Goodbye to the Galway master

They came to mourn and remember the Galway golfer who paved the way for generations to follow – the man who didn’t need a name other than Himself.

Christy O’Connor Senior made one final trip through his beloved Royal Dublin Golf Club on Tuesday after a funeral Mass in Clontarf attended by celebrities from the world of sport and media, including Ireland’s Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley.

But Christy’s home city wasn’t forgotten either – and his coffin was adorned with his award as Galway’s Greatest Living Sportsman, an accolade selected by the sports-loving public as part of the 50th anniversary of the Galway Sports Stars in 2014.

The 91 year old Knocknacarra native was the first golfer to ever win prize money of four figures – and he had the distinction of playing on ten Ryder Cup teams in a glorious career.

Married to Mary Corless from Tuam, he was that club’s first ever golf professional – and he was deeply proud of his Galway roots.

Now he joins his nephew and namesake Christy Junior – and Galway has lost its two greatest golfers of all time.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune