Loyalist band snubs €23k offer to postpone parade that clashes with Open at Portrush
Liam Tunney and Adam McKendry
A loyalist band whose annual parade clashes with the 153rd Open Golf Championship in Portrush was offered, and rejected, £20,000 (€23,000) to postpone its event.
More than 60 bands and 2,000 people are expected to march through the town as part of a Portrush Sons of Ulster parade on Saturday July 19, which would coincide with the day's golfing action coming to a close.
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Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Doyle thrills the crowds at Baltray to book quarter-final spot
If John Doyle felt any nerves standing on County Louth's 18th green then he didn't show them. The Fota Island star calmly rolled his eight-foot birdie putt into the hole to defeat Germany's Tim Brohl one up and make it through to the quarter finals of the R&A Boys' Amateur Championship. No pressure despite a gallery of approximately 100 people willing the ball to go in – and hoping the boy from Cork goes on to break a 39-year Irish drought in the premier under-18 event. You have to go back to 1986 to find an Irish winner of the Boys' Amateur. Doyle is the last Irish player in the draw following Adam Fahey's second round defeat. The former County Louth member lost at the 19th hole to Czech Republic player Mikulas Vojtesek despite holding a three-hole advantage at one stage of the match. Brohl proved more than an adequate opponent against Doyle. There was never more than one hole separating the pair. The German teenager held a one-hole lead from the 12th to the 15th holes before dropping a shot at the 16th to go back to all-square. They halved the 17th before Doyle stole the show on the last. 'The match was nip and tuck the whole time,' Doyle said. 'He's a good player and I didn't feel totally confident with my irons. I just battled, did my best and stuck to my routine. I was expecting extra holes to be honest. So was the sizeable gallery. Their relief on the last was almost palpable when Doyle's ball found the bottom of the cup. He added: 'I like having a crowd, to be honest. It's nice when you're playing well. It's not so great if you're not. They were fair to Tim as well so that was grand. I've played in front of a few crowds this year so I'm getting used to it and adapting to it. 'There was obviously more expectation today. I could feel it but at least I fulfilled it today and I'll try to do my best tomorrow as well.' Doyle can attain an Irish double if he does go on to win the title. He won the Irish Boys' Amateur Open Championship in April. He won the Munster Men's Amateur Open the following week and in June lost in a play-off to Scotland's Cameron Adam for the St Andrews Links Trophy. 'I had a poor enough year last year, but I've just improved my game in every area a little bit this season and that seems to have made a big difference,' he said. 'My mental routine has been especially good. I have to thank Leanne Sharpe and my swing coach Michael Collins for that. 'They've been fantastic. Leanne's the psychologist for the Irish Boys' team and I've spent a lot of time with her on my routine and simple mental things that have added up to some good golf this year.' Doyle now faces Spaniard Yago Horno in the last eight. Kuan Zhuo can still bring the Boys' Amateur trophy back to the United States of America for the first time since fellow American Stuart Scheftel achieved that honour in 1928. Zhuo earned his quarter-final spot with a 3&1 win over England's Spencer Davies. Zhuo's last-eight hopes didn't look too good when the Wallasey Golf Club member was three up through six holes. 'I just thought to myself that if I could get back to two down that I'd have a chance on the back nine,' Zhou said. He did that when he won the par-3 7th hole with a par when Davies hit his tee shot through the green and couldn't get up and down. 'I then got a bit of a lucky break on 10 when he missed a short putt and then I just played steady golf after that,' Zhou added. He plays Bruno Frontero in the quarter-finals, one of two Italians through to the last eight along with Alessio Brunella. Callixte Alzas of France remains on course to finish as leading qualifier and go on to win the title. He defeated India's Kartik Singh 2&1 and now plays Sweden's Oscar Stendahl. Long-time DP World Tour fans might recognise the name Lafeber in the quarter-final draw. Guus Lafeber from the Netherlands is the son of 2003 Dutch Open winner Maarten Lafeber and will play Brunella in the last eight. Kris Kim's dream of becoming the first player since 1964 to repeat as Boys' Amateur winner ended in the second round. The 2023 Champion lost 2&1 to Frontero.
