TIGS History
Information and photos supplied by Brian Garland
Key Dates
· Founded in 1969 by Paddy Power, Dick Bamford & Austin Murphy
· First Outing in Spring 1970 at Greystones Golf Club
· Separate Travel Agents GS formed in November 1972
· TAAGS formed in 1984
· TIGS formed in December 1996
· In 2009 WITIGS and TIGS merge
The Early Days

In 1969 an airline employees golf society was formed. The first committee consisted of Con McGovern (PA) - President, Jack Horan (AC) - Captain, Paddy Power (EI) - Vice Captain, Dick Bamford (BG) - Hon Secretary, Austin Murphy (KL) - Hon Treasurer, Jimmy Dunne (BE) - Asst Sec.
Other founding members included Michael O’Donnell (BA), Felix Cronin (AC), Brian Garland (AZ), Don Hanrahan (AZ), Jim Hughes (EI), Hugh Finlay (EI) and Declan Finucane (EI).
Greystones Golf Club hosted the inaugural outing., when the Annual Sub was £2 , which included green fees, high tee and the prizes.
Winner of the first event was Con McGovern, who was rewarded with 6 wrapped Dunlop Golf balls.
Subsequent members to join between 1970 and 1972 included Bill Miley (EI), Paddy Condon (EI), Ed Reynolds (EI), Shay Mitchell (EI), Fergus Farrell (EI), Doug Gilbert (BA), Alan Edgar (BA), David Allen (BA), John Moroney (BCAC), Jimmy Reynolds (EI), Alan Higgins (EI), Shay O’Connell (BE), and Martin Donnelly (EI).
Some of the outings saw Travel Agents joining their Airline colleagues, namely Michael Walsh, Paddy Scott, Frank Tully, and Cahir O’Doherty.
Pictured at one the outings in 1972 are: Felix & Mary Cronin, Micheal O’Donnell, Jimmy Reynolds, Paddy Power, Carole Stamford, Jim Hughes, Danny McKinney, Charlie Cullinane, Dick Bamford, Bill Connell, Jimmy Dunne & Austin Murphy.
Other founding members included Michael O’Donnell (BA), Felix Cronin (AC), Brian Garland (AZ), Don Hanrahan (AZ), Jim Hughes (EI), Hugh Finlay (EI) and Declan Finucane (EI).
Greystones Golf Club hosted the inaugural outing., when the Annual Sub was £2 , which included green fees, high tee and the prizes.
Winner of the first event was Con McGovern, who was rewarded with 6 wrapped Dunlop Golf balls.
Subsequent members to join between 1970 and 1972 included Bill Miley (EI), Paddy Condon (EI), Ed Reynolds (EI), Shay Mitchell (EI), Fergus Farrell (EI), Doug Gilbert (BA), Alan Edgar (BA), David Allen (BA), John Moroney (BCAC), Jimmy Reynolds (EI), Alan Higgins (EI), Shay O’Connell (BE), and Martin Donnelly (EI).
Some of the outings saw Travel Agents joining their Airline colleagues, namely Michael Walsh, Paddy Scott, Frank Tully, and Cahir O’Doherty.
Pictured at one the outings in 1972 are: Felix & Mary Cronin, Micheal O’Donnell, Jimmy Reynolds, Paddy Power, Carole Stamford, Jim Hughes, Danny McKinney, Charlie Cullinane, Dick Bamford, Bill Connell, Jimmy Dunne & Austin Murphy.
Outings at home and overseas

As early as 1971, the new Society decided to use their industry to avail of an overseas outing.
The first one was to Malaga, for an all inclusive cost of £25, playing at Los Brisas.
Subsequent venues visited were Turnberry, and Formby in the UK, Finland, America (Memphis and Phoenix), Portugal, Morocco, Malaga, Majorca and Lourdes.
Closer to home the members blessed their skills on Cork, Mullingar, Lahinch, Tramore, Dundalk, Baltray, Headford, Birr, Ballinasloe, Naas, Portlaoise, Ennis, Woodenbridge, Faithlegg, Belvoir, Warrenpoint, Kildare, Carlow and Mount Juliet.
The first one was to Malaga, for an all inclusive cost of £25, playing at Los Brisas.
Subsequent venues visited were Turnberry, and Formby in the UK, Finland, America (Memphis and Phoenix), Portugal, Morocco, Malaga, Majorca and Lourdes.
Closer to home the members blessed their skills on Cork, Mullingar, Lahinch, Tramore, Dundalk, Baltray, Headford, Birr, Ballinasloe, Naas, Portlaoise, Ennis, Woodenbridge, Faithlegg, Belvoir, Warrenpoint, Kildare, Carlow and Mount Juliet.
Travel Agents form their own society
In November 1972 a separate Travel Agents Golf Society was formed. Initial members included Con Horgan, Eugene Magee, Vincent Briscoe, Noel Martin, Pat Dawson, Fred Martin, Tom Leech, John Ryan, Michael Caslin, David Doyle, Tony Heverin, Tom Lonergan, Paddy Quinn, Joe Walsh, Jim Hastings, John Molloy, Michael Dillon, Clem Walsh, Matt Corcoran, Tony Collins, and Frank Cryan.
Airlines and Agents Merge

In 1984 a formal merger of the Airline and Agent societies took place with the new organisation referred to as TAAGS. Con Horgan became the inaugural Captain, with Brian Garland as his Vice Captain. Jim Hughes became Life President.
Pictured at an overseas outing in 1985 are Michael Delaney, Fred Martin, Frank Cryan, Jack Horan, Paddy Quinn, Cahir O’Doherty, Conor O’Hara, Matt Corcoran, Bill Miley, Austin Murphy, & Brian Garland.
Pictured at an overseas outing in 1985 are Michael Delaney, Fred Martin, Frank Cryan, Jack Horan, Paddy Quinn, Cahir O’Doherty, Conor O’Hara, Matt Corcoran, Bill Miley, Austin Murphy, & Brian Garland.
TIGS is finally formed

Following a proposal from Clem Walshe, TIGS finally became the name of the male Travel Industry Golf Society. Subsequently the women in the Travel Trade formed WITIGS and in 2007 a trial merge for a period of one year was proposed and accepted by both parties.
At the AGM, held in Royal Dublin Golf Club in December 2008, the formal merger of TIGS and WITIGS was finalised into a single entity, retaining the name TIGS.
At the AGM, held in Royal Dublin Golf Club in December 2008, the formal merger of TIGS and WITIGS was finalised into a single entity, retaining the name TIGS.