Sevco mad Rory McIlroy has confirmed he will play for Ireland at the 2016 Rio Olympics, after almost two years of uncertainty. McIlroy caused controversy in September 2012 when he suggested he had always "felt more British than Irish", sparking speculation he would join the British Olympic team. The 25-year-old, from Holywood, Co Down, has spent his career playing for Ireland under the Golfing Union of Ireland, a 32-county organisation. Confirming he would continue to represent Ireland yesterday, McIlroy said his childhood memories of playing for the Ireland had swayed his decision. "I have been thinking about it a lot," he said. "I don't know if it is because the World Cup is in Brazil and I was thinking a couple of years down the line. "I was thinking about all the times I have played for Ireland as a boy and everything. "For me it is the right decision to play for Ireland." The golfer announced his decision yesterday afternoon at a press conference for the Irish Open at Fota Resort in Co Cork. Members of the Irish media applauded McIlroy following his announcement. The Republic's sports minister Michael Ring welcomed McIlroy's decision, saying it would "surely improve our medal hopes". "I am delighted Rory has declared for Ireland," he said. Golf is organised on an all-is-land basis in Ireland but an special exemption was made to allow professional golfers to play under a Northern Ireland banner. McIlroy represented Ireland at amateur level and has played for the country - alongside Graeme McDowell from Portrush, Co Antrim - in the 2009 and 2011 Golf World Cups. The difficult decision for McIlroy arose when golf was accepted into the Olympics and he was faced with a decision of opting to continue playing for Ireland or choosing the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team. The golfer has spoken several times of the difficult decision of choosing between Britain or Ireland. He previously said he had received support from "all sides" and it would be "terrible to nearly segregate myself from one of those groups that supports me so much". Just four months ago, he said he still had not made a decision. "There's no real urgency at the moment, and I couldn't even imagine planning my schedule that far ahead," McIlroy told the US PGA Tour website in February." he said. "I will have to decide, however, and take into consideration many sensibilities." Golfers will compete for Olympic gold in 2016 for the first time in more than a century. McDowell will also represent Ireland after he played for the country at last year's World Cup of Golf. Under Olympic rules, his decision to play for Ireland at the event meant that he could not represent Britain at the Olympics. Peter Robinson has claimed his decision was a racist one
No don't think so,as a amateur he was nurtured in a All Ireland set up so it's his way of paying some of that back
It's a tricky one Ciaran and could easily head for a 100 pager!He has played for Ireland before with McDowell in 2011 and to quote him November 25th, 2011 Rory McIlroy while playing in the World Cup for Ireland at Mission Hills with Graeme McDowell âIn the island of Ireland you have people playing rugby, cricket, hockey and golf, and if you play for your country you play for the whole of Ireland. It never has been that big a deal in rugby so I feel it shouldnât be a big deal in golf, either. http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/golf/mcilroy-timeline-road-to-long-awaited-decision-1.1837116 The British players will be delighted because it frees up a spot for them.
Katie Taylor is an Irish athlete who specialises in boxing. Boxing and training with the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, she is the current Irish, European, World and Olympic Champion in the 60 kg division. Wikipedia Born: June 2, 1986 (age 28), Bray Height: 1.65 m Parents: Peter Taylor
