Gordon Lyons commits to attending GAA match amid criticism

Northern Ireland’s Communities Minister has pledged to attend a GAA match this year.

It comes after reports that GAA president Jarlath Burns had criticised Gordon Lyons for not attending a senior-level GAA match.

Sport falls within the responsibilities of the Department of Communities.

Speaking to the PA news agency in Washington DC, Mr Lyons said he hoped to attend a match this season.

“Whether that’s on Friday or on a Saturday, I’m happy to do that. I’ve already reached out to individuals within the GAA.

“I would like to make the point that I have been to GAA clubs, have been to GAA events, have met with the GAA.”

Mr Lyons would not be the first DUP politician to go to a GAA match, with Arlene Foster attending an Ulster final with the late Chris Stalford.

NI Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and former communities minister and current NI Education Minister Paul Givan have also tried their hands at camogie, Gaelic football and hurling.

Mr Burns’s criticism of Mr Lyons came as part of wider concern over the redevelopment of Casement Park.

The Stormont Executive committed to redevelop the venue in 2011 as part of a strategy to revamp football’s Windsor Park and the rugby ground at Ravenhill.

While the other Belfast-based projects went ahead, the redevelopment of Casement was delayed because of legal challenges by local residents.

In September, the UK Government ended hopes that the west Belfast stadium would host Euro 2028 games when it said it would not bridge a funding gap to deliver the redevelopment in time.

It said the risk to the public purse of missing the tournament deadline was too high and expressed concerns about how the cost of the project had potentially risen to more than £400 million (€475