August 1, 2024

The Government has agreed to explore a bid to host The Open and the AIG Women’s Open at Portmarnock Golf Club.

In a statement, Minister for Sport Catherine Martin said hosting both championships would increase Ireland’s reputation as a world centre for golf.

The Department of Sport said that any final decision on hosting the championships at Portmarnock “is subject to a positive outcome to discussions that will take place with the R&A and Portmarnock GC over the summer period and to a positive economic impact assessment”.

The Open is returning to Portrush next year. Offaly golfer Shane Lowry picked up the Claret Jug on the last occasion it was hosted at Portrush in 2019.

Redeveloping Dublin barracks into housing would cost €1bn

The Cabinet will hear that the cost of relocating Cathal Brugha Barracks in Dublin and redeveloping the site for housing will come to around €1 billion.

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin will recommend against such a plan due to the high costs.

Feasibility studies for developing the Cathal Brugha site in Rathmines and moving the barracks were carried out.

It is estimated that the cost of relocating to a new barracks on a greenfield site would be in the region of €497m.

A separate study carried out by the Land Development Agency also examined the suitability of Cathal Brugha Barracks for housing development.

It indicates the full relocation of the barracks would allow for the development of approximately 1,300 homes, with the development costs estimated at €499m.

Read more here.