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Furore over Gregory Campbell GAA Tyrone comments

Tuesday, 23 September 2008

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A political row has erupted over comments made by Sports Minister Gregory Campbell after Tyrone won the Sam Maguire Cup.

But Mr Campbell defended his remarks, insisting Tyrone and Kerry are “in different countries”, and therefore the match was an international occasion.

Derry SDLP councillor Mark Durkan accused Mr Campbell of disrespecting the Gaelic games tradition. He said: "Gregory Campbell's comments about what was an outstanding Tyrone victory in the All-Ireland football final were pathetic.

“There will be few Gaels or other sports fans that will be impressed by a Sports Minister saying that he ‘supposes’ the team should be acknowledged on the basis that they were playing in an international game.

“He needs to realise that he has a position of responsibility now and he needs to truly respect the efforts and identities of all sporting traditions.

"He might think he's clever and hope that people may think he was 'having a laugh'.

“But he let the cat out of the bag when he said that even if he had been free he wouldn't have gone to Croke Park.”

In response, Mr Campbell said: "I passed on my best wishes to Co Tyrone GAA football team which obviously is a Northern Ireland team in their victory over Co Kerry GAA Team from the Republic of Ireland in the GAA football final.

“It is a factual position that Tyrone is a county in Northern Ireland and Kerry is a county in the Republic of Ireland . This year's GAA final amounted to an 'international' event. In any international tournament involving a team from Northern Ireland competing with a team from another country, I normally support the team representing Northern Ireland .

”I acknowledge that the GAA as an organisation has made improvements; however there are other areas were they have still much to do.”

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65 Comments

"One is part of Britain and one is not,accept it and move on."
Posted by Sentry

If you chose to defend one of the most bigoted politicians I have ever come across then fine; but if you are going to continue to be tribalistic about things, then please get your geography right. Ireland is an island, as is Britain. "Northern Ireland" may be part of the United Kingdom, but it is not part of Britain, this is a fact of nature which seems to elude too many people. I consider the island of Ireland to be a single entity, I do not distinguish; Unionists would naturally take a different approach, but not even Mr Campbell can tell us that this part of Ireland is part of Britain. Britain consists of England, Scotland and Wales, no more, no less.

Posted by Críostóir Ó Siadhail | 07.02.09, 15:23 GMT

Mr Campbell is a ignorant man trying to upset the irish culture and there native game by his stupidity if he had any knowledge of gealic games he would know that the people of these games are as one in country.

Posted by Mr Campbell | 03.12.08, 20:42 GMT

Cardiff City are a Welsh football club playing in the English 1st division. Is it an "international" game when they play week in week out against English teams? When Wales play England in football it's an international match.

Funny that no one mentions absolute nonsense like that when Cardiff play. Yet when two proud Irish counties play in an All-Ireland final a disgrace like Campbell (as Irish a name as you can get) shames the Unionist community with his hatred of all things Gaelic.

Little wonder we can't have peace on this island when obvious bigots are actually promoted to become ministers in troubled Ulster.

Posted by Galwegian | 11.10.08, 07:54 GMT

Northern Ireland is brilliant! I can't think of anywhere else that opinions would be so strong and well comunicated on such an interesting and important subject. In Wee Norniron the people are not concerned with silly issues such as the economy, health care, crime or education -Perocrial sports are what really matter!

Posted by Stuart | 08.10.08, 06:05 GMT

(From Scotland)
Do Sinn Fein and the DUP ever talk about anything that isn't sport? They always seem to be falling out with one another over football and the gael matches. Maybe they should have a chat about hospitals or something.

Posted by Ally-Bazza | 07.10.08, 16:22 GMT

While he has made some positive soundings, one would like to see any Sports Minister show bolder sportsmanship and vision (he doesn't have to be Georgie Best). It seems, sadly, that politics comes first; a case of the political tail wagging the sporting dog. Let's hope it is simply a nervous start and that as the game progresses Minister Campbell will find his feet and express himself with greater flair and even produce something out of the ordinary.

Posted by Mike | 07.10.08, 11:14 GMT

Sad to see bigotary alive and well , judging Campbell's comments.

Posted by SEAMUS | 28.09.08, 22:02 GMT

I wonder what the minister felt when he saw the Tyrone team singing the Irish national anthem, and shaking the hand of "their" president of the Republic who is also from the six counties. The Tyrone men showed their true colours, and a unionist has again made himself look like an eejit, trying to politicize the culture. The truth is, no one in the GAA care, and the unity between all involved in the sport show is truly inspiring. Ulaid Abú

Posted by Séamus Ó Broinn | 25.09.08, 16:41 GMT

Jim bowen

what section are you referring to and maybe you should quote some comments so they can respond.

If you preferred the old telegraph when you finish an article then do not scroll any futher and read comments then you go and post on here anyway?

Posted by Andrew | 25.09.08, 12:26 GMT

let me get this right here?The minister correctly points out that two teams come from different countries and he is a bigot?
Do people go out of their way to be offended?
If N Ireland plays the ROI in a football international and Garry Lineker for example mentions similar,does that make him a bigot.?
One is part of Britain and one is not,accept it and move on.

Posted by Sentry | 25.09.08, 07:56 GMT

To Unionist - gaelic games are far from a minority sport in NI.

