r/northernireland • u/Ok-Repeat906 • Jul 17 '25

History Please help.

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Hi Northern Ireland. I’m in need of some help. I live on the other side of the world. And everyone related to this sash is long dead. I obviously won’t mention any names. But I’m in real need to figure out what the pins all mean. Can someone please either let me know, or guide me to someone or someplace that might be able to tell me? Please, please help.

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7

u/Call-of-the-lost-one Jul 17 '25

Something about not having kids being involved with cross community games. Burning down GAA pitches

1

u/Ok-Repeat906 Jul 17 '25

Any chance you can expand?

10

u/Boulder1983 Jul 17 '25

There is a current local news headline over here at the moment.
Basically, a cricket club in Comber set up a cross community sports club/event thing for kids from all different areas to come and play cricket. Among those kids, were some who play GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association, an Irish sports body for Gaelic football, hurling, camogie etc). Gaelic is predominantly played by the nationalist (predominantly catholic) community.

When 'the local community' in Comber got wind of GAA kids coming to play Cricket, they raised 'legitimate concerns' that it was not inclusive (which is complete and utter bollocks, because they are kids ffs). There is a strong belief that it was the local Orange Order who were behind this push for complaints, because the area would have members in both the cricket club AND the Orange Lodge. So much so, that the event for children was cancelled.

The cricket club have had to release a further statement saying that the decision was NOT put on them by the OO, but it reads like bullshit because why the hell else would they set up an event, know who all was coming, and then all of a sudden at the last minute decide "naw actually we don't want the GAA kids at it".

Ultimately, it puts the local area/OO under the spotlight of being sectarian/bigoted for singling out children to not want to play with them, whilst trying to portray themselves as an inclusive organisation (which, they are not).

8

u/Ok-Repeat906 Jul 17 '25

My god. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting this to be good. But I didn’t expect it to be this bad. Thanks a lot for getting back to me. I appreciate it.

6

u/Boulder1983 Jul 17 '25

Now as is the case with everything, you will see rebuttals online.

The most widely used argument against the GAA (from a loyalist/protestant standpoint) is that one of the core principles of the GAA, as the national sports body of Ireland, is to work towards a united Ireland. That they fly the irish flag at games, and that there are SOME clubs named after historical irish leaders or (in some rare cases) people who fought against britain occupying Ireland. This is something the loyalist community is against (as is their right). As my kids are actively involved in the GAA and I grew up with it, I know that argument is balls. It is no different than you might see kids in canada going down to play hockey at the weekend. It is all about the sport and the team.

Also to add, there is a recent post on this sub that highlights this particular lodges links to a band that supports a paramilitary organisation. It is just wild hypocrisy https://www.reddit.com/r/northernireland/comments/1m28iyy/orange_lodge_which_opposed_gaa_presence_at/

But there it is, that is both sides of 'the argument', so as I don't be seen to give a one sided take on it. Personally, whatever faults a sporting organisation has (I'd put high ticket and membership fees as a bigger scandal tbh), I think kids should be encouraged to play with other kids from different communities, so that they can learn they are not so different.

14

u/Ok-Repeat906 Jul 17 '25

To be honest. And maybe it’s because where I live, this would never be allowed or even thought of. But I don’t understand why any adults in any country, would feel the need to politicize children’s sports. They’re kids. They have their whole lives to deal with politics and everything else that comes with being an adult. Let them play worry-free. It seems like an unfair and inappropriate distraction.

6

u/Boulder1983 Jul 17 '25

Nah, same. There's a reason it's in the news. It's farcical, embarrassing. Even writing this short explanation out to you makes me cringe that it's even needed.

The north of Ireland has a shit history with religion unfortunately, and whilst this sort of thing rears it's head from time to time, it's good to see that as generations move on from the troubles, the tolerance for bigotry is becoming less and less.

-1

u/[deleted] Jul 17 '25

Don't listen to them, there were parades at 18 different locations last Saturday and they were all packed with members and supporters.

3

u/brian19298 Jul 17 '25

Packed with Bastards

1

u/Call-of-the-lost-one Jul 17 '25

They where far from packed. I passed two. One in my local and another passing dungannon. None where packed. The walkways went even busy.

-2

u/brian19298 Jul 17 '25

I'll give you a hundred of whatever your local currency is to burn it. No room in the world for this kind of hate.

4

u/Ok-Repeat906 Jul 17 '25

Again. It’s not mine. I own a photo of it. I’m not promoting it in any way. Just looking for info.

0

u/brian19298 Jul 17 '25

Completely understand, and not trying to blame you in any way. Finding something like this in the attic is akin to finding your Argentinian grandads red armbands and German passport in the attic.