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Portmarnock Golf Club is hoping to host The Open and the Women's Open. INPHO/Andrew Paton

Boost for Portmarnock's hopes of hosting The Open as Government agrees to explore bid

Government will need to see ‘a positive economic impact assessment’ before endorsing the bid.

PORTMARNOCK GOLF CLUB’S hopes of hosting The Open and the Women’s Open took  another positive step on Wednesday as the Government agreed to explore the bid, with a final recommendation expected in the autumn.

If successful, the bid would represent the first time that The Open — golf’s oldest Major — would be hosted outside of the United Kingdom. The Open was hosted on the island of Ireland in 2019, when Shane Lowry won the Claret Jug at Royal Portrush, and will return to the same venue in 2025.

Officials from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media will now begin to engage with governing body The R&A and with Portmarnock Golf Club.

“Any final decision to support the bid to host The Open is subject to a positive outcome to discussions that will take place with The R&A and Portmarnock Golf Club over the summer period and to a positive economic impact assessment,” a Government statement said on Wednesday.

Minster Catherine Martin said she is “delighted by Government’s decision to explore the possibility of hosting both The Open and the AIG Women’s Open at Portmarnock Golf Club.

“Hosting both of these championships as recognised Open venue courses, with Government support, would have a positive impact on closing the gender participation gap in sport, and boosting women’s participation and equality in golf.” 

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    Mute Michael Corkery
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    Sep 13th 2024, 8:03 PM

    I really don’t understand why Cork and super value park don’t step in here and offer to take the games in its place. Problem solved

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    Mute IrishOwl
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    Sep 13th 2024, 8:07 PM

    @Michael Corkery: 100%

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    Mute Sea Point
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    Sep 16th 2024, 1:36 AM

    @Michael Corkery: not really, it doesn’t have the requisite capacity, only 29k covered seats….

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    Mute Sea Point
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    Sep 16th 2024, 1:37 AM

    @Sea Point: 20k covered seats, rest is standing and uncovered….

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    Mute Leighton Cullen
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    Sep 13th 2024, 8:45 PM

    Being honest they should try redevelop Windsor Park. It’s a football tournament all games should be to the benefit of football not GAA. Gaa have the money and Casement Park will get done but won’t be completed on time. As for the money from Apple open up sport centres around the country like the 1 up in Blanch. There should be regional centres around Munster Leinster , Connaught and Ulster we all seen how great the Olympics was more facilities all over Ireland greater chance we get double figures in medals.

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    Mute Kingshu
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    Sep 13th 2024, 9:04 PM

    @Leighton Cullen: Windsor got money and was redeveloped, but making it any bigger would be a white elephant. Casement was earmarked £70m back in 2013, but hasnt got that yet as it will now need more.

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    Mute Sean Wilson
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    Sep 13th 2024, 9:07 PM

    @Leighton Cullen: Windsor Park and RavenHill were redeveloped for the soccer and rugby fraternity. The NI Executive stalled on developing Casement then collapsed over BREXIT, handily enough for the Unionists not being seen to fund Gaelic games. The costs since have spiralled.

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    Mute Daire Cathal Greene
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    Sep 13th 2024, 8:57 PM

    Never trust a word from the UK Government.

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    Mute Owen ODonoghue
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    Sep 13th 2024, 10:47 PM

    The rationale for NI to continue to remain as part of the UK continues to crumble. There has been scant investment in Northern Ireland since 2010 and now another hammer blow to the local economy. This is the same Govt that will spend 80bn on defense this year and frankly doesnt care about infrastructure outside of London.

    They will of course happily continue to turn NI, Scotland and Norther England into welfare dependent areas and not look to give its own people a chance

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    Mute Kingshu
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    Sep 13th 2024, 11:19 PM

    @Owen ODonoghue: I wouldnt begrudge the 80b on defense. Was an intresting report on Irish defence being wholly underfunded esp when it is to protect important transatlantic cabling. Relying of fishermen to deter the Russian navy, the RAF to intercept planes and not even having rader capable of tracking jets when then turn their civilian transponders off, something Russian jets do quite often to test air defences. Current Irish airforce planes would struggle against a spitfire.Irish defence spending should increase to at least 2% of GDP.

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    Mute Owen ODonoghue
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    Sep 14th 2024, 12:23 AM

    @Kingshu: i 100% agree with you, its more the allocation of budget, they could take 0.5% of defense and cover this or 0.1% of social welfare and cover it. Think of the jobs etc etc

    And 1000% on Ireland and defense, we need radar, a functional navy and fighter jets

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    Mute Kingshu
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    Sep 14th 2024, 1:17 AM

    @Owen ODonoghue: UK as a NATO country is obliged to spend 2% of GDP on defence, it spends 2.3% increasing to 2.5% but even then the UK defence forces aren’t in great shape, I dont think they are overspending on defence. But 100% they can afford Casement, and have been embrassed that the Irish Government has contributed. £400m is an exaggeration to make them look better for not assisting, think their plan was to wait untill it was too late for Euros so they could pull out. Bit money could be found all NI somehow found £350m for the new Grand Central station that wasnt even needed. Would love Irish goverment to step in with the Money from Apple tax and build it for less than £400m and in time for Euros.

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    Mute Bryan Mc Mahon
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    Sep 13th 2024, 8:08 PM

    We can build it with some loose change from the 13 billion.
    We are funding the roads may aswell build a stadium

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    Mute Michael Corkery
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    Sep 13th 2024, 8:12 PM

    @Bryan Mc Mahon: in essentially another country?

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    Mute Eamonn
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    Sep 13th 2024, 8:31 PM

    @Michael Corkery:

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    Mute Kingshu
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    Sep 13th 2024, 8:44 PM

    @Michael Corkery: for now

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    Mute Daire Cathal Greene
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    Sep 13th 2024, 8:57 PM

    @Bryan Mc Mahon: lots of dilapidated stadiums in the state to fix first.

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    Mute Pad Jon
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    Sep 13th 2024, 10:39 PM

    @Michael Corkery: I don’t see Belfast as being in another country

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    Mute Der Calnan
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    Sep 13th 2024, 11:05 PM

    @Michael Corkery: Shame on you.

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    Mute Michael Corkery
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    Sep 14th 2024, 8:53 AM

    @Kingshu: don’t get me wrong , I’m for reunification but as things stand, Dublin should not be making up for shortfalls in British exchequer funding. As others have said, there are huge infrastructure needs that are not being met south of the border – sporting and otherwise. We may be rich in comparison to our nearest neighbor but compare us to continental Europe and we’re still miles behind where they are

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    Mute Niall McCarthy
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    Sep 13th 2024, 11:33 PM

    What about Fitzgerald Stadium in Kerry- Great scenery

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