Robinson attends Gaelic football match

Published Saturday, 28 January 2012

First Minister Peter Robinson attended his first GAA match on Saturday at the final of the Power NI McKenna Cup, in a move described by deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness as "another little bit of history".

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Robinson at McKenna cup
Interview: Peter Robinson
Interview: Martin McGuinness
Interview: Aogan Fearghail

Mr Robinson was invited by the Ulster Council to be a special guest at the match, held at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh.

The DUP leader sat alongside Mr McGuinness, Sports Minister Caral Ní Chuilín and Ulster GAA President Aogán O'Fearghail at the game between Derry and Tyrone.

Mr Robinson arrived at the Armagh County ground some 40 minutes before the throw-in.

He was brought into the VIP area at the front of the main stand, after the playing of the Irish national anthem, Amhrán na bhFiann.

I have consistently been saying that we have to get away from the ‘them and us’ politics. We have to be able to show respect for each other’s traditions so it's good to be here.
First Minister Peter Robinson

"It's good to be here. I have had several meetings with the GAA, at a meeting-to-meeting level and when the invitation came I was glad to take it up," said Mr Robinson.

Tyrone regained the cup after coming from behind to beat Derry 1-14 to 2-8 on the night.

"I'm not sure if I have caught all the finer points of the game, but I'm on the side of the referee on this one," Mr Robinson joked.

He is not the first senior DUP politician to attend a Gaelic football match as then Sports Minister Edwin Poots was present at a McKenna Cup match between Down and Donegal at Pairc Esler in Newry in 2008.

Mr McGuinness said the First Minister's attendance was "another little bit of history".

"I think it's a brave step, but Peter knows the overwhelming majority of our people passionately want the peace process to proceed and are absolutely delighted when they see him and myself turning up at different events, maybe even events that they would never have expected either the two of us would support," he told UTV.

Ulster GAA President Aogán O'Fearghail welcomed the First Minister and deputy First Minister to the match.

As an Association, we are committed to a shared future for all in Ireland. We outreach to many who have had no traditional involvement with the GAA.
Ulster GAA President Aogán O'Fearghail

"The presence of the First Minister at tonight's match is part of that engagement process and something I warmly welcome," Mr O'Fearghail said.

"The attendance of the First Minister follows a series of engagements that have taken place involving him and his officials over the past number of years led by our Provincial Director Danny Murphy.

"Myself, Danny Murphy and Tom Daly (Chairman of the Casement Park Stadium Project) first met the First Minister last year and Ulster GAA would want to again recognise the significant investment that the Executive, under the leadership of both the First and deputy First Ministers, have committed to the Casement Park redevelopment and to many other GAA projects.

"I thank them for their confidence in and support for Ulster GAA," he added.

Comments

80 Comments

Unionist in Belfast wrote (114 days ago):

Some of my "fellow" unionist voters on here need to catch a grip. He went to a GAA game....big deal. It's not like he swore an oath to the green book and has moved to the republican paramilitaries! Soon when my generation gets into power and these dinosaurs are forced out then we'll have peace. Nobody really, in my generation, cares if you're Unionist, nationalist, Chinese, as long as you're a decent person and get on with your fellow man. Another 20 years and our children will look back during this time and be amazed that we "fought" each other over a colour of a flag ffs!

John in Newtownards wrote (115 days ago):

Nice to see Peter going to the match, if him and his old boss had done this years ago it may have saved some lives.

think!! in belfast wrote (115 days ago):

@Mark Jamison.... It is not the sport itself which is sectarian,no sport is.The sectarian element of ANY sport come from the so-called "FANS". also Mark (and Lorna) in case it passed you by,the twelfth demonstrations are not a "sport" so why the comparison?? I agree,that in the past,the GAA itself (not the actual sport,which,as far as I am aware,is devoid of the thought process)was guilty of predjudice against the security forces.However,that was 11 years ago and they have since moved on.Sadly though,The Orange Order have not done the same.They are still operating with the same bigoted rules since the dinosaurs were roaming. Did neither of you listen in class.....In order for a test or comparison to be a fair one,it must have all relevant aspects kept the same. Well done to Peter.We all need to move on from hatred and he deserves respect for taking this step.Pity others can`t follow his lead. .

how can he win in ards wrote (115 days ago):

i am not a fan of peter robinson but if he goes to a g.a.a. match he gets stick, if he does not go he gets the same, how can he win?bigots on both sides will never be happy.

your da''s house in Newry wrote (115 days ago):

The GAA is a fantastic organisation open to all. I don't know what the fuss is all about to be honest, it's just a sporting organisation. The Irish tricolour flag shouldn't be divisive, both the green AND orange are represented in equal measure. Don't know why the English national anthem represents NI (Scotland/Wales)? I think people from a traditionally unionist background would enjoy playing or watching the sport, the only thing is it can be expensive into the matches! And I also wish people would stop referring to religion and the past.

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