Richard O'Donoghue welcomed the Ryder Cup to Ireland, celebrating its arrival in Limerick and praising the McManus family for their investment in sport. He criticised the government for failing to fund a World Rally Championship bid, saying the opportunity to host multiple world events was lost.
Ryder Cup welcomed to Limerick
He said he was delighted the Ryder Cup is in Limerick, calling Limerick "the real capital of Ireland" and describing the tournament as a world-class event. He emphasised the benefit to Adair County Limerick and the pride of hosting the competition.
Praise for the McManus family
He thanked the McManus family for their investment in Limerick and across the country, noting their support for sport. He highlighted that they had given every county in Ireland a million euros and also supported clubs in the UK affiliated with Ireland.
Tourism and local impact
He recounted receiving calls from Dublin saying B&Bs were booked out and that visitors were coming for up to two weeks, travelling down to Limerick for one or two days to attend the Ryder Cup. He used these examples to underline the event's immediate local and national impact.
Criticism of World Rally Championship funding
He expressed disappointment with the government's decision not to fund a World Rally Championship bid for 2025, 2026 and 2027, saying "you turned your back on the World Rally Championship." He pointed to proposed routes from Mallon to Mizzenhead and argued the country missed an opportunity to host a second world event that could have benefited the whole country.
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Minister I'm delighted to welcome the Ryder Cup to Ireland. I'm delighted that the Ryder Cup is in Limerick, the real capital of Ireland as I call it, because we have now got a world class golf tournament on in Ireland. I have to thank the McManus family for what they have done for Limerick. But not only for Limerick but for the rest of the country. What they have invested in this country. What they have invested in Adair County Limerick. I'm delighted for the people of Adair that we are now going to host the Ryder Cup. And also for what the McManus family have done for sports in Ireland. They have given every county in Ireland a million euros and even in the UK clubs affiliated with Ireland. Because why? They love Ireland, they love Limerick, they love sport. But one thing the government haven't done is when the World Rally Championship wanted to come here and we want to bid for 25, 26 and 27, from Mallon to Mizzenhead would have had funding. What did you do? You turned your back on the World Rally Championship. We could have had two world events in Ireland that would have benefited the whole country. Like the Ryder Cup. I had people from Dublin ring me this evening and thanked us for having the Ryder Cup. Because their B&Bs are booked out. There are people coming for two weeks. And they are going to travel down to Limerick for one day or two days at the Ryder Cup. So I have to thank the people of Limerick for what they have done. But I'm disappointed within the government that they forgot to invest in the World Rally Championship.
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