The countdown is well and truly on as Kilkenny prepares to welcome some of the biggest names in the world of Golf for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open this week.
Some household names will be taking part in the event from this Thursday to Sunday (July 1st to 4th).
Siobhan O’Sullivan who heads up sales and marketing in Mount Juliet says they have an exciting few days now, even in the build-up to the main event.
“Monday, Tuesday will be practise days, Wednesday we have a PRO Am which we have some wonderful local ambassadors in Henry Shefflin, DJ Carey, some of the lovely rugby players as well like Johnny Sexton as part of it then obviously it kicks off on Thursday for four days”.
She adds “It’s really, really exciting, it’s going to be a wonderful homecoming for the guys back on home soil as well for Rory McIlroy, for Shane Lowry, for Padraig Harrington and also Graeme McDowell so look we’re very, very lucky to have a great list of players coming to Mount Juilet”.
And Siobhan says there’ll be quite the attention on this pocket of Ireland, noting “On Mount Juliet and Kilkenny actually in the upcoming week, there’ll be 350 million eyes on us so it’s a fabulous opportunity, a fantastic opportunity for the sunny south east, the ancient east and obviously Kilkenny and ourselves as well so the weather looks good so let’s hope it stays and they’ll see us at our finest and our best throughout the week as well”.
Meanwhile, Kilkenny golfer Mark Power is set to take part in the event and he’s been telling our Sue Nunn how he’s feeling about that.
Listen back to that conversation here: