Taoiseach in illustrious company as he joins Rory McIlroy for Irish Open Pro-Am in Killarney, writes ANNE LUCEYin Killarney
THE ARRIVAL of Taoiseach Enda Kenny on the shores of Lough Leane to play on Rory McIlroy’s team at yesterdays Irish Open Pro-Am curtain raiser in Killarney turned a day of golf into an allegory for politics.
Politician into golfer is, after all, the kind of transformation that regularly occurs by the same lake where legend has it Fionn Mac Cumhail caught the salmon of knowledge, becoming wise and contemplative as a result.
And it was the Taoiseach himself who began teasing out the deeper meaning of getting into the water and swinging to the right and covering one’s shots – and all of it to the delight of the crowd who shouted encouragement.
Some of them had turned out to see him, not the professional golfers such as the young McIlroy. Or so they told him. There were good-humoured shouts of “fore” as the Taoiseach marched up to take his first shot – a very good shot as it transpired.
The Taoiseach, who arrived in Killarney late the night before, revealed he hadn’t golfed seriously in months, since September in fact, as he crossed the fairway on to the first tee. His handicap was 13, he confessed to The Irish Times at the 10th hole, after more than two hours of a brisk pace around the course. “It would be in the single figures if I had time,” he whispered.
“Which is easier, golf or politics?” Kenny was asked from the crowd: “You are more likely to get a result in golf,” came the reply. But this was just before he ended in the water. “Not the first time I was in hot water,” he said pausing to sign autographs.
“To have an Irish Open with so many world champions [referring to Pádraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke] is absolutely outstanding,” said Kenny, who had his son Ferdia (17) as caddy.
“For me to play in this privileged company is outstanding – I hope I don’t injure anyone,” he added quickly, as he crossed the fairway.
It was first name terms from the start for the Fáilte Ireland team led by McIlroy and including the Taoiseach, Rory’s father Gerry, and graduate Darragh Kinsella from Sandymount in Dublin, who holds a master’s of a different kind – in project management – and who had won the opportunity to play with Rory.
It was the first time in a long while father and son had a chance to play together, Rory said. And it was the two McIlroys who were setting the pace.
After the Taoiseach failed to keep the ball right of the pin off the 5th tee, Rory McIlroy scolded him: “It would be okay if you would listen,” and the response came quickly from the crowd: “He can’t he’s a politician”.
Earlier, Clarke and McIlroy were both made honorary life members of the European Tour after their major victories this summer.
The pair were presented with their badges at the Irish Open in Killarney.
Special Olympics silver medal holder in golf, local man Michael O’Leary, was allowed to shadow the McIlroy team yesterday.