The Northern Ireland Tourist Board will enter talks with the European Tour about the possibility of moving the Irish Open to Northern Ireland in 2010, when the event leaves Ireland’s Adare Manor.

“We are keen to move forward on this,” Willie Lougheed, manager of business and activity tourism for the tourist board, told the Irish Independent.

“We will have to sit down with the European Tour and find out what’s required and if we could deliver it. Having the tournament north and south on alternate years is especially attractive,” he said, adding that the arrangement would involve Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland.

European Tour chief executive George O’Grady said the tour “would have no problem with the Irish Open being played anywhere in Ireland.”

The Independent also reported that Ballyliffin in Inishowen, Ireland, and Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland are joining forces for a cross-border bid that would see the Irish Open staged at Royal Portrush in 2010, and at Ballyliffin’s Glashedy Links in 2011. The tournament would return to Royal Portrush the following year, or move to Royal Co Down in Newcastle, Northern Ireland.