Galway Bay Golf Resort is the only headland course on the West of Ireland, and we take pride in the offering we have at our Christy O’ Connor Jr-designed spot.

Our two captains and our president play a key role in the way we operate, and we are very proud of how they shape our approach here at Renville.

So, let’s introduce you to each captain and our club president so you can get to know them better.

Niamh’s family have been golfers for many years; both her parents played, her husband is a former West of Ireland winner, and two of her three children also play.

So, in 2017 it was time for Niamh to finally take up the game herself and join the family “business”. For Niamh, the friends she has made since joining the club are some of the best things about being a member of Galway Bay Golf Resort – as well as the amazing views of the ocean, which have been enhanced recently by the green-keeping team.

This means you will see Niamh on the course every weekend and most Tuesdays when she has a reprieve from her day job in the Medtech Industry.

Her greatest “golfing” achievement was winning a Connacht Pennant in 2019, with her daughter beside her as her caddy. But Niamh’s biggest passion is always family. The time spent on the course with her daughter Siún, who was Junior Captain in 2019 and 2022 and her son Daniel, who was Junior Captain in 2022, along with her husband, Padraig, is when she is so happy. Niamh’s advice to all members would be to remember the comment from the legendary Arnold Palmer: “Golf is a game of inches. The most important are the six inches between your ears.”

Richie took up golf as one of the original members when Galway Bay opened in 1993.

Around five years after joining, Richie took time away from the game due to work and other commitments but returned about 10 years ago and, now retired, is fully enjoying working on his ‘average’ handicap.

Richie has lots of fond memories of the course. In the 1970s, as a child, he worked the old Finn family farm, which is now holes 15, 16, and 17 – and in 2016 he won Galway Bay Golf Resort’s President’s Prize.

An Engineering graduate, Richie worked as an Engineer & Manager in the US Multinational sector, mainly in Ireland for over 35 years, and has lived in the Oranmore, Maree, area all his life except for short spells in San Diego and Boston.

Recently retired, Shane lives adjacent to Galway Bay Golf Resort; that means plenty of time to improve his game.

Having joined Galway Bay Golf Resort in 1995, the club has been a major part of his life ever since. Shane has been actively involved in the club activities since day one – and is passionate about team and interclub golf. He is also involved in junior golf and is currently also serving as junior convener, a role that he relishes. 

Galway Bay Golf Resort has a long and proud history of producing great young golfers, and with fabulous practice facilities and mentoring programs in place, Shane has no doubt that junior golf – boys and girls – will continue to go from strength to strength. Having served as captain in 2014, Shane is relishing the more relaxed role of president and is so grateful to all members for the honour of serving as President of Galway Bay Golf Resort.