McIlroy Declares for Britain?

First topic message reminder :

Rory McIlroy has declared "I’ve always felt more British than Irish", "Maybe it is the way I was brought up, I don’t know, but I have always felt more of a connection with the UK than with Ireland". This seems like a pretty strong indication to me that McIlroy will represent Team GB at the Olympics in 4 years. I think its a smart move to declare his allegiance early and in good time rather than letting the media make a storm in a tea cup about the whole issue in 4 years time close to the games.

Sin é wrote:

golfermartin wrote:And Europe could change its rules to allow all of the Aussies and maybe the reject Yanks to play for them, too. This really is getting into fantasy land!!

Yes, they could change the rules to accommodate anyone they wanted to. Up to fairly recently (1979) only players from Britain & Ireland competed in it.

I think that everyone on here already knew that. It was at the suggestion of an American - Jack Nicklaus - to avoid it becoming a non-event. That decision has been instrumental in making the Ryder Cup the huge success it has become. The point is that there has to be a very good reason for making a change.

Imagine, there's no people etc etc

One of the worst songs of all time.

super_realist wrote:And how does that make Mcilroy a bible thumper?

You sound like a broken record. why don't you make Mcilroys decision for him seeing as you think you know such about it.

If Mcilroy cared about his so called religion would he be knocking off wozniaki outside of wedlock?
He's just a normal lad who is going to choose to play for the bigger more significant country rather than a load of yokels.

SR you really come accross as such a idiot sometimes. Just makes the golf boards really tiresome.

Ha ha. It may well not be to your taste sr but one of the worst of all time? Up against for example the Macarena.

Or will you plumb for the mac on this occasion?

Not gmac or Rory mc either!

What is the point of you??

Feel free to go back to your usual board then gungerm, no one is keeping you here. In my statement I quoted I can only see yokels causing you concern. Hardly a criminal offence.

I stand by my assessment of lennons dreadful imagine. Sickly sentimental dirge.

How old are you???

Just pointing out that it's not clever to go around making half-assed statements or wumming....

Golf is a mature sport........It should be debated maturely!!

gungerm!!!.....

Trussman, your whole Europe Can't Win is a deliberate provacative Wum attempt. Look at yourself before having a go at others.

The golf boards are different to the others, less moderation and when someone says something silly or that other people disagree with they usually get both barrels. Get used to it.

rodders wrote:Dr Paisley is from Ballymena co Antrim, McIlroy is from Holywood county Down.

Hardly from the same neck of the woods .

Come off it Rods! Hollywood is closer to Ballymena than it is to Dublin!

Billy Graham is back again


What is the significance of Mcilroy hailing from near Ian paisley? I've got a Hindu neighbour, does that make me one too:laugh:

It can't be wumming If the consensus is on my side!!

Consensus may be to big a word for you...

I'll change it for "opinion"...

Diggers wrote:There was a big interview with McIlroy in the Times today. He said they although he was officially a Carholic he couldnt remember the last time he attended mass, it clearly holds as much interest for him as it does for most blokes whose official classification is probably Christian....zilch.

The Irish President is an atheist and he is still an Irishman.

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:It can't be wumming If the consensus is on my side!!

Consensus may be to big a word for you...

I'll change it for "opinion"...

What makes you think you have the consensus, I haven't seen more than one person agree with you.

Have you see the latest odds???????????

The same bookies who make Woods favourite for every major but who hasn't won for four years? Yeah I really rate their opinion. The same bookies who always make the yanks favourite. Yeah really pays off doesn't it.

Proof will be in the pudding. I think America will sneak it, just don't think it will be easy as you suggest.

What does sneaking it mean....... 15-13???????

and you're calling me a wum for saying 16-12...

Strange lad aren't you????

What to mean is it might be as tight as last time.
This happens everytime, over confident Americans think they just need to turn up because of all their (irrelevant) majors and 'star' names (who rarely turn up), yet most often they are disappointed.

Sin é wrote:

Diggers wrote:There was a big interview with McIlroy in the Times today. He said they although he was officially a Carholic he couldnt remember the last time he attended mass, it clearly holds as much interest for him as it does for most blokes whose official classification is probably Christian....zilch.

The Irish President is an atheist and he is still an Irishman.

