Rory McIlroy offered chance to be Ireland’s flag bearer in 2016 Olympics

Pat Hickey is an idiot. Rory is a British citizen. Is there no end to Ireland's begging?

I think Mr Hickey is somewhat out of touch. Rory McIlroy makes this call ,all by himself...it appears as if this is a bribe,to declare himself... He does not need the publicity..he is known the world over. He is not someone who would entertain the "either or" option. He has already made his wishes known,and by the time Rio comes around, he might well be enjoying a life away from golf.2016...there is a lot can happen in the interim..

Great choice, great Irishmen and great golfer. Congratulation Rory he will carry it high and proud.

reminds me of those days while we waited and upon hearing rumblings underfoot we knew our muzzled ferret was still awake. Brilliant.

I think the comments here prove conclusively that one should not mix sport with politics were possible. If you are sports fan like myself you would hope that such decisions would be made in the best interests of the sport. I suspect that if Team Ireland does want Rory (and Graeme) to compete for Ireland then don't expect him to carry the flag. Flags have far too much significance in Irish culture. I just want to see him play well. I live in Northern Ireland and I don't see the Republic of Ireland as a foreign country but a neighbouring country with very similar social and cultural values to Northern Ireland. I don't see Team Ireland as foreigners but friends. At the Olympics and Paralympics I wanted NI athletes to excel and when they did I didn't care if it was Team GB (and NI) or Team Ireland.

As the current rankings stand - if Rory plays for Ireland - then Padriag Harrington would not play int he Olympics - he would not make the duo to play for Ireland- if Rory plays for Gt.Britain then the 2 Irish players - based on today's rankings would be Graeme McDowell and Padraig Harrington.

Have Angela carry it,after all she ownes it.This McIIroy stuf, is just somke and mirrors.

Rory McIlroy is a subject of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

@6countybrit: Boxer Wanye McCullough from the Shankill Road area of Belfast carried the Tricolour for Ireland in the 1988 Seoul Olympics which he said he was honoured to do. He also was honoured to carry the Northern Ireland flag for his country in the Commonwealth games in Auckland, 1990. He went on to win a silver medal for Ireland and a gold for NI respectively. He also went on to become a world champion as a professional. The whole ethos of the Olympics should be about sport not politics.

Why would you want someone to carry your national flag who claims no allegience to it or what it represents. He wants to be British, so please don't beg him. As far as I know he has never claimed to be Irish.

What a crawler you are, Pat Hickey. You diminish an honest sportsman who brings credit to our island but who is, like I, from the British North. But worse than that, you diminish your fellow sportsmen and women in the Republic and, most of all, your Tricolour. Shame on you - resign!

I doubt it more than I doubt I will be having dinner with the Jedi council tonight.

Why would he want to carry the flag off Ireland, a foreign country? If Rory did carry it, he should march it all the way to the top off the 11th night bonfires or use it for toilet roll.

God, not this debate again. Will you all please get over it and let the man decide himself in his own time. Besides, i don't think professional sportsmen should be the flag bearers for the Olympics. It's a rare chance for amateur sporting stars to get the limelight.

Shows what class Pat Hickey has - not a lot! Rory wants to be a Brit let him be.