Offaly county board chairman Michael Duignan says what's impressed him most about Shane Lowry is his determination and ambition.
It was announced last year that Lowry had become an official partner of Offaly GAA, and will support commercial and fundraising initiatives.
"I don't think people realise how determined that man, and how passionate he is," Duignan told BBC NI's The GAA Social podcast about the world number 24 ranked golfer.
15 August 2021; Golfer and Offaly supporter Shane Lowry, right, during the closing stages of the 2021 Eirgrid GAA Football All-Ireland U20 Championship Final match between Roscommon and Offaly at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
"When you meet him, his eyes blaze. People see him as this easy-going, happy-go-lucky fella - he's not, he's very determined, very ambitious. That's what impresses me about him. He's out there to win majors. You can see the choices he's making, moving to America, and settling his family there."
'Shane Lowry is so interested'
Duignan continud: "He's partnering with us, supporting us. He's very interested in what we're doing. He's away most of the time now. He's living in America full-time, but's home for a month or six week for the Irish Open, British Open. That's the way it'll be for years to come.
"He gave us some money himself, [a six-figure sum]. He has plans for a golf tournament in Florida next February, which should raise a significant few quid for us. He's committed to doing something every year or so that will bring in a few quid. We didn't really go too deep into it after that.
29 June 2022; Shane Lowry of Ireland with his coach Neil Manchip and his caddie Brian Martin during the Horizon Irish Open Golf Championship Pro-Am at Mount Juliet Golf Club in Thomastown, Kilkenny. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
"Money is very important, but his involvement is more important. He is so interested. I met him the other day. We were talking about the minor hurlers. He was talking about the U20s footballers from last year, the seniors. He knows all the players.
"It's like he's still living at home, and he's still one of the lads going to matches. If he was at home, he'd be at every match. He sent me a picture during the All-Ireland minor semi-final, Offaly and Clare, with the feet up watching on the TV. He'd just missed the cut in the US Open by a shot, but he was watching the match."
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