Preparations: Preparations for the Ryder Cup neared completion yesterday with the launch of the Garda security and traffic management plan.
The plan includes a comprehensive road closure strategy around the K Club in Straffan to deal with the 40,000 spectators expected at the event every day.
It was drawn up in conjunction with Kildare County Council, South Dublin County Council, the National Roads Authority, and the golf club. Gardaí said yesterday that they had spent a year planning for the event and were not expecting policing problems.
They will be maintaining a "low-key presence" and will be supported by uniformed marshals and security staff. Gardaí will patrol the site and staff a public assistance point for visitors within the tented village.
Leaflets have already been issued to residents and businesses in Straffan and surrounding areas warning them of the traffic plans and road closure programme.
Last-minute preparations at the K Club are also being carried out. Staff have been putting the finishing touches to the course, including dyeing grass, deemed insufficiently green, to a more acceptable shade.
The first of the overseas golf fans are beginning to arrive at hotels around the country and from Monday up to 5,000 members of the media from around the world will descend. From last Wednesday the official headquarters of the cup, based in Surrey, decamped to the K Club to begin co-ordinating the event.
Sponsors, including Bord Bia, Fáilte Ireland and Waterford Crystal, have been fine-tuning their plans for corporate entertainment and organising last-minute name transfers for spare tickets.
A large number of people will be involved in the security arrangements at the 13 road closure points around the course as well as at entrances to the club, at the park-and-ride facilities and in the event area.
Organisers have insisted that no one will be allowed in without a valid ticket and a photo ID to match. However, trade in second-hand tickets remains lively. There were over 100 for sale yesterday on ebay at an average price of €200 each.
Hotel accommodation in and around the event is largely booked up, though yesterday The Irish Times was able to find a small number of hotels with rooms on offer, some of these at a less inflated price than expected.
A four-star hotel in Athy Co Kildare, The Carlton Abbey Hotel, was offering two weekend nights bed and breakfast and an evening meal for €169 per person sharing.
There is an abundance of houses still to let on various accommodation websites.
A spokesman for the Tour Rentals' site said there were places still available, ranging from $3,000 to $25,000 (€2,360-€19,700) and that booking had been "nothing like anticipated".
Preparations for the Ryder Cup gala dinner are also well under way at Citywest Hotel in south Dublin.
Dublin chef Dermot O'Shea has planned a six-course menu for the 1,400 guests expected on Wednesday evening. Along with the players and their wives and girlfriends, there will be a large showing from the Irish business community.
It is understood that the guests will also include three US former presidents, a handful of American senators and celebrities.