A Kerry county councillor has criticised the local authority for having no presence at the PGA Show in Orlando (20th-23rd January 2026) , which he described as the world’s biggest golf trade event.
Councillor Niall “Botty” O’Callaghan told a recent full council meeting that Kerry County Council should be directly promoting the county at the international showcase, in the lead-up to the Ryder Cup in Adare next year..
Cllr Niall “Botty” O’Callaghan said major opportunities to market Kerry through golf tourism are being missed, adding that promotion should not be left to Fáilte Ireland or other local authorities.
He acknowledged that high-quality Ryder Cup promotional material has been developed, but said it is ineffective if the council is not actively present at major global events.
Cllr O’Callaghan described the lack of a council presence at the PGA Show as disappointing and said Kerry must take responsibility for selling itself internationally.
In response, a council executive said significant work is underway to promote golf tourism in the county.
He said new promotional videos and content are being developed for the Discover Kerry platform, and that Kerry promotional material is being provided to industry representatives attending the trade show in Florida.
The executive also confirmed that a dedicated working group will be established under the Economic Strategic Policy Committee, bringing together councillors and industry stakeholders to guide golf promotion efforts through 2026 and into 2027.
