The Government has committed to exploring a bid to host The Open Championship and the AIG Women’s Open at Portmarnock Golf Club.

Any final decision to support the bid to host The Open is subject to a positive outcome to discussions that will take place with The R&A and Portmarnock Golf Club over the summer period and to a positive economic impact assessment.

A recommendation is expected to be brought back to the Cabinet as early as the Autumn.

The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media will proceed to active engagement with The R&A and Portmarnock Golf Club in this regard.

Engagement with Fingal County Council and key stakeholders, particularly those in the transport and infrastructural logistics sector, will also be undertaken.

Prestigious

The Open is the oldest and most prestigious golf championship in the world and its hosting in Portrush in 2019 was a tremendous success across the island.

The potential significance of hosting The Open outside the UK for the first time cannot be understated and it would present a key opportunity to deepen ties and broaden a shared sporting narrative on both a North-South and East-West basis.

“I am delighted by Government’s decision to explore the possibility of hosting both The Open and the AIG Women’s Open at Portmarnock Golf Club,” said Minister Catherine Martin.

“Hosting both of these championships would have a positive impact on closing the gender participation gap in sport, and boosting women’s participation and equality in golf.”

“Ireland is a leading destination for golf, and this would also increase Ireland’s reputation as a world centre for golf if we were to host these major tournaments on the island at Portmarnock and Portrush.”

Ability to Host

“Ireland has consistently demonstrated its ability to host world-class major international sports events and I am confident that this will be case for the AIG Women’s Open and The Open should this bid proceed successfully,” added Minister of State for Sport, Thomas Byrne.

“I also believe that the hosting of these major international sports events can yield a strong participation legacy that will drive the growth in participation levels in golf, as the Government continues its work to get as many people as physically active and engaged in sport as possible.”

Golf Ireland has welcomed today’s announcement.

Earlier this year it announced that it is developing a Major Events Legacy program. The aim of this is to capitalise on the major golf events that are being held in Ireland from 2024 to 2027. These events include The Open, The Ryder Cup, the Men’s and Women’s Irish Opens, The Walker Cup and the Amateur Championships.

“Should Portmarnock host these major events, it would be an opportunity to further progress Irish Golf and the wider sporting landscape here,” said Mark Kennelly, CEO of Golf Ireland.

Fortunate

“The Open is one of the world’s great sport events. We have been very fortunate that Royal Portrush hosted The Open so successfully in 2019 and we look forward to it returning there next year. The potential of Portmarnock hosting the AIG Women’s Open and The Open would further strengthen the growth of the sport in Ireland.

“Portmarnock is an historic golf venue. This iconic Irish course has recently hosted both Men’s and Women’s Amateurs. It has also proudly hosted several Irish Opens as well as The Walker Cup. The course would be a fitting test for the world’s best players.”

In 2019, Portmarnock hosted The Amateur Championship with Irish golfer James Sugrue sealing a famous win, while this summer the County Dublin links welcomed another successful staging of The Women’s Amateur with American golfer Melanie Green taking home the title after a testing week.

“We are particularly excited about the potential of an AIG Women’s Open taking place on the island of Ireland for the first time,” said Kennelly.

“Golf Ireland are very committed to growing more participation in golf among women and girls and the potential of the AIG Women’s Open being held in Ireland would be a major opportunity to help inspire more female participation in golf.

“AIG have also been our partner in Ireland for over 25 years and have helped us to continue to grow the game.”

 

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