Great Britain & Ireland Captain Dean Robertson & The Great Britain & Ireland players celebrate with the trophy following their victory during the Sunday Singles on Day Two of the Walker Cup at Lahinch Golf Club on September 6, 2026 in Lahinch, County Clare. (Photo by Oisin Keniry/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
LAHINCH played its part in making the fifty first Walker Cup one to remember.
Not alone did the bi-ennial international match between Great Britain and Ireland against the United States of America produce the biggest comeback the Walker Cup has ever witnessed but it also saw the famous Clare links deliver on the biggest stage once again. Over 16,000 people attended the Walker Cup on Saturday and Sunday.
For the first time since 2015, Team GB&I won the international on a score of 13 1/2 to 12 ½ in what team members have coined ‘the legend of Lahinch’.
Mid-afternoon tunes have been heralded by members of the winning team for turning things around following a poor Sunday morning foursomes. Oasis’ Wonderwall kicked off the playlist, members of the victorious team informed The Clare Echo.
Mark Darbin of the R&A in his address at the trophy presentation, “the Walker Cup won this weekend and most importantly golf won this weekend”. He remarked, “to my new friends in Lahinch I’ll be back because nobody knows how to throw a party like Lahinch”.
Speaking after receiving the trophy, Dean Robertson said he was “incredibly proud”. He stated, “Sportsmanship has made this a thrilling battle. thank you for all support in making this match a reality”.
According to the winning captain, Lahinch Golf Club, its captain John Gleeson, lady captain Miriam O’Keeffe, event organizer Padraig Slattery, course superintendent Brian McDonagh and their team who kept the course in pristine condition served as “a massive piece” in making the Walker Cup a success.
Captain for the second successive Walker Cup, Robertston paid tribute to his late father David and spoke of the team having one purpose, “ní neart go cur le chéile”. He continued, “What a journey to get here, Great Britain and Ireland rose to the test, a large part of that was due to our fans, you were our eleventh man, thank you Lahinch, thank you Ireland, beir bua”.
Attending Sunday’s press conference, the 1999 Italian Open winner described the winning putt by Josh Hill as “a Matt Fitzpatrick like bunker shot and we won the Walker Cup”. He stated, “We are so elated, we’re hardly able to put it into words, pride is the word I would use to describe it.
Roberston believed the quality of golf on show in Lahinch was “sensational”. He confirmed that he changed the planned order for the singles at lunchtime to try bring some energy.
Tullamore’s Stuart Grehan who was the only Irish golfer on the fairway of Lahinch said the success was “definitely the highlight of my golf career, individual titles are great but to win as a team on the biggest stage you can do it is amazing, I’m very happy for everyone involved”.
