BRINGING the Ryder Cup to County Limerick is expected to cost the Government around €58million between now and when the tournament takes place in 2027.
At a recent meeting of the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), officials from the Department of Tourism and Sport were quizzed by Tipperary TD Alan Kelly as to the cost of the upcoming golf tournament to the taxpayer.
Cian Ó Lionáin, assistant secretary at the Department of Tourism and Sport, told Deputy Kelly that the overall figure will be “approximately €58million”.
In response to a query from the Limerick Post, the Department said: “The Government and the European Tour have agreed a financial support package that includes licencing fees, investment in Irish golf tour events, and marketing for the Ryder Cup and golf in Ireland.”
According to the Department, the licencing fee represents a cost of €22.5million, while a further €8.5 million is being provided “to strengthen the professional game in Ireland in the run up to the event”.
This funding will go towards events such as the Irish Open, the Challenge and Legends Tour Events, scheduled to take place annually in Ireland up to and including 2027, a statement from the Department read.
A further €8million will be allocated to marketing through and in conjunction with The Irish Tour.
“The State will also be supporting the event through the provision of local authority and public services such as policing and transport, supporting the staging of fan zones and promotional events such as the opening ceremony,” the statement to the Limerick Post continued.
Figures were not available for how much the hosts of the Ryder Cup, Adare Manor, owned by JP McManus, were contributing towards the cost of hosting the event.
The Limerick Post reached out to Adare Manor for comment, but no response was received at the time of publication.
The Department pointed out the significant attraction to both visitors from elsewhere in Ireland and the world, stating that the 2006 Ryder Cup was worth €143million to the local economy.
“The event will be a huge boost to regional tourism, not only in Limerick but also to the wider Mid West and South West Regions, where many of the spectators will stay, delivering significant economic benefits to those areas.”
“The golf courses in many of the surrounding counties, such as Doonbeg, Lahinch, Ballybunion, Tralee, Waterville, Fota Island, Old Head in Kinsale, etc., will also benefit in terms of increased green fees, not only during the event but in the following months and years, as a result of the international exposure generated,” the statement from the Department concluded.
