- The 29th Annual IGTOA Conference took place in Tralee from 18 to 19 October 2026.
- Joe Russell received the Jerry Donworth Outstanding Contribution to Golf Award.
- Maurice O’Meara won IGTOA Golf Manager of the Year.
- Killarney Plaza Hotel won Large Golf Hotel of the Year.
- The South West dominated the 2026 Gala Awards.
The 29th Annual IGTOA Conference and Gala Irish Golf Awards has taken place in Tralee, Co. Kerry from 18 to 19 October 2026. The event highlighted the South West of Ireland as a dominant force in high-yield golf tourism. Key honours went to local leaders including Joe Russell and Maurice O’Meara.
IGTOA CEO Barry Maye emphasised that specialised golf tourism continues to act as a vital economic driver for regional Irish communities. The South West swept major accolades across courses, management and hospitality providers. The event united top international and domestic tour operators, hoteliers and course managers across The Rose Hotel and Ballygarry Estate Hotel and Spa.
Joe Russell received the Jerry Donworth Outstanding Contribution to Golf Award. Maurice O’Meara of Tralee Golf Links won IGTOA Golf Manager of the Year. Aghadoe Heights Hotel and Spa won the IGTOA Service Excellence Award while Killarney Plaza Hotel won Large Golf Hotel of the Year.
Barry Maye shared “Specialised golf tourism continues to act as a vital economic driver for regional Irish communities.”
David Murphy shared “A great day at the Ireland Golf Tour Operator Association (IGTOA) 29th Annual Conference, hosted here in Tralee, Co. Kerry. Always a pleasure to catch up with familiar faces, make new connections and exchange ideas with so many people involved in Ireland’s golf tourism industry.”
