Michael Hepworth
| RORY MCILROY: BIOGRAPHY OF AN IRISH GOLF HERO |
| HOLLYWOOD(Perfect Travel Today)8/12/14/–Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy has been a golfing prodigy since he was a toddler. He became the youngest member of Holywood Golf Club at the age of eight and appeared on television, chipping balls into a washing machine. In 2005 he became the youngest winner of the West of Ireland Championship at 15 and the Irish Close Championship at 16, going on to retain both title. After a stellar amateur career, he turned professional in 2007 and immediately made an impact in the professional game, needing just two events to win enough money to earn his European Tour card. It took him until 2009 to win his maiden title, the Dubai Desert Classic, but his progression since then has been spectacular.When Rory McIlroy claimed the Claret Jug at The Open 2014 he became only the third man in the modern golfing era to claim three Masters titles before the age of 25. Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus are his company in the record books. With his victory in the 2012 US PGA, he became the youngest player since Seve Ballesteros to win two majors. Later in 2012 he won the PGA Player of the Year and PGA Tour Player of the Year. |
Ireland is divided into 7 tourism regions. Each has it’s own special appeal for American visitors. These regions are: http://www.tourismirelandinfo.com/wheretogo/index.html
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The North West – comprising of the counties of Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monoghan and Sligo, this is probably Ireland’s most romantic region. It’s redolent of times past, with quiet lanes, sleepy villages, towering mountains and glassy loughs. The famous English novelist, Trollope, was Postmaster at Drumsna, Co. Leitrim. His fame stretch beyond writing – he invented the post box. |
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The East Coast & Midlands – made up out of counties Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, North Offaly, Westmeath and Wicklow. The East Coast and Midlands stretches from the magnificent beaches of the east coast to the majestic Shannon in the Midlands. Full of great castles and cathedrals and Wicklow boasts some of Europe’s finest garden. The Hill of Uisneach was the seat of High Kings, site of the Druid Fire Cult and the Bealtaine and Samhain Festival. Historians argue that here is the very source of halloween. |
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The West – counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon. These three counties are on the very edge of Europe and offer rugged scenery, ancient pagan monuments and religious shrines. The West remains an oasis of charm and beauty and an old saying goes ‘we’re an hour nearer the sunset than the rest of Europe’. Croagh Patrick, climbed by the Faithful in July, is one of Ireland’s best know landmarks, having been blessed by St. Patrick. |
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Shannon Region – comprising of the counties Clare. Limerick, North Tipperary and South Offaly offer the pastoral tranquility of the river Shannon and on the open moors. A view of Ireland in ancient times and as close to time travel as you will come! Liscannor, Co. Clare is the home of John Holland who invented the submarine after realizing the due to the heavy Atlantic waves, ordinary surface craft seem to spend so much time under water anyway! |
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The South West – Counties Kerry and Cork contain some of Irelands most scenic areas. The Ring of Kerry, the Skelligs, Blarney Castle and Ireland’s highest mountain – Carrauntoohill. The southwest is also home to two ports of major historical interest – Cobh Harbor and Blennerville. Cobh is where the Titanic made its last port of call and both ports were the gateway to the new worlds of Australia and North America. |
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The South East – Counties of Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford. Waterford is Irelands oldest city and home to the world famous Waterford Crystal. Wexford hosts its renowned Opera Festival each year. Kilkenny is up there with Edinburgh Castle, the Tower of London and Mad King Ludwig’s castle in Bavaria. The Long Gallery houses an extensive collection of portraits of the Butlers who have lived in the castle since 1391 and are ancestors of Diana, Princess of Wales. |
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Northern Ireland – Counties of Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone. Home of the Giant’s Causeway, the Mountains of Mourne, the Antrim Coast Road and Bushmills! This is also St. Patrick’s Country and his gravesite is in Downpatrick. Londonderry is one of the few remaining walled cities in Europe and the Titanic was built in Belfast. Northern Ireland is also the ancestral land of many Presidents of the USA. |
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Explore Ireland Islands – Ireland’s islands are as diverse as they are abundant, their craggy shores, dramatic beaches and ancient history protecting some of Ireland’s strongest cultural traditions today. |
Michael Hepworth
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