Rory McIlroy is declaring for Ireland

Fenian Army · 10-09-2012 01:23PM

I say his relatives will be very chuffed with him.

he's only a bloody sportsperson, who cares. Only thing is we will have the usual west Brits in the media (Harris et al) **** themselves raw

Richard Hillman · 10-09-2012 01:24PM

If somebody changes their opinion on McIlroy for what country he chooses to represent then I think they really have to take a good look at themselves. Its this sort of person that has made the Island so divided over the years. A person that creates intolerance, tension, hatred and division.

fullstop · 10-09-2012 01:24PM

Optimalprimerib wrote: »

I always presumed he was British any way as he always plays for the British flag.

How outraged will the british be if we try to claim him?

Does he, yeah? That's funny, he raised the tricolour at the opening ceremony of the Walker Cup in 2007 and has played the World Cup under the tricolour for Ireland for the past 2 years.

If he wants to represent GB, he should pay back all the money the GUI spent sending him around the world to play for Ireland as well as the ulster branch coaching.

Monty Burnz · 10-09-2012 01:26PM

Fenian Army wrote: »

I say his relatives will be very chuffed with him.

he's only a bloody sportsperson, who cares. Only thing is we will have the usual west Brits in the media (Harris et al) **** themselves raw

Because if you aren't a (current) Shinner, you aren't really Irish, right?

fullstop · 10-09-2012 01:26PM

Cienciano wrote: »

British guy declares for Britain. This is what passes for news now?

Maybe you should have paid more attention in geography class. NI isn't in Britain.

summerskin · 10-09-2012 01:27PM

fullstop wrote: »

Does he, yeah? That's funny, he raised the tricolour at the opening ceremony of the Walker Cup in 2007 and has played the World Cup under the tricolour for Ireland for the past 2 years.

If he wants to represent GB, he should pay back all the money the GUI spent sending him around the world to play for Ireland as well as the ulster branch coaching.

he's probably done that already just by playing in the Irish Open and attracting more spectators to the event, along with encouraging more kids to take up the sport and pay their dues to their clubs and for GUI insurance/membership.

LostinBlanch · 10-09-2012 01:27PM

Irish when it suits.

British when it suits his pocket.

summerskin · 10-09-2012 01:28PM

fullstop wrote: »

Maybe you should have paid more attention in geography class. NI isn't in Britain.

it's not in the Republic of Ireland either...

Hence having the choice of who to represent.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 10-09-2012 01:28PM

fullstop wrote: »

If he wants to represent GB, he should pay back all the money the GUI spent sending him around the world to play for Ireland as well as the ulster branch coaching.

Well this is what I was wondering. If he's been funded by the Irish golf organisation does he not have an obligation to represent us? I don't know how that works.
Recently there was a tennis player, Alex Bogomolov, who was born in the US to Russian parents. Came up through the USTA programmes, and then last year decided he wanted to play for Russia instead. They made him repay all the money they'd invested in him before they'd clear him to change nationalities.

Like I said though, the Olympics is completely different kettle of fish for NI athletes. Even the Scottish or Welsh golfers, who represent their own countries on the tour have to come under GB for the Olympics. I assume golf has it's own organisations in these countries?

mike65 · 10-09-2012 01:29PM

fullstop wrote: »

Maybe you should have paid more attention in geography class. NI isn't in Britain.

British fella declares for Team GB is pretty straightforward unless you are a very thick nationalist.

KERSPLAT! · 10-09-2012 01:29PM

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

I'm outraged. I will be writing a strongly worded email to someone.

Id imagine a strongly worded facebook rant to his page would change his mind :pac:

Beefy78 · 10-09-2012 01:32PM

fullstop wrote: »

If he wants to represent GB, he should pay back all the money the GUI spent sending him around the world to play for Ireland as well as the ulster branch coaching.

Would you not prefer someone who considers themselves Irish to represent Ireland?

