Following the announcement that the Government are to officially explore Portmarnock Golf Club’s bid to host The Open Championship and AIG Women’s Open, Fingal County Council have come out in support of the efforts and declared that efforts are already underway to ensure that the necessary infrastructural requirements are in place.
Sport and Tourism Minister Catherine Martin said: “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.”
The Open Championship returned to Irish shores in 2019 when Royal Portrush hosted 68 years after it last held the world’s oldest major championship, but an Open at Portmarnock would be the first time it would be held outside of the UK.
The Government says this would present a “key opportunity to deepen ties and broaden a shared sporting narrative” on both a North-South and East-West basis.
Minister of State for Sport Thomas Byrne said: “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.”
The full statement from Fingal County Council can be read below
Fingal County Council welcomes today’s announcement that the Government is to explore a bid to host The Open Championship and the AIG Women’s Open at Portmarnock Golf Club.
Fingal County Council has been working for several months with The R&A and Portmarnock Golf Club to scope out the infrastructure required to stage these two global sports events.
The Council looks forward to broadening this work in the coming months and engaging with other key stakeholders so that a positive recommendation can be brought to Government in the autumn.