BANTRY could soon become a playground of the rich and famous as plans advance to allow superyachts to anchor in the bay.

The Port of Cork Company (PoCC) is this week pitching the West Cork harbour as an ideal luxury maritime gateway at a global expo in Miami.

If successful, superyacht owners such as Bono, Rihanna, JK Rowling, Jeff Bezos or Steven Spielberg could soon be stopping off in the bay.

PoCC representatives at the Seatrade Cruise Global Expo are positioning Bantry as a maritime destination for upmarket visitors planning to come to Ireland for big international events like the 2027 Ryder Cup.

‘Bantry really is Ireland’s wild Atlantic secret and perfect superyacht anchorage for golf enthusiasts seeking unique maritime accommodation and premium offshore experiences. You can drop anchor in the sanctuary of the bay and go from your deck to the fairway in Adare Manor, Limerick in under 30 minutes by air,’ said David Browne, PoCC’s commercial manager, who is attending the Miami expo.

Seamus Heaney, head of Visit Cork, said: ‘Premium events such as the Ryder Cup promise a transformative boost to Munster’s regional tourism, channelling visitors from Adare to places like Bantry Bay’s majestic shores and beyond.’

Backers of the plans say Bantry Bay is suitable for superyachts because of its deep water anchorage, its sheltering mountains that offer zero-swell stability, and because it’s the longest of the long marine inlets in the South-West.

The harbour was once the scene of a French expedition during the Napoleonic Wars, and hosted aristocratic regattas.

Tourism leaders believe maritime guests can indulge in local culture, visit coastal galleries, or taste the bay’s famous mussels and oysters before island-hopping to nearby gems such as Garinish Island.