Northern Eire is made for golf and Tourism NI is able to ‘putt’ on a present to roll out the purple carpet for guests to the 2024 Amgen Irish Open in Newcastle, County Down.
The hotly contested match will play out alongside the golden shores of the Irish Sea and in opposition to the backdrop of the rugged Mourne Mountains, at Royal County Down Golf Membership, one of many world’s most famous hyperlinks programs.
Going down from September 12-15, the Amgen Irish Open will embrace Northern Eire’s big spirit as stars of the game, Rory McIlroy, Pádraig Harrington, Shane Lowry, Billy Horschel, Séamus Energy and 21-year-old Tom McKibbin vie for Vincent Norrman’s crown.
County Down is residence to Northern Eire’s most dramatic mountain vary, the placement of the real-life Winterfell Fort from Recreation of Thrones® and is St Patrick’s final resting place. The county additionally has excellent castles, seashores, forest parks, stately houses, a Royal Palace, all completely positioned for visits earlier than and after the golf.
Following the success of the Ladies’s Irish Open and in anticipation of the Amgen Irish Open, Uncover NI has put collectively 18 enjoyable details about golf within the space and wider County Down, good to impress your folks or for a fast quiz on the nineteenth gap. There’s additionally a number of helpful data to assist your journey to the Irish Open go along with a swing.
Do you know
Golf:
Northern Eire has hosted the Irish Open 4 occasions within the final decade. Royal Portrush is the venue for the 153rd Open in 2025 and it follows the massive success of the 2019 version, which was received by Shane Lowry.
Host to the 2024 Amgen Irish Open, Royal County Down has been named Golf Digest’s Quantity One Golf Course within the World 4 occasions since 2007. The course has hosted some world superstars akin to Tiger Woods and Tom Watson whereas Rory McIlroy can be a frequent customer to the revered hyperlinks.
For many who admire historical past, head to Ardglass Golf Membership, residence of the oldest clubhouse on this planet. Beginning life as a Fifteenth-century warehouse, the fort was added in 1405 to then change into a household residence within the 18th century. The course hugs the Irish Sea with panoramic views of the shoreline.
One other historic course, St. Patrick’s Golf Membership started as an commercial for a public assembly. It quickly turned a golf membership. Starting in 1930, they purchased a military hut for the value of £30, later changing it to a clubhouse.
Warrenpoint Golf Membership has made historical past on the world stage in its personal proper. Distinguished membership member, Paddy Gribben received the European Newbie Open in 1999. Not solely that, however the quickest spherical of golf on this planet was performed right here by membership member Jim Carvill.
County Down:
Mourne Gullion Strangford was awarded a chosen UNESCO International Geopark in 2023, one in all solely 4 in Eire.
There are at least six distilleries in County Down all a part of the NI Spirits Path- from the smallest at Killowen Distillery to tales of secret smugglers and savage battles at Copeland; you might be certain to discover a tipple and a spirit for you.
Slieve Donard is the best mountain in Northern Eire (850m). Throughout the Mourne mountains you will see the granite dry stone Mourne Wall, which is 1.5m excessive and extends throughout 35 kilometers crossing 15 totally different mountains.
Castlewellan Peace Maze is without doubt one of the world’s largest everlasting hedge mazes representing the trail to a peaceable future for Northern Eire. Planted in 2000 with neighborhood involvement, guests can try to unravel their solution to the peace bell within the centre of the maze.
County Down is a well-liked filming location for tv reveals and movies. Numerous Recreation of Thrones® was filmed right here (Mourne Mountains, Tollymore Forest and Fort Ward) whereas different reveals akin to Dublin Murders, Frankenstein Chronicles, Bloodlands and the Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Amongst Thieves film.
Hillsborough Fort is without doubt one of the official Royal Palaces set in 100 acres of well-tended parkland and gardens simply off the M1 hall. A guided tour of the fort will hint the historical past of the palace as you progress from one opulent room to a different. Exterior, you’re in a position to wander the grounds, discovering the restored Walled Backyard, Misplaced Backyard and a myriad of winding avenues, paths and lawns.
Sit in peace and tranquillity in Downpatrick, stated to be the ultimate resting place of Saint Patrick, the place, within the grounds of Down Cathedral, his grave is marked by a single slab of Mourne granite. St. Patrick’s legacy is a part of the material of Northern Eire – enshrined in church buildings, cathedrals and the numerous abbeys, excessive crosses and spherical towers that evoke his time and his historical past.
Kilbroney Forest Park is a good household stop-off for the C.S. Lewis-inspired Narnia Path. The writer spent boyhood holidays within the space and stated this was his inspiration for Narnia.
In 1921 Charlie Chaplin checked in to the Slieve Donard when he was one of the well-known celebrities on this planet. He signed the resort register giving his tackle as merely New York Metropolis and was taken to the hearts of Newcastle individuals as their very personal hyperlink to the fantastic world of the flicks.
The Mourne Coastal Route is a 102-mile driving path, taking you from Belfast by way of North Down, The Ards Peninsula, County Down shoreline, Mourne Mountains and on to the town of Newry.
Probably the most well-known resident of the village of Killyleagh was Sir Hans Sloane, celebrated in his hometown as the person who introduced the recipe for ingesting chocolate to Europe from the Caribbean in 1687. Greater than 60 years later, Cadbury produced ‘Sir Hans Sloane’s Milk Chocolate’. Try Northern Eire’s first bean to bar craft chocolate makers and the oldest in Eire at NearyNógs in Newry.
Do you know that there are over 30 items of public artwork ready to be admired within the Mourne area? From sculptures to murals, these items are strategically positioned each in widespread areas and off-the-beaten-track places, providing a singular solution to discover and admire the area.
Harry Ferguson from Growell, County Down invented a hydraulic lifting system which modified how tractors work together with equipment and revolutionised world farming. He was additionally the primary Irishman to construct and fly his personal aeroplane. The Ferguson Black Tractor, arguably crucial tractor ever made because it introduced the improvements all collectively for the primary time, is at the moment on show on the Ulster Transport Museum at Holywood.
Leisure
The celebrations in Newcastle start with the Eats and Beats Competition (7 – 8 September), fringe occasions together with a pop-up meals village on Newcastle promenade and Newcastle Restaurant Weekend (11-15 September) which brings collectively the city’s foods and drinks scene, with native eating places, cafes and bars providing unique menus and particular offers.
Day by day and weekly tickets can be found now. Kids aged 12 and underneath are eligible free of charge common admission grounds tickets upon the acquisition of an grownup ticket, whereas these between the age of 13 and 17 are entitled to discounted charges.
For extra data go to the Amgen Irish Open’s official web site or to plan your quick break and uncover simply why Northern Eire is made for golf go to Irish Open Inspiration
