Make way for a golf day

It’s tee time at Monkstown Golf Club today as the Cork Simon Golf Classic takes place.

The charity event has been 'putt' together by business leaders in Cork after they decided to take a constructive and proactive approach to tackling homelessness.

Taking place today, 18 May, committee member Mick Allen, Director of Vision Contracting, said he and his business partners have often discussed their desire to be involved in working together with others to find solutions to homelessness.

He said: “It’s clear for all to see that the people in need are often the most overlooked. We see Cork Simon as a means to picking up the pieces and helping alleviate this imbalance.”

Now in its 17th year, the annual Cork Simon Golf Classic has raised almost €400,000 in support of Cork Simon’s services for men and women experiencing homelessness.

Finbarr Gannon, Managing Director of Finbarr Gannon and Co, said he’s proud of his 20 years plus association with Cork Simon. As chair of the voluntary organising committee, he said: “I wanted to keep up my commitment to Cork Simon, so it was a natural progression to join the Cork Simon Golf Classic Committee and help grow support from the business community.”

According to the most recent figures published by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the number of men and women in emergency accommodation in Cork increased by 9% to 517 people in the 12 months to March 2023.