The Sports Minister Catherine Martin is expected to seek Cabinet approval today for a bid to host the British Open and the Women's Open at Portmarnock Golf Club in north Dublin.
The Open is the oldest golf championship in the world, and Minister Martin believes it could attract almost 250,000 spectators.
After discussions with organisers, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, it is now also suggested that Ireland could hold multiple hostings of the Open.
The renowned golfing tournament has only been hosted twice outside England or Scotland; on both occasions, it was hosted in Portrush in Northern Ireland.
Ms Martin is expected to share an analysis of benefits with her Cabinet colleagues which suggests that 245,000 tickets would be sold for each time the Open is hosted, with significant numbers of spectators coming from outside the State.
The analysis further suggests that hosting three Opens over a number of years as well as at least one Women’s Open would result in a cumulative gross economic impact of some €338m for the four events.
However, it also notes there would also need to be investment to hold the events.
Portrush is currently preparing to host the 153rd Open next year, just six years after it first did when 240,000 spectators attended the championship at the Co Antrim course.
Ireland is also preparing to host the return of the Ryder Cup when the tournament is hosted in Adare in 2027.
