Ryder Cup visits school children in Limerick as preparations for Adare Manor tournament intensify

EUROPEAN Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald took the Ryder Cup to meet local school children in Limerick this Wednesday as part of his first official visit as captain to 2027 venue Adare Manor.

Donald and his wife Diane visited the indoor facility today at Our Lady's Abbey Primary School, when girls and boys from 4th, 5th and 6th class from that school were joined by children from St Nicholas, Shountrade and Scoil Naomh Iósaf national schools.

The two-time winning Ryder Cup winning captain hosted a session for 20 children aged nine to 12 years old from the four schools. They took part in golf-based activities, including mini-putting, chipping challenges and other games. The session was led by Golf Ireland Limerick Development Officers and builds on the 'Unleash Your Drive’ primary school golf taster programme already being delivered in two of the four schools, with the other two school due to begin the programme soon.

READ NEXT: Ryder Cup captain touches down in Limerick to visit ‘world class’ Adare Manor

Donald was also joined at the school visit by Patrick O’Donovan TD, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Adare Manor owner JP McManus and European Tour group chief executive Guy Kinnings.

The pupils were given a special Ryder Cup gift bag as a memento from the occasion as excitement grows for golf’s greatest team competition, between Europe and the United States, being staged Limerick for the first time from September 13-19, 2027.

Luke Donald said: “It’s great to get involved with some of the local schools in the Adare area and make them aware they are going to have one of the world’s biggest sporting events on their doorstep next year.

“The kids were all excited. A lot of them are into golf already, as well as other sports., but the Ryder Cup is all about inspiring future generations. You never know, there might be someone in the classroom who might be playing in a Ryder Cup in ten or 15 years’ time. It’s great to be actively involved in the local community. It’s one of the great things about the Ryder Cup – the impact it has on the people and the places we go to.

“JP McManus has obviously made a big impact in this community and we want the Ryder Cup to do the same.”

Minister O’Donovan TD said: “I am delighted to be here today with children from the national schools in Adare and the European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald.

“As Minister for Sport, I am keen that we use the opportunity of hosting the Ryder Cup in Adare and the Junior Ryder Cup in Ballyneety to leave a long-lasting and positive legacy for many years to come.  That is why I have provided funding for the recruitment of Golf in The Community Officers to promote and deliver golf activities in community and school settings throughout the country. My Department will also be supporting the development of short form golf facilities around the country.  These investments will assist in making golf more accessible to our younger generation and help to produce the golf sports stars of tomorrow.” 

Donald’s visit to meet the school children was part of his first official visit as captain to 2027 Ryder Cup venue Adare Manor. He was reappointed to the role at the start of March having previously led Europe to victories at Marco Simone in Rome in 2023 and Bethpage in New York in 2025. 

His vice captain, Edoardo Molinari, joined him on a site visit to Adare Manor to inspect the golf course and some of the team spaces which will be used next September. 

Donald said: “This Ryder Cup is going to be very special. A goal of mine is to create the best experience we have ever had and to have it here at Adare Manor in Ireland is the perfect place to do that. Having dinner with JP McManus last night, he wants to set a standard for what the Ryder Cup is, and there is no better person, and no better venue to achieve that.”