Precious time off spent on glorious Open day

LEADING jeweller Gerard Keane could be forgiven for keeping one eye on business as he took yesterday off and basked in glorious Adare sunshine for the opening day of the Irish Open.

Gerard, who has shops in Cork, Limerick and Killarney, has a stand at the tournament featuring a Rolex watch with a price tag of €78,000.

Accompanied by his wife Ronnie and son Ger, he said: “We took the stand to support the tournament rather than as a selling exercise.”

But if somebody wants to buy very expensive time at the Open, they know where to go.

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SECONDARY school teacher Suzanne Whelan led a troop of students from Kilrush Community School who are all budding golfers.

Suzanne said: “They are all part of the First Tee programme that was set up years ago in the US by Tiger Woods. At our school, golf professional John Coyle runs a golf programme every Wednesday.

“The First Tee programme is about teaching living skills through golf.”

Star golfer at the school Jonathan Lonergan, 16, found it hard going, though, getting around Adare Manor having recently broken his ankle.

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IN soaring temperatures, things were hot on and off the course. But there was an extra sizzle to proceedings for David Geoghegan.

David is head chef with Master Chefs and was shedding pounds in a sauna-like kitchen preparing delightful dishes for 200 guests in one of the corporate areas.

He said: “The main course today offers a choice of roast loin of veal and monkfish. We were in this morning at 6.30 to get things started with two other chefs, Sean Jackson and Sarah Gilligan, who are working with me in the corporate marquee.”

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PADRAIG Quinn was on the Castletroy College senior cup panel that swept to the Munster Senior Schools Cup last March.

But Padraig will need all his stamina to get through the Open week in Adare.

He volunteered to man the huge scoreboard near the 18th fairway from early morning until the last player comes in.

Padraig, 16, said: “Our Munster Senior Cup victory ball is taking place on Saturday night at the Greenhills Hotel and I’ll have to dash home to Castletroy and get ready to head off to the ball with my girlfriend. But the hard bit will be getting back here to Adare bright and early on Sunday morning.”

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YESTERDAY was a milestone in the career of young Cork golf professional Peter O’Keeffe from Douglas.

Up to now he has played on the Challenge Tours and yesterday he made his debut in the big league, European Tours.

Douglas Golf Club members Donal Hurley, Liam Connolly and James Doolan travelled to support Peter.

Liam’s son David is caddying for Peter this week.

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WITH Sky Sports showing magnificent pictures from panoramic Adare to a worldwide audience of more than 220 million, the tourism promotion people are full of smiles.

With the backdrop of the Manor hotel and the River Maigue meandering through wooded countryside, it is a setting they could not write away for.

John King, tourism director with Shannon Development, said: “This coverage is hugely significant for this region and the entire Irish tourism market.

“The impact will be immediate as there is now a much shorter lead-in for tourism bookings. Once people see something they like, they book.”

Martin Donnelly, of Fáilte Ireland North West, said his area will also enjoy spin-offs from the Adare coverage.

Top hotels in the Adare/Limerick area yesterday launched what they insist is an 18-carat tourism offer: dinner, bed and breakfast and a round of golf at the Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort at a cost of only €190.

Hotels taking part in the offer include the five-star Adare Manor, the Dunraven Arms and the Limerick Clarion.

John said: “The round of golf alone would nearly cost that. It’s a magnificent offer.”