The opening ceremony of the Solheim Cup 2011 was held in Killeen Castle today. The female golfing world's version of the Ryder Cup. The ultimate showdown between Europe's finest female golfers and their American counterparts.
The 800 year old castle is the ideal setting for such an event. In recent times it's been transformed into an exclusive golf resort, with the course just shy of being ten years old.
As Ireland tends to do, we put our best foot forward for the occasion and the weather played it's part in presenting Ireland as a beautiful, picture-perfect location for such international events. We can now boast hosting both inter-continental golfing competitions, having previously hosted the Ryder Cup in the K Club in 2006.
In one of her few remaining official appearances as the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese welcomed all the visitors with a heartfelt address(as has become her signature as our figurehead) and extended a warm "Cead Mile Failte" and "Go raibh mile maith agat" on behalf of the Irish public.
United States Captain Rosie Jones spoke fittingly about the competition and it's setting describing both it's beauty and the challenges it presented. Respecting the talents of both teams, she proffered "heart and soul" as being the eventual deciding factor as to who will claim the cup. Rosie also is hoping for that little something extra from their "lucky charms."
European team captain Alison Nicholas entertained the crowds unwittingly with her stature as she struggled to speak into the unforgivenly high set microphones. Valiantly attempting the "cupla focal," she also extended a cead mile failte to the audience and players.
Though our country has produced world leaders in the male golfing sphere like Padraig Harrington, Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, and despite having 60,000+ registered female golfers in Ireland, we have no representation on the European Team. Though despite this small fact, it's encouraging to see that broadcasting in Ireland has stepped up to the plate to offer viewers something more than soccer and GAA.
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