THE K CLUB, THE HOME OF CHAMPIONS TO WELCOME
FA CUP TO IRELAND
The home of the Ryder Cup, The K Club in Straffan, Co. Kildare is set to welcome another famous trophy to the resort, The FA Cup. Mr. Tony Smurfit, whose family own The K Club has arranged for the Chairman of Wigan Athletic Football Club, Dave Whelan and the board of the club to bring the FA Cup to the iconic Kildare Hotel on Sunday, 1st of September.
The FA Cup will be put on display in the lobby of The K Club from 5.00pm on Sunday and football fans from all over the country are invited to come to touch, see and photograph a piece of footballing history. Children from Straffan Soccer Club, dressed in their club strip will also be on hand to formally welcome the cup to Ireland and to The K Club and will form a guard of honour at the main entrance of the hotel.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is the current holder of the FA Cup following their famous 1–0 win over Manchester City. It is the first time the club has won the Cup. The FA Cup competition is the oldest football association competition in the world with the first FA Cup competition being staged in 1871-1872.
Tony Smurfit, President of The Smurfit Kappa Group has been a lifelong Wigan supporter as he was born in Wigan when the Smurfit family operated a factory in the town. “As a Wigan supporter it was unique and historical to see the club winning the FA Cup and I am honoured that Dave Whelan is bringing such an amazing piece of history to The K Club”.
Dave Whelan said, “I have always loved Ireland and the Irish people, so to bring the cup to Ireland and The K Club is something of which I am very proud .Wigan Athletic is a great football club with a unique atmosphere. Winning the cup was a dream come true and I am sure we will be back in the premiership next season”.
The K Club is the home of the Ryder Cup in Ireland, having hosted the tournament in 2006 but is also home to not one, but two Melbourne Cup’s which were won by Dr. Michael Smurfit’s two racehorses, Vintage Crop and Media Puzzle. The Ryder Cup and the two Melbourne Cup’s will also be displayed so sports fans will have some serious photo opportunities!
The FA Cup will be on display for the public to view in the lobby of The K Club from 5.00pm on Sunday, 1st of September until the afternoon of Monday, 2nd of September.
-ENDS-
For further press information or photography, please contact Aileen O’Brien, O’Brien PR (045) 446422 or (086) 8403624 aileen@obrienpr.com