Ministers join Irish Open celebrations

Michael Ring TD, Ireland’s Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, was an interested observer among the large crowds at Fota Island Resort for the third round of the 2014 Irish Open.

The Minister toured the facilities at Fota Island Resort and took the chance to welcome some of the players from the impressive international field, with seven different nationalities represented in the top ten at the halfway stage.

With three Irish players – Padraig Harrington, Gareth Maybin and Graeme McDowell – among those in contention, and with large galleries and glorious weather so far, this year’s Irish Open has already been a magnificent showcase for golf in Ireland.

The Minister, in the company of Tony Lenehan, Head of Golf Tourism for Fáilte Ireland, and James Finnigan, Commercial Director of the Irish Open from the European Tour, were on the first tee to watch some of the leading groups tee off, including three-time Major Champion Harrington, who is Fáilte Ireland’s Golf Ambassador, and McDowell, who will start Sunday's final round just two shots behind leader Mikko Ilonen.

Minister Leo Varadkar TD, Ireland’s Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, also visited Fota Island Resort during Thursday’s opening round and welcomed more than 100 members of the international media at a reception at Fota Island Hotel.

Then on Sunday afternoon, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, will join George O'Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, in presenting the trophy to the 2014 Irish Open Champion.