Government gives provisional support to hosting Open Championship, AIG Women’s Open
Portmarnock Golf Club.
PORTMARNOCK could be in line to host golf's Open Championship after Government offered its support for the move. The state will also support moves to bring the Women's Open to the Dublin links, subject to further conditions being met.
The move is part of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (TCAGSM) new drive for major international sports, and represents a significant step towards the potential hosting of these major sports events in Portmarnock Golf Club.
The Government 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.
The Open has only been hosted twice outside England or Scotland; on both occasions it was hosted in Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. It will return to Portrush in 2025. It has never been staged in the Republic.
It is estimated that up to 245,000 tickets to The Open could be sold per iteration. Should Ireland host three iterations of The Open and at least one AIG Women’s Open this could result in a cumulative gross economic impact of €338 million.
Taoiseach Simon Harris said: “The potential to host The Open and the Women’s Open would bring endless opportunities for the country including showcasing Ireland on the world stage and promoting equality in sport. It would also provide cultural, economic and social benefits and overall, be a major boost for the country."
Minister Catherine Martin added: “Ireland is now a step closer to holding the world’s oldest and most prestigious golf championship, which would also see it being held outside the UK for the very first time. I welcome today’s decision by Government in relation to the potential hosting of both The Open and the AIG Women’s Open at Portmarnock Golf Club. The hosting of these events and particularly the AIG Women’s Open, in Portmarnock would represent a significant moment for equality in sport and greater participation in golf and would be one of the biggest women’s international sporting events ever held in Ireland.
Also, the enormous value that this brings to our tourism sector, and to golf courses, communities and businesses all across the island, is well recognised.”
