In 1993, John Fitzpatrick, c.e.o. of the Fitzpatrick Hotel Group, founded an annual fundraiser, bearing the name of his late parents, to continue the charitable work that they began long ago. Since its inception, the Eithne & Paddy Fitzpatrick Memorial Golf Tournament has raised over $1 million dollars to support the American Ireland Fund and two deserving Irish organizations, Barretstown Gang Camp and the Corrymeela Reconciliation Center, as well as several charities in the United States. The 14th Annual golf tournament will be hosted by Ryder Cup winner Christy O’Connor Jr.
Barretstown Gang Camp, located in the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland, is a specially-designed camp that offers psychosocial support for children diagnosed with cancer and other serious illnesses, as well as programs supporting the families of these children. Corrymeela Reconciliation Center, founded in 1965, is dedicated to the healing of social, religious and political divisions in Northern Ireland and throughout the world. With the funds raised from the annual golf tournament, both organizations have made vast renovations and refurbishments to the facilities to further help the communities and children that depend on their services.
Irish golfing legend Christy O’Connor Jr. began his professional career in 1970 and was at the fore front of the PGA European Tour for over two decades. During his PGA career, Christy won seventeen tournaments in seven different countries, representing Ireland in the World Cup, the Alfred Dunhill Cup, the Double Diamond, the Hennessy Cup and the Ryder Cup, in which he defeated the then world number one golfer Fred Couples at Belfry in 1989, when he hit a magnificent two iron to the 18th green, creating a one hole victory.
Christy joined the European Senior Tour in 1998 and the US Senior Tour in 1999. Over the years he has won the State Farm Senior Classic, the 1999 Senior British Open at Royal Portrush, the Foremost Insurance Championship and the 2000 Senior British Open title at Royal County Down.
The 14th Annual Eithne & Paddy Fitzpatrick Memorial Golf Tournament will be held on May 14, 2007 at the Knollwood Country Club in Elmsford, N.Y. This year’s sponsors include the Fitzpatrick Hotel Group, Heineken, Anheuser-Busch, Continental Airlines, British Airways and Aer Lingus.
The Fitzpatrick Hotel Group is an Irish family owned and operated group offering traditional elements with modern conveniences. The Fitzpatrick Manhattan, located near Central Park, is in the heart of the city’s trendiest retail district. The Fitzpatrick Grand Central is centrally located near Rockefeller Center and the Theater District.