Ireland’s biggest golf tournament is coming to County Clare for the first time.
The European Tour has confirmed that Lahinch will host The Irish Open in July of 2019.
The announcement that Lahinch is to host next year’s Irish Open has been hailed as a landmark moment for the tournament, which will be held in Clare for the first time in its 91-year history.
The Dubai Duty Free-sponsored event will be held from July 4th-7th next year, and will be hosted by former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley.
The Dubliner won the South of Ireland competition at Lahinch in 1991, and recommended the historic North Clare course for next year’s event.
Pundits say it would provide ideal preparation for the Open Championship at Portrush in the weeks that follow.
Next year’s event will boast a minimum prize fund of $7 million, and will attract a high-calibre field of Irish and international players.
It is also set to draw huge crowds to Lahinch, generating a boost that has been estimated at being in the region of 10 million euro for the local economy.
Lahinch Golf Club President Paddy Keane has been speaking with Clare FM’s Fiona Cahill on today’s Main Lunchtime News and he says it’s great news for the golf club and the community today.
Clare County Council Statement:
Clare County Council, An Garda Síochána, The European Tour, Lahinch Golf Club and other stakeholders, including the local community, will be working closely to ensure that an appropriate and effective traffic management plan is put in place to cater for the increased volumes of traffic during the 2019 Irish Open. Our experience from facilitating 400,000 people visiting Ennis for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2016 and again in 2017 has demonstrated that a collaborative approach to traffic management is effective and minimises disruption for the local community.
You can hear extended coverage on this on tomorrow’s Morning Focus on Clare FM from 9 o’clock.