Does he have to decide who he is going to play golf for at the Olympics as well ?

Wrong thread

super_realist wrote:And how does that make Mcilroy a bible thumper?

It doesn't. What it does mean is the reason he sees himself as British isn't because Irish people are bible thumpers.

You sound like a broken record. why don't you make Mcilroys decision for him seeing as you think you know such about it.

I've repeatedly said that if he wants to declare for the GB team, good luck to him. What is a bit insulting is the way he is hedging his bets on who he wants to represents.

If Mcilroy cared about his so called religion would he be knocking off wozniaki outside of wedlock?

Catholics are very relaxed about stuff like that - ever hear of the antics of President Kennedy (and his brother) back in the 60s in the US?

I don't get the relevance of the Irish president being atheist either diggers, rather an odd thing to bring up in the context.

I very much doubt as someone which isn't religious that it will have any bearing on who Mcilroy picks. Sin seems determined to suggest it does.

Diggers wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Diggers wrote:There was a big interview with McIlroy in the Times today. He said they although he was officially a Carholic he couldnt remember the last time he attended mass, it clearly holds as much interest for him as it does for most blokes whose official classification is probably Christian....zilch.

The Irish President is an atheist and he is still an Irishman.

Does he have to decide who he is going to play golf for at the Olympics as well ?

He wouldn't be put off representing Ireland in the Olympics even though he isn't even a Christian.

Why did you just mention that bit from the interview in the Times?

I actually think this chap is a bit mad now. Arguing against himself now.

I had a pint of Guinness once. I'm going to apply to represent Ireland.

super_realist wrote:I don't get the relevance of the Irish president being atheist either diggers, rather an odd thing to bring up in the context.

I very much doubt as someone which isn't religious that it will have any bearing on who Mcilroy picks. Sin seems determined to suggest it does.

Oh, I must have taken you up wrong SR - I thought you were saying that the reason McIlroy wanted to be British is because Irish people are just bible thumping yokels* who he doesn't want to have anything to do with and has nothing in common with.

edit: *that is except his caddy, his coach and his agent

A great many are, but I've never said he would base his decision on that.

He's shown no inclination of religious belief so I doubt it would have any bearing on who he'd choose to represent, although I think it world be silly of him to choose roi, because they're a bit insignificant on the international sporting stage. Sorry if that sticks in your craw.

super_realist wrote:A great many are, but I've never said he would base his decision on that.

He's shown no inclination of religious belief so I doubt it would have any bearing on who he'd choose to represent, although I think it world be silly of him to choose roi, because they're a bit insignificant on the international sporting stage. Sorry if that sticks in your craw.

I think this lad has lost the plot. Some of the dumbest comments I've heard online.

What difference would Ireland's "significance" in international sport have in McIlroys decision. Very odd comment. In any case Irish golf has produced more golf major winners than any other country in Europe in the last ten years but sure what signifance does that have.

Sin é wrote:

Diggers wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Diggers wrote:There was a big interview with McIlroy in the Times today. He said they although he was officially a Carholic he couldnt remember the last time he attended mass, it clearly holds as much interest for him as it does for most blokes whose official classification is probably Christian....zilch.

The Irish President is an atheist and he is still an Irishman.

Does he have to decide who he is going to play golf for at the Olympics as well ?

He wouldn't be put off representing Ireland in the Olympics even though he isn't even a Christian.

Why did you just mention that bit from the interview in the Times?

Because its relevant to the conversation unlike your reference to your premier or indeed your bizarre theory on Rory taking up American citizenship.

How is it relevant to the debate that he isn't a practicing catholic (like most Irish people)?

Sin é wrote:

rodders wrote:Dr Paisley is from Ballymena co Antrim, McIlroy is from Holywood county Down.

Hardly from the same neck of the woods .

Come off it Rods! Hollywood is closer to Ballymena than it is to Dublin!

Only marginally Sin and to be honest you've more chance of getting stuck behind a tractor on the way to Ballymena so its much a muchness

GunsGerms wrote:

super_realist wrote:A great many are, but I've never said he would base his decision on that.

He's shown no inclination of religious belief so I doubt it would have any bearing on who he'd choose to represent, although I think it world be silly of him to choose roi, because they're a bit insignificant on the international sporting stage. Sorry if that sticks in your craw.

