Paul McGinley

Paul McGinley (B. Dublin,1966) is a renowned golfer whose his roots lie in County Donegal.  His mother is Julia Sheridan,  from Rathmullan and his father is Mick McGinley from Dunfanaghy.  Paul McGinley is unstinting in his support to Donegal, spending many happy childhood holidays in the county and continuing to visit to this day.  In 2005, as part of the Ryder Cup team, he visited the Mount Errigal Hotel with the coveted trophy, helping to raise a substantial amount of money for charity.  Later in 2009 he came to Barnhill Golf Course in Letterkenny to play the newly conditioned course alongside three local golfers.  After his four ball, and accompanied by his father Michael, he addressed the club members and answered their many questions.  At that very occasion he voiced a hope that he would one day lead the European Ryder Cup team as Captain. 

He was the first selected Irish Captain to head up the European Ryder Cup team in 2014 at Gleneagles in Scotland.  Talking to RTE on Morning Ireland, the day after his appointment,  he said he was ‘humbled’ to be selected by his peers to captain the team. He conveyed his deep appreciation of the support and loyalty he got from so many of his golfing peers, including Rory McIlroy and Pádraig Harrington, saying the selection process was a tough one. 

In the extensive interview he described how his success in the golf world was due in no short measure to his involvement and background in GAA, saying he greatly admired the strategies and team loyalty inspired by the association. He singled out Donegal and Jim McGuinness for special mention in the interview saying how proud he was of the Donegal Senior Team’s huge success in winning the 2012 All Ireland, acknowledging that his Dad would be very proud of this appointment! 

Paul McGinley is married to Allison and has three children.