Statement by Ministers regarding statement by Portmarnock Golf Club on possible future hosting of the Women’s Open and The Open

6th October, 2023

We welcome today’s announcement that there has been contact between Portmarnock Golf Club and the R&A regarding a possible future hosting of The Open and the Women’s Open. This exciting news has clear potential for sport and tourism on the island of Ireland, and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media is open to engaging with the Club to assess whether Government support would be required to underpin a bid by the Club to host such events.

The Open is the most iconic of all the golf majors and its hosting in Portrush in 2019 was a tremendous success. Its impact was felt all across the island and we look forward to its return to Portrush in 2025.

We were delighted to learn, in May this year, that the Women’s Amateur Championship will be hosted at Portmarnock Golf Club during the week of 24 – 29 June 2024. This will be one of the highest profile women’s sports events to happen in Ireland and we are confident that it will be a great success.

A future subsequent hosting of The Open and / or the Women’s Open would further enhance Ireland’s reputation as a world-leading golf destination. The value that this brings to our tourism sector, and to courses, communities and businesses all across the island, is well understood. With over 400 golf courses, and one third of links courses worldwide, Ireland has a deserved reputation as a key global destination for golf.

Our Department has supported the hosting of a range of major events across a number of sports, including golf, and the hosting of the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in Limerick will be especially significant.

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. Should a request for such support be received from Portmarnock Golf Club we will ask our officials to engage positively with such a request.