Des Power

[Jamie Kennedy @jamierkennedy]

Thoughts on Strandhill…

1. Blown away. What a fun and visually stunning course. Playable, varied and scenic.

2. Nearly got tired of saying “what a hole” on every tee. But the par four 13th was the memorable one. Also the stretch from 2 to 7.

3. Great village and seaside feel to the whole place. Horses in the water, surf school by the course, school next door, again it just feels immensely connected to the community.

4. One of the best sets of green shapes you’ll find. Punch bowls, tiers, in among dunes, back boards and slopes feeding balls in. Lots of options on approach and around the greens.

5. One of those rare courses where there’s 3-4 spots on the course where you feel like you can see the entire course and get a sense of holes to come.

6. The sand dune overlooking the course has to be the largest one I’ve ever seen. Basically a sand mountain. The 7th tee built into it gives a cool view of the town.

7. The nod I got from an old man walking along the beach when I hit a chip on the 7th up a hill and rolled it down to a few feet, highlight of my trip. Praise from the locals.

8. Could honestly be one of my favourite places to play golf (and today was the first time I visited). Will definitely be back.

[Des Power @Des_Power]

@kclairerogers Walk the course from 1 to 18 in sequence… Enjoy !

[Andrej Karpathy @karpathy]

https://t.co/Lb6T42n5jl

[The Ivors Academy @IvorsAcademy]

🏆 The Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically goes to Mine  
written by @orlagartland

[Des Power @Des_Power]

@orlagartland @kilbyblockparty A non-trivial undertaking seriously and joyously executed. Perhaps a wee break now…

[Des Power @Des_Power]

@orlagartland @IvorsAcademy Very cool. A highlight of Olympia gig with some great guitar work. Congrats !

[Des Power @Des_Power]

@LorraineTwohill @Google This is so inspiring Lorraine. Wishing that family the very best.

[Des Power @Des_Power]

@LaurenGuilfoyle @DavidGillick @RTEsport Its amazing empathy

[Des Power @Des_Power]

@MichaelsCoDub Well done !

[Des Power @Des_Power]

@RosannaLoftus @DeelRoversGAA Nice one @Rosanna !

[Des Power @Des_Power]

@Fitzpatrick1Rob @golfcourseaward @NickDougherty5 @IrishGolfDesk @amateur_info @IrishGolferMag @golfruinedlife @oceanfmsport @GolfBible @IrishOpen_ @gregallenRTE Congratulations to all at Co Sligo Golf Club….. a great achievement !

[Des Power @Des_Power]

@Fitzpatrick1Rob @CountySligoGC @NiamhCrowleyVln @wildatlanticway This is so cool. Best wishes to @Fitzpatrick1Rob and @NiamhCrowleyVln for the upcoming year.

[Des Power @Des_Power]

Such a magic gig last night by @bonnylightband last night in @Vicar_Street. They seemed to
love it too :)

[Des Power @Des_Power]

@tomhappens Wasn’t it just brilliant !!!

[@victoriamary @Victoriamary]

Shane’s original lyrics for #fairytaleofnewyork

[Des Power @Des_Power]

@MacEvilly

[Des Power @Des_Power]

What a beautiful tribute from Federer to Nadal…..

[Roger Federer @rogerfederer]

Vamos, @RafaelNadal!

As you get ready to graduate from tennis, I’ve got a few things to share before I maybe get emotional.

Let’s start with the obvious: you beat me—a lot. More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in ways no one else could. On clay, it felt like I was stepping into your backyard, and you made me work harder than I ever thought I could just to hold my ground. You made me reimagine my game—even going so far as to change the size of my racquet head, hoping for any edge.

I’m not a very superstitious person, but you took it to the next level. Your whole process. All those rituals. Assembling your water bottles like toy soldiers in formation, fixing your hair, adjusting your underwear... All of it with the highest intensity. Secretly, I kind of loved the whole thing. Because it was so unique—it was so you.

And you know what, Rafa, you made me enjoy the game even more. 

OK, maybe not at first. After the 2004 Australian Open, I achieved the #1 ranking for the first time. I thought I was on top of the world. And I was—until two months later, when you walked on the court in Miami in your red sleeveless shirt, showing off those biceps, and you beat me convincingly. All that buzz I’d been hearing about you—about this amazing young player from Mallorca, a generational talent, probably going to win a major someday—it wasn’t just hype.

We were both at the start of our journey and it’s one we ended up taking together. Twenty years later, Rafa, I have to say: What an incredible run you’ve had. Including 14 French Opens—historic! You made Spain proud... you made the whole tennis world proud.

I keep thinking about the memories we’ve shared. Promoting the sport together. Playing that match on half-grass, half-clay. Breaking the all-time attendance record by playing in front of more than 50,000 fans in Cape Town, South Africa. Always cracking each other up. Wearing each other out on the court and then, sometimes, almost literally having to hold each other up during trophy ceremonies.

I’m still grateful you invited me to Mallorca to help launch the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2016. Actually, I kind of invited myself. I knew you were too polite to insist on me being there, but I didn’t want to miss it. You have always been a role model for kids around the world, and Mirka and I are so glad that our children have all trained at your academies. They had a blast and learned so much—like thousands of other young players. Although I always worried my kids would come home playing tennis as lefties.

And then there was London—the Laver Cup in 2022. My final match. It meant everything to me that you were there by my side—not as my rival but as my doubles partner. Sharing the court with you that night, and sharing those tears, will forever be one of the most special moments of my career.

Rafa, I know you’re focused on the last stretch of your epic career. We will talk when it’s done. For now, I just want to congratulate your family and team, who all played a massive role in your success. And I want you to know that your old friend is always cheering for you, and will be cheering just as loud for everything you do next.

Rafa that!

Best always, your fan, 

Roger

[Des Power @Des_Power]

@Fitzpatrick1Rob @CountySligoGC What hole? Congrats

[Des Power @Des_Power]

@NFFC Beautifully done…..

[Des Power @Des_Power]

@philipnolan1 Excellent !