Why I prefer Padraig Harrington, a proud Irishman, to Rory McIlroy -- Love to see him flying the Irish tricolor as he leads golf tournament
Posted on Friday, August 24, 2012 at 08:05 AM
Larger Text
Print
E-mail
37 Comments
RSS 
Recent Posts
- Orb should win Preakness easily, Oxbow up for second
- Could Celtic boss Neil Lennon be next manager at Manchester United? - His European exploits, especially defeating Barcelona may put him in frame
- Orb has what it takes to win Triple Crown in 2013 - Kentucky Derby winner has breeding, connections and talent
- Goldencents can lead all the way for Doug O’Neill in Kentucky Derby - Lines of Battle, Irish horse looks outclassed in Run for the Roses
- Why Ireland’s Rory McIlroy can defeat Tiger Woods at the 2013 Masters - Comeback kid proves in Texas Open that he still has a unique talent
Archives
 |
| Harrington at Bethpage on Thursday (Credit: Golf Week) |
It was good to see the Irish flag fly highest at Bethpage Black on Long Island this Thursday as Padraig Harrington led the field with a smashing 7 under par.
With all the confusion and rhetoric about whether Rory McIlroy was Irish or British or whether he wanted to play for one country or the other it was great to see an unabashed Irishman like Harrington, who has won more majors than McIlroy, take the lead.
The little symbol of the green white and orange beside his name is unambiguous. This is an Irishman through and through, clear in what he represents, with no apology to anyone.
When Rory McIlroy plays it is under the flag of Northern Ireland, which is his statement of identity that he is perfectly entitled to make. I just can’t cheer him on with the same fervor as I can Harrington though.
I understand McIlroy has to tread carefully on this issue of identity, but I’m always proudest when I see the tricolor flying--- that is just the way I feel.
McIlroy and Tiger Woods were supposed to be the big clash of this tournament but Harrington for now at least, has stolen the thunder.
On Monday this week Harrington played at the only Irish golf course in the Tri-State area. The Links at Union Vale golf course is situated in the rolling hills of Duchess County, surrounded by the beautiful landscape of the Hudson Highlands and the Catskill Mountains.
It was built and created by Irish men and women and Harrington’s presence was the greatest event since the opening in 2000.
Maybe it was the Irish spirit there that saw Harrington head for Bethpage with the old fire in his gut and outshoot McIlroy, Tiger Woods and everyone else.
Or maybe it was the recent snide comments by Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal that Harrington was unlikely to make the team for the seventh consecutive time unless he did something extraordinary.
Well winning the Barclays would certainly do that and I have the feeling that Harrington likes nothing more than a challenge and will give it a right go. Good luck to him. See more: Irish in Golf
37 comments
Next
Page 1 of 3 pages
GladToBeGone | Sep 10, 2012, 11:17 AM EDT
I think a geography lesson is needed by most of your writers and readers, not just history. I live in Northern Ireland and I am British. The "North" in "Northern Ireland" is a not a compass point! It is what makes it a different country than Ireland. It is part of the UK and that makes us British!! If I lived in Texas, would I be Mexican? The same thought process of your writers would dictate this.
Report abuse
ancavker | Aug 27, 2012, 04:36 PM EDT
towngate Harrington could be English in origin, or could be the Gaelic O' harrachtain. It helps to have a wife who is a fluent Irish speaker!!! Both the Munset and Ulster dialects.
Report abuse
ancavker | Aug 27, 2012, 04:30 PM EDT
citizen: A country typically denotes that it is independent. Note that England, northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales are not countires in the sense that they are not independent, they are areas within the UK.
Report abuse
citizen69 | Aug 27, 2012, 11:32 AM EDT
@BrendanDunphy: The actual official name of the team is "Great Britain & Northern Ireland Olympic Team" but for marketing purposes they have the brand name "Team GB" since 1999. So if Rory chose to play for Great Britain & Northern Ireland he would still be representing the part of Ireland he comes from.
Report abuse
BrendanDunphy | Aug 27, 2012, 09:39 AM EDT
The team he may become a member of is called "Great Britain" and not "United Kingdom". The latter includes (in some minds anyway) Northern Ireland, BUT THE FORMER DOES NOT. GB is comprised of England, Scotland and Wales only. Fact. Yet Rory wants to join them instead of Ireland?? My support is entirely with Padraig.
Report abuse
BrendanDunphy | Aug 27, 2012, 09:32 AM EDT
I agree with this article 100% and offer no apologies for doing so. If/when Rory accepts his Irishness, I will rethink my position. Until then, Padraig is the man.
Report abuse
seanomelb | Aug 27, 2012, 02:31 AM EDT
I suppose in your narrow definition of a country all is well.
Report abuse
citizen69 | Aug 27, 2012, 01:34 AM EDT
Come back to the real world Seanmelb, not your Irish republican dream world where no shinner dare speak it's name! Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales & England are all countries.
Report abuse
seanomelb | Aug 26, 2012, 09:04 PM EDT
NI is not a country it is a colony. It does not have embassies or foreign ministers etc. it's just a vassal state.
Report abuse
citizen69 | Aug 26, 2012, 12:00 PM EDT
@buffalobrave: You have already assumed Rory wouldn't "have the backbone" to play for Ireland (which he has already done) but it is gracious of you to accept the personal choices he makes for himself. On the contrary, Northern Ireland is a constituent country of the United Kingdom and no nation on earth disputes this. Obviously you also have little understanding of British Citizenship and British Subjects. There are in fact quite a few British subjects in the Republic of Ireland but in Northern Ireland we are British citizens (or Irish,or duel citizens if one so chooses). Of course Northern Ireland will always be Irish! It's the Irish part of the United Kingdom and so long as the people of NI wish it, it will remain that way.
Report abuse
seanomelb | Aug 26, 2012, 12:16 AM EDT
Maybe you can refer me to any brit bashing I have done on this particular post clowngate. I have not demeaned McIllroy on any site. Facts my dear man!!
Report abuse
Cranleigh | Aug 25, 2012, 06:44 PM EDT
Harrington's a bit of a pain - what do you expect from an accountant? Reminds me of Sir Nick Faldo. Before the major successes, he used to come up with all sorts of excuses for losing.
I think I'd be more comfortable having a pint with Darren Clarke over Harrington or McIlroy any day of the week.
Report abuse
Towngate | Aug 25, 2012, 04:56 PM EDT
The name 'Harrington' does not sound more oIrish then McIlroy. Sean - this is an 'unhelpful' post and you would be better advised to keep your hatred and Brit-bashing bigotry to yourself in future if you want to be taken seriously as a journalist!
Report abuse
Buffalobrave | Aug 25, 2012, 03:26 PM EDT
citizen69: You assume quite q bit on my behalf. How do you know I will not except his choice if it is other than Irish.?
I may not agree with his choice but I assure you I will accept it.
However the problem is Northern Ireland is not a country and it is occupied by a foreign country. The island of Ireland is and always will be Irish. The British are intruders and they should leave.
If you are satisfied by being a British subject, ( you don't have the privilege of citizenship ) then that's your choice.
Please show me stats and proof that "A lot of Irish Americans share this sectarian attitude."
A nebulous concept if there ever was one.
Report abuse
Next
Page 1 of 3 pages
Report abuse