Golf Chronicles Vol.1: Carne Golf Links, Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Masterpiece | Gerry Maguire

Welcome to **Golf Chronicles,** a new series from **The Irish Snug Podcast** exploring the soul, stories and people behind Ireland’s great golf courses. In this premiere episode, host Tim Grant sits down with **Gerry Maguire**, chairman of Erris Tourism and **one of Carne Golf Links’ great ambassadors**, to explore the remarkable community-built links at **Belmullet on County Mayo’s Mullet Peninsula.** Gerry shares how local visionaries and farmers transformed dramatic Atlantic duneland into a golf course using spades, shovels and very little heavy machinery—and why legendary Irish architect Eddie Hackett regarded Carne as his masterpiece. He also recounts Carne’s difficult years, its turnaround, and the role the course now plays in the economy and community of Erris. We venture inside Carne’s towering dunes, the original Hackett Course and the Wild Atlantic Dunes routing. Gerry offers first-time visitor advice, explains the value of a forecaddie, and breaks down several unforgettable holes—including the fearsome 17th and “The Snake.” We also hear the legend behind Carne’s four-swans logo and discuss the filming of Edward Burns’ Finnegan’s Foursome. Then it’s on to the 19th hole and local lore: McDonnell’s Bar & Undertakers—better known as “The Lobster Pot”—plus places to stay, traditional pubs, Belmullet’s tidal pool, Erris Head, the Inishkea Islands and other reasons to make Carne a true Irish golf destination. Whether you’re planning an Ireland golf trip, searching for bucket-list links golf or simply love Irish history, hospitality and storytelling, this episode shows why Carne Golf Links is worth the journey. **EPISODE CHAPTERS** • 00:00:00 – Introducing Golf Chronicles and Carne Golf Links\\ • 00:00:53 – Meet Gerry Maguire and Erris Tourism\\ • 00:01:36 – Gerry’s first journey to Belmullet and Carne\\ • 00:04:22 – From visiting golfer to chairman\\ • 00:06:01 – Destination golf and the Wild Atlantic Dunes\\ • 00:08:42 – First-time advice: scramble play and forecaddies\\ • 00:11:38 – The Children of Lir and Carne’s four-swans logo\\ • 00:12:58 – How the community and Eddie Hackett built Carne\\ • 00:17:37 – Carne’s comeback and economic impact on Erris\\ • 00:23:40 – Exploring the holes: stay straight or face “Carnage”\\ • 00:25:36 – Why all 27 holes remain raw, rugged and natural\\ • 00:28:51 – Gerry’s favorite holes, the 17th and “The Snake”\\ • 00:31:40 – Filming Finnegan’s Foursome at Carne\\ • 00:33:53 – Famous visitors and Carne’s growing reputation\\ • 00:35:51 – The 19th hole: Belmullet pubs, hotels and hospitality\\ • 00:37:26 – Tidal swimming, Erris Head and the Inishkea Islands\\ • 00:41:15 – Enniscrone, Strandhill, Mulranny and more northwest golf\\ • 00:42:10 – Closing thoughts **LINKS MENTIONED** ⛳ Carne Golf Links: 🗺 Carne’s courses and visitor information: 🎥 Carne hole-by-hole video playlist: 🎬 Finnegan’s Foursome official trailer: 📖 Ancestral Links by John Garrity: 🏨 https://www.broadhavenbay.com 🏨 The Talbot Hotel: 🏨 The Western Strands: 🍺 McDonnell’s Bar & Undertakers: Subscribe for more conversations about Irish culture, history, travel, golf and the people who keep Ireland’s stories alive. **Connect with The Irish Snug Podcast:** \* Website: \* YouTube:    \* Spotify: \* Apple Podcasts: \* Facebook: \* Instagram: #GolfChronicles #CarneGolfLinks #IrishGolf #LinksGolf #GolfIreland Send us Fan Mail Support the show