A LOCAL Councillor believes Rosapenna could host the Irish Open following the recent success of a golfing legends event in Downings.

Councillor Liam Blaney said he fully believed there could be an Irish Open in Downings in the coming years after the Irish Legends Golf Tournament was held there last month.

Speaking at a meeting of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District, Cllr Blaney asked the council to work closely with golfer Paul Mc Ginley and Fáilte Ireland to ensure that the Irish Legends Golf Tournament returned to the county in 2022, and added that the Irish Open should be the next goal.

“I want to acknowledge the great golfing event that was held in Rosapenna. Unfortunately due to Covid-19, spectators were not allowed to attend but a huge amount of effort went into the successful event.

“The golfers are legends but they are still good golfers and people will come and watch them if the event is on.

“I think it is very important that the event returns here next year and there should be a full week festival in Downings to coincide with the tournament and maybe something annually could be created from this.

“There are three courses at the resort and I don’t see why there couldn’t be an Irish Open in Downings.

“We have already had it in Ballyliffin and they did a great job so we could do it here in Downings,” said Cllr Blaney.

The Council has confirmed that agreement in principle is in place to support the event which subject to Covid-19 restrictions is intended to be a spectator attended event.