Golf Ireland names 25 strong High Performance panels
Ireland won the Men's and Women's Home Internationals at Murcar Links last year. Photo: Scottish Golf.
The Golf Ireland Men’s and Women’s High Performance Panels have been announced with 25 players gaining selection for 2026.
John Doyle (Fota Island) is making the immediate step up from the U18 Boys High Performance Panel to the Men’s Panel after his stunning 2025 where he was selected to compete at the Junior Ryder Cup and Amgen Irish Open.
Reigning Helen Holm champion Róisín Scanlon (Woburn) moves straight from the U18 Girls High Performance to the Women’s Panel with Olivia Costello (Roscommon) and Kate Dillon (Oughterard) also making the same move from the U18 Girls HP Panel to the Women’s Panel for 2025.
The history making duo of Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Open and AIG Irish Men’s Close Champion Stuart Grehan (Co Louth) and regional Grand Slam winner Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk) earned automatic selection to the Men’s Panel having finished first and second respectively on the Bridgestone Men’s Tour for 2025.
Grehan will be joined by fellow Walker Cup star Gavin Tiernan (Co Louth) while West of Ireland champion Dylan Holmes (Greystones), East of Ireland winner David Howard (Fota Island) and South of Ireland champion Jonathan Keane (Lahinch) all earn their first call up to the Men’s HP Panel alongside Mullingar Scratch Trophy winner Fionn Dobbin (Malone), Keith Egan (Carton House), Thomas Higgins (Roscommon), Joshua Hill (Galgorm Castle) and Matthew McClean (Malone).
Beth Coulter (Kirkistown Castle) has once again been selected as part of the Women’s HP Panel as she enters her final year of the Professional Pathway where she will look to follow in the footsteps of Áine Donegan who became the first graduate of the pathway which supports amateurs preparing to turn professional within two years.
AIG Irish Women’s Amateur Close Champion Anna Dawson (Tramore) and Women’s Bridgestone Order of Merit Winner Aideen Walsh (Lahinch) also join Coulter on a Women’s HP Panel that also includes Flogas Irish Girls’ Amateur Open Champion Zoe McClean-Tattan (Romford) and Victorian Amateur Champion Emma Fleming (Elm Park).
“Irish amateur golf enjoyed another exceptional year in 2025 with outstanding team and individual performances from our Women’s and Men’s HP players,” said Golf Ireland High Performance Director Neil Manchip.
“One of the highlights was seeing the historic Vagliano Trophy win for Great Britain and Ireland, and it was fantastic to see Beth Coulter and Áine Donegan play such pivotal roles under Captain Maria Dunne’s leadership."
“Having a record 16 Irish players tee it up at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open, including nine amateurs, speaks volumes about the strength of our Women’s and Girls’ programmes."
“Róisín Scanlon’s victory at the Helen Holm and the impressive runner-up finishes from Gavin Tiernan at The Amateur Championship, John Doyle at the St Andrews Links Trophy and Olivia Costello at the Spanish Amateur underlines the progress our players are making on the global stage."
“To see Stuart Grehan and Gavin Tiernan represent GB&I at the Walker Cup in Cypress Point was a proud moment and a fitting way to cap a hugely successful year across all levels of Irish golf.”
Professional Pathway
Beth Coulter (Kirkistown Castle)
Men's HP Panel
Fionn Dobbin (Malone)
John Doyle (Fota Island)
Keith Egan (Carton House)
Stuart Grehan (Co. Louth)
Thomas Higgins (Roscommon)
Joshua Hill (Galgorm Castle)
Dylan Holmes (Greystones)
David Howard (Fota Island)
Jonathan Keane (Lahinch)
Matthew McClean (Malone)
Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk)
Gavin Tiernan (Co. Louth)
Captain - Damien Coyne (Tuam)
Selector - Mark O'Sullivan (Laytown & Bettystown)
Coach - Michael Collins
Women's HP Panel
Anna Abom (Edmondstown)
Olivia Costello (Roscommon)
Anna Dawson (Tramore)
Kate Dillon (Oughterard)
Emma Fleming (Elm Park)
Rebekah Gardner (Clandeboye)
Marina Joyce-Moreno (Llavaneras)
Zoe McLean-Tattan (Romford)
Ellen O’Shaughnessy (Co. Louth)
Katie Poots (Knock)
Róisín Scanlon (Woburn)
Aideen Walsh (Lahinch)
Captain - Gillian O'Leary (The Island)
Selector - Clodagh Walsh (The Island)
Coach - Dónal Scott