‘Northern Ireland should throw biggest party possible to welcome McIlroy home’ – says Michelle O’Neill
Northern Ireland should have a “huge party” to welcome home golfing champion Rory McIlroy, First Minister Michelle O’Neill has said.
It came as Stormont’s Communities Minister, Gordon Lyons, said he is looking forward to “formally marking” McIlroy’s success in the coming weeks.
Ms O’Neill said people are “bursting with pride” at McIlroy’s achievement in winning the Masters, which should be celebrated “in the best possible style”.
Co Down golfer McIlroy, who achieved the career grand slam with his victory in Augusta, Georgia, lives in the US.Speaking moments after winning the coveted green jacket, McIlroy said his parents, Gerry and Rosie, are back in Northern Ireland, but he is looking forward to celebrating with them.Ms O’Neill described McIlroy’s victory as “an emotional rollercoaster for everybody”.She added: “We all were behind him every step of the way.
“I think his story is one of such a positive journey that, no matter how many setbacks you have in life, if you work hard and are determined, you can get there in the end.
“I look forward to welcoming Rory home. I hope that we have the biggest reception possible because we are bursting with pride in terms of what he has achieved over the weekend.”
Asked about plans for an official event to mark McIlroy’s victory, Ms O’Neill said: “I think we have to have the biggest party possible.
“I think we are so proud of what he has achieved, he speaks so loudly to all young people out there that if you have a dream, that you can achieve it.
“If you look at Rory’s journey over many, many years, all the setbacks, and he kept going back at it and back at it.“So, yes, we should have a huge party.
“I certainly will raise that with the sports minister (Gordon Lyons).”
She added: “But I want to welcome him home in the best possible style we can to show him we are proud of what he has achieved.“He is an ambassador for us, he is the first person from this island to win the green jacket.
“I think that we have to celebrate something that is very positive and he will always be a huge role model for all the young people out there.”
Mr Lyons said: “This is a fantastic win for Rory, making him the sixth golfer to complete the career grand slam after an extraordinary final round at Augusta last night.
“Rory’s dramatic win is an amazing achievement, inspiring the next generation of golfers and also shining the spotlight on Northern Ireland as we look ahead to hosting the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush this summer.“I look forward to formally marking Rory’s success in the coming weeks.”Stormont speaker Edwin Poots said “it is important that the Assembly recognises the best of Northern Ireland”.He added: “I have no doubt that members will be seeking to use the appropriate procedural mechanisms to mark Rory’s achievement on the floor of the Assembly at the next sitting and I look forward to facilitating that.“Rory McIlroy is one of the finest ambassadors we have ever had and we all look forward to following many more victories in the time ahead.”
PA
