Reports emanating from around Limerick, and particularly from the Limerick Leader, have pointed to the fact that JP McManus has indeed completed the purchase of Adare Manor for a figure in the region of €30 million. The awesome Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort has been up for sale since September, bidding closed on Friday last with a price tag of €25m for the County Limerick luxury resort.

I happened to be playing golf that very day and saw JP on site, he was actually playing golf that day too, and while there were always rumours down the years that he may indeed purchase “the Manor” it is fantastic news for Limerick and definitely for the golfing public as well. There are definitely going to be ambitious plans for Adare Manor in the future – the return of the JP McManus Pro-Am is very likely and there was always the possibility of a second golf course as there is ample land on the estate. Refurbishments and improvements to the current awesome accommodation offerings at Adare Manor could well be on the cards as well.

Could a Ryder Cup be headed for Limerick in 2022 or 2026? I think the bid process for 2022 has already come and gone but a course that is good enough to stage 2 Irish Opens, the JP Pro-Am and many other events down the years will definitely be well able to host the best team event in sport! The on-site accommodation and the best parkland course in Ireland along with the village of Adare itself would create an ideal venue and it would fittingly mark the 20-year anniversary of the Ryder Cup first coming to Ireland as well.

The hotel was bought back in the 1980s by American Tom Kane who invested heavily in the Resort over the years including the building of the 18-hole Championship course, the last ever designed by the legendary designer Robert Trent Jones Senior, and also the addition of many new hotel rooms, the Townhouses and the Clubhouse, which include extensive bar & restaurant facilities as well. It is great to see Adare in Irish hands now, and even better in the hands of a Limerickman!

I’m very much looking forward to the developments out in Adare over the coming months, and years – good luck JP!