Leona Maguire made a triumphant return to the Slieve Russell Hotel in Cavan on Wednesday evening as the community turned out in force to welcome the Solheim Cup star.
The 26-year-old from Ballyconnell was a wildcard pick in her first Solheim Cup, winning 4.5 points from five matches for Europe against the USA in Ohio – a record for a rookie.
Tricolours and Cavan flags flew around the town and along the route Maguire took back to the hotel, where family, friends and supporters all gathered to celebrate her success.
"It's fantastic to see," Maguire told RTÉ News. "I think it's been an incredible year for Irish sport with Rachael Blackmore doing what she's doing, Kellie [Harrington], Ellen [Keane], Katie George [Dunleavy], Eve [McCrystal, everyone over in Tokyo.
"It's been a phenomenal year for Irish sport and it's nice to see our female athletes maybe getting the recognition they deserve.
"It's been inspirational story after inspirational story. It's nice to see the 20x20 campaign coming to fruition like this."
"I think it's been an incredible year for Irish sport."
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) September 8, 2021
Solheim Cup star Leona Maguire has made a triumphant return home to Cavan this evening. Family, friends and supporters have gathered at the Slieve Russell to help the 26-year-old from Ballyconnell celebrate her success pic.twitter.com/OhQ1STqIdw
