Harrington gives Irish tourism major boost

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON has gifted Irish golf tourism the ultimate mulligan by agreeing to front Fáilte Ireland’s new €1.5m worldwide “marketing blitz” free of charge.

The 38-year old Dubliner was the face of tourism body’s global golf strategy for three years until 2007, when it was decided that his contract – reputed to have cost the taxpayer just €180,000 a year – was simply not offering value for money.

The decision to cut Harrington loose turned out to be one of the greatest blunders in the history of Irish sports sponsorship as Bank of Ireland stepped in with €750,000 over three years and got an incredible return on its investment.