Offaly golfers selected on Irish Home Internationals teams

TWO Offaly golfers have been selected on Irish golf teams for the R and A Home Internationals in Cork Golf Club and Woodhall Spa this week.

Tullamore native Stuart Grehan is on the senior mens’ side while Esker Hills Golf Club member, Ella Cantwell is on the girls’ side.

Now a member of County Louth Golf Club in Baltray, Grehan returned to amateur ranks in 2025 after several years in the professional ranks. A former member of Tullamore Golf Club, he has enjoyed great success as an amateur before turning professional and has resumed where he left off.

Rahan woman Ella Cantwell is enjoying a terrific season and has made the girls’ side – four squads have been selected for the Home Internationals against England, Scotland and Wales.

The junior girls and boys events are in Cork Golf Club while the senior mens’and womens’ teams travel to the home of England Golf in Woodhall Spa.

The Irish Girls’ team enters with plenty of momentum following a bronze medal winning performance at last month’s Girls’ European Team Championships in England, where they secured a first medal in 19 years.

Captain Brenda Craig (Roganstown) retains four members from that squad, with Róisín Scanlon (Woburn), Zoe McLean-Tattan (Romford), Kate Dillon (Oughterard) and Hannah Lee-McNamara (Royal Portrush) all teeing up.

They are joined by the Tralee pairing of Ella Moynihan and Lucy Grattan and Esker Hills golfer Ella Cantwell who have all impressed domestically this season.

“It’s the first medal that we’ve won in 19 years, so delighted for the girls, they fought really hard and were very much deserving of their bronze medals,” said captain Brenda Craig.

“We have three new girls joining us, Ella Moynihan who’s topped the Order of Merit and Ella Cantwell and Lucy Grattan who have won three out of the four regional championships between them. Really looking forward to the experience of the four girls teaming up with the three new girls on the panel and very much looking forward to a good week in Cork.”

Meanwhile the Irish Men’s and Women’s team travel to Lincolnshire aiming to build on their historic 2024 victory, when a dramatic 7-7 draw against England on the final day saw the combined team secure victory at Murcar Links.

Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Open champion Stuart Grehan (Co. Louth) joins a Men’s lineup that includes East of Ireland winner David Howard (Fota Island), South of Ireland champion Jonathan Keane (Lahinch), Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint), Sean Keeling (Roganstown), Keith Egan (Carton House) John Doyle (Fota Island), Thomas Higgins (Roscommon) and Gavin Tiernan (Co. Louth).

Bridgestone Order of Merit leader Aideen Walsh (Lahinch) will be part of a seven strong Irish Women’s team alongside AIG Irish Women’s Amateur Close champion Anna Dawson (Tramore), Olivia Costello (Roscommon), Rebekah Gardner (Clandeboye), Anna Abom (Edmondstown), Beth Coulter (Kirkistown Castle) and Emma Fleming (Elm Park).

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Ireland will once again face England, Scotland and Wales with the combined team scores from the Men’s and Women’s matches determining the overall champions. The same format will apply at Cork, where the Boys’ and Girls’ squads will also contest combined honours.

Proceedings get underway at Cork Golf Club on Tuesday morning before action at Woodhall Spa begins on Wednesday.

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