Speaking in the Assembly Chamber on Monday, Mr Dunne commented:
'I am delighted to propose this Matter of the Day, to celebrate one of Northern Ireland’s greatest ever sporting stars — Rory McIlroy, from Holywood — who has now achieved the incredible feat of completing golf’s Grand Slam of Major Championship Success, the very pinnacle of Golf.
Just over two weeks ago when he putted his final shot at ‘The Masters’ in Augusta to win that illustrious Green Jacket, Rory became only the sixth person ever in history to complete Golf’s Grand Slam of major trophies, having secured victories in The Masters, the U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and the PGA Championship.Rory put his name alongside golfing icons such as Tiger Woods and the great Jack Nicklaus. A truly phenomenal achievement, and one which we can be very proud of.From the fairways of Holywood Golf Club to the grand stages of Augusta, St Andrews, and Pebble Beach, Rory’s journey has been nothing short of inspirational, and I have no doubt there will be much more Major Success ahead in the future.
Born and raised in Holywood, County Down, Rory’s natural talent was evident from the earliest age. But talent alone does not build champions — it is matched by discipline, resilience, and a fierce drive to succeed.Rory embodied all of these qualities, nurtured by his parents Gerry & Rosie, his coaches and his friends, who always believed that the boy from Holywood would conquer the golfing world.
Rory’s success is about more than trophies. It is about representing Northern Ireland on the world stage. It is about inspiring generations of young people across our towns and cities — young boys and girls who now believe that no dream is beyond their reach. We have so many excellent Golf Clubs in every corner of Northern Ireland, including 8 within my own North Down constituency.In Rory McIlroy, we see the very best of Northern Ireland: determination, brilliance, and a generosity of spirit.
Today, we celebrate not just a golfer, but a role model, an ambassador, and a symbol of what our small place can achieve when heart, dedication and talent come together.Northern Ireland can proudly boast of having four major winners in Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell and Fred Daly, and it's very fitting that we look forward to this summer at Royal Portrush, when The Open is hosted in Northern Ireland once again.'