10-09-2012 01:32PM

LostinBlanch wrote: »

Irish when it suits.

British when it suits his pocket.

Huh?

Fenian Army · 10-09-2012 01:34PM

Monty Burnz wrote: »

Fenian Army wrote: »

I say his relatives will be very chuffed with him.

he's only a bloody sportsperson, who cares. Only thing is we will have the usual west Brits in the media (Harris et al) **** themselves raw

Because if you aren't a (current) Shinner, you aren't really Irish, right?

Yeah that's exactly what I said

fullstop · 10-09-2012 01:34PM

summerskin wrote: »

fullstop wrote: »

Maybe you should have paid more attention in geography class. NI isn't in Britain.

it's not in the Republic of Ireland either...

Hence having the choice of who to represent.

Can you point out where I said it was?

SocSocPol · 10-09-2012 01:34PM

fullstop wrote: »

Does he, yeah? That's funny, he raised the tricolour at the opening ceremony of the Walker Cup in 2007 and has played the World Cup under the tricolour for Ireland for the past 2 years.

If he wants to represent GB, he should pay back all the money the GUI spent sending him around the world to play for Ireland as well as the ulster branch coaching.

He plays in the World Cup of golf for and under Northern Ireland.

fasttalkerchat · 10-09-2012 01:36PM

fullstop wrote: »

Maybe you should have paid more attention in geography class. NI isn't in Britain.

Some in the North have a right to claim to be British based on ancestry. We have to ask ourselves why after a few hundred years they still havens integrated to Irish society.

fullstop · 10-09-2012 01:37PM

SocSocPol wrote: »

fullstop wrote: »

Does he, yeah? That's funny, he raised the tricolour at the opening ceremony of the Walker Cup in 2007 and has played the World Cup under the tricolour for Ireland for the past 2 years.

If he wants to represent GB, he should pay back all the money the GUI spent sending him around the world to play for Ireland as well as the ulster branch coaching.

He plays in the World Cup of golf for and under Northern Ireland.

Jesus H Christ, will you inform yourself before trotting this one out again. Northern Ireland DO NOT have a team in the World Cup of golf. They never have. Himself and GMac have represented IRELAND for the past 2 years. Maybe try looking it up.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 10-09-2012 01:37PM

SocSocPol wrote: »

He plays in the World Cup of golf for and under Northern Ireland.

No he doesn't. He plays on the regular tour under Northern Ireland, but the World Cup has Ireland only, which he and G-Mac both played for in 2009 and 2011.

Monty Burnz · 10-09-2012 01:38PM

fasttalkerchat wrote: »

Some in the North have a right to claim to be British based on ancestry. We have to ask ourselves why after a few hundred years they still havens integrated to Irish society.

I'd suggest 'because they didn't want to', and also the fact that they had a critical mass where they were able to maintain a separate identity.

What I wonder about is what happens if Scotland achieves independence, and 'Britain' ends up as essentially England and Wales. I've no expectation that Wales will ever get its act together and stand on its own.

Monty Burnz · 10-09-2012 01:40PM

Fenian Army wrote: »

Yeah that's exactly what I said

Well perhaps you might want to stop throwing around labels that seek to diminish the Irishness of people who happen to have a different view to yours?

Brain Stroking · 10-09-2012 01:40PM

summerskin wrote: »

You didn't need to, you made a ridiculous statement that I'd never read the sports pages or letters. How many people have never read the sports pages? How many would be posting on a thread about a golfer?

You were attempting to be the smart alec and belittle other posters while talking drivel about a subject you know nothing about (the whole "murray is scottish when he loses" thing) which is something only raised seriously in Ireland by people with a chip on their shoulder about the UK.

In your years as a sports journalist you obviously never reported nor read any reports from British media on Ronan Rafferty

ShaneScouse · 10-09-2012 01:40PM

LostinBlanch wrote: »

Irish when it suits.
British when it suits his pocket.

Would have to agree.

