Maire O'Donnell receives the European Women’s Amateur Team Championship trophy at Hermitage in 1979

Irish golf lost one of its greatest servants with the death on July 8 of former Curtis Cup captain and Irish selector Maire O'Donnell at the age of 94.

A lifelong member of Donegal Golf Club, Maire will be remembered as one of Ireland's most remarkable lady golfers.

She was born into the distinguished McMullin family in Ballybofey, County Donegal, where her father was a lawyer and her mother a doctor.

Maire's early sporting achievements were on the tennis courts, where she was an accomplished player and represented her local tennis club with distinction.

It wasn't until she married the late Louis O'Donnell MRCVS in 1952 and moved to Mountcharles that she took an interest in golf, accompanying her husband to the golf course.

In the early years of her marriage, she often said she might have been left at home if she hadn't managed to get out there and play.

Maire and Louis have one son Brian, and as well as being a full-time mother, Maire assisted with the office side of her husband Louis's busy veterinary practice.

She loved horse riding and took her horse on a daily canter while also very much involved in charity work.

She was also a member of four golf clubs — her home club Donegal Golf Club, which was first based at Tullycullion on land donated by the Temple family, owners of the world-famous Magee clothing company.

After a decade, the Donegal Golf Club moved to the Murvagh peninsula, also owned by the Temple family, where Eddie Hackett designed a links course, enhanced since then by Pat Ruddy.

Maire's other club memberships included County Sligo, Bundoran and Lahinch, where she went every summer in the 1950s with her husband.

It was at Lahinch that Maire first came to fame internationally when in 1973, she broke the course record, carding a seven-under-par 68 that earned her a handicap of plus one.

Maire gave much credit for her golfing success to the late Christy O'Connor, who was the professional at Bundoran from 1951 until 1957.

O'Connor took her under his wing and coached her, and within eight years, she had reached single handicap status.

Maire won the Connacht Championship in 1969, 1971, 1974 and 1976 and was runner-up another six times — in 1962, 1964, 1965, 1972, 1975 and 1978.

She was a quarter-finalist in the Irish Ladies' Close championship in 1964, 1967 and 1974 when she was capped for Ireland at the age of 46 in the Home Internationals at Sandwich — one of four new caps alongside 16-year old Rhona Heggarty, 17-year old Mary Irvine and 21-year old Claire Nesbitt.

She had become became vice-captain of the Irish ladies team in 1972, a position she held for two years before becoming Captain. She served as Ireland's Captain in the European Team Championship from 1977-1979, as well as in the Home Internationals in 1977, 1978 and 1979.

In 1978 for her achievements in golf, Maire was honoured as Donegal Sportswomen of the Year.

The following year, 1979, The European Team Championships were held in Ireland and the Irish Ladies Golf Union invited her to remain as Captain for a third year.

She brought great honour to her country and her beloved Donegal when she captained the Irish team to victory in the European Women's Amateur Team Championship at Hermitage — the first victory for the national team in 72 years and a milestone in the history of lady's golf in Ireland.

In recognition of her achievement, Maire was invited to be vice-captain of the Curtis Cup team. Two years later, she was appointed non-playing Captain of the Great Britain and Ireland team, which took her to the World Cup in North Carolina, where the team made an excellent showing and finished in fifth place. She also captained the Great Britain & Irish team against Europe in Spain.

In 1982 she received her greatest accolade when she was invited to Captain the Curtis Cup team against the USA in Denver, Colorado.

That eight-member 1982 Curtis Cup team included three Irish players for the first time. The three were McKenna, Madill and Nesbitt.

Maire served with the ILGU at various times during her career and her skills as an administrator matched her achievements on the links.

She played a major role on the Ladies Golf Union Council as one of two representatives, attending meetings in St. Andrews five times a year.

She attended all the British championships in an administrative capacity or as a referee and often had to chair the International selection committees, which required her to be present with selectors at championships.

Maire O'Donnell was a loyal member of Donegal Golf Club and in the early days, when the club was newly-formed, she gave it her wholehearted support.

As well as fundraising, she ran the lady's section, organising competitions and handicaps as well as cleaning parties and ladies to take turns in providing tea and buns after the competitions.

Maire O'Donnell wins on Ireland debut 1974

This social tradition, providing tea, continued well into the Murvagh days, helping newcomers get to know existing members.

Maire devised a handicap system for Class B's, the newcomers, and when they reached 120 grosses, they joined the main draw. She was instrumental in encouraging beginners and helping all the good lady golfers reach their full potential, teaching them to be masters of their full swing.

As a result of her instructions, many ladies at all levels still hum the "Blue Danube" today as they swing the club and try to copy Maire's rhythm.

As well as her involvement in Murvagh, she was readily available to other clubs in both county and province and every competition and handicap secretary in the county had Maire's number.

She gave free golf lessons on summer evenings at Murvagh into her late seventies and to us ladies in Murvagh Golf Club and all the lady golfers in Donegal, Maire O'Donnell was very special.

The Annual Donegal Shield ladies competition was started by Maire O'Donnell in 1975 and continues today. Maire set up this competition to promote social interaction between golfers in Donegal clubs. Thus, providing an opportunity for lady golfers from every club in Donegal to come together on one day annually to represent their respective clubs.

In 1994, the Maire O'Donnell competition was founded in her honour by the late Ita Cleary (Ballybofey/Stranorlar GC), who died just a month before Maire.

The purpose of this competition was to promote competitive ladies golf among clubs in Donegal at a time when ladies were only associate members.

The name chosen for the competition was the Maire O'Donnell Competition to honour Maire's achievements in the game throughout her life.

The success of the Maire O'Donnell competition is reflected in the continued support from the participating clubs year after year.

On the occasion of her 80th birthday, April 2007, the clubhouse was the setting for 'This is your Life' for Maire. The club, her friends and family and members of the ILGU all came together to honour the "First Lady of Donegal Golf", a title this woman truly deserved.

Her 90th birthday was a quieter affair with a cake and celebration for her in Donegal Golf Club attended by all the lady members following their regular Tuesday round of golf.

Maire O'Donnell lived a full life. To quote Oscar Wilde, "To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all."

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h’anam

There will never be another Maire O'Donnell.

Notable achievements:

Plus one handicap, when she had 68 at Lahinch in 1973
Winner of Connacht Championship in Bundoran in 1976
Captain of inaugural Vagliano Trophy between Great Britain and Ireland v Rest of Europe in 1977
Donegal Sportswomen of the Year for 1978
Member of Interprovincial team for Connacht
Captain of the Irish team for Home Internationals in Wales
Member of the Irish team playing in Douglas, Cork
Captain of Curtis Cup Team

Anne Murray was Captain of Donegal Golf Club from 2020 to 2021.