On the occasion of the 12th Annual General Meeting of the Irish Ladies Golf Union on Saturday 18th January 2020, two golfing stalwarts, Ada O’Sullivan and Pauline Martin were added to the list of Life Honorary Members of the ILGU.
Ada O’Sullivan has run a large and very successful electrical business for many years and is a member of Monkstown Golf Club. Having served the Club in many ways, including as Lady Captain, she is the current President of the Club.
She represented her province, Munster, as a member of the Girls’ team in 1980 & 1981 and the Women’s Team from 1982 -1997. She was the first ever winner of the Girlie Hegarty Trophy in 1994.
As a player she represented Ireland at the Girls’ Home Internationals in 1980 & 1981. She then played on the Women’s Home International Team seven times between 1982 & 1997 and at the Women’s European Team Championships in 1993, 1994 and 1995. She was the winner of the Sherry Cup in 1994 (European Masters 72 hole stroke play.)
Following her playing career, Ada represented Ireland as Captain of the Girls’ Home International Team in 1999 & 2000 and the Under 21 Team at the European Championship in 2000. She would go on to become the first High Performance Director on the ILGU Board in 2010.
Her first experience of Captaining a GB&I Team was at The Espirito Santo Trophy in Malaysia in 2002. This preceded GB&I Captaincy in 2003 & 2005 when her Team brought home the Vagliano Trophy playing at Co. Louth. In 2004 and 2006, Ada was invited to be Captain of the GB&I Curtis Cup Teams.
“Ada is a very capable, strong, fun loving person who and when asked to take on a responsible task, she takes it on with great enthusiasm and leaves no stone unturned to make it a success,” said ILGU President Brigid McCaw upon presenting her with Life Honorary Membership.
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Pauline Martin began her golfing life in Killiney Golf Club in the 1960’s and moved to Woodbrook Golf Club in the 1970’s to take up the opportunity to play competitive weekend golf. Her handicap quickly reduced to single figures and she became a regular player on the Woodbrook Senior Cup Team as well as entering all the Scratch Cups around the country.
In the 1990’s, Pauline captained two successful Leinster Women’s Interprovincial Teams and in 2003 was the captain of the first Irish Women’s Senior International Team where the matches were played at Whittington Barracks. She again captained the 2004 Senior Women’s Team when the matches were played in Kilkeel Golf Club.
In addition to a busy golfing life, Pauline had an extremely successful career in banking with AIB. In the 1980’s she made headline news when she was appointed as the first ever female Bank Manager in Ireland.
Pauline served on what was then known as the Irish ILGU Council, and over many years contributed to the game as a Rules Official and a Leinster and Irish Selector.
“Throughout her golfing career, Pauline has always supported and encouraged women and girls to develop their potential in golf. Most importantly, she encouraged enjoyment of the game and the making of new friendships,” commented President McCaw.
“To this day you will regularly see her on the course, albeit as a spectator, with binoculars in hand, staunchly supporting GB&I, Irish, Woodbrook and Killiney Teams playing all over the country and sometimes beyond.”
“We are very proud of all our Honorary Life Members and Past Presidents,’ added President McCaw. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for being, as it were, “on call” and for their willingness to sharing their experiences and sound knowledge.”
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