Northern Ireland

Shane Lowry’s proud granny enjoys her first brandy in 10 years after his Open success

Shane Lowry's granny Emily Scanlon. Picture by RTÉ
Shane Lowry's granny Emily Scanlon. Picture by RTÉ Shane Lowry's granny Emily Scanlon. Picture by RTÉ

SHANE Lowry’s proud granny enjoyed her first brandy in 10 years after her grandson was crowned Open Champion.

"I drank two yesterday, it’s nearly killing me," said Emily Scanlon.

Speaking from Co Offaly after Lowry won the famous Claret Jug at Royal Portrush Golf Course, she attributed his golfing success to the budding sports star eating turf as a child.

She told RTÉ that when minding him as a child, if she had to leave the room she would put him in the turf box. She said on one occasion when she returned from hanging washing on the line she found he had eaten some of the turf.

"He’d have all the turf mould ate," she said.

Ms Scanlan said her grandson was always determined in being "full of life and full of go".

"He saw so much in life," she said.

"He had a great upbringing.

"I remember minding him while the mother was working, he was always on the go."

She said it had been "emotional" watching him secure his first Major on Sunday and had led to enjoy her first brandy in a decade.

But she said "it’s great being able to see all of this happen".

"I am a very proud granny," she added.

"It’s great to live to see all of this happen."

Ms Scanlon also recalled the time when Lowry, as a teenager, won a competition in Mullingar.

She said that on his return, she asked him to bring in some turf.

"He came home and I was shouting at him, saying get out there and bring me in a bucket of turf," she said.

"He said, 'you won't see Tiger Woods bringing in turf'.

"You know, he thought he was Tiger Woods when he won the Mullingar Scratch Cup."

The proud granny added that his Open win had also given "our little town a great boost, which was needed, because there's so much doom and gloom going on".