INTERVIEW
Less than two years
away and counting:
Adare Manor prepares to
host the next Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup will return to Ireland for the first time in 21 years – for the next playing of the biennial matches. We asked the luxury resort’s general manager how the preparations are coming along
Adare Manor had the honour of hosting the Irish Open in 2007 when Irishman Padraig Harrington won the title, shortly before securing his first Claret Jug. The tournament stayed in 2008, and the venue has also held a handful of editions of the event that is named after its owner - the JP McManus Pro-Am.
The venue was announced as the host of the Ryder Cup back in 2019, one week after Shane Lowry won the Open Championship at Royal Portrush. Ireland was on a golfing high then – and it certainly will be again in two years.
Given McManus’s investment in the game over many years, plus the support granted by the Irish Government, a Ryder Cup will only stoke the excitement of feverish fans of a country that can boast some of the best golf courses in the world.
McManus bought Adare in 2015. The hotel reopened in November 2017 after an 18-month refurbishment worth many millions. The infrastructure and the property were primed to host an event of Ryder Cup scale.
Located in Limerick, Adare Manor became a 5-star hotel in 1988. There is a Michelin Star restaurant, and luxury amenities like The Padel Club and Spa.
The K Club in Kildare saw Europe beat America in 2006. Since then, home Ryder Cups for Europe have been held at Celtic Manor in Wales, Gleneagles in Scotland, Le Golf National in France and Marco Simone in Italy.
While attention was on Bethpage last month at the 45th Ryder Cup, all eyes are now on the team at Adare and General Manager Brendan O’Connor, who first started working at the site in 2015.
Here, he describes his philosophy in catering for everyday guests and how operations could ramp up a notch in preparation to host what is a machine of a golf event.
“ The collective ambition is clear: to deliver the best Ryder Cup in its 100-year history. That’s what drives us ”
What key pillars would you say make a great guest experience and how do you implement them at a complex like Adare Manor?
Guest experience begins with listening – really listening – not assuming. Expectations shift constantly, and what worked five years ago may no longer hit the mark. At properties like Adare Manor, the real differentiator lies in personalisation and consistency.
Guests notice when they’re recognised, remembered and made to feel genuinely welcome. Seeing the same team member who greeted them last year or who knows their usual order – those are the small moments that create long-term loyalty. That level of continuity is rare in hospitality and is one of our greatest strengths at Adare Manor.
How do you build a team that is motivated to deliver a quality experience for guests?
You hire the right people and then trust them. I’m a firm believer in giving people ownership. If a vision only lives in one person’s head, it won’t be delivered consistently.
At Adare Manor, every team member has had a role in shaping our guest journey. It’s not just about delivering a service, it’s about delivering a service with intent – and that only happens when people feel involved in the process.
In 2019, when Adare was named as a Ryder Cup host, what were the excitement levels like around the place, and when did plans and preparation of the golf course and the complex start to take shape?
It was a proud moment for everyone – guests, staff, the local community. I watched the announcement in The Carriage House, and you could feel the buzz immediately.
But truthfully, the groundwork started long before that. When the property was redeveloped in 2016–17, it was done with a view to hosting global events. The Pro-Am gave us a solid test run - big crowds, big names and a chance to stress-test the property in a live environment.
This time, you will look to deliver a great experience not just for players, but for officials and the fans too. How will this task differ compared with day-to-day operations, with the pure scale of what is required?
The fundamentals are the same. It’s still about service, communication and execution. But the scale is on a different level.
Thankfully, we’ve got the physical space to deliver it, and we’re working closely with Ryder Cup Europe, who are exceptional at what they do. Rome raised the bar in 2023, and now it’s our job to take it further again.
The Ryder Cup has become a machine of an event. As much as it is exciting, is there something a little daunting about hosting an event where so many people attend?
I prefer to focus on the opportunity. Yes, it’s a massive undertaking, but it’s also a well-oiled machine. There are so many experienced individuals involved – from the Ryder Cup, our internal team and global partners.
Of course, there are always variables you can’t control, such as weather and match outcomes, but the collective ambition is clear: to deliver the best Ryder Cup in its 100-year history. That’s what drives us.
In terms of the golf course and its preservation, how often, or in what periods, does it close during the year, and how will course closure work in the immediate weeks/months before the event?
We’ve always taken course conditioning seriously. We close over the winter season, from late October through May, to protect surfaces and allow for renovations.
Ahead of 2027, we’ve already completed a number of upgrades: bunker rebuilds, path extensions, bridge widening. There’s more to come.
“I watched the announcement in The Carriage House, and you could feel the buzz immediately. But truthfully, the groundwork started long before that”
Having hosted well-attended events in the past, such as the JP McManus Pro-Am, what would be your main learnings from hosting tournaments and what have you taken from these experiences into preparing for the Ryder Cup?
Surround yourself with experts. That’s the biggest takeaway. You need to rely on people who’ve done this before and be willing to adjust your thinking.
With the event coming up, have you had to grow your team to deal with the preparations?
It’s about building a team with the right mindset, people who understand the standards required and who are energised by the responsibility of delivering something this significant.
In terms of your own career, will hosting a Ryder Cup under your stewardship be difficult to top, in terms of a highlight or memories?
It’s a huge moment, no question. But I’ve always believed that the most important week is the next one. Events come and go quickly, what matters is how well you prepare, how you lead in the moment and what legacy you leave behind.
I’ve been fortunate to work on several major events, and my advice is always: don’t focus on the hours or pressure. Three days after it ends, you’ll wish you were back at the start again.
Adare Manor facts
1100s
The century the house dates back to
842
acres of parkland
The 2017 renovation added a
42-bedroom wing and brought
the total bedrooms to 104
Hosted the 2007 and 2008
Irish Open
JP McManus bought Adare Manor for €30 million in 2015
