Northern Ireland sports minister yet to attend GAA game after six months in office

He was invited to attend the recent All-Ireland football final but didn't go.

Northern Ireland's current sports minister has not attended a single GAA match since being appointed to the role back in February.

According to BBC News NI, Gordon Lyons has attended many sporting events including cricket, rugby, and soccer during his six months in office, but has failed to appear at a single hurling, gaelic football or camogie event.

He was invited to last month's All-Ireland senior football final, in which Armagh beat Galway to lift the Sam Maguire Cup for the first time in 22 years, but did not attend citing 'diary commitments' as his reason.

Back in April, Mr Lyons told the Belfast Telegraph that he would welcome the opportunity to attend a GAA match once he received an invite to do so.

"I’ve no objection to attending, not at all," he declared.

"This is a fantastic portfolio (as Communities Minister). I get to go all over Northern Ireland and meet all sorts of different people involved in different areas, whether it is housing, historical environment or whatever it might be, and I’d certainly welcome and consider all invitations that come to me.

"I’m not quite sure when games are being played or what they would like to invite me to, but certainly, if I get an invite; 'Would you go to a GAA match?'…well, of course."

He added: "It is very hard to feel a part or feel included in some of the activities of the GAA if there are events that are being held in grounds that are essentially named after terrorists or, as I think has been the case in the past, awards given out in the names of those that have been involved in terrorism.

“That makes it very difficult for Unionists to take part and be involved, and that’s a concern.

“There is no doubt about it that in some communities, the GAA is absolutely the central focal point of a community," he continued.

“In some other communities, it can be the church or the school or a community centre or group.

“I think very much the GAA does have that sense in many areas of being the absolute heart of the community.”

During his tenure as sports minister thus far, he has visited more than 20 soccer grounds across Northern Ireland and attended a rugby match at Ulster Rugby’s Kingspan Stadium.

He has also attended the NW200 motorcycle race in May, a tennis club, boxing clubs, a bowling ground, and the recent Ireland cricket match at Stormont.

BBC News NI asked the Department for Communities (DfC) for a statement about the fact that Mr Lyons had not attended any gaelic games.

The department issued the following response: “The minister has received two invites to GAA games [including the final], both of which conflicted with other diary commitments.

"The minister has received one invite to a GAA club which he has accepted for early September," it added.

"Plans are under way to host a reception for the All-Ireland winning Armagh team and officials are liaising with them to finalise the details.”