RORY MCILROY WILL have to clear a spot on his mantelpiece to make room for the 2011 RTÉ Sports Person of the Year award.
The 22-year-old won the top prize at last night’s annual awards ceremony, capping a unforgettable season in which he celebrated his first Major title at the US Open and racked up over €5 million in prize money.
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McIlroy topped a nine-man shortlist, beating fellow nominees Darren Clarke, Katie Taylor, Michael Fennelly, Alan Brogan, Sean O’Brien, John Joe Nevin, Kevin O’Brien and Robbie Keane to the prize.
Heineken Cup champions Leinster were crowned RTÉ Sports Team of the Year while Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni picked up another Manager of the Year gong for his own trophy cabinet.
Jack Kyle, part of Ireland’s Grand Slam winning rugby team in 1948, was presented with this year’s Hall of Fame Award by Brian O’Driscoll.
The award winners were selected by a team of Donnybrook sports journalists, editorial staff and broadcasters.
The bloke is a professional golfer not a politician. Personally I admire him for not getting involved in the tired old them or us crap. He has represented Ireland with 100% commitment on several occasions at the world cup of golf and has constantly referred to the influence and help of the GUI in developing his early career. He is in the business of winning golf tournaments so if he chooses to represent the UK at the olympics he’s entitled to do that too, by virtue of his dual nationality.
In any case, the award is for the 2011 “RTE” sports person of the year. Not the “Irish” sports person of the year, or the “British” sports person of the year. How the f**k are we ever supposed to move on from the divisions on our island when we can’t even celebrate the achievements of our sports stars without constantly referring to wheter they are “one of us” or not?
As far as I am aware he has never played for Great Britain or Northern Ireland. The only team he has represented at an international competition is Ireland in the Golf World Cup. Golf isn’t a represetative sport in most cases. That’s why the Olympics issue has arisen – it’s very rare that you have to declare.
As for your identity crisis comment: McIlroy growing up in Northern Ireland post-Troubles means that he will more than likely have a complex identity – one that people here seem not to grasp (with hilariously one-dimensional views). You trying to label him into one easily understandable group probably doesn’t bother him, but it shows a very simplified view of a complex situation.
If you could give me examples of when he played for Northern Ireland or Great Britain at representative level that would be great. As far as I know, the Golf World Cup is the only time it’s an issue. And he plays for Ireland there, as golf is a 32 county sport.
He wore the Irish jersey two weeks ago at the Golf World Cup in China. We also had Ulster players representing Ireland at the recent Rugby World Cup and Cricket World Cup. All of these sports allow both communities north and south to support the same team. Sad that for some people you have to be Catholic, Nationalist and I’d guess white to qualify as an irish person.
Interesting that nobody has mentioned what McIlroy actually achieved at this years US Open. I would wager that the majority of commenters didn’t watch the event and are taking the easy option by talking about the non-issue that is politics. This is a sports award. And his performaces this year are certainly deserving of it.
Yeah, i see the usual FG begrudgers on slamming McIlroy. Rory has done more for Tourism on this Island than all the other proposals put up here by commentators…
We should be extremely proud of Rorys past and probable future achievements for this Island. If he ends up opting to play for Team GB (which i seriously doubt he will), it will not detract from the millions of euros the Golfing tourism sector has beneffited from his association with the Golf Union of Ireland (Clark, McDowell, McIlroy and Harrington all play under this banner. So enough of the segregation crap from the partitonist begrudgers.
Me personally, i say thanks Rory and a well deserved accolade.
Well said Cal. Personally I would have liked to see Katie Taylor get the recognition because she is a wonderful sports person and role model. But the fact is she competes in a minority sport (womens boxing as opposed to boxing in general) whereas McIlroy competes in one of the most played, and difficult to excel at, sports in the world. Well done to both of them, and all our great sports stars and continued good luck in 2012.
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Really annoyed Katie didn’t win.
Lets remember this when he declares for the uk at the olympics.
Sorry team GB.
Yip, he’s Irish when it suits him alrite.
