Scheme honours Paddy Harrington

In Padraig Harrington's case, it seemed appropriate that the graduation gown he donned for yesterday's conferring of honorary doctorate degrees at NUI Maynooth should be red and white, the colours of the Cork footballers worn so proudly by his late father Paddy.

While Harrington and Paul McGinley were recipients of the honorary degrees, the occasion was also used to announce a new scholarship scheme for undergraduates at the college, to be called the Paddy Harrington Golf Scholarships. The scholarships will include a structured golf programme based at Carton House, where the GUI's national academy is based.

"Junior golf was very close to my dad's heart," said Harrington. "He would love to have been a coach - not golf, more a life coach. He was always into the coaching end of things, and into the mental side of things.

"It is a fitting time to launch the scholarship (on the first anniversary of his father's death). It's exactly what he would have wanted. He'd have supported anything to encourage young kids to get an education with their golf, so they are not one-dimensional. This is ideal."

Paddy Harrington played on the losing Cork team in two All-Ireland finals in the 1950s, and was a founder member of Stackstown Golf Club. "One of the things that was most exceptional about Paddy was the tremendous encouragement he gave to young golfers to continually work at their sport and refine their skills. It is only right and fitting," said Dr John Hughes, the president of NUI Maynooth, "that fantastic new undergraduate Irish golfing talent will now blossom and grow through these scholarships, named in his honour."

Applicants for the Paddy Harrington Golf Scholarships must hold a low category one handicap and should apply directly to Paul Davis, sports officer, NUI Maynooth, on 01-7083824, or email paul.davis@nuim.ie.

Harrington believes the new scheme, along with existing scholarships at other Irish colleges, will encourage players to remain in Ireland rather than go to America. "Anybody coming here (to Maynooth) will definitely benefit, both in golf and education. I would be all for that. The stronger the college scene here gets, it will grow and the players will get better and better."

Harrington and McGinley attended Coláiste Éanna in Rathfarnham, and completed their college educations before embarking on careers as professionals. Harrington qualified as an accountant, while McGinley studied marketing and business.

"It is a very, very nice thing to be given this honorary degree," said McGinley, "more so for my family. It is great to share it with Padraig. We have done so much together throughout our lives. We're joined at the hip to a large extent."

"It definitely made the day a bit more special that it's been done with Paul, the two of us together," said Harrington. "It brings home how much we've been linked over the years. He was a big role model when I was at school, because, as I do like to point out, he is five years older than me. When I got to school he was just leaving and he was the big name in terms of golf. Obviously now we're level pegging and do take each other's advice and help each other out and push each other along. That's a nice way to have it."