I think this lad has lost the plot. Some of the dumbest comments I've heard online.

So Ireland are more accomplished on the international and Olympic stage than GB?

Harrington has won a few majors, but apart from that what else have they (ROI) done in Sport recently apart from earning the tag of worst team at Euro 2012.

Sin, you seem to be insinuating that McIlroy is torn between his Irish (Catholic) heritage and GB, what people are saying is that as he isn't a Bible Thumper, the traditional link of Catholic NI people to the south is hardly likely to be a consideration in his decision which leaves what reason to represent Oireland?, So it appears to me (and most others), he has fewer reasons to pick NI over GB and more therefore likely to pick the larger more successful sporting nation a.k.a GB, especially having seen GB success in the last Olympics. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that compared to a country which won just 5 medals in the Olympics. They could have had an open top Ford Focus tour of Dublin. Unless McIlroy wants to be a whale shark in a pint of water you can't see him picking ROI.

Seems like there isn't even a decision to make.

Sin é wrote:How is it relevant to the debate that he isn't a practicing catholic (like most Irish people)?

Ask yourself why Rory chose to mention it in the interview, clearly it's a point he wants to be out there, that he's not religious so that's one part of the whole north south thing that's no issue as far as he is concerned.

super_realist wrote: They could have had an open top Ford Focus tour of Dublin.

super_realist wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

super_realist wrote:A great many are, but I've never said he would base his decision on that.

He's shown no inclination of religious belief so I doubt it would have any bearing on who he'd choose to represent, although I think it world be silly of him to choose roi, because they're a bit insignificant on the international sporting stage. Sorry if that sticks in your craw.

I think this lad has lost the plot. Some of the dumbest comments I've heard online.

So Ireland are more accomplished on the international and Olympic stage than GB?

Harrington has won a few majors, but apart from that what else have they (ROI) done in Sport recently apart from earning the tag of worst team at Euro 2012.

Sin, you seem to be insinuating that McIlroy is torn between his Irish (Catholic) heritage and GB, what people are saying is that as he isn't a Bible Thumper, the traditional link of Catholic NI people to the south is hardly likely to be a consideration in his decision which leaves what reason to represent Oireland?, So it appears to me (and most others), he has fewer reasons to pick NI over GB and more therefore likely to pick the larger more successful sporting nation a.k.a GB, especially having seen GB success in the last Olympics. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that compared to a country which won just 5 medals in the Olympics. They could have had an open top Ford Focus tour of Dublin. Unless McIlroy wants to be a whale shark in a pint of water you can't see him picking ROI.

Seems like there isn't even a decision to make.

The Team is GB and NI so how can he pick GB over NI?

Considering Ireland has 10% the population of GB 5 medals is an excellent return and not something to be mocked at all. Add the paralympic medals in and it has been a very successful summer for Ireland, proportionally as successful as team GB in many ways, if not more so given the relative financial investment and home advantage factored in.

Golf is an individual sport so I doubt being part of a "larger more successful sporting nation" would be a deciding factor for someone who would be one of the favourites to take Gold.

In terms of other sports given the relative size and populations you can't compare GB to Ireland any more than you can GB to the US or China but to call Ireland insignificant on the international stage is pretty inaccurate and disrespectful. Given that Golf is administered on an all Ireland basis the success of McIlroy, GMac and Clarke in recent times, added to that of Harrington is something everyone in Ireland has some stake in regardless of who opts for who in the next Olympics.

He's considering picking Ireland (The ROI) rather than GB (and NI) My apologies for the Typo, that should have said ROI.

As for terms of population, well done to Ireland for 5 medals, and whilst they are 10 times smaller than GB and NI, GB and NI in itself is 6 times smaller than the US and 22 times smaller than China's population but achieved far better per head of population than either of those two countries so it's not taht disrespectful to say Ireland didn't make that big a splash at the Olympics.

Can't see for the life of me why McIlroy would want to represent ROI, considering other than some sort of allegiance to the Irish Golf Union he has no other connection, other than tenuous heritage.

I'm not sure being born in and growing up on the Island of Ireland counts as tenious heritage in terms of representing the Irish Olympic team.

