A festival for everyone

The Irish Open may be one of the most prestigious tournaments on the golfing calendar but for most of its 87 years it has been a lot more than just a sporting occasion.

And that’s the way it will be once again at Fota Island Resort this week when some of the game’s finest, including Ireland’s four Major champions — Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, Pádraig Harrington and Darren Clarke — will vie for the fans’ attention against a varied and attractive range of counter attractions centred on the hugely impressive tented village.

Early visitors to Fota this week will be overwhelmed by the sight that awaits them with the acres of tastefully decorated marquees provided by Galway company Eventus and grandstands adding enormously to the innate and natural beauty of Fota. The village, complete with giant television screen, is located to the right of the second hole in the middle of the course and easily reached by those coming off the eighth and 14th greens and by those availing of the rail service to Fota.