Moving tribute paid to keen Offaly golfer who passed away recently

A MOVING tribute has been paid to the late Maeve Burke by Tullamore Golf Club.

It reads as follows:

If a person’s true wealth is the good that he or she does in the world, Tullamore Golf Club was enriched by having Maeve Burke as a member. Maeve joined many years ago and quickly became an integral member of the club’s golfing tapestry. Her time as a member is full of memories and accomplishments – there is no doubt but that she loved golf and all the trappings that goes with it. She played off a very respectable handicap, supporting the Ladies club competitions, several of which she won. She successfully represented the club in many inter-club competitions both as a player and manager, and steered the ladies to their first pennant in 25 years when we won the ILGU (Mid-Leinster) Midland Plate in 1997.

Golf brought immense joy to Maeve, and she was selfless in giving back to the club. She undertook many distinct roles on the women’s committee, including Treasurer and was Handicap Secretary for many years – when it was all still done by paper, no computers at that time to do the calculations! Such was the esteem in which she was held she was honoured with the Lady Captaincy in 1987 – a role she relished with gusto. During her Captaincy she lived and breathed golf, made sure everyone was welcome to our course, she promoted our course wherever she went - and that was “everywhere” and was a great ambassador for all things golf.

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Maeve’s enthusiastic personality drew new members to the club. Before the Get into Golf programme was introduced she welcomed new members, was very supportive and encouraging to them, taking many of them under her wing, taking them out to play and teaching them the rules! She had a welcoming and humorous few words for everyone and enjoyed showing off the beauty and the layout of the course.

Maeve was described as a ‘gas woman’, had an infectious sense of humour, was sociable and very friendly to everyone. She played in the Tuesday evening 9-hole 3-ball scramble as recently as 2019 and attended the Past Captains’ dinner in 2023, looking fabulous as always. She cared about the game of golf and the golf club even helping out with catering when the need arose!

Maeve was also a keen Bridge player, running the Thursday night club for many years, with her husband Joe.

A huge crowd of current and past members attended her funeral and past captains and members formed a guard of honour.

Maeve was predeceased by her husband Joe. To her children Yvonne, Neil, Tiernan and Ronan, grandchildren Lorna, Ultan, Éanna, Muireann, John, Alex, Ailbhe, Roisin and extended family we extend sincere sympathy. May she Rest in Peace.