To qualify for this honour, the nominee must have achieved special distinction in the game of golf, or have rendered special services to the Club.
We cite them here.
R. H. H. RUSSELL -Son of Past President, the late Bob Russell, R. H.
H. "Harry" Russell has been a member of the Club since the 1930s. Educated at Monkstown Park and Rosall schools, he was a splendid golfer in his younger days, playing off 4 handicap.Managing Director of Grey Russell Ltd., he had the very great honour of having been Club Captain on the occasion of the famous Barton Cup victory in 1950.A member of Three Rock Rovers Hockey Club since 1933, he played an important part in Rover's capture of the Irish Senior Cup in 1939. He was a member of the Irish team in 1944, and he represented Connaught in almost every position on the field in inter-provincial matches.
He was, too, a useful cricketer with the Phoenix Club for which he played for several seasons, being a top-class "fielder".President in 1974 and '75, Harry is a Trustee and Honorary LifeMember of the Club.
E. J. "NED" WALSH -Was born in Graiguenahown in the hill country between Wolfhill and Abbeyleix about the year 1861. His grandmother was a Tynan from Ballybrittas. Of farming stock, he was educated in Blackrock College, Dublin. Here, he combined sport with his academic studies and became brilliant at both.Learning rugby at Blackrock he was the first ex-Blackrock College student to gain an Irish rugby international cap and, subsequently, was capped seven times for Ireland between 1885 and 1893.He later trained the Blackrock College rugby team which won the first Leinster Schools' Cup in 1887.
He was a founder member of Lansdowne Rugby Club.Well-known in golfing circles, too, he was a founder member ofMilltown Golf Club.
A splendid hurler and high jumper, he won the All-Ireland 120 yards Hurdles Championship in 1885 and '86 and tied for first place in the All-Ireland High Jump Championships in 1885 with a fine effort of 5'91/4". It is said that he cleared 6'-0" in this event -a height close to world standard in his day.
He entered the Civil Service where he had a highly successful career,attaining the position of Accountant-General of the Supreme Court.He retired from the Civil Service to Portarlington in 1927, where he
resided for a period of twelve years -first at the Elms, Upper Main Street,and later at Patrick Street.
He was elected Honorary Life Member in April, 1931. He died in 1939.
He was 78.
TONY TYNAN -Was born in Monasterevan, Co. Kildare, son of the late W. A. Tynan, formerly of Ballybrittas, County Laois. He was educated at Monasterevan Christian Brothers Schools and Clongowes
College.He joined the Club in 1950. It was at the tender age of seventeen years when playing off 24 handicap, that he returned a nett 60 to win the Captain's Prize (Dr. T. Kirby) in 1952. The following Sunday, with four shots less, he partnered Donal Quill, now a priest, in a fourball competition and finished 9 up to take first prize -and lost a further four shots for his effort.He was a member of the Leinster team that played Connaught in aJunior Inter-provincial in Athlone in 1955. This was for players outside
the Metropolitan area with 4-6 handicaps. Playing excellent golf, he had wins with birdies twice at the three short holes -9th, 12th and 18th. A long putt for a birdie three at the 13th enabled him to win on the last greenagainst Rev. J. Higgins (Ballinasloe).
Standing 5' 10" and weighing twelve stones in his prime, he played rugby with Lansdowne and was well-known, too, in the horse-racing world.
He joined Woodbrook Golf Club which he represented at senior level. He was a member of that Club's Senior and Junior Cups, Barton Shield and Barton Cup teams and performed with distinction in all their
competitions. With international Brian Malone, he won the Leinster section of the Barton Shield for foursomes. Partnering S. O'Hanlon (Elm Park), he Won the Dun Laoghaire
foursomes in 1960. The following Year, he was called in at short notice to partner Bernard Hunt in the second round of the Hospital's Trust £5,555 tournament at Woodbrook when the Hertisbourne player's original partner withdrew.
Returning to his native heath in 1963 to establish his own business of which he was Managing Director, he set his sights on Garryhinch, sceneof his boyhood victories ten years earlier.In 1963, when playing off 5 handicap in the Club's Committee Prize, he produced superb golf to set a new course record of 68 to break the seven years-old record of Tony Rogers by one stroke. His figures: 4, 4, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3,
5, 4 ::: 35; 3, 4, 3, 3, 4, 5, 3, 4, 4 ::: 33.
In his second term as Captain in 1965 he smashed these figures when setting a new record of 67 nett. His handicap at this time was 4. He was close to record-breaking form again in 1969 when, in August of
that year, he equalled this figure when winning the inaugural Portarlington Junior Scratch Cup from an entry of seventy competitors. His aggregate of 210 (72, 71, 67) gave him a very comfortable five-strokes
win over Matt Houlihan (71,73,71), Kilkenny.
He was elected Captain for his third term in 1973. His lowest handicap was 3.He was a member of the Portarlington team that Won the Irish Mixed Foursomes Cup (Leinster section) in 1976, being beaten by Ennis in the All-Ireland semi-final.As well as his three-term stint of duty as Captain, he also found time to devote a three-year term as Hon. Treasurer from 1968 to 1970.In 1977 he decided to transfer his business interests to Dublin, and on his departure the Club presented him with a splendid silver salver in appreciation and deep gratitude for his magnificent services so generously given.
And his most abiding memory of golf at Garryhinch "... well it must be Dr. Tim Kirby's speech when proposing a toast to the Captain of the Portarlington Barton Cup team, on the occasion of the semi-final match against Royal Dublin in 1968 -which we lost. ..". Older golfers will remember.
