‘Our chance to shine’

MAURICE O’Meara grew up in Malahide, a mile and a half from the gates of Portmarnock Golf Club.

“I spent all my teenage summers watching Irish Opens, the really good ones – Seve, Olazabal, Woosie. That’s what we’re trying to get back,” explains the secretary manager of Killarney Golf Club.

It’s a recurring theme around the host club to this year’s renewal. All the ingredients appear to be in place – a good home, an infrastructurally robust town, an ambitious sponsor with relatively deep pockets.