The Minister for Culture Arts and Leisure
Mr Edwin Poots MLA became the first DUP politician
to attend a Gaelic football match in an official
capacity when he attended tonights Gaelic
Life Dr McKenna Cup fixture between Down and
Donegal in Pairc Esler, Newry. Mr Poots was
welcomed by GAA president Nickey Brennan,
director general Liam Mulvihill, Ulster Council
president Tom Daly and Down County Chairman
Kevin Bell. The invitation to attend a GAA
fixture had been accepted when Mr Poots spoke
at an Ulster Council GAA conference held in
October 2007.
Ulster Council GAA President,
Tom Daly warmly welcomed the attendance of Mr
Poots at the game on Newry, commenting:
“The Ulster Council GAA
is delighted that the Minister has accepted
our invitation to attend tonight’s fixture
at Pairc Esler in Newry. We acknowledge the
historic nature of Edwin Poots attending a GAA
fixture for the first time and we have no doubt
he will be made to feel very welcome by the
Gaels of Ulster attending tonight’s event”.
“Our Council has developed
a very positive relationship with the Minister
since he took office and he has already attended
a number of events organised by the GAA including
the Club and Community Development Conference
last October. The Minister also recently visited
our Administrative Headquarters in Armagh and
we had positive discussions about plans for
the future development of the GAA in the province.
We look forward to his Department supporting
our business case for the continued modernisation
of our games and our facilities.”
“It is fitting that the
Minister is attending his first GAA fixture
in Pairc Esler, Newry as it is now one of the
most modern County Grounds in Ulster. We are
extremely grateful to the Minister, DCAL and
Sport NI for their investment invested in an
improvement programme which has seen the building
of a new Covered stand and the Installation
of a state of the art floodlighting system in
Pairc Esler. The County Board and Clubs in Down
who have contributed significantly to the financing
of these projects will benefit from this investment
for a long time to come.”
Uachtaran Cumann Luthchleas
Gael, Nickey Brennan who also attended the game
took the opportunity to pay tribute to Minister
Poots, adding:
“This is a landmark occasion
in the further development of community relations
on the Island of Ireland when a Unionist Minister
is prepared to attend one of our games. For
me this highlights the good standing of the
Ulster Council GAA who I know have developed
an exceptionally positive relationship with
Mr Poots.”
“As President of the
Association I am absolutely enthused that the
Minister has been so receptive to the role and
relevance of the GAA in Ulster and the contribution
it makes to sport and communities. I wish to
acknowledge the genuine commitment and professionalism
of Edwin Poots in assisting the GAA with our
development programmes in Ulster. I look forward
to him taking up my personal invitation to attend
Croke Park for an event sometime in the near
future.”
