The Flyers Alumni, along with several dozen fans, recently returned from a weeklong trip to Ireland that included golf and sightseeing. The group visited well-known golf courses and historic sites in Dublin and the Irish countryside.
Players from different eras of Flyers history took part in the trip. Tom Bladon, Bill Clement, Orest Kindrachuk, and Joe Watson represented the Broad Street Bullies era and held a Q&A session for fans, hosted by Steve Coates. Brad Marsh, Lindsay Carson, and Ed Hospodar were present as representatives of the 1980s “Keenan’s Kids” era. John LeClair and Mark Recchi attended as Hall of Fame members who played during the 1990s and early 2000s.
Family participation was notable on this trip. Bladon traveled with his wife Diane; Joe Watson brought his wife Jamie, who has relatives in Ireland; Marsh was joined by his wife Patty. There was also a multi-generational aspect: John LeClair’s son Calvin joined him on the trip, while Cam Recchi participated alongside his father Mark Recchi.
Flyers fan Bill Carabasi attended as well. He is the grandson of Matthew McCloskey, who served as United States ambassador to Ireland during President John F. Kennedy’s administration. McCloskey owned McCloskey and Company Builders in Philadelphia—a firm responsible for constructing both the Spectrum arena (the Flyers’ home from their inaugural season through 1994-95) and Veterans Stadium.
On their last day in Ireland, Ray McAdam—the Lord Mayor of Dublin—visited the Flyers group at Portmarnock Resort. Executive Global Travel organized this meeting as part of their arrangements for the tour.
The day before that visit, Dallas Stars owner Tom Gagliardi welcomed the Flyers Alumni at Hotel Shebeen at Portmarnock before an outdoor picnic and another Q&A session. Gagliardi owns Hotel Shebeen; he treated guests to Guinness after they finished golfing at the resort.
