Major champion Graeme McDowell and European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley were among those honoured last night at the annual Irish Golf Writers Awards dinner.

A virtual ‘who’s who’ in Irish golf, including also triple Major winning Padraig Harrington, were present at the famed Portmarnock Golf Club for a wonderful evening.

The 2013 awards presentation is usually held at the end of the year but was held over to last night to accommodate McGinley.

McDowell took out the prestigious ‘Golfer of the Year’ award after his three victories last year including triumphs in the Volvo World Match-Play Championship and French Open.

A video message from McDowell, who is competing in this week’s WGC – Cadillac Championship in Florida, was shown to guests while his Horizon Sports manager, Conor Ridge, who had just returned from Doral, accepted the award on G Mac’s behalf.

McGinley was honoured for his services to Irish golf, and just hours after he had announced his initial two vice-captain’s for September’s Ryder Cup including Des Smyth who was present and sitting beside the Irish Independent’s Liam Kelly and Royal Portrush’s well-known Secretary/Manager, Wilma Erskine.

Also present was Stuart McEwen, Secretary of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers at Muirfield.  I had the pleasure of ‘bumping into’ Stuart on the flight over from Edinburgh to Dublin, and while I spent the day reporting on McGinley’s Ryder Cup vice-captain announcement I felt very envious knowing Stuart was out playing Portmarnock.  I was even more jealous when he and his partner were announced ahead of the formal part of the evening as winners of the golf outing.

Good friend and Irish Times golf correspondent, Phil Reid performed a wonderful job in hosting the evening.

My very special thanks to Phil for the opportunity to attend my first-ever Irish Golf Writers Awards dinner.  I thoroughly enjoyed meeting again so many of my colleagues and friends I have met over the years and ever since reporting on my first Irish Open in 1995 at Mt. Juliet.

Here is a selection of photographs from a superb evening.

Phil Reid (center) with legendary Charlie Mulqueen and his wife Nessa.

Famed golf course designer Pat Ruddy and his wife, Bernardine.

Marty Carr (left) with Muirfield’s Secretary Stuart McEwen (right) and Stuart’s prize are winning the golf outing at Portmarnock ahead of the Awards dinner.

Table seating for the Irish Golf Writers Awards dinner.

Paul McGinley with fellow award winners.

List of Irish Golf Writers awards through the years – the best of Irish golf honoured.

Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley host a Q & A near the close of the Irish Golf Writers Awards dinner.