OPINION: Lowry's glory shows us big dreams can grow in small places

by Ronan Scully

What a weekend. What a victory. What a wonderful reason for Clara, Offaly, and Ireland to be proud.

There are sporting victories, and then there are moments that somehow touch something much deeper within us. Shane Lowry’s magnificent Irish Open victory at Doonbeg was one of those moments.

To win the Irish Open by an astonishing 11 shots, finishing 23-under-par after rounds of 67, 62, 65 and 63, was an extraordinary display of golfing brilliance. But what makes this achievement even more remarkable is that Shane has now won Ireland’s national championship both as an amateur and as a professional some 17 years after that unforgettable victory at Baltray in 2009.

For those of us from Clara, however, this is about much more than golf. Shane Lowry is one of our own. He is a son of Clara, a son of Offaly and a wonderful ambassador for Ireland wherever his journey takes him. We have watched with enormous pride as that young man from our little town has gone on to become an Open Champion and now a two-time Irish Open champion.

But perhaps what makes us proudest is not what Shane has achieved, but who Shane is. He has remained genuine, humble, warm, kind and caring. Despite all the fame, success and attention, there is still that sense that Shane remembers the people, places and values that helped shape him.

And behind every great sporting achievement there are people whose names may never appear on a leaderboard. There are parents who encouraged and sacrificed. Family members who believed when the road was difficult. Friends who celebrated the good days and quietly stood beside you during the bad ones. Coaches, colleagues, mentors and supporters who offered advice, encouragement, patience and love. No champion gets there completely alone.

As Scripture reminds us, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so you will fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2). Those words seem particularly appropriate when we think of the people who have walked alongside Shane throughout his remarkable journey.

There was something especially touching about the family story unfolding around this victory. Shane’s mother was there with him at Doonbeg, while his wife and children watched proudly from Florida. And while Shane was walking the fairways in Clare, his father Brendan was on the sideline in O’Connor Park in Tullamore as a selector with the Clara GAA team.

Different places. Different sporting fields. But one family, united by love, pride and that wonderful bond that exists between parents and their children. One can only imagine the emotions that were flowing through that family as Shane lifted the trophy. Perhaps the real story behind the trophy is not simply the man standing there holding it, but all those who helped him get there.

Because the scoreboard tells us who won the tournament. It does not tell us who we are. True greatness is not measured only in trophies, titles, prize money or applause. It is measured in character. In kindness. In humility. In remembering where we came from. In appreciating those who believed in us before the world began watching. And this is where Shane Lowry gives us something far more valuable than a sporting victory.

He gives people, especially young people a reason to believe. He shows them that big dreams can grow in small places. A boy from a small town in county Offaly can dream big, work hard, overcome disappointments and eventually stand on the biggest stages in world sport. But he also shows us that reaching the top does not mean leaving your roots behind. The streets of Clara, the friends you grew up with, the family who believed in you, the people who encouraged you, these things remain part of who you are.

Perhaps that is why so many people feel such affection for Shane. We see something of ourselves in him. And there is another lesson in his victory that goes beyond golf.

Life, like golf, does not always give us the perfect lie. Sometimes the wind blows against us. Sometimes we hit a terrible shot. Sometimes we stumble, lose confidence or wonder whether we will ever get another chance. But we do. We pick ourselves up. We take a breath. We believe again. And we take the next shot. Shane has experienced difficult days in his career. Yet here he stood on Sunday evening, lifting the Irish Open trophy once again. What a lesson in perseverance, courage and hope.

And perhaps we should all take a moment to celebrate not only Shane, but the people behind him. So often we congratulate the person standing on the podium and forget those who helped them climb the steps.

Today, perhaps, is a good day to remember our own unsung heroes. The parents who believed in us. The teacher who encouraged us. The friend who stood beside us. The coach who gave us another chance. The person who told us, “You can do it,” when we no longer believed it ourselves. And perhaps we should tell them. Tell someone you are proud of them. Thank someone who helped you along the way. Ring someone who has become lonely. Say “I love you” while you still have the opportunity.

These may never appear on a scoreboard, but they are the victories that matter most. Jesus tells us, “Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12). Perhaps that is the greatest lesson we can take from Shane’s wonderful weekend, that behind every achievement there is love, and that the greatest success in life is not simply reaching the top, but bringing others with us and remembering those who helped us climb.

So let us celebrate Shane, but let us also celebrate his amazing family, his friends, colleagues, coaches and all those who have walked beside him throughout his journey.

And let us celebrate Clara too. Because when Shane wins, Clara smiles. Offaly stands a little taller. And Ireland celebrates. The Brosna will keep flowing. The stories will be told for years to come. Children will pick up golf clubs and perhaps dream of following in Shane’s footsteps. And somewhere in our little town and beautiful country of Ireland, another young person may look at Shane Lowry and think, If he can do it, maybe I can too. That may ultimately be one of Shane’s greatest gifts to us.

So, Shane, from Clara, Offaly, Ireland and all of us who are immensely proud to call you one of our own and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for giving us so much joy and hope. Thank you for the memories. Thank you for the inspiration. Thank you for representing Ireland with such pride. Thank you for reminding us that where we come from should never be forgotten. And thank you for being you.

Comhghairdeas, Shane Lowry. You are a champion of Irish golf. You are a magnificent ambassador for Offaly and Ireland. But above all, may you always remain what matters most, a good man, a loving son, husband and father, a good friend, and one of our own.

May God always bless you, Shane, and all those who have loved, supported and believed in you along the way. And may your story continue to remind every young boy and girl in Ireland and beyond that big dreams can indeed grow in small places. Being a champion is wonderful. But being a good human being is greater still.

* Ronan Scully is a Clara man who works for Self Help Africa.