Leading Pitch & Putt Club in Offaly pays tribute to 'one of greatest ever members'

Tullamore Pitch & Putt Club has paid tribute to "one of our greatest ever members, Alo O’Connell, who sadly passed away this week."

The club has posted: "Alo was one of the true greats of our club, a man who worked tirelessly over many decades to help transform our course into the wonderful facility we see on the hills of Arden today.

A member of the club since the late 1960s, Alo served on the Tullamore committee alongside his beloved wife, Teresa, for decades. In 1976, Alo and Teresa were named Gents and Ladies Captains respectively, becoming the first husband and wife to captain our club in the same year.

Alo was a key figure on the great committees of the 1970s that helped transform Tullamore into the powerhouse it is today. His hard work and commitment played a huge part in enabling the club to successfully apply to host its first National Championship towards the end of that decade, a remarkable achievement for a club that was still relatively young at the time. Since then, Tullamore has become one of only two clubs to have hosted every major National and International Championship.

Alo dedicated countless hours to working on the course and served as the club’s greenskeeper for a long period. He loved working outdoors and took enormous pride in maintaining the course, a passion he continued at home in his garden long after he had put the clubs away. We will forever be indebted to Alo for the enormous contribution he made towards establishing Tullamore as one of the jewels in the crown of Pitch & Putt in Ireland.

As a player, Alo took no prisoners. He was a fierce competitor who, on his day, could give any of the club’s top seniors a serious run for their money. He particularly loved playing in the old Business House League, which at the time was the most competitive competition in the club. He took great pride in competing alongside his sons, as family was always the most important thing in the world to Alo.

That close bond with his boys, combined with his competitive nature, helped him overcome many a foe over the years. However, he was never afraid to let his sons know if they had played poorly or lost a match they should have won!

Alo was also one of the club’s great entertainers and absolutely loved the social side of pitch and putt. Many a great night of dancing was enjoyed in the clubhouse over the years, with Alo always at the heart of the action. He truly was the life and soul of the party. Win or lose, he wouldn’t miss a night in the clubhouse alongside Teresa.

He loved sharing stories of the wonderful nights out he had enjoyed with family and friends down through the years, stories he continued to tell right up until his final days. Tullamore Pitch & Putt Club has truly lost one of its finest stalwarts and biggest personalities.

Alo’s legacy at our club is set in stone forever. His children have all played pitch and putt at some stage, and now a generation of grandchildren and great-grandchildren have followed in his footsteps. His son Eddie and grandsons Darren and Michael continue to play the game, while also following Alo’s example by giving their time to working on the course and serving as Captains of the club.

Alo’s name, alongside Teresa’s, will continue to be spoken with great fondness around the course for many years to come. Their contribution will never be forgotten, and their place in the history of Tullamore Pitch & Putt Club is forever secure.

Alo will be greatly missed, but we will always cherish the memories and the time we were fortunate enough to share with him.

On behalf of everyone at Tullamore Pitch & Putt Club, we extend our deepest sympathies to the entire O’Connell family at this very sad time.

May Alo rest in eternal peace and happiness alongside his beloved Teresa."