Minister O’Brien welcomes Government approval to host The Open and the AIG Women’s Open

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and local Fingal East TD, Darragh O’Brien has welcomed the decision made at Cabinet today to support the hosting of The Open and the AIG Women’s Open at Portmarnock Golf Club.
 
Minister O’Brien said The Open would bring significant benefits to the local economy of Portmarnock and Malahide and pledged his continued support for the hosting of the tournament.
 
Commenting he said, “This is something I have worked with my Cabinet colleagues on for some time now and I really believe this will bring huge benefits to the community of Portmarnock and surrounding areas. 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.
 
“Today’s decision marks a significant step forward and I understand my colleagues in the Department of Tourism, Culture, Art, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media will continue to engage with Portmarnock Golf Club and The R&A in order to progress this further – something which I will strongly support.  
 
“The Open has only been hosted twice outside of England or Scotland and on both occasions it was hosted in Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. It’s the oldest and most prestigious golf championship and I believe there is no better place for it to be held than in Portmarnock,” he concluded.
 
ENDS