Destinations

Northern Ireland set to welcome visitors to Irish Open

Golf fans are snapping up the opportunity to see Ireland’s top players in action at the Irish Open from June 28 to July 1, with the tournament set to be one of the best European Tour events this year. Current Open champion Darren Clarke, former US Open champion Rory McIlroy and former US Open champion Graeme McDowell – all from Northern Ireland – are lined up to play alongside Ireland’s three-time major winner Padraig Harrington. This year’s tournament, which is now sold out, is being played at Royal Portrush Golf Club located on County Antrim’s world-famous Causeway Coast. World-renowned attractions including the Giant’s Causeway, the Old Bushmills Distillery and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge are close by for visitors to explore while in Northern Ireland. The Giant’s Causeway will also be opening its new visitor centre in July. “The 2012 Irish Open is a milestone event with it being the first time in almost 60 years it has been hosted in Northern Ireland,”says Jayne Shackleford, manager for Tourism Ireland in Canada. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Ireland’s golf greats battle the elements on their home turf at one of the world’s most amazing golf courses. There has been immense interest from the Canadian market in this year’s Irish Open, with many combining attendance at the competition with a tour of Northern Ireland’s stunning Causeway Coast.”(http://www.discoverireland.com)