The glory of Rory finally moved "home" this afternoon as a clearly tired but contented US Open champion stepped on to familiar turf.
A handful of Holywood's golfing hopefuls stuck to their plans for a few holes, dodging the many showers that scudded across Belfast Lough as the media caravan moved in. It was a bit of a takeover of the place where the young champion spent most of his childhood days, but no-one really minded.
As the McIlroy brand went global, the celebrations turned decidedly local.
The mood was quietly jubilant as hundreds turned out to catch a glimpse of the local lad turned superstar and his latest - and greatest - prize. But their hero gave them the slip, entering the modest but welcoming clubhouse nearly unnoticed and by the back door.
A couple of hours locked in a series of busy press conferences meant the crowd below the clubhouse balcony had to wait.
Inside, the club lounge which had heaved and sweated long into the night on Sunday as Rory sank his final putt on the large TV screen, the questions flew.
Displaying astonishing calmness and a sensitivity beyond his 22 years, the champion posed for cameras and fielded questions, not all of them original, until all were happy.
He seemed to enjoy tackling the curved ball inquiries best.
What was he going to do next year for Mother's Day, was the first of them.
That got a genuine laugh.
"I'll need to do something pretty special," he said. "I don't think there's a much better Father's Day gift to give your dad than one these things," he said referring to the US Open trophy which had been pawed by so many to the point of grubbiness.
What did the other tour pros both past and present have to say, asked another.
"There have been a few," he conceded. "I got a really nice one from Greg Norman. . . and I got a nice letter from Arnold Palmer - there have been a lot of nice messages."
Anything from Alex Ferguson?
"Uh - I'm sure there is," he faltered. "But there have been so many."
Any personal contact from Tiger Woods? "Errr. No". But he then moved to fill a long pause by confirming receipt of a congratulatory note.
"One for the ladies Rory," ventured one of the few female reporters in the room. "You're one of the most wanted men in sport right now, could you put all the ladies out of the misery and tell us are you single or have you a lady friend?"
That almost seemed to embarrass him. "She's waving at you from the back of the room," he replied gesturing to the still-teenage Holly Sweeney over the heads of his inquisitors.
"So you're both back on track then?" came the follow-up question and the reporter moved close to mortification of the hitherto unflappable champ.
"Uh - yeah," and the room laughed in consolation.
There will be no open-top bus parade. "I'm a golfer not a football team," he said. "A boxer has only one world title to win. There are four of these things are a year. So it's not as if it's going to be the last one."
As the saying goes - there's confidence for you.