€60,000 spend on giant golf balls for Ryder Cup in Limerick
Details revealed of council programme for blue riband tournament
LIMERICK City and County Council is planning to spend €60,000 on ten giant golf balls that will function as visitor attractions at locations across the county ahead of the 2027 Ryder Cup.
The local authority is seeking contractors to design and supply oversized balls with a diameter of 1.2 metres, which will be branded with four logos and placed at ten specific locations in the county.
Four of the golf balls will be located in the metropolitan district of Limerick, while three will be placed at locations in the Adare-Rathkeale municipal district, two in Newcastle West, and one in Cappamore-Kilmallock.
The estimated value of the contract for the design, supply and delivery of the balls is €60,000 excluding VAT, according to tender documents published by the local authority on Friday.
The balls will be made from fibreglass and will be engineered to withstand the Irish climate for at least 12 months, featuring robust resistance to moisture ingress, corrosion, wind loading, ultraviolet degradation, accidental impact, and vandalism.
The council will retain oversight and approval rights in relation to the artwork on the four branded logos on the balls. These must be delivered within six months for use ahead of the tournament, which takes place in Adare Manor in September 2027.
The appointed supplier will also be required to provide specially designed protective cases for transportation, alongside structural brackets, anchors, and other equipment needed to secure the balls to the ground.
The actual installation of the oversized golf balls at the ten locations will be carried out by third parties.
The deadline for the submission of tenders is October 2, with clarifications accepted until September 29.
The outlay comes amid wider public and private preparations across the mid-west region for the biennial golf showpiece, which was secured for Limerick with substantial government support.
It is projected to deliver an economic dividend of up to €160 million while bringing hundreds of thousands of spectators to the area.