Lowry returned home to the small parish in Ireland鱿鱼视频app Midlands region and received a hero鱿鱼视频app welcome July 23 after winning the Open Championship, one of golf鱿鱼视频app four major championships, two days earlier.
During the competition, many people were struck by the image of Lowry鱿鱼视频app mother, Bridget, clutching a statue of St. Anthony at the course in Portrush, Northern Ireland.
Deegan, priest at St. Brigid鱿鱼视频app Catholic Church in Clara, described Bridget Lowry as a 鈥渧ery active parishioner鈥� and a woman of 鈥済reat faith.鈥�
鈥淪he has a very strong devotion to St. Anthony,鈥� he said.
As a youth, Shane Lowry was an altar server at the parish. During Masses July 20 and 21, parishioners prayed for his success.
鈥淲e ... included him in our prayers of intercession; there was great anticipation. The whole place, you can feel a buzz around the town,鈥� Deegan said.
He said he prayed that 鈥渢he Lord鱿鱼视频app peace would be upon him in his endeavours, like all people involved in sport, that they would know something of God鱿鱼视频app glory and goodness in their lives.鈥�
Lowry, 32, began playing golf at age 12 but was also involved in the local Gaelic Athletic Association club; however, golf won out over Gaelic football.
鈥淎s a parish, as a community, we feel very proud of Shane as a native, and his family, I mean they鈥檙e lovely people, good solid earthly people, and it鱿鱼视频app great for Clara. It鱿鱼视频app a small town, it鱿鱼视频app not on any major tourist map or anything like that, but it may change now,鈥� said Deegan.
鈥淭here鱿鱼视频app a great feeling of pride and elation ... it鱿鱼视频app given a great boost to the community,鈥� Deegan told The Irish Catholic.
Lowry won the 148th Open with a six-stroke victory over Tommy Fleetwood, becoming just the fourth players in the last 50 years to win his first major by more than five shots.
The tournament marked the first time in 68 years that the Open was played in Northern Ireland.