Also Im not gona lie I do like to have a connection with players when watching golf or sports or w/e. call me sad but I feel ive more invested in em if its an Irish lad V an american or a brit or a italian or w/e. Have lost that now with rory boy.

Its a shame hes picked GB, I wasnt aware he saw himself as British tbh, I knew darren clarke always did, and McDowell sees himself as Irish and half american it would seem :P

The brits have lots of great teams and atheletes and hardly need him, we coulda done with another 1 star :P

Also FYI Northern Ireland is not in britian, Even if you are west brits or Unionists or whatever you wana be, NI is still not part of britian literally and geography speaking, alot of uneducated in here it would seem.
Its part of the UK of GB and NI, if you see it that way.

pickarooney · 10-09-2012 01:41PM

later12 wrote: »

What difference does it make which country he plays for?
For goodness sake, he's an excellent golfer.
When did the beauty of the Olympics stop being about human performance and start being about flags and nationalist score tallies.

1896?
1936?

squrm · 10-09-2012 01:41PM

mike65 wrote: »

British fella declares for Team GB is pretty straightforward unless you are a very thick nationalist.

Northern Irish fella declares for Team GB.

Great Britain = England, Scotland, Wales.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland = ... eh well like it says in the title

Not a nationalist in any sense, wish the lad well whomever he delares for, but lets get the descriptions right

Monty Burnz · 10-09-2012 01:42PM

ShaneScouse wrote: »

Also FYI Northern Ireland is not in britian, Even if you are west brits or Unionists or whatever you wana be

Christ, here's more of it.

Leslie91 · 10-09-2012 01:43PM

Fratton Fred wrote: »

But the island of Ireland doesn't compete at the Olympics.

It's like saying golf is an all island sport, so Padraig Harrington should play for team GB.

The island that is Ireland does compete. But those in N Ireland have the choice. Look at the 2 Belfast boxers for a start. PH does not necessarily have that choice because he is from ROI. If we was born in the 6 counties then that is a different matter.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 10-09-2012 01:44PM

Monty Burnz wrote: »

What I wonder about is what happens if Scotland achieves independence, and 'Britain' ends up as essentially England and Wales. I've no expectation that Wales will ever get its act together and stand on its own.

Much like NI, a lot of people in Scotland are quite content being part of the UK. There's the same sort of Nationalist culture that exists in NI where they'll claim they want independence but when push comes to shove the majority of educated people will know they're better off as they are.

The SNP got into power in Scotland during the last election in much the same way FG and Labor got in here. The Labor party had messed things up a bit so weren't getting back in, and then the Lib Dems, who were the most popular party in Scotland went into a coalition with the Tory's, who people in Scotland absolutely despise. So they were punishing the Lib Dems too, and that left the SNP as their only option.
The SNP of course will have you believe it was a vote for them and their nationalist ideas, but just because the majority voted for them, doesn't mean that they'd all vote for independence.

summerskin · 10-09-2012 01:46PM

Brain Stroking wrote: »

In your years as a sports journalist you obviously never reported nor read any reports from British media on Ronan Rafferty

Ok, show me two. On where he lost and was called northern irish and one where he won and was called british. He only won 13 tournaments(5 on the aussie tour, so not really important, and one was the wonderful venezuelan open..) so it shouldn't be too hard for you to back up your claim.

10-09-2012 01:46PM

squrm wrote: »

Northern Irish fella declares for Team GB.

Great Britain = England, Scotland, Wales.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland = ... eh well like it says in the title

Not a nationalist in any sense, wish the lad well whomever he delares for, but lets get the descriptions right

Team GB is the UK's team, it's a semantics issue.

As for the World Cup of Golf, he plays for "Ireland" as the Irish golfing organisation is an all-island organisation, must like the IRFU. Well we be seeing a thread after every Irish rugby match when certain players don't sing the Irish National Anthem?

Rory McIlroy is declaring for Ireland

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