No additional funding requests made from Ryder Cup organisers, says sports minister
Reports suggested that a further €30m was to be sought by billionaire businessman JP McManus, whose Adare Manor will host the 2027 golf tournament.
There has been no request for additional funding from the organisers of the 2027 Ryder Cup, the sports minister has said.
Reports on Monday suggested that a further €30m was to be sought by billionaire businessman JP McManus, whose Adare Manor will host the 2027 golf tournament. This would be on top of the €58m which has already been committed and a €150m construction of the Adare bypass.
However, speaking at Fine Gael's think-in in Mullingar on Monday, sports minister Patrick O'Donovan said that Mr McManus had not been paid any money and that no additional funding had been asked for by the competition's steering committee. Mr O'Donovan said that the spending on the tournament would realise two legacy projects for the town.
"We haven't given anything to JP McManus, so I was kind of a bit perplexed about the headline," he said at the think-in.
"The McManus family and Adare Manor are looking after everything inside the walls of the golf club, and we look after everything outside of the venue.
"I think, in the context of the weekend we've just seen in the Irish Open, the investment by the Government into golf over the last number of years has been amazing."
He added: "But with regards to the project in Adare, there are two huge legacy projects already underway: The opening of the railway line from Limerick to Foynes, which will include a commuter stop in Adare; and, as well as that, the much-awaited Adare bypass, which is a motorway linking Adare in Limerick to the deep water port of Foynes and also includes the bypass of Adare."
Mr O'Donovan said that the Government "have received no requests from Adare Manor with regard to any monies", but said that there will be a "request to Government by the end of the year for public works outside of the hotel venue".
"This is expected and, across a range of government departments, we have a working group that's been chaired by Ireland's ambassador to the United Kingdom, Martin Fraser, and also being headed up by the former Limerick county manager, Tom Enright.
"There are some works that will be needed in the village around infrastructure and around hospitality, but with regard to [additional funding], we've received no requests from anybody," Mr O'Donovan said.
It will be the second time Ireland has hosted the Ryder Cup, having previously done so in 2006 when Team Europe, under the captaincy of Ian Woosnam, defeated the US by a record margin of 18½ - 9½ at The K Club.
An economic report found that it directly brought a record €143m into the Irish economy. It is understood the Ryder Cup is projected to bring up to €160m to Limerick’s economy, with 60,000 people attending Adare Manor on each day of the tournament.
The dates for the 100th anniversary of the biennial contest, announced in May, include four build-up days from September 13-16, followed by three days of competition between Europe and the US from September 17-19.
