A new dimension is to be added to the thriving village of Adare, as it prepares to welcome clubbers, swingers, and even a little birdie or two, for one of the country’s most prestigious golfing tournaments.
The Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort has come to the fore and secured the Irish Open from May 17-20.
Upwards of 60,000 people are expected to visit during the four day tournament, while millions will tune in on television screens worldwide.
The preparations are now well underway and construction of corporate marquees and grandstands can be witnessed on the grounds of the imposing Adare Manor.
Anita Higgins, general manager of Adare Manor, is in no doubt the Irish Open will attract international interest to both the village and the surrounding area.
"It’s a fantastic opportunity for Adare to promote itself. Anyone who views it on TV will want to come and see the village”.
She described the amount of support that the village has received as unbelievable, with valued contributions from various businesses pouring in to ensure that the already picturesque village will be resplendent in flags, flyers and bunting.
And the build up has extended to all generations. A children’s art competition has seen 2,500 entries returned.
Damien O’Riordan, deputy general manager, added that there is palpable excitement. "It’s an automatic talking point all around Adare. There’s been great excitement and support for the tournament.
"The whole thing is great for the village and we are absolutely delighted to be holding it and, if we get weather like this, then it will be truly beautiful,” Louis Murphy, residential manager of the Dunraven Arms said during last weekend’s glorious sunshine.
"The JP McManus Invitational Pro-am was a huge success, so there’s no reason that the open won’t tell a similar story.
The Dunraven Arms is already booked up for the weekend, as are all the hotels in Adare, and most of those in Limerick city and the wider region. TV crews have booked out 90 rooms in one Limerick city hotel alone.
But visiting spectators are reminded that there is much more to Adare than just golf. The village itself has plenty to offer away from the tournament itself.
The tournament itself will be coinciding with Adare’s celebrating its own ‘Irish Open’ in the form of a village festival.
Musical events will include a traditional dance in the newly refurbished Village Hall, the world famous Pennsylvania Male Voice Choir, the Garda Band, a selection of street buskers and other nightly gigs and sessions in venues around town.
Other attractions include a race evening, French market, a thatching demonstration, painting exhibition, family street theatre and an evening with NASA astronaut Jon McBride.
An old-style courtesy train will also operate between the village and the Manor throughout the festival. Limerick city and county hotels say they have only a limited number of rooms available.
