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Rory McIlroy's acceptance of Queen's award will raise eyebrows with some Irish Catholics

SEAN O'SHEA,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Monday, January 2, 2012, 7:31 AM

Updated Tuesday, January 3, 2012, 11:43 AM

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Rory McIlroy photographed in the royal box at Wimbledon

Photo by Google Images

Rory McIlroy has firmly nailed his colors to the post by accepting an MBE or Member of the British Empire award in the Queen's New Year honors list.

He and fellow Northern Ireland golfer Darren Clarke have been acknowledged in similar fashion by the Queen.

As a Protestant, Clarke would certainly have been expected to accept.

As a Catholic however, McIlroy will undoubtedly stir some resentment in nationalist circles over accepting the award.

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McIlroy has always tried to be non-political, a wise path in Northern Ireland, but by accepting the OBE it shows that he is leaning much more towards a British identity than an Irish one.

Most Northern Catholics will not accept a British award from the queen, while some will take it on an honorary basis.

This will have a practical application in the Olympics in 2016 where he will surely represent Great Britain rather than Ireland in the sport which will be making its Olympic comeback then.

Most people could give a fig about McIlroy's religious or political affiliation but the acceptance of the British award makes it clear that he himself considers himself primarily British.

Nster.com

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56 Comments

15 - 56 | See all comments

DanOLoingsigh | Jan 10, 2012, 10:31 AM EST

Seano - still waiting...........

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DanOLoingsigh | Jan 08, 2012, 07:15 PM EST

Seano - When you falsely accuse a person, or group, you should know that an apology is in order...over to you, in small print!!

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seanomelbourne | Jan 08, 2012, 05:54 PM EST

Stop shouting Dan lynch I can read small print,you are an angry man.When you apologise for some of your anti Irish drivvel I'll consider it. Go quietly you big girl.

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DanOLoingsigh | Jan 07, 2012, 06:56 PM EST

Seano - No soldier murdered him, much to your twisted disappointment...next time check your facts before posting your anglophobic garbage...when your in a hole, best stop digging...an apology to the group you libelled is called for...BUT YOUR OBVIOUSLY NOT MAN ENOUGH TO ADMIT YOU GOT IT COMPLETELY WRONG...AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!

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seanomelbourne | Jan 06, 2012, 05:36 PM EST

Evidently he was murdered by british proxy by pro British terrorist.

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DrTrelawney | Jan 05, 2012, 08:34 AM EST

Can I just belatedly reiterate Citizen's correction. Rory McIlroy's Uncle was NOT killed on Bloody Sunday. He was NOT killed by British soldiers. He was, it seems, murdered by loyalist paramilitaries 10 months after Bloody Sunday. The people who keep repeating this (easily disproved) nonsense are either dupes or liars.

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ciaradexy | Jan 04, 2012, 07:25 PM EST

Ancavker-If thats what the population up there want, then so be it. Theyll get EU funds like everyone else.

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FallsRNat | Jan 04, 2012, 05:47 PM EST

all this talk of a UI is really academic, if the brits pulled out today, the Germans who already set SI budgets would be in charge of the 32 counties, why are CIRA/RIRA not bombing the Reichstag, i suppose that anything that isn't associated with britishness is deemed alright.

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ancavker | Jan 04, 2012, 03:26 PM EST

ciara: The north as an independent state!!! that is too funny, they could not function or survive on their own. It is only the billions paid by British government every year that keeps the place afloat. I guess one could say pay back is a you know what. As far as the south, they are in no shape economically to absorb the north, and sadly most would not want it. So what do we have, two failed political entities.

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citizen69 | Jan 04, 2012, 11:40 AM EST

@Seanmelbourne: How many times are you going to make the same comment about the murder of Rory's uncle? He was not murdered by a soldier or the "Queen's regime" as you keep claiming. It was a callous murder by a loyalist terrorist group, the UVF. A murder which the huge majority of Northern Irish people would completely condemn. Absolutely nothing to do with the queen or these civic awards.

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DanOLoingsigh | Jan 04, 2012, 08:08 AM EST

maireadinmelb - the real reason no soldiers can be named is that this murder was carried out by a loyalist gang, not as stated here!!!

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IrelandNorth | Jan 04, 2012, 06:34 AM EST

Many southern Irish have accepted OBE's/MBE's despite needing Irish government approval to do so as Irish citizens (like Sir Dr. Anthony A. J. F. O'Reilly, Irish Independent (British Codependent?)supremo). Honorary OBE's/MBE's are conferred on non-British nationals like southern Irish citizens and natives of outer Mongolians. Mind you, accepting an award of an empire that no longer exists is a tad Quixotic, like a Knighhood of Salamanca.

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maireadinmelb | Jan 04, 2012, 01:46 AM EST

dont you know Dan that british soldiers are never identified other than by soldier A and soldier B!

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DanOLoingsigh | Jan 03, 2012, 06:35 PM EST

seanomelbourne - do you have the name the soldier?

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seanomelbourne | Jan 03, 2012, 05:23 PM EST

McIllroy has made his choice one hopes he does not forget the murder of his uncle by the same regime or maybe the soldier who murdered him recieving is N.I. service medal from the same queen. Lest we forget.

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