Manager to resign from post at cash-strapped Killarney golf club

Another senior figure at a financially troubled top golf club is to resign.

Maurice O’Meara yesterday confirmed he is to leave his post as general manager of Killarney Golf and Fishing Club before the end of the month.

Last month, the club made more than half of its 40 staff redundant. Its course superintendent, David MacIndoe, had stepped down from his position late last year.

After more than five years in the job, Mr O’Meara said it had been a difficult decision but the time was right to move on and he was looking at other opportunities.

“I’m proud to have been manager during two Irish Opens and equally proud to leave the club debt free following the sale of the Lackabane course,” he said.

“I also wish to thank my colleagues, the (club) members, the board and directors and the local business community for their support during my time here.”

Last year, the club sold its third course, Lackabane, to the neighbouring Liebherr crane manufacturing company for around €6m, with the proceeds helping to clear the club’s debts.

Also last year, the club — four times host to the Irish Open Championship — commissioned consultants Deloitte to formulate a three-year business plan to steer it through a difficult time for the golf industry.

That plan is expected to be completed soon.

Last month, the club was threatened with strike action by trade union Siptu arising from large-scale redundancy plans.

But the strike was averted after agreement on a restructuring plan that led to 21 of the 40 staff being made redundant.

Bord Fáilte is the majority shareholder in the club which is regarded as a key element of Killarney’s multi-million euro tourism industry.

Meanwhile, Bord Fáilte is shortly expected to hand over the day-to-day running of the club to a committee elected by members, as part of the restructuring plan.