James Brogan: Golf Legend Honoured by Dunfanaghy Golf Club

In a lovely event at Dunfanaghy Golf Club on Saturday 14 June the life of James Brogan was celebrated in the presence of Golf Club members and James' family.  A memorial bench was unveiled by his sister Mary (herself a former Lady Captain in 1993) and its position near the first tee box and eighteenth green ensures that all who play Dunfanaghy will continue to remember James.
 
All who spoke at the event paid tribute to James' friendly welcoming nature.  His love of golf and all that he contributed to the development of Dunfanaghy Golf Club over the years as caddie, player, greenkeeper and Club President in our centenary year 2006-2007.
 
Moreover, as our centenary book records James Brogan was truly a golfer of note.  Playing of low single figures for most of his life James won the Captain's Prize in Dunfanaghy eight times (1980, 81, 87, 94, 95, 98, 99 and 2001) an incredible record!!!  To add to this, he won the Presidents Trophy in 1998.  He also won Captain's Prizes in Rosapenna, when Columba Boyce was Captain, in Cloughaneely when Michael Murray was Captain, and Presidents Day in Portsalon when Neil Blaney was President, and the Muckish Ramblers prize when Michael Keaveney was Captain.  Add to this the All-Ireland Captains Competition, played in Rosapenna in 1971; 2 Intermediate Scratch Cups in Portsalon; and 3 Senior Scratch Cups in Dunfanaghy.
 
James was a wonderful golfer who loved his golf, and he was known across the golfing community not just in Donegal but in many clubs across Ireland and beyond including in Athy who we twinned with in 2006.  All who were fortunate to play in his company witnessed his golfing prowess, his cheery good humour and his genuine interest in people.  The Dunfanaghy Club House seems empty without him, but we can still hear his laugh, recall his many stories and remember him fondly.

Thank you to all players who participated in the qualifying and match play for the men's inaugural James Brogan Club Championship & in the ladies' James Brogan Memorial.  Sportsmanship is the real winner in these Competitions, something James Brogan would be proud off. You have all made this first ever James Brogan Club Championship very special.
James Brogan Club Championship
Category 1
Winner:        Daniel McColgan
Runner Up:  James T Sweeney
Category 2
Winner:        Captain Anthony Gallagher
Runner Up:  Sean Quinn
Category 3
Winner:        Pat Bonner
Runner Up:  William Fitzpatrick
James Brogan Memorial Trophy
Winner: Pamela Carleton