A Happy, Prosperous and Peaceful New Year to Everyone in 2012
US and British Open winners Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke have both received awards on the Queen’s New Year Honours List.
McIlroy, 22, gets an MBE while Clarke, who is 20 years his senior is awarded an OBE. The pair are among 55 from Northern Ireland to be honoured this New Year.
Ireland rugby coach Declan Kidney has named Munster lock Paul O’Connell as team captain for the forth coming Six Nations tournament. Capped 83 times for Ireland, O’Connell takes over the role as Brian O’Driscoll misses the whole tournament after a shoulder operation.
The 2009 Lions captain will lead out the Ireland team in their first match against Wales at home in Dublin on 5th February. Ireland’s other matches are away to France followed by home matches against Italy and Scotland with their final match away to England at Twickenham on St. Patrick’s Day, 17th March.
