Rory McIlroy proudly holds the Open Championship Claret Jug

DUP MP Gregory Campbell has tabled a motion at Westminster highlighting the recent sporting successes that Northern Ireland has enjoyed

Mr Campbell said his decision to table the motion was the result of a “fantastic year” for sport in the North.

The East Londonderry MPadded: “We have the world’s number one golfer and the world super-bantamweight boxing champion; the Ulster Rugby team is one of the best in Europe and this week the Northern Ireland football team continued its best ever start to a qualifying campaign and currently sit top of their group.

“This sporting achievement is one that any country would be proud to have but considering the size of our population it is even more remarkable. It is therefore right that it is celebrated and acknowledged and that is why I have tabled a motion in Parliament in order that these achievements might be recognised.”

Mr Campbell concluded: “We have immense pride in all our sporting stars and we thank them for their hard work and dedication which has led to these great sporting successes.”

Mr Campbell’s motion reads: “That this House recognises the sporting excellence of the Northern Ireland football team who are currently top of the European Championship Qualifying Group F, the Ulster rugby team currently one of the best in the British Isles, Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, two of the best golfers in the world and Carl Frampton world super-bantamweight boxing champion, meaning that a country with a population of 1.8 million has attained an unprecedented level of success making it the envy of countries with populations many times greater than Northern Ireland.”