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Meet the people giving up their time to welcome visitors to The Open

Richard O’Reilly
BBC News NI
BBC Keely is smiling. She has brown hair. She's wearing a yellow bib that says volunteer. She's outside.BBC
Volunteer Keely Gleeson says it has been "so enjoyable" to volunteer at the Open

"I just finished university here and I felt like it was a way to give back for the four years I spent here," says Keely Gleeson.

She's one of 150 volunteers helping the thousands of spectators make their way in and around Portrush, find transport and get to the course.

Keely is joined by others at Volunteer Now, a charity that promotes volunteering and covers multiple events; this time the 153rd Open Championship.

They work with the R&A, Tourism NI and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council to help tourists from far and wide find the first tee at Royal Portrush.

'We've got people from all over coming to Northern Ireland'

A woman is wearing a yellow bib that says volunteer in large red lettering. She has long hair and is wearing a purple top.
Lindsay Armstrong, from Volunteer Now, says the team is "giving a really big Northern Ireland welcome to the global audience"

"Today I've been stationed at one of the bridges near the entrance and I've been helping people get onto the course and giving them a nice welcome," Keely told BBC News NI.

"It's been so enjoyable, we've got people from all over coming to Northern Ireland."

More than 275,000 spectators are expected to descend on Portrush over the coming days, making it the largest sporting event held in Northern Ireland.

Lindsay Armstrong is the Community Projects Manager at Volunteer Now.

"It's about giving a really big Northern Ireland welcome to the global audience arriving in Portrush," she says.

"We work off the golf course, some of our volunteers have already met Nick Faldo and Rory McIlroy, it's really exciting."

A man is wearing a yellow bib that says volunteer. Behind him is a large sign that says, volunteer now.
Jimmy Hann loves being "part of something really big"

The 153rd Open Championship has returned to Royal Portrush since its return to the Dunluce Links in 2019, which was won by Shane Lowry.

Jimmy Hann also volunteered six years ago when the Open was last in the seaside town.

"I just love being part of something really big," he says. "It's about being part of your local community."

Pointing tourists towards the Giant's Causeway

Sandra is wearing a black cap and a yellow bib saying volunteer.
Sandra Best says "the Open feels bigger this time around"

The volunteers wear yellow bibs and are stationed throughout the town of Portrush. They help people find their way to the entrances of the course but also help them find transport or even well known tourist attractions.

"People who have come off the course have frequently asked me how to get to the Giant's Causeway, mostly Americans," says Sandra Best.

"They were really appreciative. The Open feels bigger this time around.

The largest crowds of the Open week will arrive on Thursday for the first day of competition.

Ireland's Padraig Harrington will hit the opening tee shot, who is joined on the course by Belfast's Tom McKibbin.

Rory McIlroy begins his challenge for the Claret Jug at 15:10 BST.