Moyvalley to host Irish PGA Championship

An exciting three year agreement will see Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort both host and be title sponsor of the prestigious Irish PGA Championship.

The 2016 Irish PGA Championship will be staged on the Twin Oaks Championship Course from Wednesday, September 22 to Sunday, September 25.

On the eve of the tournament on Wednesday, September 21, the PGA in Ireland will celebrate the late Ryder Cup hero Christy O’Connor with the inaugural Christy O’Connor Jnr Memorial Irish PGA Championship Pro-Am on the Twin Oaks course.

The official charity of the Irish PGA Championship will be the Shabra Charity – the Shabra Charity Foundation was founded by the late Oliver Brady and Rita Shah.

Michael McCumiskey, secretary of the PGA in Ireland said: “We have witnessed many great and exciting Irish Championships over the years and I have no doubt that the Twin Oaks Championship Course will provide a testing examination for the players.

“We are pleased that this year’s event will not only be staged at Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort but also sponsored by the venue and we thank the directors for their generous support of the tournament.

“The commitment is for three years and the directors of Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort have given their clear intention to support and host this historic tournament until 2018.”

He added: “Following the sad passing of Christy O’Connor Jnr it is fitting that, in agreement with his family and the directors at Moyvalley the Championship Pro-Am will bear his name and be titled - The Christy O’Connor Jnr Memorial Irish Championship PGA Pro-Am'.

“We are also pleased to announce that this year Shabra Charity is the 'Official Charity' of the 2016 Irish PGA Championship who will be promoting the work of their charity during the week of the Championship.

“We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to work with everyone at Moyvalley to stage an Irish PGA Championship that will live in the memory.”

Rita Shah, one of the directors of Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort, commented: “On behalf of the directors, we are honoured and delighted to announce our support for the 2016 Irish PGA Championship. We recognise and value the important role that the PGA in Ireland play in supporting the development of Irish PGA professionals and Irish tournament golf.

“The Twin Oaks Championship Course will prove a serious and challenging test of golf for all who compete in this prestigious national event and we look forward to welcoming Ireland’s leading PGA professionals from across the country to play at Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort later this year.”

The O’Connor family have welcomed the announcement and stated: “On behalf of our family we are touched by this kind gesture from the PGA in Ireland to pay tribute to Christy’s untimely and unexpected passing by hosting a memorial pro-am in his name.

“Christy was a proud member of the PGA in Ireland during his career as a professional golfer and this is a very fitting mark of respect which we hope will help to continue his legacy and commitment to the game of golf.”

The Irish PGA Championship has been staged since 1907 and has been won by golfing luminaries such as Fred Daly, Harry Bradshaw, Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington. Last year, Niall Kearney made it back-to-back victories with an emphatic14-shot victory at Dundalk GC.

For further information on the Twin Oaks Championship Course and Moyvalley Hotel & Golf Resort please visit www.moyvalley.com