LIMERICK City and County Council came out swinging after claims by one Fine Gael councillor on putting ideas pitched for roads ahead of the Ryder Cup.
Cllr Adam Teskey quizzed the local authority at the monthly Adare-Rathkeale district meeting about speculation around 18 roundabouts in the area being converted into ‘mini putting greens’ in advance of Ryder Cup 2027 at a supposed cost of €1million.
At the time, Director of the Adare-Rathkeale District, Vincent Murray, told Cllr Teskey that he was not aware of such a plan.
Following Cllr Teskey’s claims, the Council has confirmed that discussions are taking place on a “creative proposal to enhance 18 Limerick roundabouts to promote Limerick as a golfing destination”, but they are “entirely separate from the Ryder Cup”.
The Council also stated, contrary to Cllr Teskey’s speculation, that there is “no request for €1m, or any money, for this project”.
It is understood the project will involve businesses sponsoring the roundabouts, rather than the use of public funds.
“The refurbishment of roundabouts is part of an ongoing programme led by the Council. As with previous similar initiatives, sponsorship will be sought as is standard practice to support the delivery of this work,” the Council stated.
Fianna Fáil councillor for the area, Bridie Collins, who worked for a number of years as a greenkeeper at the luxury Mount Juliet estate in Kilkenny, said she is aware of the “Sponsor a Roundabout Scheme” with various businesses around the city.
“The roundabouts that have been refurbished through this scheme have added hugely to the aesthetics as we approach Limerick City, while also demonstrating a sensitive approach to biodiversity planting and the importance of sustainability for Limerick,” Cllr Collins explained.
As regards the future, Cllr Collins said it would “be a novel and appropriate way to pay homage to the Ryder Cup in Adare in September 2027 by creating mini greens or other golf course features on a number of roundabouts on the approach to Adare”.
“This is still in planning stage and (the Council) will be looking to the business community to sponsor these roundabouts, so I expect that the cost to the Council will be minimal.”
According to Cllr Collins, several other ideas are being discussed at local level, including a photo gallery of winning European Ryder Cup teams over the past 100 years on approach roads into Adare.
She noted that “2027 will be the centenary year of the Ryder Cup and this fact is going to bring an even bigger dimension to the event at Adare Manor”.
“With an estimated 270,000 attendees, not to mention the participants, vendors, event teams, Ryder Cup organisers, casual visitors, and not least our local community members in Adare and County Limerick, this is shaping up to be the biggest Ryder Cup event ever, so to invest in art installations or golf themed installations to celebrate this is very much welcomed by me and the community of Adare.”
The Fianna Fáil woman believes the Council has a “mammoth” task ahead with a very short lead time to present the county, and in particular Adare, in a memorable way to celebrate the Ryder Cup’s 100th anniversary.
“For me the adage of ‘go big or go home’ very much applies here. The bigger the better, the more creative the better, the more the beauty and heritage of Adare and County Limerick is advertised the better,” she said.