Irish Examiner
07-08-2025
- Irish Examiner
Ireland defeat Wales in the Boy's and Girl's Home Internationals
Ireland finished on a high as they defeated Wales on the final day of the R&A Boys' & Girls' Home Internationals in Cork. After back-to-back defeats against Scotland and England, the Irish were dominant in the morning foursomes on Thursday and that laid the platform for their brilliant win over the Welsh. The first match out, Hannah Lee-McNamara and Zoe McLean-Tattan, set the tone with a 7&6 victory and by the time Caelan Coleman and Barry O'Connell won their match 2&1, it put Ireland into a 6-1 lead. Kate Dillon, Róisín Scanlon, McLean-Tattan and Ella Cantwell gave Ireland the perfect start to the afternoon singles, and there were further wins for William O'Riordan, John Moran, Coleman and O'Connell. Ireland ended up winning the singles 9-5 and that resulted in a 15-6 overall total while the Girls' finished second in their standings. 'It was an absolutely brilliant bounce back today after the disappointment of yesterday,' said Girls' Captain Brenda Craig. 'The girls really stood up and very proud of them, won two matches this morning and the first four matches this afternoon to get the girls over the line and the boys had a great day as well, so absolutely thrilled. 'They did exactly what we asked them to do and absolutely thrilled. Brilliant day and taking away a piece of silverware really tops it off.' Just a few weeks ago Ireland secured a brilliant bronze medal at the European Girls' Amateur Team Championships in Slaley Hall, England. And this was another huge boost for a side who will see the likes of Dillon, Scanlon, Lucy Grattan and Ella Moynihan all moving on ahead of next season. Meanwhile, a youthful looking Irish Boys' side also defeated Wales on Thursday, and they will take plenty of positives from this campaign. 'Yesterday was so close we had a great chance to beat England and just pipped on the line but the fine margins that sport brings, so we bounced back and went out with the intention of getting something from the week,' said Boys' Captain John Carroll. 'We have a very young team so it was great to see the lads who lost down the stretch yesterday, come through today and win their points. Hopefully they keep learning and keep improving for next year and into the future. 'These lads have put in a long shift and girls, they've been training since last November and toured Europe, played loads of tournaments so it's great that the girls have won a trophy and we're also winning a trophy.' England secured the overall title after winning all three matches, thanks to a resounding 13-8 victory over Scotland. The English were 4-3 ahead after the morning foursomes and won all six of the Girls' matches in the afternoon. Victories for Harry Cox, Jack Swift and Alex Boyes saw the overall side over the line. England have now won all five of the combined events since its inception in 2021, and their Captain India Clyburn was thrilled with her side. 'It's great to keep that winning streak. Didn't realise that before the beginning of the week so had that in mind and that's a good stat to keep going. Really pleased for the girls and boys to win each day and get it over the line,' said Clyburn. 'The girls have played some fantastic golf and got better every day really. I don't even think at one point we were ever really down in a match, so we were always up from the front and we kept that going. 'Yesterday getting 6-0 in the afternoon and then we knew we could do it, so we tried it again this afternoon and we managed and we didn't lose today, we got that half in the morning and apart from that we won all the games. 'They played some great golf, strong performances from everybody.' The victorious English side in Cork. Pic:@Bryan Keane/Inpho. In the Mens and Womens Home Internationals, Ireland went down 11.5-9.5 to hosts England. It was a tight battle all the way at Woodhall Spa. All three Irish women's pairs won their foursomes matches in the morning, and with the men sharing the spoils, Ireland took a 5-2 lead into the singles. Beth Coutler and Emma Fleming both won their singles matches, but England fought back, taking six out of eight singles matches on the mens side to take the overall win. Ireland take on Scotland in their final match on Friday. They will not be able to take the overall crown but the women's team are top of their standings with two wins out of two and will be hoping for a clean sweep against the Scots.
Irish Examiner
06-08-2025
- Irish Examiner
Ireland looking to bounce back from England defeat against Wales
Ireland Boys' Captain John Carroll says the future is bright as his players were resolute in defeat to England on the second day of the R&A Boys' & Girls' Home Internationals in Cork. A youthful looking Irish outfit battled hard against their more experienced opponents with Isaac Oliver (5&4), William O'Riordan (3&1) and Caelan Coleman (3&2) grabbing three precious victories in the afternoon singles. It was a tough day for the combined Irish side, with England claiming a 14.5-6.5 win and while they turn their attentions to Scotland and a winner-takes-all clash tomorrow, Ireland will face Wales looking for more positives. 'It was always going to be tough. We came here knowing that England are probably the strongest of the four home nations but we gave it a good go,' said Carroll. 'We have picked a very young team with a view to giving them experience for next year, we had a disappointing European Championships in Czech Republic where we got relegated to Division 2. 'Hopefully these 16-year-olds, and in one case a 15-year-old, will get the experience to get us back up next year to Division 1. We have got one more chance against Wales so hopefully we will get a positive result tomorrow. Barry O'Connell (Douglas) takes a shot. Pic: ©INPHO/Tom O'Hanlon 'They are a great bunch of lads, I took over as Captain last November and I have had the best time. Fantastic group, there is never an issue with them, travelling around France, Scotland, England, Spain, all over Europe. 'A great crew, they have built up a great bond and they are a young team. This year wasn't their year but hopefully next year and the year after will see a big improvement. 'Our girls will go out first (against Wales), our girls have been flying, they came third in the European Championships getting a bronze medal, doing the country proud. 'We have got some fantastic girl golfers, they will be leading us out first thing in the morning and then the boys will be out afterwards. 'Hopefully we can reverse the result from today and get a win tomorrow.' Ireland had two victories in the morning foursomes today with Hannah Lee-McNamara and Zoe McLean-Tattan, and Caelan Coleman and Harry O'Hara winning their matches. However, they fell 4.5-2.5 behind and England took control early in the afternoon singles. Scotland also secured their second straight win on Wednesday after a comprehensive 15-6 defeat of Wales. The Scots were 5.5-1.5 ahead following the morning foursomes and won nine of the singles matches to keep their campaign on track. 'Delighted with that, I thought today would be a really tough game and it was but the troops have come through again. Some great golf out there from both teams and very happy to win,' said Scotland Captain Stuart Johnston. 'That (England) will be tough obviously, they are a good team. They have got a lot of great players so we will just go out and do our best, take it match by match. 'If we prevail then that is fantastic, if we don't then we will give it our best shot.'
