These are the comments attributed to Ian Mc Crea MLA about Tyrone’s defeat: “Great to see Tyrone beat in the Ulster semi’s today hope Donegal beat Londonderry in the final to keep the celebrations out of Mid Ulster.” Ian, you and I know each other a long time and despite your father’s critics he has always been decent to me. Subject to accuracy of remarks about Tyrone team by Ianmccreamla on Twitter, I feel these are an error of judgement. The Tyrone team has taken a battering in the person of Mickey Harte and family and so too have the Kerr family at hands of dissidents in the past year. Why did you say what is attributed to you? I will forgive you for what you have said but I would know in my bones what you said is incalculably insensitive and contrary to tone increasingly struck by party leader Peter Robinson. The coffee is still on me.
Why Ian McCrea MLA has upset Tyrone GAA fraternity.
Eamonn Mallie
I am a regular contributor to discussion programmes on TV and radio both at home and abroad. An experienced political editor and author specialising in Politics, Security and 20th Century Art.
10 Comments
Is Mid-Ulster GAA’s continuation of a trophy in honour of three IRA terrorists from Ballymaguigan also not offensive and hurtful? The people of South Londonderry suffered terribly at the hands of the Provisional IRA yet we are expected to show sensitivity towards an organisation that has no problem celebrating these murdering scourges of our society? Sorry, but the GAA will have to learn to deal with mud being flung at it until it gets its house in order. Our society should never accept an organisation that openly supports terrorism.
What trophy would you be referring to?
Aye what trophy the DUP are full of secterian bigots and i hope Derry do win an wel celebrate wave the tircolour high in the air.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derry_GAA_club_football_competitions#Derry_Intermediate_Football_Championship
The Derry Intermediate Football Championship honours members of the Provisional IRA, the group responsible for an obscene amount of murder in Northern Ireland.
Good luck explaining that away, lads.
Although I disagree with the naming of sporting cups over martyrs, the GAA has made massive leaps and bounds in recent years with the abolition of rules 21 and 42 as well as the recent visit of a British monarch to Croke park. The orange order, sectarian by its institution, could learn alot from the GAA and show one iota of advancement away from its bigoted ways. I do not like comparing the orange order to the GAA, as the GAA are primarily a sporting organisation whereas the orange order exists to demonstrate a perceived supremacy over Catholics. However, as they are a bunch of pre-historic dinosaurs who think its the 1600s, I wont hold my breath on any change.