'This is a really, really good week for Northern Ireland' - The Open, Portrush - video Dailymotion

'This is a really, really good week for Northern Ireland'  says DUP communities minister Gordon Lyons at The Open in Portrush, Friday, July 18, 2025

Transcript

00:00Can you tell us what's the feedback you've been getting from this Open?

00:03I can say that everybody is in great form here in Portrush today.

00:08The weather is starting to turn in our favour, which is good,

00:11but people are here for the gulf, they're here for the course,

00:13and they're here for everything that Northern Ireland has to offer.

00:16I've been speaking to spectators, both local and with those from across the world.

00:21Everybody is in good form, and this is a really, really good week for Northern Ireland.

00:25Let's not underestimate the potential that there is for us to put Northern Ireland on the map,

00:31both as a golfing destination, but as a tourism destination more widely.

00:35What do you think this is going to do for Northern Ireland more generally, beyond just this tournament?

00:40Will this bring more similar events in the future, for example?

00:44I think that it will. I think, first of all, we do have that immediate economic impact,

00:48which is fantastic, and we're seeing that in the shops and restaurants and hotels.

00:52But I think that there will be that focus on Northern Ireland, on the TV screens,

00:58and that will bring additional economic benefit as well.

01:01But I think that people can see that we can host these massive global sporting events,

01:06and I hope that that will help us in the future to make sure that we can attract more of those events.

01:10But I also hope that we will have a legacy in terms of the number of people

01:16that are getting involved in sport right across Northern Ireland.

01:19I hope that this inspires our young people as well.

01:21And what do you make of the level of support Rory is getting here today?

01:24It is unreal. He's clearly the star of the show.

01:27It seems like everybody is cheering him on, not just the local spectators,

01:30but those from farther afield as well.

01:33He's a great ambassador for the sport.

01:35He's a great ambassador for Northern Ireland,

01:37and I'm sure that that will continue into the future.