Outstanding Offaly golfing prospect presented with honorary life membership by Esker Hills

ANOTHER outstanding young golfing prospect is emerging in the home club of one Shane Lowry and a standing ovation was given to 17 year old Rahan woman, Ella Cantwell when she was presented with honourary life membership of Esker Hills Golf Club at a function on Sunday evening.

A fifth year student at Killina Secondary School, Cantwell has made phenomenal progress in the past two years, bringing her handicap down to under scratch, winning some of the biggest juvenile amateur competitions in the country and becoming the number 1 U18 golfer in Ireland this year as she topped the order of merit.

She won her first Irish cap in 2025 and her excellence has already attracted scholarship approaches from big colleges in the USA.

President of Golf Ireland, Michael Evans described it as a “special occasion”, saying that Ella's achievements are “famous at this stage”.

“Her list of achievements are enormous, I couldn't believe that she has achieved as much as she has achieved,” Mr Evans said, outlining her 2025 achievements:

U18 order of merit winner;

Golf Ireland's Scratch Cup Order of Merit winner for women;

1^st cap for Ireland;

Winner of the Ulster U18 girls championship;

Ballybunnion Scratch Cup winner;

Winner of Esker Hills Club matchplay;

Member of the Tullamore senior foursomes team who won the Leinster Central pennant;

Member of Leinster U18 girls inter-provincial winning team;

The youngest player on the Leinster adult inter-provincial team;

Set three course records in Esker Hills, Millicent and Newcastle West;

Played in the Justin Rose finals in Portugal and is heading to the Orange Bowl finals in Miami in January.

“They are all fair achievements,” Mr Evans added. “She is a down to earth young lady. Respected by her peers and loved wherever she goes. She is the essence of good behaviour on the golf course and we are all very proud of her achievements,” he concluded.

Master of ceremonies at the presentation was former captain Gerry Buckley, who spoke about their pride in Ella's achievements and welcomed all the guests. “We are very lucky in this club to have produced one of the world's greatest golfers in our own Shane Lowry, a major winner, a Ryder Cup hero and someone who has inspired endless thousands of people to take up golf throughout Ireland.

“They say you should follow your dreams and we see people doing that within the junior membership here and this evening is all about that in the case of Ella. We have other people aspiring in the same manner,” Mr Buckley smiled.

The chairman of the Leinster branch of Golf Ireland, Harry McAlinden saluted Ella's character, saying: “She is always smiling. You would never know whether she had a bad shot, a good shot, a bad round or a good round. Ella always has that beaming smile on her face. She is always chatting. No matter where you meet Ella she will always come up and have a chat with you. Even during a round, if she notices you, she will come over and have a chat.

“She is that bubbly type of person and she is always supporting. When she is finished her round, she will go out and see how her fellow competitors are doing. She is a great team player. It has been a pleasure to deal with her and I would like to say to Ella, never change. Please bring that bubbly personality with you no matter where you go.”

The ladies captain at Esker Hills Golf Club, Loretta Flynn described Ella as a “beautiful girl” with a “great demeanour about her”.

“She is very grounded, very level headed and there is no drama about her,” she said, recalling her coming into Esker Hills when she was 10 years of age and playing with adult ladies. “She loves her golf and takes it serious but doesn't let it define her as a person. We are all very proud of her in Esker Hills and she has had some achievement this year. I don't think she could ever top it because it has been a phenomenal year. She works very hard, she practices and it pays off,” said Ms Flynn – pointing out that she won the junior matchplay in Tullamore and ladies matchplay in Esker Hills this year.

Esker Hills mens' captain Andy Hoctor thanked the organisers of the event and told Ella: “You will have friends for life and enjoy every moment of it”.

Ray Molloy of Esker Hills said they were so proud of Ella who has been a member for six/seven years. “She just comes in the door with a smile on her face and it is a pleasure to see her coming in.”

Ella Cantwell replied with an evocative outline of her golf journey and how she took it up at the Driving Range beside the old Jesuit College in Rahan while her parents had a drink in the former pub there.

She spoke about the many influences on her career and the inspiration Shane Lowry has given to her. She recalled the welcome she was given by Esker Hills members eight years ago and the excitement she felt on her first big win. “It is not all about winning. Golf is fun and is about meeting new people, playing new courses, being a part of this amazing community. This is to me golf and what golf is about.”

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Ella recalled the various setbacks she encountered, including dislocating her finger and having to adapt a new swing and recovering from a burst appendix. “I wouldn't be the golfer I am today without the highs and lows of the game,” she said, stating that her first U18 cap for Ireland was the highlight of her season.

She went on: “It really inspires me to see all young boys and girls playing golf and all I will say is follow your dreams and never give up no matter what happens”.