The locals were Done proud by a great week

BALLYLIFFIN sparkled in the sun at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

The weather was key and allowed the Glashedy Links (above) to be showcased in all its beauty.

It really was fantastic to see County Donegal finally given the platform it deserves.

This is an area that has been hugely underfunded for many years by successive governments and has never really been given a fair crack of the whip.

The players loved the links challenge and testing themselves against the purest form of the game.

In recent years, the fear has grown that links courses will become obsolete in benign conditions thanks to the advancement of modern technology. Not Ballyliffin.

The weather was superb, but the subtle angles off the tee didn’t allow the course to be bullied.

I hope last week’s worldwide exposure helps Ballyliffin become a regular destination for golf tourists who have rarely been enticed to the North West in the past.

Any additional revenue for Donegal – an area that has been devastated by emigration in the past – would be a huge boost to the local economy.

It woud be a welcome legacy from a memorable and successful Irish Open.