Golfers urged to swing funds in direction of Tall Ships’ Races

BUSINESS people and members of the Waterford community are being urged to aid a fundraising drive ahead of the Tall Ships’ Races in July.

A major golf classic gets underway at Faithlegg Golf Club on Friday, June 17, in support of Waterford’s hosting of The Tall Ships’ Races from July 6 to 9. Mayor of Waterford Séamus Ryan urged the community to rally together and support the event.

“The golf classic will provide an opportunity for businesses and individuals to support Waterford’s hosting of this tremendous international event while also playing one of Ireland’s finest golf courses and competing for some excellent prizes on what will hopefully be a nice mid-summer day.

“There are just 10 weeks to go before Waterford hosts the races - the biggest international event ever seen in our city. Each of the host ports for the 2004 race series benefited enormously from the event, with hundreds of thousands of visitors thronging to Antwerp, Aalborg, Stavanger and Cuxhaven during July and August last and some 250,000 visitors are expected in Waterford over the four days to July 9 when the 2005 race series starts here,” said the mayor.

“Waterford City Council continues to support the Tall Ships’ Races with financial and human resources, while Fáilte Ireland and the Port of Waterford are also generously supporting the event along with numerous local businesses, whether as commercial partners, suppliers or patrons.

However, to fully seize the opportunity, considerable resources are still required for the four days that the tall ships are berthed here.” Nicky Fewer, chairman of the team co-ordinating Waterford’s hosting of the races, added: “This promises to be an excellent event for golfers.”

Bookings are being taken on [phone]. The golf classic will be followed by a gala dinner and prize-giving ceremony at Faithlegg House Hotel.