Local Lions Club to host golf fundraiser for iconic Tipperary landmark

This August, the fairways of Thurles Golf Club will become the setting for something far greater than a round of golf.

From Tuesday, August 18 to Friday, August 21, golfers from across Tipperary and the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly are invited to gather in friendship, rivalry and common purpose for the Thurles Lions Club Golf Classic 2026.

At the heart of the event stands one of Thurles’s most treasured landmarks: the magnificent Cathedral of the Assumption.

Construction of the Cathedral began in 1865, and it was consecrated in 1879.

For almost a century and a half, its towers, domes and sacred spaces have watched over generations, marking baptisms, weddings, funerals, feast days and countless moments in the life of the community.

Now, as the Cathedral approaches its 150th anniversary in 2029, its roof requires major replacement.

The wider fundraising campaign is working to secure the future of this much-loved building, described by Thurles Parish as more than stone and mortar, but a place of faith, memory and community that must be preserved for generations still to come.

Thurles Lions Club has committed to raising €50,000 over four years in support of that mission, and the Golf Classic is one of the central events in that effort.

Teams of three players are invited to enter, with every team competing for the Thurles Lions Club Golf Classic Trophy and a share of an overall prize fund of approximately €2,000.

But this is no ordinary golf classic, as parish teams will also have the opportunity to compete for two special perpetual trophies: The Tipperary Parishes Trophy, sponsored by Thurles Lions Club, and the Cashel and Emly Trophy, sponsored by Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly.

To represent a parish, each member of the team must either live in that parish or have grown up there.

A parish may enter as many teams as it wishes.

The two best team results from each parish will be combined to determine its overall score, opening the door to friendly rivalry, local bragging rights and a little parish history.

The cost of entry into the competition is €210 per team, including green fees and a meal.

Thurles Golf Club provides a fitting stage for the occasion: a mature parkland course known for its peaceful surroundings, welcoming atmosphere and strong playing conditions.

To register, contact William McDonagh of Thurles Lions Club on 086 379 7881, or email [email protected].

Payment may be made when the team checks in at Thurles Golf Club on the day of play.

Businesses, organisations and individuals can also support the event through tee-box sponsorship for €100.

Parish teams are encouraged to seek local sponsorship and bring their wider communities into the campaign.

This is an opportunity to play for your parish, but also to play for heritage, remembrance and the generations who will one day walk through the Cathedral doors.