Community Groups To Benefit From The Open Legacy Fund

Seven community groups in Portrush are set to benefit thanks to support from The Open Legacy Fund.

The initiative is run by The R&A to leave a positive and lasting legacy for the local community in which The Open is staged each year. Support is provided to projects which focus on low carbon technologies, circular economy, nature and social value – the four areas which underpin the Greenlinks sustainability programme for the Championship.

A panel of representatives from The R&A, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Tourism Northern Ireland and Royal Portrush Golf Club has assessed submitted applications and confirmed that the following groups will benefit from The Open Legacy Fund: 

• Paul's Legacy
• Portrush Bowling Club
• Portrush FC Youths
• Portrush Heritage Group
• Sea2it C.I.C
• St Patrick`s Primary School Portrush
• St Patrick's Hall Committee, Portrush

Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Chief Championships Officer at The R&A, said, “We received tremendous support from the local community both in the lead up to and during The 153^rd Open at Royal Portrush and the legacy fund is our way of saying thank you to residents and local businesses.

“We have chosen to support initiatives which will provide real value to the town of Portrush and its residents and hope that this funding will leave a lasting benefit to the local community by enabling these groups to continue their great work.”

Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Oliver McMullan, commented, “For one week in July, Portrush was the centre of the golfing world. The grace, good spirits and cooperation of the local community in Portrush enabled the success of such a wonderful global event.

“Council welcomes the Legacy Fund as a powerful way to thank the local community and support important local work. This will leave a lasting legacy in our town of Portrush that hosted The 153^rd Open.”

Today’s announcement follows the recently revealed results of independent research which shows The 153^rd Open at Royal Portrush generated £280 million in economic benefit for Northern Ireland, of which £43 million was direct money for Causeway Coast and Glens from staging the record-breaking Championship last July.