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DUP minister to attend his first GAA match

Enda McClafferty
BBC News NI political editor
Liam McBurney/PA Wire Gordon Lyons pictured speaking at a previous press conference. He has short, reddish, receding hair and blue eyes. He is wearing white shirt and blue tie under a navy suit jacket. Liam McBurney/PA Wire
Gordon Lyons has faced criticism for not attending a senior GAA match since taking office more than a year ago

The Communities Minister Gordon Lyons is set to attend his first Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) match this weekend.

Mr Lyons, from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), previously attended a GAA games festival for young people in Antrim but this will be his first senior football fixture since taking up office more than a year ago.

The minister, who is responsible for sport in Northern Ireland, has been criticised by the GAA President Jarlath Burns for his failure to attend any senior games.

He was invited last year by the GAA to attend the All Ireland final which was won by Armagh, but he was not able to go because of diary commitments.

Lyons will be attending Armagh's Athletic Grounds as the Orchard County welcomes Derry.

A Department of Communities spokesperson confirmed that the minister will be attending a GAA game on Saturday following an invitation from the UCGAA last week.

"The minister is committed to supporting all sporting communities across Northern Ireland," they added.

During a trip to Washington in March the minister pledged to attend a match before the end of the season.

At the time, he said he had been to GAA clubs, attended GAA events and met GAA officials and had reached out to the organisation about attending a match.

Previous DUP ministers who have attended GAA matches include former first minister Arlene Foster who watched the Ulster Final in 2018 and the current Stormont speaker Edwin Poots.

Minister Lyons' attendance at this weekend's match comes just weeks ahead of a key decision on the redevelopment of the Casement Park GAA stadium in Belfast.

The government is due to announce next month if it plans to provide funding for the project following a Treasury spending review.

Despite cash commitments from the Stormont Executive, Irish government and GAA, there is still a £150m funding shortfall for the project which is estimated to cost about £270m.

Secretary of State Hilary Benn has said if the government decides to provide funding it will not plug the current gap.