Cork aims to secure share of €300m Ryder Cup tourism windfall

Councillors want the county to promote its tourism, hospitality and golf offering ahead of the major sporting event in Adare

The council was urged not to miss the opportunity to benefit from next year’s event in Adare, Co Limerick. File picture: Eamon Ward

Cork County Council is formulating a plan to help the county capitalise on next year’s Ryder Cup, one of its senior officials has confirmed.

The council was urged not to miss the opportunity to benefit from next year’s event in Adare, Co Limerick, which is expected to attract more than 250,000 visitors, by Fine Gael councillor Aileen Browne.

Ms Browne, who lives in the north Cork town of Charleville, said many of these high-spending visitors are expected to spend time and money in Ireland beyond attending the September 2027 golf tournament.

She suggested the council organise a programme of golf, tourism, food, heritage and cultural events across the county in the lead-up to and during Ryder Cup week, particularly as the event is estimated to be worth more than €300m to the Irish economy.

Ms Browne said the council should encourage County Cork accommodation providers, restaurants, retailers and tourism businesses to participate in coordinated marketing initiatives and work with transport providers to improve visitor connectivity between County Cork and Adare.

“The Ryder Cup shouldn’t be viewed solely as a Limerick event, but as a major regional opportunity for the entire region and Cork County Council should take a proactive leadership role in ensuring County Cork secures its share of the benefits,” she said.

“We've world-class attractions, award-winning food producers, beautiful beaches, historic towns, fantastic festivals and some of the finest golf courses anywhere in Ireland. From Charleville to Mallow, Kanturk to Kinsale, Ballyhea to Ballycotton, there is so much that visitors could experience if we market ourselves properly.”

Both Ms Browne and Fianna Fáil councillor Ian Doyle, who is also based in Charleville, said it is as quick to get to the north Cork town from Adare as it is to travel from Adare to Limerick city.

Independent councillor Ben Dalton-O’Sullivan, who chairs the council’s tourism committee, said accommodation prices in Limerick during the event "are absolutely crazy" and Cork could benefit as a result.

Fine Gael councillor Marie O’Sullivan said her hometown of Kinsale could also benefit because a number of visitors are expected to arrive by yacht.

"We’d be mad if we didn’t grab this opportunity with both hands," she added.

Fianna Fáil councillor Ann Marie Ahern said she was aware that accommodation providers in her hometown of Midleton had already been booked by golf fans, with buses arranged to bring them to Adare each day.

The council’s assistant chief executive, Niall Healy, said senior officials recognised the significant international profile and potential opportunities arising from the event.

He said the council’s tourism unit will engage with Fáilte Ireland and other relevant stakeholders to identify opportunities that County Cork can capitalise on.