Responses to yesterday’s articles on Conspiracy Theorists, GAA and Unionists

Joe Connell,

I wonder if Unionists will realise that their 'splits' are dooming their efforts.  That is a major reason SF is the largest party.  The Unionist vote is so fragmented.

While I do not generally agree with their position, I am confident that their internal and party squabbles are not helping their cause at all.

Féilim O hAdmaill

I think that Patrick Murphy falls over himself every week to attack SF and as such he has gained a reputation (justifiably, I would say) of being more interested in attacking SF in every article he writes, than actually addressing a particular topic/issue.  I think Sam McBride is a lot more astute and his articles certainly are a lot more thought provoking.

I personally disagreed with GAA's campaign to get Casement rebuilt as a massive regional stadium. 

As you may know there was a much wider story there - we moved from the idea, supported by nationalist parties, of a peace park on the former Long Kesh site for the use for big games by soccer, rugby and GAA, to three separate stadiums as a fall back position. 

The unionists were able to get funding and support to refurbish Windsor Park and Ravenhill in unionist areas and the GAA pursued refurbishment of Casement, but wanted to increase its size to enable its use for Ulster finals in Belfast. I think that was a mistake. 

Unionists got what they wanted - separate stadiums which wouldn't be polluted by GAA, and which would bring investment to unionist areas and wouldn't allow the side development of museum /tourist attraction at Long Kesh part of the original proposal). 

SF and the SDLP both supported the GAA bid to get Casement rebuilt.

Local residents then objected for years (with justification in my view) through the courts, to the plans for Casement and this led to years of delay which led to increases in the price.  The unionists of course having got their two stadiums for soccer and rugby also did all in their power to delay Casement. 

It's too simplistic therefore, in my view, for Patrick Murphy to blame SF. 

My view was and is that SF and the SDLP should have gone for another site for a big stadium for all the sports - possibly in the Titanic Quarter - but unionists were never sold on the idea.  Not only were they opposed to GAA being played in the same ground as rugby and soccer but they currently aren't happy with GAA being played in East Belfast! 

At the end of the day, the problem in the north is not Stormont per say - that actually helps maintain the peace process, in my view, , despite what Mr. Murphy thinks.  Its partition that is the problem.  By giving unionists a veto over any change, it is limited what anyone can do.  Ironically it has been Direct Rule administrations which have passed the most progressive legislation in the north, from the 1989 Fair Employment Act, to the Good Friday Agreement, to Abortion, and indeed to the Irish Language Act.  Stormont would have been unable to achieve anything like that.  It took nearly 30 years o get an Irish language Act despite it being mentioned in the GFA.

 Le gach dea-mhéin/ Best wishes,

Peter Shirlow

There are multiple Tweets and comments from unionists supporting the GAA in East Belfast. Several years ago Linfield provided Windsor Park to a local camogie team so they could train under floodlights. Unionist political representatives have condemned the violence and threats directed at East Belfast GAA. Trevor Ringland and others do ontheground work bring kids from GAA, Football and Rugby together. Several unionists worked on a project the past year to build inter-community relationships with the GAA across the island. To write a wakeup call to unionism is therefore mistaken. It would in future be better to caveat with some or sections of unionism. To write that a whole community thinks and behaves mono-culturally is unhelpful. Maybe we should be more appreciative that all communities hold those who ate sectarian and those firmly opposed to it.

Regarding Casement Park, the GAA decision to close the ground before planning approval was bizarre. The IFA and Ulster Rugby waited. Of course, the Maze should have happened But was scuppered by DUP. There have been resident appeals over planning that have also slowed the process. However, in 2024 it is perverse that sections of unionism oppose provision of a state-of-the-art GAA ground for reasons linked to identity politics