02/10/2009
GAA's 'Equality' Commitment Welcomed
Just days after a row over a Stormont Minister's threat to withdraw funding from Gaelic clubs who named grounds or competitions after dead paramilitaries, the DUP Sports Minister will attend his first GAA match in Northern Ireland tomorrow.
Nelson McCausland has accepted an invitation to the International Police Gaelic Football Tournament final at Newforge Country Club in Belfast.
He will be there to watch the finalists battle to lift the Police Cup.
It will be the first time the biennial tournament - comprising the New York Police Department, London Metropolitan Police Service, An Garda Siochana and the PSNI - has been hosted by the PSNI Gaelic Football Club.
The move comes against a more positive, diplomatic backdrop to the GAA furore.
The Gaelic Athletic Association's boss said yesterday that clubs "welcome everybody regardless of their political opinions".
The Ulster President, Tom Daly said GAA rules banned it from backing any political party and said he was confident that the GAA met all funding criteria.
"Irrespective of whatever changes are made in the future, as long as everything is done in the context of equality legislation, we don't have any fears," he added.
Mr Daly said he believed all GAA members would want the organisation to stay out of politics, something which had "served it well" in the past.
"GAA places and spaces have been places where everybody, irrespective of political affiliation or none, has been welcome," he said.
Mr McCausland welcomed the news and said he was encouraged by Mr Daly's comments.
"Some of the work we have been doing has helped to encourage change, and I think we'll see more changes in the GAA in the future," he said.
See: GAA Grants Kicked Into Controversy
(BMcC/KMcA)
Nelson McCausland has accepted an invitation to the International Police Gaelic Football Tournament final at Newforge Country Club in Belfast.
He will be there to watch the finalists battle to lift the Police Cup.
It will be the first time the biennial tournament - comprising the New York Police Department, London Metropolitan Police Service, An Garda Siochana and the PSNI - has been hosted by the PSNI Gaelic Football Club.
The move comes against a more positive, diplomatic backdrop to the GAA furore.
The Gaelic Athletic Association's boss said yesterday that clubs "welcome everybody regardless of their political opinions".
The Ulster President, Tom Daly said GAA rules banned it from backing any political party and said he was confident that the GAA met all funding criteria.
"Irrespective of whatever changes are made in the future, as long as everything is done in the context of equality legislation, we don't have any fears," he added.
Mr Daly said he believed all GAA members would want the organisation to stay out of politics, something which had "served it well" in the past.
"GAA places and spaces have been places where everybody, irrespective of political affiliation or none, has been welcome," he said.
Mr McCausland welcomed the news and said he was encouraged by Mr Daly's comments.
"Some of the work we have been doing has helped to encourage change, and I think we'll see more changes in the GAA in the future," he said.
See: GAA Grants Kicked Into Controversy
(BMcC/KMcA)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.