Eamonn Coghlan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is always a pleasure to stand up in the Seanad and talk about sports. I want to mention world leaders. Perhaps we should look at Ireland as being a world leader in sports tourism. I got a number of texts from people today asking, "Who is this guy?" It is always great to see someone come out of the blue. They were referring to young Paul Dunne who grew up in Greystones, went to school in Blackrock College and went to the University of Alabama. I did not know anything about Paul Dunne prior to this past week but I have a great deal of pride in him. I think of Padraig Harrington as well as Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley. Golf is really an exceptional sport, making Ireland a leader.

Many years ago, the Golfing Union of Ireland got funding from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport for its scholarship programme. The academy in Maynooth has helped to produce all these great lads. People might ask how is this boy, Paul Dunne, going to do in the final round this afternoon but it is not his first time playing in the British Open. He played in it last year and just failed to make the cut. Having finished fifth in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA, he is going to do things.

Golf and other sports are very important for tourism here. These players are ambassadors when they represent Ireland which is priceless public relations for this country. When I was at the Irish Open in Northern Ireland this year, I got into conversation with some of the leading promoters of golf in the world. They said it would be fantastic if the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Government were to really consider the golfing package, promote it and get seriously involved in promoting the Irish Open and putting more money into that. Players such as Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and this young lad, Paul Dunne, are huge attractions for this country and can bring in thousands of tourists as well as great publicity for the country.

I read John Greene’s column in yesterday’s Sunday Independent. He usually has his finger on the pulse when it comes to talking about sport and what governments should do. Last week I mentioned €800,000 going into the National Sports Campus development. Only 8% of that overall budget went to sport. It is time to go back ten years, increase the funding in sports and give our sports an opportunity to lead us on the world scene. Let us hope an Irishman wins the claret cup this afternoon.