The possible staging of the millennium Murphy's Irish Open at Ballybunion GC is to become the subject of a special general meeting of the club. This was the reaction yesterday from a group of members who are unhappy with their committee's handling of the issue.

Notice of the meeting is to be handed to the club's honorary secretary, Didgie O'Connor, at lunchtime today. It takes the form of a statement, signed and seconded by Michael Nagle and Eric Browne, two former committee members of the club. Apparently they had no difficulty in getting the necessary 50 signatures to comply with club rules.

The statement says: "We the undersigned request that a special general meeting of the Ballybunion Golf Club be called as soon as possible to seek approval from the members that the Ballybunion Golf Links be made available to Murphy's Brewery Ltd for the staging of the millennium Murphy's Irish Open with attendance figures of 10,000 to 12,000 daily, or totalling 40,000 to 45,000 over the four days."

Last month, Padraic Liston, managing director of Murphy's, disclosed that in discussions with the club they had imposed a daily attendance limit of 4,000 "ordinary" spectators. But there would be accommodation for a further 2,000 club members and 750 stewards.

These figures were totally unacceptable in that they would render the exercise non-viable. The attendance figures quoted by Liston as realistic were between 10,000 and 12,000 daily, just as the statement specifies.

Since then, the club committee reiterated their determination to stand by their original restrictions. Indeed their stance was confirmed as recently as last Monday night. But it is clear that those club members representing business interests in the town are now ready to fight back.