Council welcomes government’s Open Championship announcement

Fingal County Council says it welcomes today’s announcement that the government is to explore a bid to host The Open Championship and the AIG Women’s Open at Portmarnock Golf Club.

The final decision to support any such bid would rest on the discussions which will take place between the R&A and Portmarnock GC this summer and subject to a positive economic impact assessment.

Commenting on the decision, Minister Catherine Martin said it would “increase Ireland’s reputation as a world centre for golf” and that hosting the AIG Women’s Open would have a “positive impact on closing the gender participation gap in sport, and boosting women’s participation and equality in golf.”

A spokesperson for the council said:

“Fingal County Council has been working for several months with The R&A and Portmarnock Golf Club to scope out the infrastructure required to stage these two global sports events.

“The Council looks forward to broadening this work in the coming months and engaging with other key stakeholders so that a positive recommendation can be brought to Government in the autumn.”

Golf’s oldest major returns to the island of Ireland in 2025, with Royal Portrush hosting the event for the third time, having previously held it in 1951 and 2019.

However, an Open in Portmarnock would mark the first time it was held in the Republic of Ireland and the first time outside the United Kingdom.