Foster: Time is right to bring major golf tournament to Northern Ireland

Tourism Minister Arlene Foster has welcomed today’s announcement that Royal Portrush is to host this year’s Irish Open.
~ Friday, 6 January 2012

The tournament will take place from Thursday 28 June to Sunday 1 July.

The Minister said: “I met with Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell at Royal Portrush Golf Club in July and gave my assurance that I would do everything I could to bring a significant golf tournament to Northern Ireland. This commitment is also contained in the Executive’s draft Programme for Government.

“The work that has been ongoing behind the scenes since then has now come to fruition with news that we have secured this year’s Irish Open.

“The time is right to bring a major international golf tournament to Northern Ireland, which is why I also want Northern Ireland to be considered as a potential future venue for the Open Championship.

“The success of Darren Clarke, Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell has led many commentators to label Northern Ireland as the golfing capital of the world – this reputation has been borne out with today’s announcement.

"Bringing the Irish Open to Royal Portrush will showcase our golf tourism offering to a worldwide audience and will provide a major boost to our local economy.

“I hope this will be the start of joint working between the European Tour and Failte Ireland which will see the Irish Open return to Northern Ireland every three or four years.

A major programme of events is planned for this year under the NI 2012 ‘Our Time, Our Place’ initiative including, among many others, the opening of the iconic Titanic building and the new Giant’s Causeway Visitors’ Centre.

Arlene Foster added: “The Irish Open is a welcome addition to our impressive programme of NI 2012 events. This is our year to change global perceptions and reposition Northern Ireland as a place to live, work, invest, study and visit.

“The long-term economic benefits will extend well beyond tourism.”

Royal Portrush is widely recognised as one of the top golf courses in Europe and a number of professional events have been staged there in the past. It last hosted the Irish Open in 1947 and the Open Championship in 1951.  The Irish Open was last held in Northern Ireland at Belvoir Park Golf Club in 1953.

Arlene Foster added: “Now the hard work begins. I have no doubt that we can work together with Royal Portrush, the European Tour and other partners to make this a world-class event, one that is worthy of the very high standards set by our three Major champions.”

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