An eye-watering €600,000 in pre-paid credit cards, which was gifted to the wives and girlfriends (WAGS) of golfers participating in this week’s JP McManus Charity Pro-Am in Adare, has generated profit nuggets for local businesses.
Billionaire McManus, who hosted the charity pro-am at his luxury Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort, on Monday and Tuesday, dispatched 60 cards worth €10,000 each to the golf WAGS to help boost cash reserves in the tourist village.
20% of all purchases on the card system will go directly to midwest charities supported by the JP McManus Foundation.
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Kay Mulcaire, owner of high-end ladies clothing boutique “Isobel”, which provides international customers with free shipping, said: “It’s to give back to the local economy, to spend in Adare, it’s Lotto for us, a great idea and JP just keeps giving back and back.”
“All the wives and girlfriends are coming in but they are not looking for VIP treatment, they’re really normal,” added Ms Mulcaire, who also runs a MARCCAIN franchise store and plans to expand with a third premises in the village.
“The sky is the limit, it’s not just the golf, it’s the calibre of people that are coming to Adare Manor, and they want to shop, I firmly believe we could open a CHANEL store and it would work.”
“We are nine months in advance for the stock, I mean we haven't a cashmere jumper left, and they’re not cheap.”
Asling Maher, who also runs a boutique of luxury clothes in the village, said the credit card initiative has been a “massive boost” following the recession and the Covid pandemic.
“It has been a really good incentive to encourage all the golf wives and girlfriends to leave Adare Manor, see the village, and to give all of us a boost,” added Ms Maher.
Other businesses in the town said they were “extremely grateful” to Mr McManus.
Located a stone’s throw from the Manor, the Dunraven Arms Hotel, employing 100, and which has previously hosted members of the British royal family, is also cashing in on the buzz surrounding the Pro-Am.
Manager Hugh Murphy said: “It’s the profile it gives the village and it’s the media coverage, it’s been shown on Sky Sports and on Golf Pass, Virgin, so it is being shown in the US and it looks incredible on television.”
“It’s not just the tournament’s two-days, it is the long-term effect and we know we are very very lucky.”
Adare Manor’s 18-hole championship course is scheduled to host the 2027 Ryder Cup which will inject an estimated €200million into the local economy.
US golf icon, Tiger Woods, who is a personal friend of Mr McManus and who was the star attraction at the ProAm, said Tuesday that he would be touring Irish links courses over the next few days in preparation for his planned participation in the 150th Open Championship at the “home of golf” St Andrews, Scotland, from July 14-17.
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