Tourism & Hospitality | Saturday 28 March, 2015 1:58 am |

Two lucky Gulf residents will be jetting off to Ireland to witness the world-famous Irish Open thanks to a new competition launched by Tourism Ireland.
The Irish Open, hosted by current world number one Rory McIlroy, will take place from 28-31 May 2015 and will be the first time in 76 years that the competition will be hosted at the world-famous links course of Royal County Down – one of the oldest in Ireland.
Former world number one and current leader of the Malaysian Open Lee Westwood will return to Ireland for this year’s Open. He joins a stellar field including Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Graeme McDowell and Daren Clarke.
Royal County Down is one of Ireland’s leading golf courses and is based in County Down, Northern Ireland. From 1893, the course has been synonymous with the best in Irish golf. It has been the venue for the Walker Cup (2007), the Curtis Cup (1968), the Amateur Championship (twice), the Home Internationals (three times) and, on no fewer than eight occasions, the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship, as well as numerous other leading amateur events.
County Down is a stone’s throw away from the Causeway Coastal Route, one of Northern Ireland’s key attractions. The route stretches across stunning coastal scenery for 120 miles (190km) between Belfast and Londonderry with nine spectacular scenic drives that loop off the main route.
The Giant’s Causeway World Heritage Site is the star attraction of the Causeway Coastal Route. A unique landscape comprised of hexagonal basalt columns, the site is managed by the National Trust, a conservation charity which strives to keep it as natural as possible for a totally unique visitor experience. The area is also close to The Gobbin’s Cliff Path, which will reopen later this year, and it will draw up to at least 70,000 visitors a year.
To enter the GCC competition and a chance to win a life-time trip to Ireland for two visit www.ireland.com or click here. The closing date for entry to the competition is 31st March.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:

• Tourism Ireland is the organisation responsible for promoting the island of Ireland overseas as a leading holiday destination.
• Tourism is the island of Ireland’s largest indigenous industry; responsible for in excess of 4% of GNP in the Republic of Ireland and employing approximately 200,000 people.
• In 2014, we welcomed an estimated 8.6 million overseas visitors to the island of Ireland, delivering revenue of about €4.26 billion. Overseas tourism business accounts for 59% of all tourism revenue.
• Tourism Ireland’s international website is www.Ireland.com, available in ten different language versions for over 30 individual markets around the world. In 2014, Ireland.com attracted about 14.25 million visitors.