Paju, Korea - Ryder Cup Europe officially announced the launch of a new local Impact & Legacy Fund, designed to support grassroots projects and community-driven initiatives across Limerick City and County in the build-up to the 2027 Ryder Cup.
Created to ensure golf’s premier team event leaves a lasting, positive footprint beyond the fairways of host venue Adare Manor, the initiative will award individual grants valued at up to €20,000 to eligible local organizations and social projects.
To qualify for funding, applicants must deliver positive local outcomes across one or more of five key pillars aligned with Limerick’s 2023–2028 Local Economic and Community Plan and the Ryder Cup’s Beyond the Fairway social responsibility framework: Community, Skills & Education, Environment, Disability, and Regeneration.
Submissions are now open on the official Ryder Cup website and will accept applications through January 29, 2027. A specialized steering committee comprising representatives from Ryder Cup Europe, Limerick City and County Council, and Limerick Senior Hurling Team Manager John Kiely will evaluate all proposals. Successful applicants will be announced on April 30, 2027, ahead of the biennial matches scheduled for September 13–19, 2027.
“The Ryder Cup will be the biggest sporting event to be staged on the island of Ireland, and we want to make sure that the event transcends golf and delivers long-term benefits for the local community,” said Richard Atkinson, Chief Ryder Cup Officer at the European Tour Group. “This new Impact & Legacy Fund will allow locally rooted organizations and individuals to use the Ryder Cup to further the excellent work they are already doing to make the region an even better place to live and work.”
Irish government and civic leaders welcomed the launch, pointing to the fund as a key mechanism to translate global sports exposure into tangible local returns. Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan TD emphasized that creating a lasting social legacy remains a priority for host major events, while Mayor of Limerick John Moran noted that the 2027 staging represents a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to deliver lasting benefits across the Mid-West region.
Organizers expect the grant scheme to complement a broader regional economic boost generated by the 2027 matches, which is projected to drive surges in international travel, increase local hospitality footfall, and generate long-term value for Ireland’s tourism sector.