1.6K
That these two men, from different generations and families,
Amongst them were Harry’s own father, Ned, and his three brothers, Jimmy, Eddie and Hughie, whilst the Darcys haven’t been too shabby at hitting a ball around a course either.

The man…
s Shay The Sage pointed out on a previous Delgany history ramble-chat, this little
Wicklow village has produced far more than its fair share of acclaimed, top-of-the-range golfers – even beyond the world-renowned Harry Bradshaw and Eamonn Darcy.
That these two men, from different generations and families,
should have grown up in small Delgany cottages just a few gates apart wasn’t so much mere coincidence as a reflection of the fact that Delgany and the surrounding area was a rich breeding ground for great golfers.
Amongst them were Harry’s own father, Ned, and his three brothers, Jimmy, Eddie and Hughie, whilst the Darcys haven’t been too shabby at hitting a ball around a course either.
It’s pretty remarkable, in fact, that the Delgany Golf Club – founded in 1908 – has managed to produce 20 world-class players who went on to make golf their professional careers – and, in many cases, their life-long passions.

Harry & that broken Guinness bottle
In Delgany, golf was often a family affair too, with the Haydens, the Walbys, the Martins, the Darcys, the Greens and the Bradshaws all producing more than one acclaimed player around the dinner table.

Jimmy minds de shop
In the case of the Bradshaws, we’re reminded just how deep the golfing bug runs when Shay and I headed up to The Delgany Golf Club on Sunday evening to talk with the Captain, Denzil Jones, and the Vice-Captain, Jason Bradshaw, about the club’s remarkable history.
The more eagle-eyed among you may have noticed that Jason’s surname is Bradshaw – and, yes, he’s related. As is the man behind, in front and on top of the bar tonight, most nights, Eamonn Bradshaw.
They really should consider changing that goat on the Delgany Golf Club crest to a simple outline drawing of Eamonn Bradshaw. On a goat.
Starting off at the club’s Hall of Fame, we explored that strong Bradshaw connection before making our way upstairs to The Ryder Bar – Delgany Golf Club being the only club in Ireland to produce four Ryder Cup winners. Nice.
It was also fascinating to see if two crazy people could hold a serious historical debate with two sane people. It all got too much for Denzil, it seems, who departed halfway through without warning (turns out he was late for a dinner date with the missus), but his vacant spot was soon filled by the bould Eamonn.
Much to Jason’s dismay, no doubt. It was now three-to-one in the crazies favour…
As an extra treat, here’s the bould Harry as Homecoming King in 1949…
And that unlucky bottleneck…

And finally, here’s John Wayne meeting his idol, Jimmy Bradshaw