Graeme McDowell says he's proud Irish and Protestant
Posted on Sunday, June 17, 2012 at 10:00 AM
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Graeme McDowell has addressed the issue of whether he is Irish or British, which has become a big talking point after his U.S. Open victory.
Here is what he said a few days ago.
(If you are more confused than ever join the club.)
"Mum's a Catholic, Dad's a Protestant, I was brought up Presbyterian but ... I'm Irish.
"Yes, I sit on the fence but why not? There's no right or wrong answer. I'm always going to upset someone, so why not sit on the fence?" he is quoted as saying on CBS sports.
Fair answer but it is a story that bedevils every Northern Ireland sportsman and even some from the south.
Barry McGuigan was as Irish as could be from Monaghan in the Irish Republic but hilariously often appeared at fights with a United Nation flag.
McDowell's Northern Irish teammate Rory McIlroy was born a Catholic but carries a British passport.
And so it goes.
McDowell is just the latest to have to negotiate those choppy waters of identity and background.
I wish him luck.
To those who say it doesn't matter just consider the 30 year war recently concluded in Northern Ireland. Idenity was at the heart of it.
So McDowell is doing the right thing.
Originally published in 2010.
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hardshoe83 | Sep 13, 2012, 11:05 PM EDT
I'm a Presbyterian just like Graeme and I am a stepdancer. Being Protestant doesn't mean following British traditions and calling yourself British. Don't you ever call me British! I won't be too happy about that. Thank you. Keep on being proud of yourself Graeme. I love you!
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branagh | Jun 19, 2012, 02:12 AM EDT
Graeme is an absolutely class young guy! I note when asked on NBC about the support network, it was not some "British" he referenced,it was the Irish "as many here as in Ireland".
Darren Clarke is equally class.
Rory is a bit inexperienced public relations-wise so give him a pass-when asked about which country for a Golf Olympics he declined - if a bit more mature he might have said..I have no idea whether I might qualify for any country. His recent performances might merit such an opinion.
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pilib04 | Jun 18, 2012, 07:10 PM EDT
You also don't have to live in the Republic to live in Ireland.
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ancavker | Jun 18, 2012, 04:11 PM EDT
A good friend of my mine is on holiday here (U.S.) from Tyrone. he was asked over the weekend where he was from, as for some reason they thought he sounded Australian!!! And he replied Ireland; it is as simple as that.
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citizen69 | Jun 18, 2012, 12:59 PM EDT
Why reprint a two year old story? Irish Central is obsessed with people's religion and identity. There is absolutely nothing strange about Protestants from Northern Ireland describing themselves as Irish... Just like Darren Clarke & Rory McIlroy with also describe themselves as Irish... as would the Northern Irish lads in the Irish rugby squad, and the lads in the Northern Irish football team. The Republic does not have the monopoly on the word Irish, nor does it imply loyalty to the Republic. Ian Paisley calls himself Irish as did loyalist UVF leader Gusty Spence.
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samsams | Jun 18, 2012, 05:48 AM EDT
Glad you agree 'baythebay'. I have to agree with the commenter below though that it's more than a little bit weird that you say he's "welcome in Ireland anytime" when we not only call this place Northern Ireland but Ireland too, even more common for people up where Graeme and I are from is "north coast of Ireland" :) Regardless of the fact the state is offically called "Ireland", few people here refer to the Republic as that, unless maybe saying "Ireland's economy" etc, but never "I went to Ireland" for example if they went over the border. You would get a very strange look indeed.
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sirpeter | Jun 17, 2012, 10:50 PM EDT
Bythebay He is Irish.Why would you say come to Ireland anytime,you're more than welcome?Are you saying you kind of except him as a guest in NI where he was born,because he is Protestant,but the fact he says he's Irish and not British he needs your "more than welcome" to let him know he doesn't quite belong in NI?I'm from Ireland and if another Irishman said to me I was more than welcome to come to Ireland I'd break his face.I guess been a stupid woman you get away with that sort of insult or do ya?It's safe to be a mouthy bit*h on the internet isn't it?
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JBRAFTREE | Jun 17, 2012, 06:41 PM EDT
Good for him! You don't have to be a Papist to be Irish!
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Bythebay | Jun 17, 2012, 02:05 PM EDT
samsams, great message. Note well Americans who are and would be so divisive.
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Bythebay | Jun 17, 2012, 01:40 PM EDT
Well done Graeme, you have all the Irish with you! Come to Ireland anytime, you're more than welcome. You've made us all proud.
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merefalow | Jun 17, 2012, 01:20 PM EDT
may be one day,no one will have to sit on a fence to avoid being ostrasised or WORSE.MAYBE ONE DAY WE CAN ALL MOVE AWAY FROM POLITICAL FLAG WAVING,alienation,taking sides and give true equality and justice to ALL people irespective of race or colour or military conquest.the truest thing i ever heard was,if you cut me do i not bleed.if we could empathise a little closer and see the human misery of chest beating macho militarisistic nationalism we might all move a little closer to the commonality of mankind and away from our tribal cave man past,leave the bloody flags behind,they are deadly dangerous and divisive'
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samsams | Jun 17, 2012, 12:04 PM EDT
Why wouldn't he be? Although my family is a mix of Catholic and Protestant like Graeme I identify as Irish. I am actually from the same area as him, and it isn't a nationalist area either, but grew up around plenty of other Protestants who call themselves Irish, it is not uncommon. Religion doesn't equal nationality and identifying as Irish in NI doesn't mean you're poltically minded either. There's also this perception that coming from the Republic automatically means you are 'more' Irish. Well on my paternal side my Granny is from Donegal, comes from long line of Protestants, and has a Scottish maiden name. My Grandfather is from Tyrone in NI and his sirname (which is mine also) is native Irish, orginating from the county many hundreds of years ago. Ethnically I am more Irish on the Northern Irish side. People tend to completely oversimplify the issue of identity here and it annoys me!
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Searlit | Jun 17, 2012, 11:21 AM EDT
I see no problem with any of it.
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pounder | Jun 17, 2012, 10:41 AM EDT
Thats cool with me. Go Graeme.
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