North coast B&B adds mural of Rory McIlroy overlooking famous golf course
Self-taught artist Ian Lowry added the finishing touches to the painting of the Masters champion on Wednesday.
The Bangor creative got to work on the colourful depiction last Tuesday after being contacted by Number 5 in Portstewart which overlooks the famous Royal Portrush Golf Club.
It comes as anticipation builds for the 153rd Open which will tee off on July 17 with McIlroy himself expected to take part.
Mr Lowry has left space to add the winner of the upcoming tournament.
'I have done artwork for her whole back garden. There is a giant wall that goes right the way around,' he said.
'I have done bits and pieces in the past. I actually did one last year for the North West 200, because the house is actually overlooking the track.
'What I have recently painted is a golf theme one, it is for the Open coming up.
'So, Rory will be up there, along with six other golfers. I am going to keep an empty space for whoever wins the Open in July.
'It is maybe about three or four foot high, and the wall runs all the way down the drive.
'The background is a golf course, along with sky and clouds. Then there are the golfers on each section of the wall,'
Mr Lowry, who began creating murals eight years ago, hand paints all his work and is reluctant to use sprays.
More used to brightening up children's bedrooms, he didn't hesitate to accept his latest commission.
'Usually it is indoor, so it is very rare I would get to do something outdoors,' Mr Lowry said.
'Nine times out of 10 I am painting baby things and cartoon characters. But every once and a while, you get to do something quite good, in portraits.'
But Ian's previous projects have included art installments for local businesses seeking to feature famous faces such as music legends Jimi Hendrix and Ozzy Osbourne, along with an NI boxing hero.
'I got one last week of Carl Frampton, that was at Integrated College Glengormley. That was actually the school he went to,' Mr Lowry said.
'That piece was in association with the Integrated Education Fund.
"Tim McGarry from Give My Head Peace was down to see it was well, because he is involved with the fund.'
The portrait of McIlroy, who laid claim to the iconic green jacket in April, also features other famous golfing faces such as Tiger Woods.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Paige Spiranac vows to wear less clothes after proving golf theory right as fans all have the same idea
PAIGE SPIRANAC has vowed to wear less clothes after a bad day out on the course. The former pro golfer admitted she played like "s***" alongside a picture of herself in a more conservative look than fans are used to. 19 Paige Spiranac hit the course in a less revealing outfit Credit: x 19 Fans are used to her playing in a skimpy set of clothes Credit: Instagram @_paige.renee Paige, 32, has previously insisted that she performs better on the course when wearing more revealing clothes. It is this style that has seen her build a fanbase of 4million followers on Instagram. She has also got another 1million followers on X, which is where she made her point yet again. She wrote: "If you've been following me for a while, you know I have this working theory that I play better when I wear less clothes. "Can confirm that science is right once again. I played like s***." Her followers have all come up with the same idea to get the stunning blonde below par. One posted: "Using that theory then, playing naked would give you the best chance of breaking par. "Is this something we'd see on YouTube or Golf Channel?" A second wrote: "I have a grand idea then…" A third commented: "If this is true then I have an idea." 'I would like to clear up the speculation' - Paige Spiranac forced to make statement after viral video A fourth said: "I concur, more clothes will affect your swing and stance." Another added: "Classic wardrobe interference. Next round: less fabric, more fire." Meanwhile, Paige recently put rumours to bed that she was involved in a hilarious golf buggy blunder. A video went viral of a woman, with a resemblance to the influencer, falling from a buggy while driving on a course. She said: "I would like to clear up the speculation. This is not me. "We all know I wouldn't be wearing a polo." A glimpse inside Paige Spiranac's glamorous life... 19 Paige Spiranac has defended her sexy outfits and says she feels comfortable in them Credit: Instagram 19 She gains messages of support whenever she posts a new photo Credit: Instagram @_paige.renee 19 Paige promoted her golfing equipment wearing this tiny, pink leotard Credit: Instagram 19 Paige put a cheeky spin on the Masters jacket ahead of the 2022 championship Credit: Twitter 19 Paige dressed as Harley Quinn for Halloween in 2022 Credit: Instagram @_paige.renee 19 Paige showed off her bum in bright red hot pants to celebrate March Madness Credit: Instagram 19 Paige has also shown her appreciation for baseball in the past Credit: Instagram 19 In an homage to Top Gun, Paige dressed as a sexy fighter jet pilot Credit: Instagram 19 Paige has amassed a strong following across her various profiles Credit: Instagram/_paige.renee 19 Paige used to be a professional golfer but turned into a social media star Credit: Instagram @ 19 Paige shares a series of raunchy pics on a daily basis Credit: Instagram @_paige.renee 19 She regularly delivers golf tips to fans Credit: Instagram @ 19 She's a firm believer in her golf advice Credit: Instagram / _paige.renee 19 Paige is not shy of the camera Credit: INSTAGRAM @_paige.renee 19 Paige regularly thrills with saucy snaps Credit: Instagram @ 19 With followers often seeing her on the course Credit: Instagram @_paige.renee
