Published Monday, 30 January 2012
Trevor Ringland left the Ulster Unionists in October 2010, in the wake of a declaration by the then newly elected party leader that he would never attend a GAA event.
The former rugby player, who now leads the One Small Step campaign, insisted that Mr Elliott needed to reach out to nationalists and has welcomed the efforts made by DUP leader Mr Robinson.
"You have people who previously led people into the trenches, but it is important that now we take this opportunity to lead those people out again and into that no-man's land where we actually share Northern Ireland in a better way than we did in the past," Mr Ringland told UTV.
"And I think what he (Peter Robinson) will find is that, in that no-man's land, there's an awful lot of people there now who've taken many small steps over the years to maintain and build relationships when others were destroying them."
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.
Martin McGuinness, Sinn Féin
Sinn Fein leader Martin McGuinness, who accompanied Mr Robinson to the McKenna Cup final between Derry and Tyrone on Saturday evening, described the occasion as "a little bit of history".
It was the first time a DUP leader has attended a GAA match and Mr Robinson, who took his seat in the VIP area after the playing of Amhrán na bhFiann, received a warm welcome - even signing autographs for fans.
Mr Ringland said he was disappointed that Mr Elliott had not taken such an opportunity when it was presented to him.
"But I think Tom is a very good man," he said of the Ulster Unionist leader.
"And part of my disappointment is that people don't know him better and if he doesn't take that step, then they won't get to know him."
Ulster GAA President Aogán O'Fearghail has also spoken of his pleasure in welcoming the First and Deputy First Ministers to the McKenna Cup final.
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.
Peter Robinson, DUP
"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," he said.
"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.
"The presence of the First Minister is part of that engagement process and something I warmly welcome."
Mr Robinson joked that he had perhaps not picked up on the finer points of the game and was on the side of the referee, but said he was pleased to have attended.