Women set to boycott Irish Open

The National Women's council say they will organise a boycott of the Irish Open if it is held at Portmarnock Golf club in North Dublin.

They say it is one of only two clubs in the country, which still operates a ban on women members.

The Council is urging Bord Failte to withdraw it's funding for the event.

Anne O'Donnell of the National Women's Council says it is blatant sexism.

She said: "This is public money being used to sponsor an event in a venue which discriminates against women and that is really not acceptable in 2002.

"We will be writing to the Minister and writing to Bord Failte and we will pursue it from there.

"We would certainly intend if the event does go ahead to call for investors, players and the media to boycott it as they have done in America with the Masters in the Augusta National Golf club where they have also banned women."