Team GB had an excellent summer and you should be proud but a bit of perspective, respect and humility towards other countries wouldn't be a bad thing.

Interpret it as disrespect if you want, but however you look at it ROI do not achieve much in sport. I'm merely questioning why McIlroy would want to be part of that when he already comes from GB and NI, why he would bother represent ROI.
He was born in NI, well after it became part of GB(and NI). Other than the Irish Golf Union and relatives elsewhere it's surely not that much of a pull for him.

super_realist wrote:

Sin, you seem to be insinuating that McIlroy is torn between his Irish (Catholic) heritage and GB, what people are saying is that as he isn't a Bible Thumper, the traditional link of Catholic NI people to the south is hardly likely to be a consideration in his decision which leaves what reason to represent Oireland?, So it appears to me (and most others), he has fewer reasons to pick NI over GB and more therefore likely to pick the larger more successful sporting nation a.k.a GB, especially having seen GB success in the last Olympics. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that compared to a country which won just 5 medals in the Olympics. They could have had an open top Ford Focus tour of Dublin. Unless McIlroy wants to be a whale shark in a pint of water you can't see him picking ROI.

Seems like there isn't even a decision to make.

1. I don't think he is torn between his Irish (Catholic) heritage in GB. He wants to represent GB (and I wish him well doing so), The only reason he back-tracked is for commercial reasons (i.e., its not going to go down well with wealthy Irish-Americans). I think he should just get on with it.

2. You declared that Irish people are catholic bible thumpers, unlike Rory McIlroy.
3. I filled you in on the gap in your knowledge on that subject. Any bible thumpers on this island are more likely to be Protestant & British and would (strongly) not approve of Rory's lifestyle. Any bible thumpers in the US are generally of the protestant faith & many would come from an Ulster-Scot heritage.
4. There is more than a link of religion between catholic people in NI & Republic. For instance, there are many Protestant people in the republic who are from NI and still have family there as well as a cultural heritage. i.e., Seamus Heaney, (Nobel Prize for Literature). He also turned down the British Gov. who wanted to appoint him Poet Laureate.: “Be advised my passport’s green. No glass of ours was ever raised, to toast the Queen.”
5. NI is a fairly small place and Rory seems happy enough at the moment to be flying its flag. Looks like he is moving to the US to be a big fish in a big pond (he is not moving to Britain).

By the way, Rory expressed great pleasure on his twitter account when Somalia born Mo Farah won gold for Britain.

1. He isn't sponsored by wealthy Irish Americans.
2. Irish people whether they are Cath/Prot as more religious than other parts of GB that is to say, a higher percentage of all "Irish" people consider themselves religious than UK, but McIlroy is not religious so would not have a religious afficliation with the south (like the tenuous link Celtic fans have with ROI)
3. You aren't making any point here at all, other than the Bible thumping Yanks might not approve of his non religous and sex outside marriage ways. I really can't see how A) McIlroy benefits from cod Oirish American's at all, b) why he would care if they didn't support him.

4.Once again, I reiterate that as McIlroy is non religious the religious bigotry of ROI/NI will not have bearing on his decision,
5. What does Mo Farah have to do with this?

I actually couldn't care if he represents GB or ROI, I still think he's a great golfer, albeit a bit of a big head. What I find difficult to grasp is that people (and this is the original point) will alter their support for him on the basis of who he chooses to represent.

How silly is that?

super_realist wrote:Interpret it as disrespect if you want, but however you look at it ROI do not achieve much in sport. I'm merely questioning why McIlroy would want to be part of that when he already comes from GB and NI, why he would bother represent ROI.
He was born in NI, well after it became part of GB(and NI). Other than the Irish Golf Union and relatives elsewhere it's surely not that much of a pull for him.

We do well on the old brain power stuff - more Nobel Peace Prize winners per capita than any other nation (not bad, considering anyone who won it prior to the establishment of the Irish Free State were considered to be British) and people like David Trimble who have won it recently from NI is in the British column.

Are you trying to suggest that because Rory was pleased Mo, who came over from Somalia when he was 11, won gold that he a fully grown man would have no issues representing the USA in the future ?
Or is there any other point to that remark as once again it seems utterly irrelevant to me.

