Fáilte Ireland, the majority owner of the Killarney Golf and Fishing Club – last year’s host of the Irish Open – says it is being kept fully informed of an “extensive review” under way at the golf club, which earlier this year agreed the sale of one of its three 18-hole courses.
The sale to the adjoining Liebherr Ireland crane manufacturing factory for €6 million is being finalised but no money has changed hands. Insiders say the financial situation facing the club is “quite grave”, and the proceeds of the sale are anxiously awaited.
The current review by consultants Deloitte has sprung from what insiders describe as a hard-hitting report, which was also undertaken by Deloitte, and commissioned by Fáilte Ireland in order to get approval from the Department of Finance for the sale of the 18-hole course.