Michael "Dyke" Moran

The Life and Times of Michael ‘Dyke’ Moran

Michael "Dyke" Moran was born in 1886 in a small one-roomed cottage with on Bull Island, Dollymount in the demesne of what was to become the Royal Dublin Golf Club. The cottage, located between the 3rd and 13th holes, in what is now called Curley's Yard after Michael’s grandfather Patrick Curley.

He was an assistant to Tom Hood the professional at Royal Dublin, before taking up the job of professional at Dundalk GC in 1907, he then moved to Galway GC in 1908 before returning to Royal Dublin in 1909 as playing professional.

A group of Irish professionals convened a meeting in the North Star Hotel in Amiens Street, Dublin in 1907 to form the Irish PGA. Michael 'Dyke' Moran of Royal Dublin was elected its first chairman. 

He won the Irish Professional Championship for five consecutive years from 1909 to 1913, a feat which has never been equalled. He tied for third place with Harry Vardon in the Open championship in 1913 at Hoylake Royal Liverpool. He was the first Irishman to win prize money at the Open. The next was Fred Daly who became the first Irishman to win the British Open in 1947 at the same venue.

In 1914 he left Dollymount for Seaham Harbour Golf Club in County Durham never to return as that year the Royal Dublin Links was appropriated by the military for use as a musketry range.

He enlisted in the South Irish Horse in 1915 and later transferred to the Royal Irish Regiment. Michael Moran was 32 years of age when he died of wounds in France on 10th April 1918; 100 years ago and is buried at Le Cateau Military Cemetery in France.