R&A confirms interest in taking The Open (and AIG Women’s Open) to Portmarnock

Spectators gather at the 18th at Portmarnock for the final of the R&A’s 2019 Amateur Championship

The R&A has confirmed it wishes to investigate the possibility of hosting The Open and the AIG Women's Open at Portmarnock.

"The R&A regularly stages championships and international matches throughout Great Britain and Ireland, including at Portmarnock, and have done for many years," an R&A spokesperson said in a statement.

"We also work with Golf Ireland as the national body throughout the island of Ireland.

"We would like to investigate the possibility of taking our professional championships to Portmarnock as well.

"Portmarnock is undoubtedly one of the world's outstanding links courses and we believe there is the potential to host our major championships there but it is essential that a full evaluation is carried out to assess whether it is feasible and what would be required to make it happen."

Portmarnock Golf Club said today it would be to approaching the Government to seek its support for a formal approach by the club to The R&A to host The Open and the AIG Women's Open.

Assessing the major demands involved in terms of traffic and infrastructure, Niall Goulding, Captain, Portmarnock Golf Club said: "Without a detailed survey, it is not possible to verify the ability of the property to act as host to a major championship, given the significant infrastructural requirements of such an event.

"The Club has determined that Government support would be critical for a project of this magnitude and, consequently, will now approach the relevant Government authorities to establish their position on providing support for a formal application by Portmarnock to The R&A to host a major championship."

The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and the Media, Catherine Martin TD, said she would encourage officials to "engage positively" with Portmarnock on these issues.

"This exciting news has clear potential for sport and tourism on the island of Ireland, and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media is open to engaging with the Club to assess whether Government support would be required to underpin a bid by the Club to host such events," Minister Martin said in a statement.

She added: "Our Department has supported the hosting of a range of major events across a number of sports, including golf, and the hosting of the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in Limerick will be especially significant.

"The Department assesses each request for support to a major event on its own merits. In particular, it is imperative to ensure that economic, participation and sports benefits are derived from any State investment.

"Should a request for such support be received from Portmarnock Golf Club we will ask our officials to engage positively with such a request."