Authorities knew about a possible kerosene contamination in a water supply five days before notices were issued advising residents not to drink the water, it has emerged.

Lahinch Golf Club has taken what it believes will be a giant step towards restoring the prestige of the South of Ireland Amateur Championship by staging a 36-hole stroke play qualifier next year.

Weekend wins for Rosslare in Irish Senior Cup Leinster section and Warrenpoint in the Barton Shield in Ulster have confirmed the field for the national finals of the AIG Cups and Shields at Carton House, Kildare next month.

Maurice Kelly will be aiming to complete a magnificent quick-fire double when he competes at the British Seniors Amateur Championship, which gets underway at Ganton, Yorkshire, this morning.

Ireland swing into action in the Men’s Amateur Home Internationals at Ganton in Yorkshire today in buoyant mood after several of their players staged fine performances in recent events.

Irish Amateur Open champion Robbie Cannon angrily headed to Lahinch last night gunning for more South of Ireland glory after being sensationally left out of the 11-man Ireland team for next month’s Home Internationals at Ganton in England.

Ireland captain Pádraig Hogan believes a strong start against hosts Scotland tomorrow will be key to success in the Home Internationals at Glasgow Gailes.

Recently crowned Irish Close champion Chris Selfridge hit a wonder shot on the final hole of a three-hole aggregate play-off to match the 1988 feat of Ulster great Garth McGimpsey and complete a famous double by lifting the East of Ireland title at a sun-kissed Co Louth.

Muskerry’s Niall Gorey and West Waterford’s Gary Hurley are just five shots off the pace after a scorching start to the Golfsure-sponsored Irish Amateur Close.

Local teenager Sean Flanagan is still on track to claim the Co Sligo club’s first West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship since 1950 following his terrific showing in yesterday’s two matchplay rounds at Rosses Point.

TWELVE months ago, Kelan McDonagh from Athlone felt he was “putted off the golf course” in the final of the South of Ireland Championship by John Greene from Carlow.

HEADFORD’S Greg Mungovan was the surprise leader after the qualifying rounds of the Clare Coast hotels-sponsored South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch last night.

KEEPING Rathmore golfers out of the news these days is far from being an easy task.

LIMERICK’S Pat Murray yesterday relinquished his grip on the Golfsure Irish Amateur Close Championship when failing to come through the 36 hole qualifying rounds in glorious conditions at Royal Dublin.

A total of 13 Irish players are included in the field for the 115th Amateur Championship which gets underway next Monday June 14 at Muirfield & North Berwick Golf Clubs.

DANIELLE MCVEIGH produced a dramatic rearguard action to snatch the Ladies British Open Amateur stroke-play title at Royal Aberdeen yesterday.

Paul Dunne (Greystones) today became the first player to successfully defend the Irish Boys Amateur Close Championship with a two-stroke victory over Knock’s Colin Fairweather at Bangor Golf Club.

Three players sharing the lead after the opening round of the Irish Boys Amateur Close Championship at Bangor Golf Club today.

A CHANCE round with Pádraig Harrington during the third round of the Irish PGA Championship at the European Club last month played a major part in Connor Doran’s victory in the Grant Thornton Mullingar Scratch Trophy.

THIS will be a big weekend on and off the course for several of our leading golfers.

PAT MURRAY has the ideal opportunity to show the Irish selectors the error of their ways in the 108th South of Ireland Championship which begins at Lahinch today.

PAT MURRAY has been waiting a long time, but yesterday he finally won the big win so long overdue when he came good in the Golfsure Irish Close Championship at Enniscrone.

Portstewart's Paul Cutler gave his Walker Cup hopes a boost when he captured the East of Ireland Amateur Championship at Baltray.

Portstewart's Paul Cutler and Portmarnock’s James Fox fired three-under-par 69s to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the East of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at fast-running Baltray.

Scotland's Gavin Dear has one-stroke lead entering Sunday's final 36 holes of the Irish Amateur Open at a windy Royal Dublin.

Hamburg's Philipp Westermann fired the first sub-par round of the week to race into the clubhouse lead in the Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin.

Gale force winds sent scores soaring in the opening round of the Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin.

Defending champion Darren Crowe will face Limerick's Michael Kemmy in Sunday's second round of the South of Ireland championship at Lahinch.

Paul Dunne (Greystones) and Chris Selfridge (Moyola Park) have been selected by The Golfing Union of Ireland to compete in the European Young Masters to be played at Chantilly Golf Club, France from July 24-16.

SEAMUS POWER (West Waterford) defends his Irish Youths Amateur Open Championship title at Lisburn on Thursday and Friday and, if successful, will become only the second player in the history of the event to win the title on three separate occasions, following John McHenry’s wins in 1980, 1981 and 1985.

Forrest Little's Eoin Arthurs took advantage of perfect early morning conditions to scorch to a six-under par 66 and a two stroke lead in the East of Ireland Amateur Championship at County Louth.

Portuguese teenager Pedro Figueiredo cruised to an impressive seven-shot victory in the AIB Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin today.

Portugal's Pedro Figueiredo took advantage of a spectacular eagle two to fire a course record five-under par 67 and snatch a share of the lead entering the final 36-holes of the AIB Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin.

Forrest Little's Eoin Arthurs fired a course record 68 to take the first round lead in the AIB Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin yesterday.

Newlands’ Andrew Hogan defied 40 mph gusts to card a four-under par 67 and grab the silver medal for the leading qualifier in the West of Ireland Championship at Rosses Point.

England’s Jonathan Hurst has set his sights on the West of Ireland Amateur Open title after a level-par 71 gave him the first round lead at wind-blown Rosses Point today.

Lurgan's Gareth Shaw made two visits to the 20th before progressing to the last 16 of the South of Ireland Amateur Open at Lahinch.

Hurling great Davy Fitzgerald grabbed a shock win over Newlands’ Cian Curley in the South of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Lahinch today.

Former goalkeeper Davey Fitzgerald will miss Clare's All Ireland Hurling Championship quarter-final clash with Limerick tomorrow after cruising into the second round of the South of Ireland Amateur Open at Lahinch.

Clandeboye's Jonathan Caldwell made it a birthday to remember, finishing joint top at the Golfsure Irish Amateur Close at Cork yesterday.

Walker Cup hopeful Jonathan Caldwell staked a strong claim for selection in yesterday's Irish Amatuer Close Championship at Cork, where he shot a five under par 67 to lead the field after day one.

Limerick's Pat Murray fired a three under par 69 to share the first round lead in the East of Ireland Amateur Championship at Baltray.

Scotland's Lloyd Saltman grabbed his fourth strokeplay win on the trot with a two-shot victory in the AIB Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin.