Thursday’s edition of Morning Focus brought live coverage from Doonbeg as the village welcomed the Amgen Irish Open, shining a spotlight on the people, community groups and local organisations working together to showcase West Clare.
Alan Morrissey spoke with Caroline O’Brien, Chairperson of Doonbeg Tidy Towns, and John O’Malley, SEO for the West Clare Municipal District with Clare County Council, about preparations throughout the village. They discussed the work being carried out by the Council, Doonbeg Tidy Towns and Doonbeg Community Development.
Cathaoirleach Cllr Joe Killeen, Cllr Michael Shannon, Chair of the West Clare Municipal District, and Cllr Rita McInerney also joined us to discuss the importance of the Irish Open to West Clare. They highlighted the economic and tourism opportunities presented by such a major international sporting event.
We also heard from Tommy Commerford, an original member of the Doonbeg Development Committee and one of the key figures involved in bringing the golf course to Doonbeg. Tommy shared the fascinating story of how the community approached Shannon Development, how the idea of a world-class golf course became a reality.
Finally, Siobhán McNulty, Director of Service with Clare County Council’s Tourism, Recreation, Libraries and Cultural Services Directorate, discussed how Visit Clare is making the most of the international attention on the county.
You can listen to the full broadcast below:
