Former winning Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley has been handed the Freedom of Donegal ahead of this week’s Irish Legends tournament at Rosapenna.
The Dubliner, whose parents, Mick and Julia hail from Donegal, has been awarded the highest honour that Donegal County Council can bestow “in recognition of his golf achievements on the European and PGA Tour, his winning captaincy of the 2014 Ryder Cup Team and his enormous contribution in promoting Donegal as a golfing destination”.
“I’m coming here for as long as I can remember and I’m proud to promote it as a great golf destination,” said McGinley.
“There’s always a bit of banter and that’s what I love about Ireland. You can have banter about where you are from and who you represent.”
McGinley is the tenth recipient of the Freedom of Donegal, following in the footsteps of the likes of Packie Bonner and Daniel O’Donnell.
The ceremony took place at the Rosapenna Hotel in Downings ahead of the return of the Irish Legends tournament where host McGinley is promising another festival of golf.
Adult season and daily tickets for the Irish Legends at Rosapenna start as low as €20 and €10 respectively, plus children under the age of 16 are free.
The Irish Legends has attracted a number of big names to Donegal for this week’s event on the Old Tom Morris Links, including former Open champion Paul Lawrie, former Ryder Cup captain Mark James, and French pair Thomas Levet and Jean van de Velde.
- You can get your tickets HERE
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