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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > People and Politics > Don’t wrap the green flag around golfer Rory McIlroy -- Let Rory play under the Union Jack if that’s what he wants

People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Don’t wrap the green flag around golfer Rory McIlroy -- Let Rory play under the Union Jack if that’s what he wants

Posted on Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at 08:14 AM

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Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, watches his tee shot on the seventh hole during the third round of the PGA golf tournament in Carmel, Ind (Photo: AP)

Let’s not wrap the green flag around Rory McIlroy like many pundits want to do.

The lad would prefer to play for Britain and not Ireland, that much is clear.

Why not let him and just accept his preferences.

When Northern Ireland players like Darren Gibson opt out of Northern Ireland’s soccer team and declare for the Republic no one in the south appears to complain.

What goes around comes around.

Sure, Rory McIlroy is a Catholic but according to the latest opinion poll, about 30 percent of Catholics would vote against a united Ireland if the vote came tomorrow.

So Rory is one of those 30 percent, middle class Catholics in the main, who since the peace process has done well in Northern Ireland.

Good luck to them and to Rory I say. The notion of being both British and Irish has a long history in Ireland.

Look at Daniel Day Lewis as just one example.

So why should the reverse not be extended to Catholics who want to be British first as Rory clearly does?

Here in America we are aware of all kinds of dual identity. Most Americans are something else, whether it is Irish, Italian, Hispanic, or whatever.

Truth is we slice and dice identity at will.

Rory has played under the tricolor at the World Cup of golf so why should he not play under the Union Jack at the Olympics?

The magnificent thing about sport is that it knows no boundaries. I cheered my heart out for Scot Andy Murray because he deserved a grand slam win at the US Open and he thankfully got one after years of frustration.

It mattered not a whit to me whether he spoke with an Irish, American, or Scottish accent.

It will be the same for most sports followers when Rory McIlroy tees off in the majors or the Olympics. Sportsmen are not politicians; they should not be even indulging in that arena.

McIlroy is Irish and British and the best in the world – enough said.

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cillowen | Sep 12, 2012, 12:58 PM EDT

opportunistic rory of england's gitmo is pathetic and will reap the venom that rightly flows to him and his too numerous ilk. That feherty creepy crawler is another that makes one upchuck.

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mccoo1 | Sep 12, 2012, 12:52 PM EDT

Tooreennagrena...Why cant people in N.Ireland be Irish and British??? Let me get this straight you can be Irish American and so on but not an Irish Brit lol, you talk rubbish. Support for N.Ireland remaining part of the UK is at the highest its ever been at the minute amongst Catholics living in N.Ireland. Now that there is no violence people see the benefits of being part of the UK. Open your eyes, people are allowed to call tjemselves Irish and British, stop trying to tell them otberwise.

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seanfer7 | Sep 12, 2012, 12:35 PM EDT

Well lets let the people have a vote and see what 30% looks like

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Tooreenagrena | Sep 12, 2012, 12:34 PM EDT

BTW Mr Roberts you cannot be irish and British, that is the point.

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Tooreenagrena | Sep 12, 2012, 12:30 PM EDT

A better headline. Don’t wrap the green flag around golfer Rory McIlroy BECAUSE HE IS NOT WORTHY OF IT. Imagine this. Mcilroy wins a medal for Britain. He will be standing and saluting the Union Jack and listening to God Save the Queen.

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pilib04 | Sep 12, 2012, 12:28 PM EDT

Oops, that should be 2016

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pilib04 | Sep 12, 2012, 12:28 PM EDT

Let it be. Rory said he would decide in 1916, that is all there is to it. Everything else is useless speculation.

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citizen69 | Sep 12, 2012, 12:02 PM EDT

Here's an idea... How about appreciating Rory McIlroy for his skills as a golfer and his personality instead of his whether he's more British or Irish? Double Paralympic gold medal winner and world's fastest ever paralympian Jason Smyth is from Northern Ireland and competed for Ireland this summer but has said he is neither politically Irish nor British. He could have joined team GB or Ireland but it was Ireland that offered him the funding. He is a great sportsman and just wants to do his best on the track. He has no real interest in political allegiances.

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clevelander | Sep 12, 2012, 11:46 AM EDT

Rory has the right to play for who ever he likes. just like I have the right to root against him and ignore any of his sponsors ( witch I, and others, will do ).

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Searlit | Sep 12, 2012, 11:42 AM EDT

It's a little bit of comic relief that two posters here have brought two of The Beatles into this debate. I think I'm over it now. Thanks.

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Nicoletta | Sep 12, 2012, 10:40 AM EDT

Good article. I have many friends in the north of Ireland, although they love the notion of 'one Ireland, united and fee and a Fenian queen' they are more than happy to remain in the UK - especially since most of them are employed either in the NHS or teaching at Catholic schools, which btw for our American friends are totally free in the UK (like your public schools), including those which are Irish speaking.

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turzovka | Sep 12, 2012, 10:26 AM EDT

As long as this world is inhabited by weak and selfish vessels known as humankind, there will be problems, there will be injustices. God is merciful and just, it will all be reconciled in the end. In the meantime, somehow we have to let time heal injustices, be somewhat forgiving of others' faults, and work on our own. I mean, how long do Americans have to keep paying Native Americans for transgressions in the 1600's? How long does the black nation in America have to keep using slavery as the reasons for their underachievements today? 'Tis much easier to blame than forgive. So the British thing is really a sad tale, but to put all this injustice and sorrow upon Rory now is just too much. Regardless where he chooses to play for, let's not deflect all our miseries and failures towards him. That is a convenient diversion.

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Waitingis1 | Sep 12, 2012, 10:13 AM EDT

There needs to be a new flag altogether, one everyone can agree on. One that represents the entire country as a whole and everything that makes it unique and wonderful, including the disparity and difficulty between the north and south. Honor it all and move forward.

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MichaelMcGrath | Sep 12, 2012, 09:43 AM EDT

John Lennon was proud of being Irish , he thought of himself as Irish and not as English or Welshor anything else - so how does a mere tennis player like McIlroy compare to THAT:-)

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hardshoe83 | Sep 12, 2012, 09:42 AM EDT

OMG Rory why? I said this yesterday about the other article on Rory. I'm a Protestant and if I was an athlete I'd never play under the Union Jack. I know people are entitled to their beliefs and preferences, but I just can't accept Rory's preference to play under the Union Jack. Yes I'm a Protestant who supports a united Ireland. How do you like that Rory?

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