THE son of a respected Bolton golf official who died last week has paid tribute to his “remarkable” father.

Eddie Monaghan died aged 80 in his home in Heaton on November 26 after a long battle with illness.

Mr Monaghan — the first Irishman to be president of the Lancashire Golf Union — leaves behind wife Maureen, four sons and seven grandchildren aged between eight and 19.

He was captain at Bolton Old Links Golf Club in 1983 and president in 1998, and later worked nationally with the English Schools’ Golf Association.

The former teacher came to Bolton to work at Thornleigh Salesian College in 1958, having moved to London from his birthplace of Ballinamore, County Leitrim a few years earlier.

The family lived in Green Mount Lane, Heaton, before recently moving to New Church Road.

Son Stephen, who now lives in Cardiff, said he and his three brothers, Dermot, Liam and Nicholas, had a lot to thank their father for.

He said: “He had very high standards and I suppose he was quite strict to us growing up, but we have all done relatively well and I think has a lot to do with how he brought us up.

“We used to want to live up to his expectations and you did not want to go home having done badly in an exam, I can tell you!

“Having said that, he could be very sympathetic and kind to you when something had gone wrong or you had made a mistake.

“He loved spending time with the grandchildren.

“Nicholas lives in Poland, Liam in Switzerland, and I’m in Cardiff, and he was often on the road visiting all of them.”

Mr Monaghan was president of the Lancashre Golf Union in 2001-02, the result of typical commitment. This was also evident in him becoming the oldest case worker for the Assocation of Teachers and Lecturers Union at the age of 75.

Stephen said: “He taught us all to play golf, which started his association with junior golf.

“He continued to grow and rise up the ranks and it almost allowed him to marry his career as a schoolmaster with his hobby.

“Dad had an incurable condition, but received excellent care and nurses endeavoured to allow him to die at home as well.”

“He was immensely proud and, in many ways, as a remarkable man.

“In other ways, though, he was quite unremarkable as his life revolved around his family.”

His funeral will be held on Thursday at 11am at the St Thomas of Canterbury Church in Lonsdale Road.

A reception will be held afterwards at the Old Links golf course in Chorley Old Road.