NWCI supports Equality Authority Court Action on Portmarnock Golf Club

Published: Wednesday, June 11, 2003

The National Women's Council of Ireland supports the action of the Equality Authority and is disappointed to see that despite advice and strong public criticism, Portmarnock Golf Club now finds itself before a Court of Law on the matter relating to its continued exclusion of women as members of that Club.

The NWCI chairwoman Grainne Healy has said "Despite months of media coverage and discussion on this issue the Club has not sought to move into the twenty-first century and provide access to its club for men and women as full equal members.'

The NWCI has been particularly critical that public funds to support the forthcoming Irish Open Golf Championship tournament at Portmarnock have been allocated. 'The club may indeed find that it is entitled to maintain single sex membership as an association, however, the State must be obliged NOT to support sporting events located in such clubs.'

'There is also the issue of the public license to sell alcohol which this club has,' Ms Healy continued, 'my understanding is that all such licences are issues on the basis that alcohol be sold according to the law and licence holders may not serve alcohol only to chosen groups.'

Preparing for the NWCI Annual General Meeting in Dublin on Saturday 14th, Ms Healy added that NWCI looks forward to the findings of the Court on this matter and hopes that the Portmarnock Golf Club will make moves to include women as members so that pickets and protests will not have to be mounted at the golfing event in July.