Community cricket event to be rescheduled after complaint over GAA involvement

By Rebecca Black, PA

A plan has been announced to reschedule a cross-community sports event after it was cancelled when an Orange lodge raised concern at the involvement of the GAA.

The North’s First Minister, Michelle O’Neill, was among the political representatives who expressed dismay following the cancellation of the event which had been due to take place in Comber, Co Down, on Friday.

North Down Cricket Club had planned the sport summer camp for young people from different backgrounds, including the involvement of 10 different groups, one of which was the East Belfast GAA.

But a local Orange Order lodge said there were concerns among local residents about the “perceived move of the GAA into the local community”.

In a statement on social media, the North Down Cricket Club said it cancelled the event because it felt the spirit of the camp was at risk of being lost.

Responding to commentary on social media, the club said it welcomes people from all walks of life.

It said the camp had been planned to involve 10 different local sports and community groups — including organisations supporting ethnic minority communities — with the aim of building friendships through shared activity.

On Wednesday afternoon, Cricket Ireland announced it plans to step in to arrange a similar sports camp at Stormont.

 

Brian MacNeice, chair of Cricket Ireland (CI), said they are calling on all community leaders to show leadership and actively support this initiative.

“Cricket Ireland and the Northern Cricket Union (NCU) are dismayed and disappointed at the events which have led to the cancellation of the youth sports camp at North Down Cricket Club,” he said.

“North Down has been at the forefront of youth development in recent times. Participation in multiple sports by young people has been recognised as having considerable benefits both in sporting terms and mental wellbeing. It can only be to the detriment of the children concerned that this cancellation has occurred.

“Cricket is a sport for all and both CI and NCU actively encourage diversity, inclusion and equality in our game. Working with other sports in the sharing of facilities and the creation of opportunities for young people is a key aspect of this strategy.”

Mr MacNeice said Cricket Ireland applauded North Down Cricket Club’s initiative in planning the sports camp.

“We are committed to following through on the initiative and Cricket Ireland and the Northern Cricket Union are making plans to run a similar sports camp at Stormont,” he said.

“We have therefore approached East Belfast GAA and offered an opportunity to participate in this alternative sports camp which will also include other sports clubs.

“We look forward to further engagement with the GAA, and other governing bodies, for the benefit of all.

“We call on all community leaders to show leadership and actively support this initiative. Sport can bring communities together and we must all act in partnership to ensure this is the case.”

Earlier, Ms O’Neill said: “Children should be allowed to play together at summer camp without facing intolerance.

“These developments are deeply worrying and unacceptable. Sport has the power to unify.

“Political representatives must call this out. We need to send a clear message that we will continue moving forward together to build a brighter society and overcome such unacceptable intolerance.”

Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong said children were losing out.

“It sends a signal to those who have been doing the intimidating that somehow they were right – they are not, they’re wrong,” she told the BBC.

“The majority of people from Comber and people I’ve spoken to are very angry about this minority, and I think that Comber would rather turn around and say, ‘no, everyone’s welcome here’.”

UUP MLA Doug Beattie also expressed disappointment.

“People may have concerns but we need to put this in perspective, this is about children and we should allow children to be children, and if that’s playing sport, then playing sport,” he told the BBC.

“If you’ve got an issue with the GAA, lets raise it with the GAA, lets not focus on kids.”