Council tees off Ryder Cup plan
Cork must not be left “watching from the sideline” when the Ryder Cup arrives in Adare, Co. Limerick next year.
That was the clear message at Monday’s full meeting of Cork County Council, where elected members resoundingly backed a motion to establish a strategy to maximise Cork's share in what is one of the biggest sporting events in the world.
Tabling the motion, Fine Gael Cllr Eileen Lynch argued the Ryder Cup is a major regional opportunity rather than an event exclusive to Limerick.
“An American tourist doesn’t even notice the Cork-Limerick border,” Cllr Lynch told the chamber.
She continued: “They don’t arrive at the county bounds and suddenly say, ‘That’s it, we’re turning back now’.
“For those of us representing North Cork, we know how close we are.”
Cllr Lynch added: “We have world-class attractions, award-winning food producers, beautiful beaches, historic towns, fantastic festivals, and some of the finest golf courses anywhere in Ireland.”
Highlighting the scale of the event, which is projected to attract more than 250,000 golf fans and deliver in excess of €300 million to the Irish economy, Cllr Lynch stressed planning must start immediately rather than six months before the tournament.
Seconding the motion was Fine Gael Cllr Tony O'Shea who agreed forward planning is crucial.
He explained: “By planning ahead, we can help ensure our local businesses, tourism providers, sporting clubs, and community organisations are well-positioned to benefit from the increased visitor numbers.”
Cllr O'Shea also noted room prices in Limerick are already soaring, creating a prime opportunity for Cork to capture overspill accommodation demand.
The geographic advantage for North Cork was echoed by several representatives during Monday’s meeting in County Hall.
Fianna Fáil Cllr Gearoid Murphy pointed out the travel time from Adare to Charleville is virtually identical to driving into Limerick city centre.
He said: “Given the scale of the event, I’ve no doubt there’ll be plenty of attendees who stay in Shannon, Ennis, Clare, and beyond.
“So, it would be nice if some could be accommodated also at Charleville, Mallow, Kanturk, and Mitchelstown. But they’re not going to stay in North Cork or in Cork county if they don’t know about us,” he added.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil Cllr Audrey Buckley pointed out local logistics are already in motion.
“I know in East Cork, there's an awful lot of hotels already booked, and buses actually being contracted to bring people from East Cork up to the Ryder Cup,” she said.
The executive confirmed Cork County Council is already engaging with Fáilte Ireland and Visit Cork.
Councillors were told a formal plan is set to be presented at the next Tourism SPC meeting to ensure Cork secures its share of the global spotlight.