The four-time major winner said this was only the beginning and added that he had been touched by what he learned during his visit.

“I definitely think it is a project I would like to see replicated and I think can be replicated.

“I don’t think there is any reason why we should stop here.”

Rory McIlroy opens Daisy Lodge cross border cancer care centre in Co Down http://t.co/XyEV2UOtL0 pic.twitter.com/OTY5twxOgG

— Today FM News (@TodayFMNews) October 7, 2014

Daisy Lodge is the first centre of its kind in the UK and Ireland and will provide every family affected by childhood cancer in Northern Ireland with a free therapeutic short break and also cater for youngsters from the Republic of Ireland.

This includes families nursing a child with cancer, the bereaved and families where a parent has been diagnosed.

Three out of 10 children with cancer die from the disease, according to the Cancer Fund for Children, which runs the centre nestled against the Mourne Mountains.

McIlroy said it was touching to be involved.

“It is about giving back and being able to help others.”

He said he did not see any reason why his Rory Foundation, established last year to support charities with special meaning and purpose for him, could not expand and go further afield.

He said the cancer charity set very high goals and he would be there to support it all the way.

The Irish Open is being held at the Royal Co Down club in Newcastle next year, and hosted by the Rory Foundation.

The organisation, which was set up at the start of last year to raise funds for children’s charities across the world, will also become the tournament’s official charity, with the beneficiaries to be chosen by the Foundation in conjunction with the European Tour.

As the tournament host, McIlroy is committed to enhancing an already world-class field by recruiting his fellow players from the European and US PGA tours, and he will also work closely alongside the Tour in developing the event’s commercial and sponsorship activities.

McIlroy said: “It’s part of the plan to make the Daisy Lodge a focal point of the week.”

He added: “It would be a real shame not to use this place in some shape or form.

“I think you will see a lot more of this place, definitely during that week. It’s a wonderful opportunity for the Foundation to raise money for people that really need it and I am really looking forward to it.

“There is a lot of exciting plans already and come May next year it will be a really exciting week.

“We can use the Daisy Lodge to spread the awareness and spread the good word about what the guys are doing here.”

He said money was the easy part – raising awareness was more important.

“I can financially support whatever needs to be done but it is easy, it’s easy just to give money here, that is not the important thing here – it is about your time and the effort you put into it, that is the important thing.”

The lodge was officially opened today but has been going since February, hosting 151 families.

It can cater for eight families at one time or 500 a year.

McIlroy said: “It touches you, it really does, it blew me away; it makes you appreciate everything you have.”

He said people took for granted growing up with their parents and siblings in a normal family.

“It has touched me emotionally and I was moved by everything.”

He said at this stage in his life it was about being able to help others and he was fortunate to be able to do so.

The athlete said it was great to talk about “normal stuff” and learn about the youngsters’ lives and interests.

Every year in Northern Ireland another three children, teenagers or young adults aged up to 24 are diagnosed with cancer.

Cancer Fund for Children chief executive Gillian Creevy said: “Families arrive at Daisy Lodge exhausted, vulnerable and broken, having spent many anxious months in a hospital ward or in isolation.

“They are in need of rest, relaxation and quality time together. A short break at Daisy Lodge helps them recuperate so they are ready for whatever lies ahead.”