*Paul McGinley, who pictured at Lahinch Golf Club. Photograph: Brian Arthur.
Lahinch Golf Club hosting The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open is estimated to be worth €15 million to the West Clare economy and the European Tour event is going to leave it’s mark on the county in more ways than one.
Tournament host, Paul McGinley whose own charitable foundation supports small projects has revealed what he and his wife Ali will be donating money towards following The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. The Dubliner confirmed to The Clare Echo that they will be providing the necessary finance to fund an astro turf for students at Saint Mary’s National School Lahinch which is located four minutes from the Golf Club.
“I’ll raise some money from my foundation, it won’t be a huge amount and we found out that the local national school here the boys and girls aged three to twelve are looking to have an astro turf area built for sport which is going to cost a lot of money and that is going to be our project and that is going to be our project,” he said.
McGinley outlined, “I went to see it today and Ali is coming in tomorrow to meet the school teacher and have a look at it, we’ve decided already that is going to be a project we’re going to support. The money we’ll raise from the meet and greet during The Irish Open as well as some of my generous partners, money raised from that will make the contribution”.
Of the field put together so far for the four day tournament which tees off on July 4th, Paul noted “It is coming together nicely”. European Tour stars Tommy Fleetwood, Louis Oosthuizen, Lee Westwood, defending champion Russell Knox plus homegrown heroes Shane Lowry, Pádraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell and in-form Ryder Cup great Ian Poulter have all signed up with further additions to be made.
