Bigger than the Eurovision and the third-largest sporting event in the world after the Olympics and the World Cup, the Ryder Cup will provide an international showcase for Ireland's golf and culture.
That is what the tourism authorities are hoping.
They plan to maximise the opportunity to show Ireland to one billion television viewers in 150 countries, and to use the entire event as an opportunity to generate future tourism with music, pageantry, drama and horseracing as well as the core sport, golf.
From September 22nd to 24th, 40,000 visitors will attend each day, and Dublin airport is preparing for a record number of private jets.
More than 2,000 members of the world media are expected.
The Ryder Cup opening ceremony has traditionally followed a format in which the European and US team captains announce their pairings for the next day's play.
This year will be the first time the ceremony will be interspersed with dramatic and musical sections broadcast live worldwide.
Riverdance was mentioned more than once yesterday, as details of the opening ceremony were released.
There will be 300 performers in an hour-long pageant with Irish music, story, legend and myth.
It will be attended by the President, Mary McAleese.
Acts will include El Comediants, Cois Céim and MacTeo, the latter who performed yesterday at Custom House Quay in Dublin.
The closing ceremony will also feature hundreds of performers. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will present the cup to the winners.
A gala dinner for all visiting dignitaries will be held at the City West Hotel on September 20th.
The day before, a Ryder Cup Race Day will be held in the Curragh with a total prize fund of €2.4 million, the richest race for two-year-olds in Europe. It will be attended by partners of the Ryder Cup players and other celebrities.
Meanwhile, Ryder Cup Rewind, an exhibition of the history of the cup and its players, including Irish players such as Fred Daly, Darren Clarke, Pádraig Harrington and Paul McGinley, will tour around Ireland, finishing at the K Club.