McIlroy lavished with praise by Irish politicians

BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND (AP) - Rory McIlroy is being hailed in Northern Ireland as the “Celtic Tiger.”

Politicians united in tribute Monday to the 22-year-old golfer who gave the country its second straight U.S. Open champion following the title of Graeme McDowell from a year ago.

McIlroy’s record-breaking performance allowed members in the Northern Ireland Assembly to suspend usual business.

Democratic Unionist Party legislator Peter Weir, who represents McIlroy’s native Holywood, said: “I stand here tired but elated.”

Another politician, Karen McKevitt, likened McIlroy’s game to that of Tiger Woods: “We have got our own Tiger. Our Celtic Tiger.”