Two car companies turn to the sporting world, hoping to elevate their profiles in golf and rugby

Aoife Dalton is the new brand ambassador at Tullamore Opel. Photo: Sportsfile

Eddie Cunningham

​BMW plans to become the driving force behind women’s golf in Ireland, while Opel is aiming to up its rugby profile.

BMW has announced it is to be the official partner of the KPMG Women’s Irish Open which will take place from August 29 to September 1 at Carton House in Maynooth, Co Kildare.

Aoife Dalton is the new brand ambassador at Tullamore Opel

The agreement was signed in partnership with tournament organisers, ForeFront Sports.

The tournament has grown to ­become one of the most popular sporting events on the ­professional golf circuit here.

Meanwhile, Irish rugby star Aoife Dalton has been appointed a brand ambassador at Tullamore Opel, and was recently presented with a new Corsa.

The Offaly woman started playing rugby at Tullamore RFC when she was 15. Ms Dalton’s father Tony was a football star for Clara, her brother, Marcus, played for Offaly and her mother’s family, the Morrisons, are heavily involved in GAA too.