GOLF/Ryder Cup: So, it would seem the powerbrokers in the GAA are not the dinosaurs many would have us believe; or maybe it's just the charm of the PGA European Tour is a touch more seductive than that of other sporting brethren, like soccer and rugby.
Whatever, the decision of the Croke Park authorities to move back the All-Ireland football final a week - from its traditional fourth Sunday in September to the first in October - to facilitate the 2006 Ryder Cup at The K Club is, if not a seismic occurrence, at least one that makes the earth shudder a little. Is it a case of the mountain edging a bit towards Mohammed? Even those not fully au fait with the traditions of the GAA appreciated the concession.
"I'd say the GAA have been outstanding in their consideration to us in not scheduling the All-Ireland football final for the same weekend as the Ryder Cup, it's in the national interest," insisted Richard Hills, an Englishman (albeit married to an Irishwoman), the director of the Ryder Cup. Minster for Sport, John O'Donoghue, called it "a fine gesture".
Liam Mulvihill, the director general of the GAA, attended last year's Ryder Cup at The Belfry and got to see first-hand the sheer scale. "It's a major international sporting event," said Mulvihill. "It really is such a big event, and hugely popular for television audiences, that we felt we really should co-operate fully by changing the date of the All-Ireland."
As GAA president Seán Kelly - an avid golfer - added, "It was the logical and obvious thing to do."
Whether there was some arm-twisting by the Garda and the Government in the GAA ultimately making the grand gesture is a moot point, but the irony is that the switch to October - the first time since the outbreak of foot-and-mouth in 1942 caused a similar move that the final won't have been staged in September - could actually be made permanent.
The advent of the backdoor campaigns have put increased pressure on football inter-county and club schedules and the extra week's grace could work out to be of benefit to the GAA.
Indeed, the Ryder Cup will be the biggest international sporting tournament ever staged in Ireland, with worldwide live television coverage reaching 700 million homes. Sky Sports has exclusive rights to the event, but it is expected RTÉ will carry a highlights package each night.
The three-day matchplay team event will be played over the North Course - with the two nines, apart from the ninth and 18th holes, reversed as is the case with the Smurfit European Open so that the holes alongside the River Liffey will be critical - on September 22nd-24th, 2006.
Although Ireland has a rich tradition in the match, which dates back to 1927, it will be the first time the event will be held in this country - and, already anticipating a phenomenal demand for tickets (crowds will be limited to 40,000 a day), the Ryder Cup Ltd expects to release the prized stubs for sale towards the end of 2004.
Currently being restructured, the Ryder Cup Ltd has yet to decide on the price of tickets but a significant number will be made available to the Irish public.
As Hills explained: "We've made a commitment to Failte Ireland that a sizeable number of tickets will go on sale to people domiciled in Ireland . . . but, also, under EU law, we've also to make them available to the wider market."
One thing, though, is already assured - there will be considerably more people seeking tickets than will be available.
All of which, in a way, is a measure of the success of Failte Ireland in marketing the staging of the event here. In fact, the marketing started as soon as Ireland secured the rights (in 1998) to stage the event.
"By the time next year's match is staged in Detroit, no one will be in any doubt who is to host the 2006 matches," stated Minister O'Donoghue.
Ireland Inc - comprising AIB, Failte Ireland, Ireland, The Food Island and Waterford Crystal - will feature at numerous events on the European Tour next year, starting with the Heineken Classic in Royal Melbourne in February.
Yesterday's confirmation of the dates for the match at The K Club was also used to launch a new website, www.rydercup2006.ie, which includes details of how to log your interest in purchasing a ticket for the 2006 match. A wide range of merchandise - including clothing and golf equipment - is also available for purchase.
Tickets for the 2006 Ryder Cup at The K Club - which will be limited to 40,000 a day - will not go on sale until the end of 2004.
No price structure has yet been determined.
However, the public can log their interest in purchasing tickets on the official website www.rydercup2006.ie
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