Christina Finn reports from New York

TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN met briefly with US President Donald Trump last night where the two men chatted about golf. 

Following the UN General Assembly in New York, President Donald Trump hosted a welcome dinner and reception on Tuesday evening for 145 world leaders at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel.

Its customary for the world leaders to line up to shake hands with the US president at the event, where a few brief words are shared. 

The US president is understood to have chatted about Irish golfer Rory McIlroy’s recent successes and how the next Irish Open will be held in Trump’s golf resort in Doonbeg. 

The two leaders also discussed how the Ryder Cup will be held in Adare Manor in Co. Limerick in 2027.

US President Donald Trump playing golf in Doonbeg. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

While Ireland has been selected to host the 2027 Ryder Cup, this year’s competition is kicking off tomorrow in Bethpage Black in New York.

Ryder Cup handover

It is understood a handover event is due to take place this weekend with government officials.

Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan and junior sports minister Charlie McConalogue are due to attend the tournament this weekend on behalf of the government.

Government and the European Tour have agreed a financial support package that involves investment in Irish golf tour events, marketing for the Ryder Cup itself and golf in Ireland, in general.

To ensure that all goes well, the government has set up a steering group tasked with making sure there is a smooth delivery of the 2027 Ryder Cup.

So seriously is this event being taken by government, the group is chaired by Ambassador to the UK, Martin Fraser, who was formerly Secretary General at the Department of An Taoiseach.

Related Reads

McIlroy's Masterpiece a distilled version of the tortuous process that will inspire generations

'A proud day for Ireland': McIlroy's dramatic Masters win hailed as 'a finish for the ages'

A separate group of event delivery stakeholders are in attendance at Bethpage this weekend to witness the event and attend an observer’s programme held by the event management.

Tourism Ireland will also have a presence to promote Ireland as the next destination of the Ryder Cup in 2027.

It is understood that Micheál Martin was invited to open the Ryder Cup in Bethpage this year, but unfortunately it clashed with the the national address that the Taoiseach will give at the United Nations on Friday.

Before the Ryder Cup does kick off, the Taoiseach will travel to Ottawa in Canada this evening ahead of a meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney tomorrow. Martin will attend events with Irish community and business leaders and the Canada Ireland Interparliamentary group. 

He will return to New York tomorrow evening to give Ireland’s UN address on Friday morning.