NI to host Irish Open in 2015 and 2017

Pictured at the recent announcement that the Irish Open is to return to Northern Ireland are George O’Grady, the chief executive of The European Tour; First Minister Peter Robinson and Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster.

The Irish Open is set to return to Northern Ireland in 2015 and 2017.

Royal County Down Golf Club will host next year’s event from May 28-31 while, in a first for Northern Ireland, the tournament will be staged at the Lough Erne resort in Fermanagh in 2017.

Making the announcement at Royal County Down Golf Club, First Minister Peter Robinson, said that he had no doubt that next year’s event at Royal County Down will be just as successful as the 2012 Irish Open in Portrush:

“In addition to having three major golfing champions, Northern Ireland is home to arguably the best concentration of great golf courses in the world,” he added. “With the Irish Open secured for 2015 and 2017, we look forward to building on the legacy of events such as the Irish Open in Royal Portrush in 2012, last year’s highly successful G8 Summit and the World Police and Fire Games.”

The deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness added: “The 2015 Irish Open being staged at Royal County Down and 2017 Irish Open at the Lough Erne Golf course is tremendous news not just for golf fans but for all of us.

He expressed his thanks to the European Tour for their “vote of confidence” in Northern Ireland, and added:

“High profile sporting events like the Irish Open generates global exposure and the Executive is determined to play its part in making the events a resounding success. The Executive supported Royal Portrush in 2012 which had record breaking attendances and I am confident the 2015 and 2017 competitions will be just as successful.”

Next year will see Northern Ireland host the Irish Open for only the second time in the last 60 years and it will be the first time in 76 years that the event has been played at the world famous links in Newcastle.