BBC News
7 hours ago
- BBC News
McIlroy taking 'positive vibes' into pre-Open break
Rory McIlroy says he is "excited" to take a break before July's Open Championship at Royal 36-year-old finished in a tie for sixth at the Travelers Championship at the weekend and will not be in action until the Scottish Open on 10-13 July, one week before the season's final major returns to world number two from Northern Ireland feels he did not take enough time away from the game after finally winning the Masters and completing the career Grand Slam in skipped the next PGA Tour event after his emotional triumph at Augusta, the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head, but was back in action just 10 days after slipping on his first Green Jacket as he and Shane Lowry finished in a tie for seventh when defending their title at the Zurich Classic. He then cut a frustrated figure at both the US PGA Championship and US Open."I think more so than anything else it'll just be good for me mentally to take a little bit of a break and get back to my neck of the woods, get back to the UK for a little bit," he said."I'm excited for that and I've alluded to the fact I probably haven't taken enough time off or time to reflect after what happened in April, so I'm excited to do a little bit of that over these next two weeks."McIlroy finished three shots behind winner Keegan Bradley at the Travelers Championship with his share of sixth place his best result since the Masters, while only US Open winner JJ Spaun shot a better round than his 65 on Sunday."It was a good way to end the week - sort of good, positive vibes going into a couple of weeks' break here to get ready for Scotland and The Open," McIlroy added."I definitely saw some positive signs in the game overall, which was really good to see and looking forward to getting back over to my neck of the woods for a couple of weeks and get prepared for a bit of links golf."
Scottish Sun
7 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I was replaced on the BBC by Gary Lineker and haven't spoken to him since, I knew he was the wrong man in the wrong job
The presenter also took a swipe at the BBC LINE-D UP I was replaced on the BBC by Gary Lineker and haven't spoken to him since, I knew he was the wrong man in the wrong job Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) GARY LINEKER was the wrong man to present the BBC's live golf coverage, claims the man he replaced. Steve Rider, who hung up his mic over the weekend, left the Beeb in 2005 to join ITV. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Gary Lineker previously hosted the BBC's golf coverage Credit: Getty 3 Steve Rider hung up his mic over the weekend Credit: Getty With Rider, now 75, having presented the BBC's live golf coverage prior to his exit, the Corporation opted to replace him with Match of the Day host Lineker. Rider initially kept quiet about his replacement, until in 2015 when Lineker took a swipe at the R&A in St Andrews. The former England captain was upset with the R&A's decision to flog rights to the Open, previously held by the Beeb, to Sky Sports. Lineker called the R&A "pompous" and "superior" - which Rider took issue with. READ MORE ON GARY LINEKER BLOCKED BY BEEB Lineker's BBC feud worsens as final interview with Mo Salah is BLOCKED The veteran presenter called Lineker at the time "the wrong man in the wrong job", before adding: "Gary was honest enough to step aside from the golf, but his attack on the R&A was sour and misguided in the extreme." Rider has now claimed that Lineker "blundered" into politics during an interview with the Telegraph. Reflecting on the presenter's controversial BBC exit, Rider added: "To put forward his opinions so energetically, you need to step outside the framework of the BBC. "That message was never convincingly conveyed to him by the BBC, and that's where they are at fault. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 3 Lineker, 64, has left the BBC in controversial circumstances Credit: PA "He needed people looking after him before he pressed the button on some fairly volatile retweets. He needed to be saved from himself. So, there was a kind of inevitability about it." Rider has not spoken to Lineker since criticising his swipe at the R&A a decade ago. Legendary BBC and ITV commentator retires after glittering 48-year career as sporting icons say goodbye During his stint with the BBC, Rider hosted Sports Personality of the Year alongside Des Lynam. Taking aim at the current incarnation of SPOTY, the outgoing ITV stalwart said: "The commercial aspect took over. "The thinking was, 'Let's take it to a 5,000-seat arena with a big shiny floor'. It killed the chemistry. "Unfortunately, this happened just as the BBC's involvement in sport started declining. "Now it's very, very uncomfortable to see. It's not the type of programme you would invent now. "It has become a bit of a ball and chain.'
