Published: Thursday, 30th July, 2009 10:27am

A day that offers a bright future

by Editorial Department

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Rory McIlroy hits an iron to the par three 18th watched by Padraig Harrington and a packed crowd as the Duel on the Lough reached an exciting conclusion.

Three famous people caught my eye at the post match press conference for the Lough Erne Golf Challenge on Wednesday last.

As Padraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy were answering the questions of the amassed media, in the background hung a black and white photograph of the late Gordon Wilson. It reminded me that we were indeed, in the Gordon Wilson library and the symbolism was impossible to escape.

The last time Enniskillen and Fermanagh were in the eye of the world's media was an all together darker time and it would have beem impossible to imagine back in 1987, as the whole community of Fermanagh reeled under the tragedy of the Enniskillen bombing, that ever could an event like last Wednesday be staged in Northern Ireland let alone Fermanagh.

If, as many have said, that Enniskillen was the turning point of the troubles, then surely it is events like Wednesday's Duel on the Lough and the Lough Erne Golf Resort as a whole that will make sure that we never return to the dark days of the troubles. Not so much beacons of hope but beacons of reality, Northern Ireland and Fermanagh are moving on and look at the benefits that it can bring.

Rory McIlroy also made the point during the press conference when quizzed as to whether the course was good enough for a European Tour event when he said: "You see the crowds today, Northern Ireland is crying out for a big tournament."

Northern Ireland has moved into a new era and especially in terms of sport, hospitality and tourism, that new era needs the right facilities to attract visitors to the county.

Lough Erne Golf Resort is all about the right facilities and credit must also go to Lough Erne owner Jim Treacy, whom Jimmy Nesbitt rightly joked must "have balls of steel" in being able to deliver such an ambitious project.

The large crowd that attended is indeed indicative of the fact that people throughout Ireland want and deserve to see top class sporting events and for it to be on our own dooorstep made it all the more special.

What's more, Mr Harrington and Mr McIlroy certainly delivered some top class action.

37-year-old Padraig Harrington with three major titles under his belt is the most successful Irish golfer in history while it was recently said of Rory McIlroy "he has all of the components to be the best player in the world, there's no doubt. It's just a matter of time and experience, and then basically gaining that experience in big events".

When it is Tiger Woods uttering those words, then you know that perhaps on Wednesday we were privileged to be watching something a bit special. Indeed, as McIlroy knocked it around Lough Erne in 68 blows, including a couple of three putts on two of the par fives, you got the impression he could have shot 64 if he had his putting boots with him.

At the press conference, he agreed. "I would love to get another crack at it," he enthused but for now the course record will stand at 68 to young McIlroy.

All in all, it was a great day, the weather relented, the crowds thronged and the golf was spectacular. Harrington, may not be showing the form of last year yet but some of his shots were out of the top drawer.

At the par five 16th, with the tee box perched high into the woods and with water on the right he pulled his drive into the top of a massive bunker and it plugged. He hacked out but then with a downhill lie, he proceeded to smack a superb five wood/rescue club onto the green after which he holed his putt for a spectacular birdie.

McIlroy is massive off the tee and his drive at the par five fourth almost reached the walkway, leaving a short-ish iron to the green. He simply hits the ball miles, and there is nothing to him, he is all talent and timing.

It was simply a great day in every sense of the word, great because it was in Fermanagh, great because it is showed what Northern Ireland and Fermanagh has to offer and just great to be a part of it.

And so, at the end of the game, as the two players spoke to the throng of the media about the course, Fermanagh and the Resort, they did so in the Gordon Wilson Library.

A pretty fitting end then to a day that spoke volumes about the future for us all in this new era for Northern Ireland.