Civic honour is on the cards for our golf hero Padraig
Evening Herald
Padraig Harrington relaxes by the pool in Detroit with his seven-month-old son Ciaran after his historic back-to-back majors.
Tuesday August 12 2008
PRESSURE is mounting to properly recognise Padraig Harrington's sensational achievements in the USPGA and British Open golf majors after comments by his brother that the golfer is underappreciated by the Irish public.
Tadhg Harrington has said the Irish public have a "very strange love affair" with the three times Major winner.
His comments come as momentum builds around Padraig being awarded a major civic honour following his incredible win on Sunday.
"The Irish public have a very strange love affair with Padraig. I hope that he has gone someway towards making them realise there's a lot of work that goes on in the background to get that, as people say, stare -- that look in his eyes," Tadhg said.
He was asked on Newstalk whether he thinks Padraig is underappreciated at home.
"I do. And the gas thing is, Padraig would have no idea of that. I know this is hard to believe, like the leaderboard which he doesn't look at, he actually never reads newspapers. If something comes on the television about him, he'll turn down the sound," Tadhg replied.
Pressure is now mounting on the Government and local authorities to officially recognise the Dubliner's proud achievements. Harrington's USPGA title followed back-to-back British Open triumphs.
He can now count himself among Europe's greatest ever golfers after conquering America on Sunday.
And the triple major winner's Stackstown Golf Club in Dublin has backed calls for an appropriate tribute.
"He is not due back in Ireland until September but the country should have a proper homecoming planned for him by then," a spokesman said.
Dublin City Council and the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism appear willing to oblige.
The council said it would "love to honour (Padraig's) achievements" and it is in the process of contacting the golfer through his agent to arrange it.
The Department of Sport said: "The Government feels his achievements merit special recognition."
On Sunday, Padraig became the first European in 78 years to win the famous Wanamaker trophy at Oakland hills in Michigan.
- Cormac Murphy
