Ministers Ross and Griffin pay tribute to former Irish Open Champion John O’Leary

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Mr. Shane Ross, and the Minister with responsibility for Sport, Mr. Brendan Griffin, TD, today paid their respects to the former Irish Open champion John O’Leary, who has died at the age of 70 following a long illness.

Minister Ross said: “It is with great sadness that I learned this afternoon of the passing of John O’Leary following an illness. John will always be remembered by a certain generation for winning the Irish Open at Portmarnock in 1982 and it would be another 25 years before another home player triumphed when Padraig Harrington won at Adare in 2007. John was very popular amongst his fellow professionals at the time and he will be sadly missed by his family and friends and the golfing community.”

Minister Griffin said: “Although I did not get to see John play, I am well aware of his famous victory in the Irish Open in 1982. John also played in the 1975 Ryder Cup and subsequently served on the European Tour’s Board of Directors, helping to bring the Ryder Cup to Ireland in 2006. My condolences to his family and friends at their sad loss.”