Solheim Cup will present 'great opportunity’ for Meath

The Solheim Cup will be the biggest global sporting event in Ireland in 2011, bringing a huge worldwide audience and many tens of thousands of spectators to Killeen Castle and County Meath, the man behind bringing the event to Ireland said at the weekend. Event promoter Roddy Carr was speaking at the unveiling of a new website, www.solheimcupmeath.ie, launched by the captain of the European ladies' golf team, Alison Nicholas, for Meath Tourism at the weekend. The launch took place at Killeen Castle, which will host the competition from 23rd-25th September, and the website aims to make it easier for visitors coming to Meath for the event to resource information on accommodation, restaurants and tourist and heritage attractions in the county. Mr Carr said the event provides the opportunity for Meath to engage with the visitors and provide a 'craic factor' and showing them a good time. Already, 2,500 packages have been sold for the event, and it is expected that 10,000 will be sold by September. The visitors should be shown the warmth and welcome of old Ireland, and not experience the rip-off as happened at the Ryder Cup here, Mr Carr added. After the Ryder Cup in Kildare's K Club in 2006, Failte Ireland realised that there was no legacy plan in place to capitalise on the event, and set about seeking a follow-up. The ladies event, the Solheim Cup, was identified, and Mr Carr was involved in the bid by Ireland against five other countries. Ladies' golf is among the fastest growing sports and, through Killeen Castle director Brian Wallace, he was already familiar with the Jack Nicklaus-designed course. “When we made the bid, the course was still under construction, but the standard of construction and the location of the course with the backdrop of the castle was incredible,†he explained. “We hope those watching it from across the world will also be blown away by it,†Mr Carr added. Meath County Council cathaoirleach, Cllr Ann Dillon Gallagher, welcomed Alison Nicholas to the county on behalf of the people of Meath, and expressed good wishes to her European team that will face the United States this year. “I know from the great attendance at the Ladies Irish Open here last August that Irish golf fans really appreciate the skill, excitement and of course, the glamour, associated with the ladies game and will come out in force again to support the European side,†she added. Cllr Dillon Gallagher said everyone must be focused on presenting the best possible image of a welcoming county that offers quality and good value to the visitor. Ms Nicholas said she was delighted to be back in Ireland as she loved the place and its people. She said that, for the thousands who come for the golf tournament this year, that the experience should be the same. “This event is huge and the showcase of women's golf, and Killeen Castle has been fantastic for me, making sure I have everything I need as captain. I know we're going to have a great week and win the cup back for Europe!†she predicted. Cllr John V Farrelly, chairperson of Meath Tourism, who attended the 2009 event at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois, said the interest in Ireland and Killeen Castle at that event was extraordinary, but that the extortionate prices that went on at the time of the Ryder Cup in Kildare must not be repeated in 2011. He added that the county would be the centrepiece of the event, with Knightsbrook Hotel & Golf Resort in Trim hosting the Junior Solheim Cup at the same time. Meath Tourism and Meath County Council plan a number of initiatives for promotion of the Solheim Cup, including partnering with local communities under a newly created Solheim Cup Pride of Place category that will focus on towns, villages and locations prominent in Solheim. This will also include a programme of enhancement of approach roads, junctions and roundabouts in and around Killeen Castle, including providing sponsorship opportunities for roundabout improvements, and support for local Solheim Cup-related business initiatives/partnerships in terms of marketing and promotion. There are also plans to organise a major event as the centrepiece of a festival week in the county and assist any community or organisation to promote local festivals and events. The council and Meath Tourism will also attend relevant major golf shows, tournaments and events at home and abroad to promote Meath and the Boyne Valley region, as well as develop a range of local marketing and promotional materials to support and compliment Failte Ireland's international, national and regional marketing initiatives. 'The Road to Solheim Sunday' will provide opportunities for local golf clubs to organise Solheim Open Days or club competitions. There will be access to golf for disadvantaged young people working with the Meath Sports Partnership and the First Tee programme.