A series from Golf Ireland bringing you the stories from some of the most interesting golfers and personalities across golf in Ireland.
Words by Daragh Small
If anyone is equipped to deal with the pressure of this moment, she is. Performance is part of her everyday life, and she never struggled to put herself out there, front and centre.
Kayleigh Trappe did not suffer from any form of stage fright, instead her lack of confidence manifested in a different way. At the time the Monaghan teenager was self-conscious about her appearance until a dramatic overhaul saw her lose up to six stone.
Today, she is fitter and happier than ever and while she laments that it took her so long to feel comfortable in her own body and throw herself into sports, she is delighted she is making up for lost time.
“Sport is one of the centre points of my life now, be it competitive sport, the gym or running,” said Trappe.
“But up until 22 I used to make excuses in sport, in PE I was the girl who wouldn’t take part and I used to just hate it, I was paranoid, walking up the stairs I would get a red face, I just wouldn’t do it.
“I lost five or six stone and I hate that it came down to that to give me a bit of confidence to start sport but when I lost a bit of weight it gave me motivation and confidence to go and start taking up sports.
“The GAA was the first one and I absolutely loved it and fitness became a very important part of my life. But as far as confidence goes, oh my god if you knew me back then you wouldn’t think I was the same person at all.”
Social media sensation
The 28-year-old has since amassed a following of over 400k across her various social platforms, with her lip syncing videos going viral across Tik Tok and Instagram.
It is a long way from the classroom where she had her first audience with Senior Infants and First Class students, but then again as Trappe describes it: “teaching is a performance.”
“I was always torn between acting and primary teaching and then the practical element of teaching and being from a small town, I decided to do that initially and I absolutely loved it,” said Trappe.
“And if I was still doing it today I would be delighted but just when it started off I said I owe it to myself to give this a go when I have the chance. Who knows what the future holds but I definitely loved working with kids and loved the classroom.
“I’d love to be able to mix the two of them, if I can in the future as well.”
It was her father who noticed her flair for impressions and floated the idea of her going all-in with the comedy and in 2023 she took a career break.
This year she won the Best Social Media Star at The Gossies while she also featured on The Late Late Show as her star continued to shine. And despite her huge and growing following, Trappe keeps herself grounded through it all.
“I don’t dwell on numbers as much because sometimes it’s just nice to know that it’s a sign of success at the same time and you must be doing something right,” said Trappe.
“I just take it all with a pinch of salt and try and enjoy and see the fun of it all, like with the world out there at the minute it can be a very negative place and I just don’t listen, I just don’t let it in.
“You are only human but try just see the fun and lap it all up because it can all end tomorrow, hopefully that’s not the case but I don’t see the point in being the way I used to be.
“I don’t see the point in caring too much about what people think and all that kind of carry on, just not for me at all. I just love it all and try and enjoy it.”
The First Tee - Journey to Carton House
The long-term dream is to write and star in her own TV show but for now golf is on the agenda.
This summer an opportunity arose with Golf Ireland, the newly named ‘The First Tee – Journey to Carton House’ returned with Trappe, Ailbhe Garrihy and Muireann O’Connell given an unenviable task.
Today, three months of hard work, dedication, and some interesting lip syncing videos have come to a conclusion, the trio are teeing it up at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open Pro-Am.
“I’m getting to a point where the more practice I get out of it, the more I see a little bit of progress,” said Trappe.
“I was definitely at a point of frustration at the start, at just not being able to grasp it straight away but now I am actually really enjoying it so much. It’s a marathon not a sprint.
“I was sceptical because of the pace of it, how I’m used to fast-acting sports and I was wondering would I enjoy it because it’s a long day but it’s a slower pace too and I’ve really enjoyed it.
“I’ve enjoyed picking up a brand new skill from scratch and the social element of it too is great. I’ll be looking forward to the 19th hole.”
Trappe has been guided on her journey by Rossmore Golf Club Pro Shaun Donnelly, Rossmore is also her local club and she has become a member there.
Many have followed her journey to get here, and she is hoping to have some support when they walk out on the O’Meara Course at Carton House.
“If anything to come and take the mick out of me,” joked Trappe.
“I’ve asked my dad to be my caddy and he wasn’t very positive at the start but now I think he’s up for it.
“You have so many itty bitty, nikkity pikkity rules but my brother sat me down last week and he just said: ‘Kayleigh just make that first shot and who cares about the rest, so I’ve been getting a driver and heading out to the driving range and just hitting them like nothing else, one after another.
“It’s just to try and make that first shot and the rest I can bluff.”
A Slice of Life: Muireann O’Connell talks a new golf obsession>