McGuinness wants to support Northern Irish football team?
Erm, don’t tell Squinter [aye, like he didn't know already - ed], but Martin McGuinness is contemplating a reciprocation the First Minister’s visit to watch the McKenna Cup final last weekend…
Martin McGuinness has revealed he would cheer on the Northern Ireland football team and hopes to get the chance on a visit to Windsor Park.
With many nationalists hostile to the international team, viewing its home stadium in south Belfast as a cold house for Catholics, the remarks from the Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister potentially represent another landmark in improving cross-community relations.
Maybe you could offer to host him/her?
Roy,
It’s not a perfect match, I’ve conceded that already. On your other point, the DFM clarifies that here: http://www.derryjournal.com/news/local/county-derry/martin_mcguinness_would_cheer_northern_ireland_at_windsor_1_3475252
galloglaigh..
I have been to two All Ireland semi finals.My accountant is in with the “great ans the good” of the Tyrone set up and freebeed a few of his golfing/business associates to the games.
A similar drinking session to a NI match or Ireland rugby match,however it was very much as an outsider at a family wedding.
I have no problem ,with the GAA and it’s players and supporters.I just don’t like people trying to bluff those that know no better into thinking it is not an Irish/Gaelic/Nationalist/Republican/RC organisation.
Gallo?
I just don’t like people trying to bluff those that know no better into thinking it is not an Irish/Gaelic/Nationalist/Republican/RC organisation.
DT12….
There’s no doubt that the GAA is proudly rooted in Irish culture, though the RC label is quite a stretch.
But there’s also no doubt that the Northern Ireland international side- and troubled history of the IFA post-partition – reflects the fact that both were reflective of a unionist mindset- heck, even protestant if you want to examine the history of opposition to Sunday soccer.
Sporting allegiance – in many parts of the world- is intertwined with political and cultural identities.
But for many supporters and players involved with the GAA and Northern Ireland soccer, it’s the game they love and nothing more.
What the political elites of the DUP and Sinn Fein are showing at present is that both acknowledge the need to respect ‘the other’ as they are, an important step in cultivating a more tolerant society.
“though the RC label is quite a stretch”
Not too much of a stretch when you look at the role of Archbishop Croke and the use of the Catholic parish as a building block. Patrick McDevitt looks at the roots in “Muscular Catholicism: Nationalism, Masculinity and Gaelic Team Sports, 1884–1916 [Wiley Online Library]
One need only look to the events in Eygpt in the past 48 hours to realise how politics and sport not only go hand in hand but also has the potential for deadly consequences . Allegations that former Mubarack’s supporters being behind the violence won’t go away .
Mick
Sorry, I’m only realising that your comment was for me. I’d be happy to accommodate anyone from Slugger’s unionist tradition wishing to attend a Gaelic match. Just ask, and your wish will be my command!
David Healy posing with UDA boss Jackie McDonald is hardly likely to change perceptions of the IFA and Windsor Park.
http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/4100851/Rangers-star-and-UDA-boss.html
Stewart1 ,
And thats makes McGuinness’s gesture all the remarkable because there have been some serious incidents down the years .
Martin cant win ,
It wasn’t too long ago if memory serves that David McNarry was giving out yards about the DFM’s interest or expressed interest in cricket ….
Mark,
“Martin cant win”
Are you reading the same thread as me?
Stewart,
You’re forgetting this one…
Chris
Not sure how you could consider the ‘RC label’ to be quite a stretch”, when it is a sport predominately played by those of the Catholic persuasion. Not much stretching required.
An poor attempt at sarcasm with the McNarry thing . I think he’s playing a blinder and I also think it’s genuine . I don’t buy the points scoring angle at all .
DT123
It’s very true that the analogy is faulty. The Northern Ireland football team is much less sectarian in principle than the GAA is. In principle the Northern Ireland football team is no more sectarian than the Northern Ireland Archery Society or the Northern Ireland Amateur Astronomy Society, whereas the GAA promotes a particular ethnic minority identity in principle and in practice has promoted the ethos of a particular minority religion.
Martin McGuinness attending an Orange Order march would be more analogous to Peter Robinson attending GAA. It wouldn’t be a perfect analogy either but it would be a closer analogy to the one being made. One might say that Protestants are allowed to play GAA but Catholics are not allowed to join the Orange Order, but I might counter that by saying that a Catholic can still choose to join the Orange Order and even become a Grand Chaplain like William McDermott, just as a Protestant can, through making certain choices, eventually aspire to be the Pope, whereas there is absolutely no way that I can choose to make my ancestors Gaelic as opposed to Lowland Scots / English. I may be able to choose to be Irish but I cannot choose to be Gaelic.
Not sure how you could consider the ‘RC label’ to be quite a stretch”, when it is a sport predominately played by those of the Catholic persuasion. Not much stretching required.
babyface
The Northern Ireland soccer team is ‘predominantly’ supported by protestants. Sports like rugby and cricket are ‘predominantly’ played by protestants in ths same jurisdiction, and indeed a quick glance at any post-primary schools’ list of sports taught at a competitive level will reinforce the point.
That does not make the sporting organisations ‘protestant.’
On a similar vein, I note a DUP councillor in Belfast claiming that protestants are ‘under-represented’ in the boxing fraternity in the city.
Quite apart from the MOPEish aspect of that assertion, by your logic, that makes boxing ‘catholic!’
Mick
If it’s good enough for Mary McAleese, it’s good enough for David Healey!
Chris
I don’t know why you mention soccer and boxing at all. How do they have any bearing on whether or not the GAA is a Catholic organisation?
As far as I know the historic links to the Catholic church are clear.
One of the original patrons was Archbishop Croke. Many others since then came from the church.
The parish rule still defines the boundaries for local clubs according to Catholic church boundaries.
When you see kids playing gaelic football in the park do you suppose there are many prods amongst them?
I am sure you know a great deal more about the GAA than I do, so if you explain to me how it is not seen as a Catholic organisation, I will be happy to accept it.
Without reference to the nature or ethos of other sports!