Golf star severs ties with Irish firm amid ongoing scrutiny over cladding scandal
Irish golfer Shane Lowry has announced the termination of his sponsorship deal with Kingspan, the Irish building materials company, following mounting pressure tied to the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Lowry, from Offaly, faced criticism regarding the partnership after last week’s publication of the final Grenfell Inquiry report. The fire, which took 72 lives in west London in 2017, has been linked to safety failings in building cladding and insulation.
The report highlighted Kingspan’s role in creating a “false market in insulation” and employing “dishonest strategies” related to fire safety, although it stopped short of holding the company directly responsible for the fire’s spread. Lowry released a statement confirming the end of the partnership, stating: “Kingspan and I have mutually agreed to discontinue our sponsorship relationship, which we believe to be the right decision for all concerned at this time.”
Grenfell United, representing victims and survivors, expressed relief at Lowry’s decision. Ed Daffarn of the group had previously criticised the golfer, calling the visible Kingspan logo on Lowry’s golf attire “deeply offensive.” The group now urges other sports figures to follow Lowry’s lead in dissociating from the firm, advocating for lasting change to honour the Grenfell victims.
Other sports organisations with Kingspan ties have faced similar scrutiny. Ulster Rugby, with a decades-long relationship with the company, plans to end their association gradually by mid-2025. Meanwhile, golfer Leona Maguire’s sponsorship status with Kingspan remains in question, with public calls for similar action.
Political figures have also weighed in. Northern Ireland’s Communities Minister Gordon Lyons stressed the importance of considering the inquiry’s conclusions seriously. Irish Deputy Premier Micheal Martin, meanwhile, emphasised that it is the UK’s responsibility to pursue further legal action against companies implicated in the Grenfell fire, responding to former UK Housing Secretary Michael Gove’s call for potential criminal charges against firms, including Kingspan.
