Clarke welcomes plans for Irish Open 2015 in Newcastle
Alliance Councillor Patrick Clarke has welcomed official confirmation from the European Golf Tour that a re-entry system will now be in operation for visitors wishing to attend the Irish Open 2015 in from 28th to 31st May at Royal County Down Golf Club in Newcastle.
Clarke believes that the re-entry system will give visitors and tourists the opportunity to leave the Irish Open golf competition throughout the event to spend and shop in Newcastle town centre.
During a sub-committee meeting with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and European Golf Tour Councillors were given an overview of the event planning and preparations taking place aherad of the Irish Open.
Speaking after attending the meeting with the European Golf Tour and NITB Clarke stated, “I am very pleased that Antonia Beggs, Operations Director of the European Golf Tour visited the area to outline to Councillors how planning for the Irish Open 2015 at the Royal County Down Golf Club in Newcastle in May are progressing at this stage.
“The European Golf Tour have also confirmed that up to 1000 temporary staff will be recruited to help organise and run the Irish Open 2015 event in May at Newcastle and that there will be an opportunity for local people to apply for any positions advertised in due course.
“The Northern Ireland Tourist Board is expecting in excess of 90,000 visitors and are hoping to capitalise on promoting Newcastle, the Mournes and Down in terms of increasing tourism and the area as a golf region to a global television audience of over 300m households.”
“It is anticipated by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board that the Irish Open golf event could generate approximately £1.6million of an economic impact and over £2 million in positive global publicity so Newcastle, as well as the Mournes and Down region will certainly benefit from a lot of major publicity which should leave a legacy of attracting visitors and tourists back to holiday.
He added, “Sky Sports will be televising the whole Irish Open with BBC and RTE broadcasting the highlights. The Northern Ireland Touristy Board believe that with the Irish Open coming to Newcastle and the Mournes and Down area there is a major opportunity to showcase and sell this part of the region across the world and the NITB will be working very closely with both the European Golf tour and both Down District and Newry and Mourne Councils over the coming months.”
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