Pitch and putt stalwarts deservedly honoured at club in Tipperary

Honorary Lifetime Memberships were presenterd to two much-loved Larkspur Park, Cashel pitch and putt stalwarts, Dor Hannigan and Tom O’Dwyer.

Dor first got involved in Larkspur Park in 1969 when she joined the tennis club. She was Chairperson of the tennis committee from 1972 until 1974 - back then in the early 1970s her real involvement was in relation to the tennis courts.

The tennis courts had fallen into disrepair and no better woman than Dor, who was approached to try and form a committee with the view of reinvigorating tennis in Larkspur Park. Thankfully she did, and to this day the tennis side of the house is going so well.


Chatting with Dor, it was lovely to recap how evenings were spent with her late husband Johnny, along with others, building the wall around the perimeter of the court.

Nothing brought Dor more joy than the days when other clubs used to visit Larkspur, and she presented and entertained on her own courts.

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She’s a great woman for travelling too, and representing Larkspur in the tennis circles of Ireland.

Also worthy of mention is the Youth Fundraising Drive that Dor and Johnny were the driving force behind in the early 1980s, which saw the very first set of lights installed on the tennis courts. Discos were organised in Dundrum to help with this fundraising.


This award is very fitting for Dor and she says with warm fondness that life has come full circle again with the involvement of her own family now within the park. Her son-in-law Darren Ryan is Chairman of Larkpur Park, while her daughter Yvonne is Secretary of the tennis club.

James, her son plays tennis as does his wife Claire. The full circle is of great joy and pride to Dor, and all the pitch and putters certainly love seeing Dor joining them on their Tuesday evening scrambles, where Dor is a weekly regular and long may her tradition and that of her family continue. Everyone in Larkspur Park is very grateful to have the diamond that they have in “our Dor”.


Similiar to Dor, Tom O’ Dwyer joined Larkspur Park in 1968.

Tom’s focus, passion and interest was always in the pitch and putt side of the club. Tom very modestly spoke of many wins over the years - small wins, as Tom said himself.

However, one of his fondest memories is the day he won the Waterford Crystal Pitch and Putt Open in the mid 1980s.
Playing off a handicap of 12, Tom shot level par (Round 1) and one under (Round 2) to claim this victory.

Anyone who joins Tom to this day on the course for a round will still see that accuracy, focus and love for the game that has not at all faltered in his honorary life time here.

Tom held many positions within Larkspur Park. He was the Pitch and Putt Chairperson and also Chairperson of the Tipperary County Board.


No job is too big or small for Tom, he is out there on the course, both playing and maintaining where he can.

It is people like Tom who get the job done and club members are blessed to have him, along with Dor, as stalwarts of Larkspur Park and who have made, and continue to make the club in Cashel what it is today - a very special club of which to be a member.

The heartiest of congratulations are extended to Dor and Tom on this deserved award.

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