The first “Taiwan-Ireland Friendship Cup” Golf tournament was held at Skerries Golf Club (Co. Dublin) on 1st September 2017. Sponsored by the Taipei Representative Office in Ireland, the event proved to be a wonderful occasion for bilateral exchange. Competitors and guests from the worlds of politics, business, culture, banking, media, education and sport plus members of the Taiwanese community in Ireland were present for the day’s events. Esteemed guests included Mr. John McGuinness T.D., Senator Gerry Horkan, city councillor Declan Flanagan and Frank Lu; Chairman of the Taiwan-Ireland Association.
Representative Simon S.K. Tu officially opened the tournament in the occassion and the competition was held in a warm, welcoming, and friendly atmosphere. The Taipei Office and Taiwan-Ireland Association sponsored prizes with crystal trophies being awarded for first and second place, a Taiwanese painting for third place, Kavalan whiskey for fourth place and drinking vessel for the fifth place. Skerries Golf Club also provided prizes for longest shot and closest to the pin amongst others.
Representative Tu hosted a reception dinner and prize-giving ceremony after the competition. First place was taken by Mr. Peter Donnelly, captain of Skerris Golf Club. Speaking following the prize giving, Representative Tu expressed his gratitude to the organizer, Mr. Brian Murphy and Skerries Golf Club for their organisation of the competition and thanked those present for their support and participation. Representative Tu spoke of the increasingly close bilateral relations between Taiwan and Ireland with the total trade volume increasing by 29% in the past year and Ireland becoming Taiwan’s 12th largest trading partner in the EU, up from 17th last year. Alongside this, in science & technology, academia & education, tourism, sport and the media, the bilateral relationship continues to strengthen day by day.
Deputy McGuinness, Senator Horkan, Councillor Flanagan and the assembled business representatives all expressed their hopes for closer relations between Taiwan and Ireland in the future. Overall, the event proved to be a wonderful occasion for promoting friendship between Taiwan and Ireland, with all those present expressing their hope to do business and visit Taiwan in the future and to attend next year’s competition.
Representative Simon S.K Tu (centre) pictured with competitors and participants.
[Photo Caption 2]: Representative Tu (right) pictured with the first group of competitors.
[Photo Caption 3]: Representative Tu speaking at the post-competition dinner and prize-giving ceremony.
[Photo Caption 4]: Representative Tu presenting the trophy for First Place.
[Photo Caption 5]: Mr. John McGuinness T.D. presenting the trophy for Second Place.
