Golf group says ‘stuck to guidelines’ after 20 members tested positive after Tullamore trip

A GROUP OF golfers have said they consistently adhered to public health guidelines, after it emerged that up to 20 of their members subsequently tested positive for Covid-19.

In a statement to RTÉ’s Liveline program, they said a member of the group died “suddenly and unexpectedly” at the hotel where they were staying in Tullamore.

“A subsequent medical examination discovered that our dear friend had Covid, but this was not related to her death,” said the Entertainers Golf Society.

“When we were informed, we all immediately isolated ourselves and gave HSE complete information about the place we had visited, including the name of the restaurant and pub.”

Earlier, a local GP told RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne that he was surprised to see “so many people traveling as a group of golfers.”

Dr. Declan Scanlon said his practice was experiencing a “significant number of calls” from the incident, but said local health services were working to be “aware” of the outbreak and would take appropriate action.

On the same show, Laois-Offaly TD Barry Cowen said that all the places where people had been in contact with other people had been notified and that it was very important that people make an effort to reduce their contacts in the coming days and weeks.

“What happened, happened … I know people can be fed up and lethargic, but they have to take responsibility,” he said.

A spokesperson for the Entertainers Golf Society told Liveline that the group had been traveling to Tullamore for the past 16 years “annually for a few days of rest, relaxation and golf.”

“This year, obviously due to the restrictions involving Covid-19, we all traveled separately, maintained social distance and took all the precautions indicated by the hotel, the two golf clubs that some of our group visited and the pub and restaurant that we visited as a group, ”said the spokesperson.

Unfortunately and tragically, one of our dear friends died suddenly and unexpectedly at the hotel.

“A subsequent medical examination discovered that our dear friend had Covid, but this was not related to her death. When we were informed, we all immediately isolated ourselves and gave the HSE complete information about the place we had visited, including the name of the restaurant and pub.

We have been screened for HSE and up to 20 of our group, unfortunately, tested positive for this terrible disease. We want to assure Liveline listeners that we adhere to the HSE guidelines on Covid-19 at all times.