Whilst on the one hand we are anxiously awaiting the reopening of our course, events happen to remind us that golf is just a sport and that other things are more important. This has certainly been the case for Roscommon Golf Club and its members recently. We have been very saddened to lose two of our stalwart members in recent weeks.

The Late Gerry Mahon.
On the 5th of March we bade farewell to Gerry Mahon a loyal club member for over 60 years. From a well-known golfing family, Gerry played golf from a young age following in the footsteps of his Dad and brothers who were very prominent in the club in the early years. Gerry was Principal of Clooneycolgan NS for many years and brought his many personal traits and administrative skills to the club in various roles over the years. He served as Captain in 1981 and President in 2003. He was our Club historian having a keen interest in the history and traditions of the club and he was the author of our club publication the “Roscommon Golf Club: The First Hundred Years 1904-2004” which was published in 2004 as part of our centenary celebrations. Gerry was very engaging and there was nothing that Gerry enjoyed more than the conversation and chat and in his research for the book he spent endless hours reminiscing with club members past and present to tell the story of the club.
Gerry was synonymous with the running of the annual CBS Past Pupils Union Golf Society for many years which takes place at the club every June Bank Holiday weekend where past pupils from near and far get together for their annual golf game ,but just as important for Gerry was the chat, the story and the craic there was usually a prize for everyone on the presentation evening thanks to Gerry’s endeavours.
Gerry was part of a strong golfing family. His brother Des achieved notable golfing honours in the 1970s as an international and interprovincial golfer and served as administrator of the Connacht Branch of the GUI for several years. Gerry had a keen interest in junior golf with many of his family members taking up the game from a young age and he followed the progress of many of our juniors who came to the fore over the years both on and off the golf course. Gerry’s daughter Deirdre is an honorary member of our club having achieved senior international status in 1989 and 1990 among many other honours and of whose golfing achievements Gerry was immensely proud. Deirdre is also Lady Captain in Milltown GC this year. Gerry’s wife Moira was also one of our leading lady golfers over many years in the club and many other members of Gerry’s family continue to have a life- long interest in the game.
Thursdays and Sundays were Gerry’s main golfing days and while he was a great competitor it was his jovial smile, friendly banter and scéal with his many golfing friends both on and off the course that we will all miss the most. Deepest sympathies to Gerry’s wife Moira, children, Fiona, Peter, Dervilla, Deirdre, Ciara, Nessa, Niamh and Orla, his brothers Cyril and Des, sister Marie and extended family. Rest in peace Gerry.

The Late Tom Judge
An air of sadness and disbelief descended on Roscommon Golf Club on Tuesday April 21st when news came through of the sudden and untimely passing of Tom Judge. A valued member of our Club, Tom served as Captain in 1990 and Club President in 2019. Tom was a loyal supporter of the Club and was truly honoured and proud in 2019 when our Jimmy Bruen team of which he was Captain captured the Connacht Shield. Indeed, there was no prouder man to be had that evening as he accepted the winning pennant on behalf of the Club. This team was one of the many he was involved with through the years and each victory brought him great joy but above all participation, involvement and representation of our Club were all that mattered and was what Tom enjoyed most regardless of the outcome of any match.

In his career as teacher and in later year’s Principal at the Convent of Mercy Secondary School he assumed a genuinely influential role as a teacher and life educator ensuring that all his students were well prepared for exams and future life experiences. He passed on his great love of the English language and maths knowledge to his pupils. His skills as a great debater were often called upon during the years as he served on various committees throughout his long history at our Club. He enjoyed and was very proud of the successes of all our teams both Men’s and Ladies and he shared a special affinity with the junior section of the Club. Tom encouraged and nurtured the values of golf to his students in the Convent where he coached many Scoil Mhuire gan Small Golf teams to success at regional and national levels. Without doubt he took and utmost pride in his daughter Deirdre who went on to represent Ireland as a Junior International.

Tom will be forever remembered, his great wit, warm and charming smile just some of the many attributes that endeared him to so many. He had a friendly welcome for fellow members and visitors and always put the interests of our Club to the fore. His speech on the night of his Presidents night was extremely entertaining where he regaled all in attendance with his wonderful sense of humour. He had an endearing personality and was friend to all. He gave so much to our Club and expected nothing in return.

We certainly are the better for having Tom as one of our members and our friend. Over the days weeks and months to come many a story will be told amongst us of times spent with Tom on the fairways the length and breadth of the country. He was simply a wonderful gentleman.

Tom was first and foremost a family man, a proud husband and father, to his heartbroken family, his wife Mary and darling daughters Siobhan and Deirdre, the wider Judge and Keenan families, please accept our heartfelt and sincere condolences. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers and are guaranteed our support in the future. Go ndéanfaidh Dia trócaire ar a anam uasal. “The weight of this sad time we must obey. Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say. The oldest hath borne most. We that are young shall never see so much, nor live so long”. (William Shakespeare King Lear)
Rest forever in eternal peace our dear friend Tom. You will be sorely missed.

Roscommon Golf Club also relay the sympathies of our Club to members who have lost relatives over the last few weeks. Please be assured that you are in our thoughts.