MRS. W. A. TYNAN -Givin,g- unselfishly of her time. she was president of the Ladies branch from 1965 to '67 and again in 1972 to '76.Mother of Tony Tynan, past Captain of the Club, she was born in
Dublin. A useful golfer, she reached 16 handicap. Her favourite course is Portarlington and her most abiding memory of golf there was a hole-inone at the 3rd in a Mixed Foursomes when her partner was the late Walter Meade -her first in nearly forty-five years of endeavour.She was elected a Honorary Life Associate Member of the Club on 22-12-1976. Still enjoying life, she now resides in Dublin.
JOE SCALLY -Was born in Cloneygowan, Co.Offaly, son of Jim Scally, Merchant. Both were pillars of the Club for many years. Joe was a very young member when elected Captain in 1934. He was President in
1958 and later served as a trustee.He was a member of the great Barton Cup team of 1950.Sadly, Joe was still a very young man when he died in 1961.His father, Jim, was a member of the Club in the early years. He was President in 1936 and was a vice-President from 1939 to 1948.
He created a furore one day at Garryhinch when he took his "caddie"his pony-and-trap -round the course for 18 holes. The combination later became a familiar sight with locals and visitors alike.
JOHN KENNY -Born inPortarlington, he joined the Club in 1934. He was a committee member for almost his entire membership and was hon. Secretary from 1945 to 1947 and from 1950 to 1951 A national schoolteacher, he also served as a Trustee.
A middle handicap golfer, he remained active throughout, seldom missing his daily round of golf right up to the end of his long life. Sadly, his end came last year, after fifty-three years' membership.
KITTY McCANN -It is not generally known that this celebrated golfer is an Honorary Associate Member of this Club. Superb sportswoman, she did her Tullamore Club and Ireland proud when she won the British Ladies Open Golf Championship in 1951.Becoming a legend in her own day, she has already received all the accolades that the golfing world can shower upon her.On her home-coming from that magnificent victory, her townspeople showed their appreciation by giving her a tumultuous and heart-warming
welcome and paid her the tribute she so richly deserved.Mrs. McCann is still very much alive and well and resides in Tullamore.
P. J. CONLON -Was born in Westmeath. He joined the Club in the
1930s. In the ensuing years he held many officerships with distinction.Captain in 1948, he held the vice-Presidency from 1950 to 1965. He was President from 1966 to 1968 in which year he retired to Athlone.
He and his wife, Sally were the recipients of many tributes at a function in the Clubhouse to mark his departure from the area. Dr. Tim Kirby said of him: "... Pat was a humble man who refused the highest offices in the Club on many occasions and it could be truly said of him he had no ambitions to be in the limelight. During his reign the Club had reached its largest membership and achieved its most significant success. ..". Sons,Rev. Fr. Sean, P. J., Brendan and Dermot are excellent golfers.
Fr. Sean and Dermot have represented the Club in Barton Cup matches for a number of, years and have performed with distinction in all competitions.
Dermot, Captain in 1976, was on the winning Irish Mixed Foursomes Cup team, Leinster section, that year and, since his teenage years, has made a huge contribution to the interest a:nd welfare of the Club to which he has given so much time.
PAT BUTLER -Of Butler's Engineering Ltd., Lea Road,Portarlington, has been a benefactor of the Club since he became a member in 1966. He is a native of Carlow. He was elected to Life Membership in 1974 -and his philosophy -"surely sport is one of the sources of food for the soul within each person, that will enable his eternal spirit to achieve greatness. ..".
MICHAEL MOORE -is a native of Garryhinch and resides close by the Golf Club. Managing Director of Michael Moore Car Sales Portarlington/ Athlone, he has sponsored many of the Club's golf
competitions for many years. He is the sponsor of a new '20 and over' handicapinterclub competition to be inaugurated this year, (1988). Heis a very useful middle handicap golfer.
Dr. J. C. Canning
Dr. J. C. Canning is a native of County Cork. He was born on June 24, 1905, on St. John's Day, i.e. bonefire night.He received his early education at Kilmagna Primary School in theparish of Castlelyons -where an t-Athair Peadar O'Laoghaire, riding a white horse, visited his school monthly.
In 1919 he went to Rockwell College, Cashel, and from there, in 1920, toSt. Colman's College, Fermoy. He won a scholarship to Albert Agricultural College, Glasnevin, in 1923, and in 1924 was awarded a four-years agricultural scholarship to University College, Dublin. In 1928, he was
awarded the B. Agric. Sc. degree.In 1929 he was appointed to the Chilean Nitrate Company to promote
the sale of nitrate of soda.He re-entered UCD in 1930 to study medicine in which he graduated in
1935.Later, he moved to Mountmellick, County Laois, to set up his medical
practice.It was in June, 1940, at an open meeting, that he played his first game of golf on Portarlington golf course. As with his academic studies, he took the game in his stride and was an excellent single-figure golfer. He distinguished himself in countless golf competitions and was a member
of the Barton Cup winning team in 1950.He joined the Portarlington Golf Club in 1941, where, in his forty-seven years membership, he has been one of the Club's most eminent personalities. He was Captain in 1951, President from 1959 to 1961 and is presently one of the Club's trustees.
It was in keeping with the character of the man, too, that the indefatigable "Doc" as he is affectionately known, stepped sprightly onto his home course in July, 1987, to compete for the vice-President's Prize. Producing a momentous effort, he returned a nett 61 to win the competition by three strokes from an entry of 70. It was not so much that he Scored a nett 61, as the fact that he did so at the ripe old age of 82 years.That magnificent performance earned for him the Smithwick's/ Evening Press golf personality of the month award, in category three, for that year.
Extremely fit in mind and body, he regularly attends the Club's monthly committee meetings to which he contributes much from his vast store of knowledge and experience.Dr. Joseph C. Canning, a warm-hearted and generous man, was elected to Honorary Life Membership ofPortarlingtbn Golf Club on February 22,1986.