Tramore Golf Club to host 2026 Johnny Matthews Golf Classic

By the time the 2026 Johnny Matthews Golf Classic was being launched, it was already almost sold out, with returning teams from last year anxious to secure their spot in the event.

The brainchild of local referee Jim Kealy, the tournament started out as a small homage to one of Waterford Soccer’s greatest legends – a man known for his unwavering commitment to the game as a player, manager, coach, and eventually as a referee, revered in the city and county.

Eight years on, it has grown from a four-hour timesheet to one that stretches across two days, and the 2026 edition will take place at Johnny’s home course, Tramore Golf Club, on Friday, July 10th and Saturday, July 11th next.

“Every year, we've been very, very fortunate,” explained Kealy. “The weather has been on our side. And with Johnny's past experiences as player, manager, coach and referee, he fills the whole gamut of football and people who've benefited from their association with him come back in his memory and support the charities involved.” “The response has been absolutely fantastic. We've been blown away by it, and we're thrilled, absolutely thrilled.” Out of small acorns grow giant oaks goes the phrase, and Kealy is thrilled the way the event has grown.

“I was a member of Williamstown back seven years ago and we had a small event over four hours just as a golf classic to raise money for a group called Muscular Dystrophy Ireland. When Johnny passed away, I asked a referee, Ian Paul, to approach Mary Claire to see if she would be agreeable to host the following event in Johnny's name.

“I think that somebody like Johnny needs to be remembered and celebrated for everything positive he's brought to the game. Anytime you meet people and talk about Johnny, and it's been there for the last six years, when people talk about Johnny, they smile. He always brought a positivity towards refereeing, towards playing football, even in coaching, whatever.

“You had to enjoy it, you had to have a laugh, because if you enjoyed it, you stayed with it. Last year in Faithlegg, I looked around the room and everybody was smiling, everybody was enjoying themselves. I thought to myself, it's a wonderful epitaph to have that everybody smiled when they thought about you, everybody had a laugh.

"I think it's a wonderful legacy to have for Johnny, that everybody smiles and enjoys his memory and what he's done to celebrate football in Waterford. I think it's fantastic.” And Johnny’s wife, Mary Claire, agrees.

“I suppose it's a testament to the legacy that Johnny left,” she beams as she reflects on her support for the event. “I'm delighted the way it has gone. I know John would be absolutely honoured and chuffed that it has turned out to be such a great event, and that so many charities are benefiting in his name.” Along with Muscular Dystrophy Ireland, three local charities are also beneficiaries of the event – Cystic Fibrosis Waterford, Autism Friendly Waterford, and the Waterford Foodbank, with the four groups sharing €10,000 from last year’s classic.

And many of Waterford’s legendary players will also be teeing it up, as Jim explains.

“Dave Kirby is here, for instance. We have Brian Gardiner coming across from England. We have Sid Wallace coming across from England. We have Paul Kirk and Tommy Jackson coming down from Belfast. We have Pat Nolan and Kevin Fitzpatrick bringing down four teams from Limerick. Then you have Ger O Mahoney, you have Liam Coady, you have people he played with.

“There's everybody who knew Johnny and have an experience of him. It shows a bit of positivity. It's, I think, an attempt for those players to give something back to Johnny from what they got from him when he played. He was successful in Waterford in all guises. He was successful in Limerick in all guises.

"It's great to see that continue. We'll do our best for him.”