IRELAND’s government has confirmed “provisional support” to Portmarnock hosting the Open Championship and the Women’s Open.
Plans were set for discussions with the R&A and Portmarnock Golf Club during the summer to hold the events at the Dublin course at a future date.
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And the results of those discussion have taken a positive step forward as the government released a statement this afternoon to confirm its backing.
Last October, the R&A said it was it was keen to “investigate the possibility” of hosting the major at the famous north county Dublin links course.
Speaking in July during The Open at Troon, the Royal and Ancient’s CEO Martin Slumbers admitted that talks had been ongoing between the tournament organisers and Portmarnock.
He said: “We are fully supportive of the club doing that, and we are actively engaged in making those assessments,”
A statement today revealed that that dialogue is well underway and moving in a positive direction.
The government press release read: “The department of tourism, culture, arts, gaeltacht, sport and media will continue to engage with Portmarnock Golf Club.
“And the R&A to further explore the costs of hosting and to prepare a full business case for the events, in line with the department’s recently published major international sports events policy.
“The department assesses each request for support to a major event on its own merits.
“In particular, it is imperative to ensure that economic, participation and sports benefits are derived from any state investment.
“The department assesses each request for support to a major event on its own merits.
In particular, it is imperative to ensure that economic, participation and sports benefits are derived from any state investment.”
Portmarnock previously hosted R&A events including this year’s Women’s Amateur Championship.
It also hosted the 2019 Men’s Amateur – the only time both amateur and men’s Open were held on the emerald isle in the same year.
Shane Lowry won the Open at Royal Portrush in 2019, and it returns back to that venue in 2025.
Other golfers such as PGA Tour stars Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas have backed the bid for an Open in Dublin after playing the course on a tour of Ireland earlier this year,.