For Newcastle West business owner Luke Cahill, the Ryder Cup’s arrival to Limerick could not have been better timed.
Cahill, who has been in the marquee and event hire industry for over five years, took the decision this year to set up his own business, Vertex Marquees.
“It’s a great opportunity for me to try and get my business out there.”
Navigating through the process of business establishment, Cahill recognises the huge potential over 200,000 visitors to Adare will bring to the local economy.
“Yeah, I very much agree that it will be beneficial to local businesses. It’s a great opportunity for me to try and get my business out there starting out and hopefully people will do business with me and it’ll all be good,” said Cahill.
Transatlantic visitors are a major factor to the Irish economy. This was reflected recently, with the €10 million government investment towards NFL Dublin, and statistics revealing that the 2023 Aer Lingus College Classic brought in an estimated €180m in revenue.
“It is a chance to prove that Shannon Airport is the gateway to the west of Ireland.”
Speaking in relation to the influx of tourists, Fianna Fáil’s Tourism and Aviation Spokesperson Cathal Crowe believes Limerick is well placed to handle the transportation of golf fans.
“With the Ryder Cup coming in 2027 and the Irish Open in Doonbeg this summer, it is a chance to prove that Shannon Airport is the gateway to the west of Ireland and that we have the capacity to successfully hold major world events.”
Along with businesses, homeowners are looking to capitalise on visiting golf fans by charging “extortionate” prices to rent homes out for the encompassing weeks.
Crowe expressed his “worries” around this: “some are charging almost 60 thousand euros per week to rent one of their homes. It is ludicrous and extortionate.”
Meanwhile, Cahill sees this as an opportunity for his business: “Ideally, I’d be catering towards small house parties or any small businesses around Adare like restaurants and coffee shops who will be looking for extra cover in light of the increased footfall.”
However, Cahill’s proximity to the tournament means he has experienced many of the frustrations residents are feeling ahead of golf’s most prestigious competition.
The new Adare Bypass project, which is being fast-tracked to be finished by June of next year has meant his family’s horses have been displaced during the road’s construction.
“This bypass is going to be about 25 metres from the edge of our house and where we keep our horses and foals. Because of the stress the construction was putting on them, we have had to take them off the land basically for their safety” he explained.
The Cahill family have received no compensation since their horses have been moved.
Speaking on the constant congestion in Adare, TD Crowe has said the production of a temporary railway system is progress at least.
“The Ryder Cup will be a cash bonanza to the region. All of us in the Midwest have bemoaned the traffic congestion in Adare for many years and I think if we are going as far as to put a temporary railway system in for the Ryder, I think we should be trying to make that a permanent fixture.”