Attendances at gaelic games involving NI teams consistently outstrip the combined attendance figures of the NI soccer team and Ulster rugby.

Look at the attendances committed for the new Maze stadium by the three sports bodies - the GAA committed 150000 bums on seats per year, the IFA 80000, and the IRFU 40000.

In fact, it makes you wonder why the minority sports of local soccer and rugby get the lions share of coverage in many media outlets, the Belfast Telegraph included.

BTW, a very belated (decades late?) congratulations to the Belfast Telegraph for finally putting gaelic games coverage on the back page when it is obviously the main sports story. About time that sports reporting moved from a traditional tribal approach and instead reflected the local crowds that actually watch each sport. Anything else has echoes of sectarianism, and erodes the Tele's claim to be the national newspaper of NI.

Posted by Paul | 24.09.08, 21:58 GMT

I wonder how many posters on this who claim to be from a certain section of the community are actually who they claim to be. Or is it people pretending to be members of the other community, so to further their own argument? I'd love to see the IP addresses...

p.s. I preferred the online Telegraph when comments weren't posted.

Posted by Jim Bowen | 24.09.08, 21:07 GMT

Gregory Campbell and his cavemen colleagues in the DUP are irrelevant to Irish sport, what did you expect, he's being true to form. The GAA and Irish sport in general (all- Ireland hockey, all Ireland cricket, all Ireland rugby etc) are bigger than that, and do not need nor expect the blessings of the likes of Gregory Campbell. I suspect that for him it is just a political football for, and an opportunity to fly the sectarian colours that so please those who vote for him. Remember that the GAA is the biggest sporting organization in Ulster, that cannot be denied, and goes from strength to strength. They should really scrap this Ministry as it obviously serves no useful function, and give Gregory's salary to charity.

Posted by Sport Billy | 24.09.08, 15:25 GMT

Just checking this story from Australia and everytime i hear of this bitter squabbling i like many overseas feel very disappointed with bigotry like this at home. Gregory Campbell is so bitter and one-sided it's terrible to watch. He also seems to take pride in advertising his narrow and deperately one-sided views. Can't he see how petty he appears? He really should travel more and try and widen his outlook because he's so stuck in the past. He's shouldn't be sports minister. He simply isn't capable in representing ALL of the NI people in this role.

Posted by Peter | 24.09.08, 15:23 GMT

A bit of history. The All Ireland Final was first contested before the ISLAND of Ireland was partitioned, and the name of it has remained the same as the GAA has always had aspirational beliefs on culture and nationalism; FACT

Campbell's remarks are infantile and beneath a sports minister who should be trying to promote sport as a way to break down division and promote health amongst our young.

Unionist, a minister for sport should be above petty point scoring. The Irish people right up to the President herself, united and congratulated the cricket team after their heroics in the Cricket World Cup

Sadly the land of my birth is still profoundly divided, fighting over who gets the bigger slice of the penny instead of working together to make it a pound. So, so sad.

Harold, Protestant GAA lover !!!

Posted by Harold | 24.09.08, 15:02 GMT

To Unionist it has everything to do with campbell as he is the sports minister! or can you not understand that!? perhaps you think he should only comment on british sports?

Posted by Tom | 24.09.08, 14:34 GMT

Surely Mr Campbell needs to leave his position. For the so-called 'sports minister' to show such disrespect for the most followed sport in the 6 counties, he would need to be sacked to show that there is some kind of balance in office. 82,000 watched that match- 53,000 from Tyrone. Thousands more left dissappointed. Don't know if you'd get those numbers at the hockey final, Gregory?

Posted by Michael | 24.09.08, 13:49 GMT

I am Disappointed with the views of Mr Campbell, and some of those who have commented on this article. For the like of Mr Campbell, and Samuel who commented on this article, referring to "Terrorist Overtones" you clearly dont understand the All-Ireland, the cup that is won. The Cup is called the Sam Maguire, after Mr Sam Maguire... Do your research on him! As for it being an alien sport, it is your, our national sport

Posted by Disappointed | 24.09.08, 13:11 GMT

Why doesnt everyone Learn about the tradition before they start making comments....

And i agree that Tyrone is in the North and Kerry is in the South but what does that matter??..

Its the Same as Ulster rugby... Nobody says anything about that...

Anyway from the rest of us...Jus like 2 say Congrats tyrone...

Posted by Yeoooo | 24.09.08, 12:49 GMT

On the plus side though, its not as bad as having 'former' terrorists as minister for policing and justice. oh no wait, we do have that. The prison breaker makes regular comments that completly go against what you would expect from a man in possition to change the police system he ultimately has fought a war aginst for 35 years. im not suprised to see that none of the anti-DUP support below never pass comment on that, but unfortunatly thats because they are just as bad as mr.campbell, theyr just on the other side of the fence. Maybe part of the problem with this COUNTRY is that people are always trying to score points and never just conceed theyr all as bad as eachother. It was an international event, so atleast he wasnt just telling lies. Another thing we could do without at stormont.
PS. made me laugh seing gerry kelly refer to soldiers as 'brits' as if its an insult...just cos you say your irish, doesnt mean you are. just cos you think your not a bigot, doesnt mean your not.

Posted by wound up | 24.09.08, 11:50 GMT