The 2019 Marie Keating Foundation Celebrity Golf Classic sees celebrities and supporters join forces for the 21st year in the fight against cancer
1st August 2019: The 2019 Marie Keating Foundation Celebrity Golf Classic took place on the Palmer Course (Ryder Cup, 2006) at the K Club today, which is considered one of Europe’s finest championship courses. Now in its 21st year, the highly anticipated flagship event has become recognised as one of the most prestigious Irish charity golf tournaments. A host of celebrities from the world of sports and entertainment descended on the beautiful surrounds of the K Club to enjoy a day of golf followed by a gala dinner, prize giving ceremony and entertainment.
This esteemed annual event, supported by Skechers, Its4women, Marks & Spencer and Devine’s World Chauffer Services, raises vital funds for the Foundation’s cancer awareness programmes and support services for men and women. The Marie Keating Foundation’s nursing team and Mobile Information Units visit over 29,000 people a year to talk about cancer prevention and early detection, while the Foundation’s Comfort Fund provides assistance to families who are struggling financially as a result of cancer. The funds from this year’s event will be designated to support the Marie Keating Foundation’s survivorship work, specifically focussing on its support programmes for both people who have come through cancer and those who are living with an advanced cancer diagnosis.
As a son of Marie Keating and Patron of the Foundation, Ronan Keating hosts this spectacular event every year at which teams of three golfers are joined by a celebrity teammate. This year saw over 29 teams participate and enthusiastic guests got the opportunity to play with an array of high-profile international celebrities and sporting legends including, Mike Tindall, Alan Hanson, Scott Quinell, Stephen Hendry, Craig McGinlay and Kelvin Fletcher from the UK, and home-grown talent such as James Nesbitt, Stephen Hunt, Tony Ward, Barry Murphy, Brian Ormond and Fiona O’Carroll.
Speaking at the exclusive event, the Foundation’s patron and co-founder, singer Ronan Keating commented “I’m delighted to be hosting the 21st year of the Marie Keating Foundation’s flagship event – our celebrity golf classic at the K-Club. The funds raised go directly back into services and allow the Foundation to continue to provide free lifesaving cancer awareness and support services around the country. This year the funds have been designated to support the Foundation’s survivorship work and with more and more people surviving cancer, the need for more support for this community is greater than ever. It’s brilliant, once again, to see the support we receive from so many, from the worlds of sport and entertainment, as well as sponsors and people taking teams. We are, as always, so grateful. Our sponsors this year are Skechers, Its4women, Marks & Spencer and Devine’s World Chauffer Services, so I would like to say a particularly big thank you to them for their continued support.”
Also speaking at the event, Director of Fundraising Linda Keating said “each year this event grows and we are very grateful to all those who support it; celebrities who give their time so generously, those who take teams and donate prizes and our corporate sponsors. We could not continue to deliver our work for cancer survivors and their families without their help. We rely heavily on fundraising and donations to allow us to positively impact communities and families across Ireland through our cancer awareness and support services. On behalf of the Keating family and the Foundation’s team – a huge thank you to all our supporters, your generosity really does make a difference.”
