It’s tee time for Tourism Ireland ahead of upcoming Ryder Cup

Ireland’s Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, and Ambassador of Ireland to Canada, John Concannon, put the spotlight on sports tourism this week during a special luncheon in Toronto. The event highlighted the upcoming 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in County Limerick, marking the centenary of the tournament.

“We are here to celebrate the Ryder Cup coming to Adare Manor. It will be a pivotal moment as it hasn’t been in Ireland since 2006,” said Sandra Moffatt, Tourism Ireland’s Country Director for Canada. “Golf is obviously incredible for Ireland, we have some of the best links courses in the world, and in Ireland, you can play golf year round. That’s a real USP especially from Canada where you have such a short season.”

On location in Toronto following the record snow storm, Minister O’Donovan emphasized the importance of golf tourism to Ireland as preparations continue for the highly anticipated biennial event.

“The constituency of County Limerick includes a small village of Adare, which is a population of about 1,000 people into which about 250,000 people will be welcomed in 2027 so the scale of this is not anything that we’ve ever seen before in rural County Limerick,” Minister O’Donovan told the group. “It’s a very historic location, it’s incredibly beautiful.”

Adare Manor’s championship Tom Fazio-designed golf course will attract the world’s top golfers and global attention on the international stage for the Cup.

”Ireland’s reputation as a premier destination for championship golf events is well established, and with over a third of the world’s natural links courses and renowned Irish hospitality, the island offers an unrivalled experience for visitors both on and off the course,” added Moffatt. “Golf travellers rarely travel for sport alone; they extend their stays, explore regions, and invest in premium experiences, making Ireland an ideal destination for travel trade looking to deliver high-value, immersive itineraries that resonate well beyond the fairway.”

During the event Moffatt also pointed out that Canada is considered a market of growth opportunity for Ireland.

“It is now the top five international global market for Ireland and it is the top three for Northern Ireland,” said Moffatt. “We really are seeing an increase in demand and business from Canada.”

Ireland is already recognized as one of the world’s premier golf destinations, having been named International Golf Destination of the Year multiple times by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators. The destination is home to collection of world-class courses, and welcomes more than 240,000 golfers annually from around the globe. Iconic venues include Royal Portrush Golf Club in County Antrim, host of the 153rd Open Championship in 2025, Royal County Down Golf Club in County Down, and Old Head Golf Links in County Cork, which sit alongside modern additions like St Patrick’s Links at Rosapenna Golf Resort in County Donegal and Curracloe Links, set to open in 2027.

For travel advisors and industry partners looking to book Irish golf experiences for their clients, Tourism Ireland offers a full range of information and resources.

Notably, for clients who are interested in attending the upcoming 2027 Ryder Cup, the delegation warned that hotels were filling up quickly.