The bloke is a professional golfer not a politician. Personally I admire him for not getting involved in the tired old them or us crap. He has represented Ireland with 100% commitment on several occasions at the world cup of golf and has constantly referred to the influence and help of the GUI in developing his early career. He is in the business of winning golf tournaments so if he chooses to represent the UK at the olympics he’s entitled to do that too, by virtue of his dual nationality.
In any case, the award is for the 2011 “RTE” sports person of the year. Not the “Irish” sports person of the year, or the “British” sports person of the year. How the f**k are we ever supposed to move on from the divisions on our island when we can’t even celebrate the achievements of our sports stars without constantly referring to wheter they are “one of us” or not?
@Tom Gallagher
When has he ever claimed to be Irish to suit his needs? What are you on about?
He’s played for Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain at different times. Bit of an identity crisis
As far as I am aware he has never played for Great Britain or Northern Ireland. The only team he has represented at an international competition is Ireland in the Golf World Cup. Golf isn’t a represetative sport in most cases. That’s why the Olympics issue has arisen – it’s very rare that you have to declare.
As for your identity crisis comment: McIlroy growing up in Northern Ireland post-Troubles means that he will more than likely have a complex identity – one that people here seem not to grasp (with hilariously one-dimensional views). You trying to label him into one easily understandable group probably doesn’t bother him, but it shows a very simplified view of a complex situation.
If you could give me examples of when he played for Northern Ireland or Great Britain at representative level that would be great. As far as I know, the Golf World Cup is the only time it’s an issue. And he plays for Ireland there, as golf is a 32 county sport.
What a joke and he’s not even Irish. KatieTaylor?
Katie Taylor should have won it, if she was a bloke she’d have won it!!
Yes this man will never wear the Irish jersey by his own admission yet we award him… Plenty of true Irish people worthy of this award!!
He wore the Irish jersey two weeks ago at the Golf World Cup in China. We also had Ulster players representing Ireland at the recent Rugby World Cup and Cricket World Cup. All of these sports allow both communities north and south to support the same team. Sad that for some people you have to be Catholic, Nationalist and I’d guess white to qualify as an irish person.
Ho Ho Ho and Merry Christmas to you too Begrudgy!
My Sports person of the year Katie Taylor
My Team(s) of the year the Dubs tied with Peamount Ladies ( for qualifying for the Champions league)
Manager of the year Michael O Neill Of Shamrock Rovers.
Some great sport in 2011 and looking forward to 2012
Yes totally agree. Katie Taylor should have won.
Thought it should’ve been Katie, Dublin should have won team and Gilroy manager but Congrats to all who did win!
Not sure why the Dubs should win best team – an Irish team always wins the All Ireland.
The blues deserve best team because they won a big international competition.
If the Dubs got it, would they have to get it every third year from now on? ;)
Interesting that nobody has mentioned what McIlroy actually achieved at this years US Open. I would wager that the majority of commenters didn’t watch the event and are taking the easy option by talking about the non-issue that is politics. This is a sports award. And his performaces this year are certainly deserving of it.
Katie Taylor deserved it, she is a knock out!
Yeah, i see the usual FG begrudgers on slamming McIlroy. Rory has done more for Tourism on this Island than all the other proposals put up here by commentators…
We should be extremely proud of Rorys past and probable future achievements for this Island. If he ends up opting to play for Team GB (which i seriously doubt he will), it will not detract from the millions of euros the Golfing tourism sector has beneffited from his association with the Golf Union of Ireland (Clark, McDowell, McIlroy and Harrington all play under this banner. So enough of the segregation crap from the partitonist begrudgers.
Me personally, i say thanks Rory and a well deserved accolade.
Well said Cal. Personally I would have liked to see Katie Taylor get the recognition because she is a wonderful sports person and role model. But the fact is she competes in a minority sport (womens boxing as opposed to boxing in general) whereas McIlroy competes in one of the most played, and difficult to excel at, sports in the world. Well done to both of them, and all our great sports stars and continued good luck in 2012.
Katie Taylor, by a country mile.