The Irish Retain the Cup in the US-Ireland Alliance Golf Challenge

June 13, 2005

The fifth US-Ireland Alliance Golf Challenge was held at the K Club in May, once again bringing to Ireland some of America's top corporate executives to play against their Irish counterparts. The Irish team won the tournament 11-7, retaining the Cup and keeping the Irish up 4 to 1 in the series. Sponsors of the tournament were Michael McNamara & Co., the Royal College of Surgeons, Transaction Network Services, Quinlan Asset Management, and Alphyra. Cosponsors were the Mark Ein Foundation, Ruxton Ventures and Anglo Irish Bank.

Members of the American team included: Mark Collins, Managing Director of Transaction Network Services; Tony Condon of the Smurfit Business School; John Daly, host of Real TV and House Detective; Mark Ein, CEO of Venturehouse Group; Noreen Doyle, First Vice President of the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development; Andy Given, Los Angeles film producer of Laws of Attraction and Alexander; Bill Harris, Director General of Science Foundation Ireland; John Hartnett, Senior Vice President of the Americas for palmOne; Greg Jamison, Manager of San Jose Sports and Entertainment; The Honorable James Kenny, US Ambassador to Ireland; Jack McDonnell, founder, Chairman & CEO of Transaction Network Services; and Mark Walsh, Managing Director of Ruxton Ventures.

Members of the Irish team included: Peter Butler, Group Head of Banking, Anglo-Irish Bank; Brian Cowen, Minister of Finance; Laurence Crowley, Governor of the Bank of Ireland; Mary Davis, former CEO of Special Olympics World Summer Games; David Drumm, CEO of Anglo Irish Bank; hotelier Paul Fitzpatrick; Arthur French of French Estates; Michael Horgan, Deputy Chief Executive of the Royal College of Surgeons; Ruth Hurson; Barry Maloney, General Partner, Benchmark Capital; Bernard McNamara, Managing Director of Michael McNamara; Patrick Mooney, Managing Direct of High Degree Construction Management; John Nagle, CEO of Alphyra, Mary Ann O'Brien, Managing Director of Lily O'Brien's; Pauric O'Grady, Managing Director of Johnson & Johnson Ireland; and Derek Quinlan, Chairman of Quinlan Asset Management.

Prizes were awarded by Minister Micheal Martin at a dinner held at the Royal College of Surgeons. The Minister spoke of the ties between the business communities in both countries. In addition to both teams, a who's who of business were in attendance including: Matt Rossmeissl of Microsoft, Paul Murphy of Unilever, Maurice Pratt of C&C, Laurence Crowley of the Bank of Ireland, Maeve Donovan of the Irish Times, and Sir George and Lady Quigley.