The National Roads Authority (NRA) will not permit a sculpture beside the N7 at Naas, Co Kildare, to be transformed into a giant golf ball displaying the Allianz logo during the Ryder Cup tournament, writes Ali Bracken
The roads authority had initially accepted a proposal to temporarily transform the Perpetual Motion sculpture at Naas into a giant golf ball to be displayed during the Ryder Cup, which is to be staged in Kildare's K Club on September 22nd, 23rd and 24th. However, the authority said it did not agree to the Allianz logo being displayed on the transformed ball and cannot permit commercial advertisements on a national road.
Michael Egan, NRA head of corporate affairs, said it would be a safety risk as well as contradict their policy of not allowing such advertisements on national roads. Mr Egan also said they were only made aware that the Allianz logo was to be displayed in the past two weeks. "This has been planned for months but there was no mention of a commercial sponsor until the past fortnight."
Allianz had agreed to donate €110,000 to cover the costs of the transformation and restoration of the sculpture as well as funding a three-day Ryder Cup festival in Naas. The work on the sculpture has been cancelled but Allianz is still sponsoring the festival at a cost of €20,000.
The Naas Ryder Cup committee, which secured the Allianz sponsorship, said the NRA's decision was a major blow to the Ryder Cup tournament. "We are holding the world's biggest golf event - why can't we have the world's biggest golf ball?" said Cllr Darren Scully, chairman of the committee. "Allianz were willing to restore the sculpture but the taxpayer will now have to pay the restoration bill, which could cost up to €30,000. This is a massive disappointment to everyone in the town. Hundreds of thousands of people would have passed by this sculpture and it would have put Naas on the map."
Mr Scully added that the NRA "have shown a real lack of vision" by rejecting the proposal.
However, Mr Egan said "visual litter" on a national road could not be permitted, as other companies would expect the right to advertise on national roads.
"We have no problem with the ball being transformed - we think it's a novel idea - but our position is that it's illegal without proper authorisation to have signs or advertising unless you have the appropriate remit," he added. "Signage on national roads should be exclusively for the use of motorists. It's a safety risk otherwise."
Allianz is sponsor of the Ryder Cup. During the Naas festival, the company intends to create a "virtual, giant golf ball" with pictures of the proposed transformation of the sculpture in the local media, according to Mr Scully.