I first met Liam Houlihan on the Pitch and Putt circuit in Cork in the late 1970s. Later, I was honoured to serve with him on the Championship Committee of the PPUI, to which Liam rendered eighteen years of superb service (1980-1998). Society and Pitch and Putt alike saw many changes in that time. Liam Houlihan skilfully steered Pitch and Putt through many of those changes and into uncharted waters at times. Pitch and Putt was always the winner. Liam never shirked responsibility. He didn't court popularity and was never slow to take controversial decisions. His involvement in Pitch and Putt was characterised by the tremendous work ethic that was also a feature of his business life.
Liam Houlihan's first job in Cork was Temporary Telegram Boy during the war torn years of the 1940s. He then graduated to serve his time as a painter with C.A.B. Motors. He, and his brother John, set-up their own signwriting and spray painting business in 1965. In the intervening years, through hard work and the quality of his craftsmanship, Liam built up a portfolio of clients comprising some of the leading names in Irish commercial life. He loved to tell tales of his famous client of all. The "Popemobiles" that His Holiness John Paul II used during his visit to Ireland in 1979 were painted by Liam Houlihan. Liam’s scoreboards for PPUI events were true works of art.
Liam was a very keen soccer player in his youth. He also enjoyed deep-sea angling and in Crosshaven, they still talk of the 4 foot 11 inches shark he caught back in the sixties. After retiring from soccer, he turned to refereeing and was "the man in the middle" at many Munster Senior League and FAI Intermediate Cup matches. He was also a keen golfer. At one stage at the beginning of the seventies, he was a member of East Cork, Monkstown and Macroom Golf Clubs. Very soon though, Liam Houlihan was to find a new sporting love.
Liam Houlihan joined St. Anne's Pitch and Putt club in 1971. He was elected Captain in 1973 and remained on the Club Committee for eleven years, serving in a variety of positions, including Chairman, a post he returned to when he finally retired from the national stage. He became Munster P.R.O. in 1975, then Vice President and finally President (1982).
He had gone on PPUI Central Council (now NEC) in 1981 as Registrar and then assumed the Vice Presidency in 1982. He embarked on a twelve year stint as President ('83-'85), Past President ('86-'88) and then President ('89-'91) and Past President ('92-'94) again. He then completed four fruitful years as Competitions Secretary.
He reckoned the highlight of his playing career was to captain the St. Anne's team which won the Cork County Intermediate League. Throughout his administrative career he continued to contest practically every event on the course. He twice played in the National Intermediate Strokeplay finals and participated in the inaugural Skoda National Mixed Team Event at Lucan in 1994.
Liam was married to Kitty (for sixty years). Kitty and his extended family (in Ireland and the US) were a wonderful support to him. He and Kitty used to spend a number of weeks stateside every year.
Those of us who were privileged to serve with Liam on PPUI Committees shared many a laugh, many a journey, many a meeting and many a meal with a man who was such fun to be around. Liam was a wit, a raconteur, a wonderful character. He was a fine orator, the rousing speeches delivered in his unmistakable lilting Cork phraseology.
A most abiding memory is of being part of a three person Irish delegation with Mervyn Cooney and Liam (one of Liam’s final acts as a national administrator), that travelled to Cetraro in Southern Italy in 1998 for talks with the Federazione Italiana Pitch and Putt. Throughout that marathon journey via London and Rome, Liam regaled us with droll tales from times long past and one was left with the lasting impression of a life well-lived, with extraordinary humour, honour, dignity and responsibility.
The Pitch and Putt Union of
Ireland national scene was enriched by Liam's considerable presence. Ní bheidh a leithidí arís ann.
Thanks to John Manning for this tribute.