‘The Squire’ remembered as Aoife Kane runs away with the Tom Cryan Trophy at Lahinch

Aoife Kane

Brian Keogh

There is seldom a gathering of Irish sports journalists at the 19th that does not inevitably stray to stories of the great Irish Independent sports writer Tom Cryan – aka ‘The Squire’.

Tom tragically passed away aged 66 in 1998, just 13 months after he had retired following a distinguished 47-year career in sports journalism

The former Boxing Correspondent and Chief Sports Reporter of Independent Newspapers loved his golf and on receiving a magnificent set of new clubs on his retirement, he quipped: “It’s a pity I didn’t get these a few years ago.”

He was a former President of the Dublin Journalists Golf Society, which now plays for the coveted Tom Cryan Trophy on its annual trip to Lahinch.

The late ‘Squire’ would have been the first to congratulate Aoife Kane (20) a journalism student who works part-time in RTE Sport, on her great victory.

She carded scores of 49 pts and 40 pts on the Castle Course and Old Course respectively off a 29 handicap to become the first woman to win the Tom Cryan Trophy.

She’s also the youngest member of the Society and won by a record margin of 14 points, claiming the Claret Jug in memory of a much-loved character.