BUMLIN FOLK
In early 2003 a group of ‘Senior’ men with too much time on their hands were talking about
forming a seniors group to play golf and have a social occasion in mid-week. By this time both our
neighbouring clubs, Longford and Roscommon had a thriving Seniors section. Emissaries were
dispatched to these clubs to suss out the scene. As a result of these visits our good friend and
organiser of Roscommon Seniors Jim Finn gave us a donation of €30 to get ourselves up and
running.
So it was that at 10.30am on 8th July 2003, eight Stalwarts togged out for the inaugural outing of
the Seniors. Paddy Murray was the winner of the 15 holes competition with 34 points, with a
playing handicap of 12. Joe Mulvihill was second.
Joe Mulvihill gave us the name the ‘Bumlin Boys’ after the nearby Bumlin River.
Members in the first few months were: Paddy Murray, Joe Mulvihill, Liam Glover, Des Tighe,
Brendan Whitty, Dessie Watts, John Irvine, Eugene Boland, Brian McGuinness, Jim Tunney, Joe
Fingleton, Austin Trappe, Jim Bohan, Frank Thorne, Michael Farrell, Eamon Shiel, Colum McCrann,
Michael Donnellan, Michael Murtagh and Donnchadh MacAodha.
The Ladies were invited to join, as they were curious and reckoned we were having too much fun.
They had their first outing with us on 17th February 2004. Four brave Ladies played on that day,
Claire Beirne, Maureen Hanly, Marie Duke and Vera Whitty. Claire was the first winner. Other
Ladies to play in the first few year were; Elsie Owens, Marie Cox, Patricia Shiels, Sheena MacAodha,
Florence Hanly, Kitty Dowd, Maud Brady, Lucy Gibbons and Margaret Cox.
When the Ladies joined we could no longer be called the ‘Bumlin Boys’ again Joe Mulvihill came to
the rescue and we are now the ‘Bumlin Folk’.
We have away day every month from April to September / October, where we play different
courses and sometimes take in their Senior Open Day. We have our overnight stay with two rounds
of golf and Dinner Bed and Breakfast. So far these overnights have all been to Bundoran Golf Club
and the Great Northern Hotel. We have established a rapport with our senior comrades in
Ballinamore Golf Club, whereby we play in their senior open day and they replicate to our open
day. In fact we had our very first away day in Ballinamore on 1st June 2004 where Colum McCrann
was our first away day winner. We followed this outing with a visit to our near neighbours
Roscommon on 29th September 2004, where Brian McGuinness used local knowledge to good
effect to claim first prize. And so the wanderlust was born.
As well as a thriving social scene we have a number of competitions for both Ladies and Gents.
As our numbers grew, the competitive nature began to kick in. One of first competitions to be
inaugurated was the Golfer of the Year; this beautiful replica of the Ardagh Chalice comes from a
limited set of Bellek China. This is a Match Play event and is much sought after; Donnchadh
MacAodha is the first name on this beautiful trophy. It was originally sponsored by ESB
Lanesborough. Other competitions are the most two’s in the year. The total number of points
scored each Tuesday, the Seniors Captains Prize for both Ladies and Gents (sponsored by Jim
Ganly). Most improved Senior player of the year (sponsored by Eugene Boland). Best Eclectic score
during the summer months, both gross and nett. Most points scored on our away days (perpetual
trophy sponsored by John Joe and Margaret Cox). To keep the cobwebs away we run a winter
league from November to March.
We have had, had three holes in one in our history. Eugene Boland 21st March 2006. Colm Dardis
2nd April 2013. And Bernie Taylor the first Lady to have a hole in on the 3 rd hole 6th January 2015.
Our current list of players are dedicated group, who play in all conditions: Sean Brennan, Eamon
Burke, Tony Carleton, John Connor, John Joe Cox, Ronan Cullen, Pat Dowd, Colm Dardis, Peter Day,
Jim Ganly, Michael Healy, Ray Hogan, Noel Holland, Gerry Houlihan, John Irvine, Mattie Kelly,
Martin Kelly, Ollie Killeen, Brendan Kiernan, Peter Lally, Brian Malone, Martin McAlister, Jackie
McDonnell, Pat McGonnell, Sean O’Donnell, Brian O’Rourke, Liam Rosemond, Michael Simpson, Jim
Summers, Bob Sumner, Paul Taylor and Aidan Cassidy. Injuries now prevent Paddy Donlon and P J
Donoghue from gracing the fairways of Bumlin. Regretfully we lost our first member in the later
part of 2014; Michael Kelly is making a home for us all in another kingdom.
Our two overseas members, Monsignor Kevin Flanagan, USA, and his friend Paddy Kiernan,
England, have played with us each summer since 2003 when they come on holidays, and they are
always very welcome.
Ursula Burke, Marie Connellan, Mary Fallon, Goretti Kenny, Rose Lally, Eileen Lyons, Renagh
Mercer, Antoinette O’Donnell, Marie Simpson and Bernie Taylor are some of the latest Ladies to
play.
Our fee of €4 covers the Tuesday competition, the cuppa with cake/biscuits afterwards and a
Christmas dinner each year. We have only increased the fee by €1 since our start-up.
The Senior Captains have been; Eugene Boland 2008, Donnchadh MacAodha 2009, Jim Ganly
2010/13 and our present Captain Liam Rosemond 2014/15.
We have come a long way from the original Bumlin eight of July 2003 to last year’s Christmas
dinner in the Percy French, where we had an attendance of fifty eight.
Our mission is to provide a relaxing and social round of golf in a pleasant and stress free
atmosphere. All members of Strokestown Golf Club over ‘55 are welcome, and indeed junior,
seniors are encouraged to serve their time with us.