Remembering May Fitzgibbon as Leinster Ladies Alliance celebrates 70th anniversary
Greystones Golf Club’s May Fitzgibbon, founder of the Leinster Ladies Alliance
The Leinster Ladies Alliance celebrates its 70th anniversary this year and hopes to resume activity this side of Christmas after the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Alliance was founded in 1950 by Greystones Golf Club’s May Fitzgibbon—the first left-handed lady to play International golf for Ireland— who recognised the dearth of opportunities for low handicap women golfers.
She saw the need for working women to be able to practise their skills over the winter months in the absence of weekend tee times.
The original Alliance members played against the men of various clubs, in fiercely contested matches with an invitation to play in one of these matches sent out by post. How times have changed!
May ran the LLA for five years before the selection of an annual Captain.
High praise for May Fitzgibbon in the Irish Independent on Monday, January 30, 1961
Pat Fletcher, who was a member of Foxrock Golf Club, became Captain in 1955. She played off scratch and was President of the ILGU in the 1980s. Pat was followed by many captains, illustrious and celebrated names in ladies golf, including interprovincial and international players, past and present.
The Alliance has grown from strength to strength over the decades; the only criterion for membership of the LLA is a handicap of 9 or lower on September 1st in any given year.
Members nowadays enjoy a variety of opportunities; they play in outings in clubs around Leinster, compete in matches against the men of various clubs, and internal Singles and Foursomes matches are played throughout the season from September to March.
The Captain’s Day is hugely enjoyed by many members in March to mark the end of the season. This year’s Captain is Ciara Bourke of Foxrock Golf Club.
The LLA currently has many members and welcomes new faces at any time, provided they are a single figure golfer and a member of a Leinster club.
Please feel free to contact the LLA Hon. Sec. at leinsterladiesalliance@gmail.com. The coronavirus pandemic has only temporarily interrupted play and the members of the LLA look forward to the resumption of competition before Christmas.