The teams will be drawn from the entrants for a big charity event in aid of the elderly and isolated Irish emigrants living in Britain. Certainly, they will need to be as fit as fiddles if they are to survive all that flying and return any sort of decent scores on the courses of Portrush, County Louth, Ballybunion and Belmullet. For those who do not get to take part in the aerial frenzy there will be the consolation of getting to play in a team of four on one of the classic links that have got behind this magnificent project.

The event is a big thank-you to the men and women who did so much for Ireland throughout the 1950s and 1960s, when weekly remittances helped to keep rural areas afloat, and it is urgent that this should happen.

It is expected that up to 1,000 players will take part and Tom Beisty, chairman of the Safe Start Foundation, emphasises:

"The time to help these people is now. In 10 years time they won't be there. These people made a huge contribution, not just to Britain, but in financial support to Ireland. It is time to say thanks."

Bookings can be made online at www. allirelandgolf. org or email for details:

info@allirelandgolf. org or ring 0044 845 600 1448.