GOLFER MARY McKenna has been awarded an honorary MBE for her contribution to the sport in Ireland and Britain.
McKenna (62) captained the Irish team on four occasions, the joint Great Britain-Ireland team twice in the Curtis Cup against America and four times in the Vagliano Cup against Continental Europe.
Speaking yesterday she said: “I would say I received the MBE because of my long-term involvement with British and Irish golf. My first time on the Great Britain-Ireland team was in 1969 and up until last year, I was still involved.”
A regular player at Donabate Golf Club in Dublin, McKenna said the award has created “quite a buzz” in the club.
President of the Irish Ladies Golf Union Sinéad Heraty said: “She is synonymous with ladies’ golf.
“She is probably the most recognised golfer in Ireland outside of the professional golfers.”
Ms Heraty said McKenna has given a lot back into the administration of the game and has been active in Irish golfing since the age of 14.
As McKenna is not a British citizen, she is recognised as an Honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire. This does not allow her to use a title.
A representative for the British embassy in Dublin said that McKenna would receive her award from the British ambassador, Julian King.