Remarks by President Mary McAleese at the Launch of the Solheim Cup, Killeen Castle, Co. Meath
Killeen, Castle, Co. Meath, Thursday, 22nd September, 2011
Ladies and Gentlemen
It gives me great pleasure to offer each and every one of you the traditional Irish céad míle fáilte, one hundred thousand welcomes as we gather here at Killeen Castle, the home of Ireland’s first ever hosting of the Solheim Cup. Given that the Irish Ladies Golf Union is recognised as the world’s oldest, we are especially thrilled to welcome you to Ireland and to this beautiful course. I especially welcome the players, coaches, caddies, families and supporters of both the European and United States teams. We want you to enjoy a fantastic golfing tournament, to savour our beautiful countryside and to feel at home. I welcome the spectators who are here at Killeen and the many millions who are joining us via their television screens. We are grateful to the many members of the sports media whose job it will be to will relay the sporting excitement and excellence that is undoubtedly in front of us for the next few days.
No matter where you are in Ireland you are only a stone’s throw from a golf club. Recent years have seen this island produce a stream of first class international golfers, including four majors winners and of course back in 2006 we had the privilege of hosting the Ryder Cup at the K Club. With the Solheim the focus shifts to women’s golf. Ireland has 60,000 registered female players ranging in age from 8 to 88 and though we are not represented on the European Solheim team this time, we hope to remedy that very soon for there are some very gifted young players coming through our amateur ranks.
But that is for another day- on this day as the 2011 Solheim tournament gets under way
I congratulate and thank those who made the hosting of this tournament in Ireland possible, including the local Boyne Valley community who have prepared a resounding welcome to all our visitors.
To the spectators I wish you a very memorable and thrilling world class spectacle of golf. To the world class players from both sides of the Atlantic, I wish you every success and a fantastic competition.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh – Thank you