The Horizon Irish Open has named Make-A-Wish Ireland as their charity partner ahead of this year’s tournament at Kilkenny’s Mount Juliet estate.
News of the partnership, which will run for the full six years of Horizon’s sponsorship of the event, was relayed at the annual sponsors and media dinner in Mount Juliet on Monday night.
The deal will see an annual fundraising drive at each of the next six editions of Ireland’s national open with Horizon promising to provide a match to the donations raised on-site at Mount Juliet Estate for Make-A-Wish Ireland – which celebrates 30 years of granting wishes to children in Ireland.
That drive starts as early as 7am Tuesday with a Beat The Pro fundraising competition set for a special sponsors and media golf event while other events are planned for the Horizon Irish Open itself including a Mega Putt Challenge running in the Championship Village. Fans heading to Thomastown this June/July will also be able to make donations to Make-A-Wish at the time of buying tickets.
“The longevity and magnitude of this partnership is hugely important for Make-A-Wish Ireland and, after a difficult couple of years due to the pandemic, it provides us with the stability to continue our hard work in inspiring children who really need hope and happiness in their lives.”
So says Make-A-Wish Ireland’s CEO, Susan McQuaid O’Dwyer.
“With hope, a child with a critical illness finds light in the darkness of their current circumstances. It transforms their perspective, replacing feelings of trauma with hope for tomorrow. We are extremely grateful to Horizon for choosing us as the Official Charity of this historic tournament. As we are not government-funded, Make-A-Wish relies on the incredible generosity of the Irish public as well as backers such as Horizon, and we look forward to changing the lives of many young children in the years ahead.”
A “hybrid” edition of the newly-named Horizon Irish Open took place in Mount Juliet last year with numbers attending heavily restricted due to ongoing Covid-19 concerns. This year, however, will see capacity crowds across all four days of the competition with the likes of Hermitage Green and Allie Sherlock having already been announced for the festival stage and night-time entertainment.
The Horizon Irish Open takes place at Mount Juliet Estate, Kilkenny, from 30 June to 3 July.
