'He carried the spirit of our town and country'

This beautiful tribute to Shane Lowry was written by Ronan Scully, a fellow Clara native.

This past weekend, as the Ryder Cup unfolded in New York, the world watched golf, but we in Clara and County Offaly and Ireland watched Shane Lowry. Not merely a golfer, but one of our own. He carried more than clubs and courage; he carried the spirit of our town and country, the prayers of our families, the quiet heartbeat of a place where dreams take root and where one son can make the world pause, smile and celebrate.

And oh, how he celebrated when he sank that putt on the 18th green for Europe to retain the Ryder Cup. Celebrations that reminded us of Seamus Darby's when he scored the winning goal against Kerry in 1982. Shane's sharp dart forward, the jump, the double fist pumps, the quick spin and jump again, the glance back as if to make sure the golf ball had obeyed destiny, it was joy made visible. Yet for those of us who know him, it was no surprise. That joy innate in Shane flows from a lifetime shaped by family, humility, kindness, courage, hard work and integrity. Shane is Clara and Offaly in motion, the quiet strength of our streets, the generosity of our families, the resilience that runs like water beneath our feet.

Watching him lift the Ryder Cup, I thought of the Claret Jug from his Open win a few years ago, forever known in our hearts as the Clara Jug. Those trophies are more than silver and gold; it is memory, hope, pride, teamwork, dedication and faith. It carries us back to our little town of Clara, as the song goes, "where the Brosna waters flow," where childhood wonder lingers, where ordinary streets and ordinary people hold extraordinary dreams. Today, we walk ten feet tall, and tomorrow we will remember that feeling, and the next day, and the next.

Shane reminds us that celebration is not only for trophies. True celebration lives in the ordinary, the smile of a stranger, the laughter of a child, a quiet act of kindness, the courage to act with integrity when no one is watching. Shane’s victories teach us the power of integrity, humility, and self-belief. When he called a penalty on himself at a previous tournament recently that only few noticed, when he plays with quiet courage and steadfastness, he shows that greatness is measured not only in wins, but in character, faith, honesty, hard work and love. He lifts Clara, Offaly, and Ireland with him, showing that courage, honesty, and kindness endure far longer than trophies. Life is fleeting, and joy cannot wait. Psalm 118 reminds us: “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Every moment, every breath, every heartbeat holds the seed of delight if we pause to notice.

From all of us in Clara, Offaly and Ireland, Shane, with endless pride, deep gratitude, and candles still burning for you and your family, keep her lit. You are not just a champion of golf; you are a champion of the human spirit. In a world too often clouded by cynicism, hate and war, you remind us that love, hope, integrity, and joy endure.

So this week, everyone, if you can, celebrate something, big or small. A dream pursued, a kindness given or received, an ordinary day fully lived. Let your celebrations become a blessing, a light in someone else’s life. Life itself is fabulous, and every moment is worth rejoicing in. Shane Lowry showed us that when courage, character, and joy come together, the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary, and the world becomes a place of wonder once again.

Ronan Scully & the Scully family, Clara