How do you know what his connections are? Have you studied his family tree or something. The main reason why Rory would choose GB is because he feels more British than Irish. This is more than likely because the community he is from has a stronger British identity.

The success of Ireland as a sporting nation is completely irrelevant. GB had a very good Olympics however they practically paid through the nose for it. The funding was £264m an astronomical figure when compared to the paltry €10m Irish budget. My cousin got a silver medal for GB and I'm very proud of her cause she doesn't make much money but is incredibly dedicated.

Rory is self funded and therefore there is nothing to be gained from joining the more successful, richer British team

In any case British sport is notoriously poor for the resources available.

Sin é wrote:

super_realist wrote:Interpret it as disrespect if you want, but however you look at it ROI do not achieve much in sport. I'm merely questioning why McIlroy would want to be part of that when he already comes from GB and NI, why he would bother represent ROI.
He was born in NI, well after it became part of GB(and NI). Other than the Irish Golf Union and relatives elsewhere it's surely not that much of a pull for him.

We do well on the old brain power stuff - more Nobel Peace Prize winners per capita than any other nation (not bad, considering anyone who won it prior to the establishment of the Irish Free State were considered to be British) and people like David Trimble who have won it recently from NI is in the British column.

I must have missed Nobel peace prize in the Olympics.

If you didn't have such a childish bigotry and religious intolerance ingrained in your society you wouldn't need to have people being awarded Nobel prizes.

Sin é wrote:

super_realist wrote:Interpret it as disrespect if you want, but however you look at it ROI do not achieve much in sport. I'm merely questioning why McIlroy would want to be part of that when he already comes from GB and NI, why he would bother represent ROI.
He was born in NI, well after it became part of GB(and NI). Other than the Irish Golf Union and relatives elsewhere it's surely not that much of a pull for him.

We do well on the old brain power stuff - more Nobel Peace Prize winners per capita than any other nation (not bad, considering anyone who won it prior to the establishment of the Irish Free State were considered to be British) and people like David Trimble who have won it recently from NI is in the British column.

Not sure you have to be Einstein to win a peace prize. Wonderful as they are what you need is a cause and a belief in change, not a brain the size of a planet.

You do know Nobel invented Dynamite don't you?

All those peace prizes were probably a kick back for all the buisness he got out of Ireland.

Sin old bean, I suspect neither you nor SR (nor I) understands McIlroy's dilemma or his connection to either camp....other than by your own interpretation of the few things he's said in the matter.

Only McIlroy knows how he truely feels, and this indeed may even change between now and the Olympics. McIlroy is clearly proud of his NI, Irish and British roots but I suspect that there will be more to his descision than just this.

Good luck to him whatever he does. You can't please all the people all the time .

Well said Rodders.

super_realist wrote:1. He isn't sponsored by wealthy Irish Americans.
2. Irish people whether they are Cath/Prot as more religious than other parts of GB that is to say, a higher percentage of all "Irish" people consider themselves religious than UK, but McIlroy is not religious so would not have a religious afficliation with the south (like the tenuous link Celtic fans have with ROI)
3. You aren't making any point here at all, other than the Bible thumping Yanks might not approve of his non religous and sex outside marriage ways. I really can't see how A) McIlroy benefits from cod Oirish American's at all, b) why he would care if they didn't support him.

4.Once again, I reiterate that as McIlroy is non religious the religious bigotry of ROI/NI will not have bearing on his decision,
5. What does Mo Farah have to do with this?

I actually couldn't care if he represents GB or ROI, I still think he's a great golfer, albeit a bit of a big head. What I find difficult to grasp is that people (and this is the original point) will alter their support for him on the basis of who he chooses to represent.

How silly is that?

1. I'm sure he realises (like Obama) that it helps the career to be proud of your Irish heritage.
2. You are clueless - way out of your depth here.
3. You don't do anything to offend a ready-made connection of a commericial market of 40 million by rejecting a heritage that they are all very proud of.
4. Can we clear this up - Scotland, NI & Greece top the EU list of worst countries for racism/biggotry/sectarianism. I think the ROI is about 40th in the list - well below England. We don't need any lectures from you on biggotry until you clean up your own act in Scotland.
5. GB would have had fewer Olympic medals without the help of Somalian born Mo Farah.

Ouch, see you later guys! Play nice..... ....