'You can see the pride bursting out of JP McManus': Limerick minister on Ryder Cup in Adare

MINISTER Patrick O’Donovan tells Limerick Live the 2027 Ryder Cup in Adare Manor will be a global event of boundless possibilities for Limerick, as he prepares to head to Bethpage Black in New York later this month for the golf competition between USA and Europe. 

He said it is his responsibility as minister for sport to lead the Irish government’s plans to prepare for two years time. 

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“This is going to be one of the biggest sporting events that we've ever held on the island of Ireland. It's fantastic that it's been held in Limerick.”

The minister for culture, communications and sport is part of a large delegation heading Stateside to attend the competition in an “observer” capacity. 

Members of the McManus family, members of Limerick City and County Council and councillors, senior gardai and a delegation from Adare Manor will all be in attendance.

“There's a ceremonial element to it in terms of it passing to the next location that will be hosting it but there's also an important logistical element. 

“We want to see how the tournament works in terms of traffic, public transport, interface between public and private, all of the necessary cogwheels that are there.

“The gardai have a huge interest in terms of a policing role in terms of the manpower that will be required.”

Mr O’Donovan is looking at the “legacy” of the Ryder Cup in Adare Manor as well as planning for the golf competition.

“It is an enormous event now compared to the last time that it was held here in Kildare in 2006. It's probably going to be one of the largest televised sporting events, globally in 2027. There's an enormous opportunity regionally and locally and for the community of Adare obviously.

“It's our intention after New York to immediately start seeing visible preparations in Adare in terms of signage which are being agreed upon at the moment. You'll have effectively two years of a run-in where people in the locality can take ownership and take pride in what will be a global event in a small west Limerick village.”

Mr O’Donovan spoke of the importance of the work being carried out by Tom Enright, Ryder Cup 2027 project director, and the Government Steering Group chaired by Ireland’s ambassador to the UK Martin Fraser, and all the stakeholders involved in putting on this massive event.

He says it is a fabulous story to be able to tell but “we wouldn't be able to tell this at all if it wasn't for JP and Noreen McManus”.

“This is a global event of boundless possibilities for Limerick. We are beyond fortunate to have them here, rooted in our community and so invested in the community and so positive about what 2027 will be able to achieve for all of the community.

“It isn’t just Adare, there isn't a four crossroads in County Limerick that hasn't got some sense of a connection through the benevolent fund.”

Mr O’Donovan said Mr McManus wears his heart on his sleeve, is very proud of where he comes from and of what he has been able to deliver.

“I've been talking to him (JP McManus) a lot over this in the last number of months and you can see the pride bursting out of him. I think that we are the envy of the other 31 counties, that we have somebody of that calibre here.

 “Maybe it's because he's here for so long and has invested so much, there might be an element of some people taking him for granted but certainly not in my book.”

Mr O’Donovan said the government has delivered on its commitment to build a bypass and a railway line.

“It will be something that we've never seen before in terms of managing the crowds, managing traffic, managing rail - that in itself will be historic - trains will be running to the village of Adare, bringing passengers to a global scale event.”

Next stop Adare Manor for the 2027 Ryder Cup.