Ray of light amid the downpours
LOCAL BUSINESSES GET BOOST
Shane Lowry winner of the 3 Irish Open Golf Championship. County Louth Golf Club, Baltray. Credit: Browne / SPORTSFILE Matt
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Wednesday May 20 2009
THE downpour at the Irish Open golf championships in Baltray brought clouds – with a multi-million euro silver lining to local businesses.
Visitors to the five day tournament spent an estimated € 9 million in hotels, restaurants and bed and breakfast outlets in the Drogheda area.
Bus Éireann and local bus companies benefited to the tune of up to € 200,000 when a torrential downpour on Thursday flooded the designated car parks at Baltray.
'We had a contingency plan which involved organising car parks and shuttle buses for the public. The shuttle buses ran every 10 minutes over the five days at an estimated cost of between € 150,000 to € 200,000,' said Eoin Hahessy, the championship's media director.
The town's d Hotel was booked out for the entire week of the championships with golfers, supporters and members of the sponsors group 3.
'It was brilliant, just brilliant, it was our best week ever since we opened four years ago,' declared the d Hotel's general manager Rory Scott.
' We had some great nights including a barbecue on Saturday night and dancing on Sunday with Electric Avenue,' he added.
Among those enjoying the hospitality at the d were Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie and top golfers like Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy.
Like many others the d Hotel manager is hoping the Baltray course will be chosen for the next Irish Open.
'I hear sponsors 3 are very happy and Baltray could be on the cards for the next two years,' he said. Sources close to the tournament estimate its value to the local hospitality industry to be in the region of € 9 million.
Local bus companies and Bus Éireann also enjoyed an unexpected bonanza. On Thursday the Donore Road and M1 retail parks were used to provide car parking and a shuttle bus location for the tournament.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday saw a section of the old N1 just off the M1 motorway near Monasterboice, turned into an impromptu parking area. 'The cars were lined up on the sides of the roads and buses came every 10 minutes. The whole system worked really well,' said Eoin Hahessy.
- Angela MCCORMICK
