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Any attempts to withdraw funding from GAA clubs named after republicans will be resisted - Murphy
Published: 30 September, 2009
Sinn Féin MP and MLA for Newry Armagh, Conor Murphy has criticised DUP Sports Minister Nelson McCausland, for questioning funding for GAA clubs which are named after republicans.
Mr Murphy who is heavily involved in his local GAA club said:
"It seems that since taking Office three months ago Nelson McCausland has gone out of his way to cause offence to the nationalist community. Mr. McCausland has refused to enter a catholic church and has failed to bring forward a strategy for the development of the Irish language - despite coming under pressure from the Council of Europe and the British Government to do so.
"Under his instruction the Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure sent out personal invites to Orange fest, while he himself took part in sectarian parades through nationalist districts in Belfast.
"Nelson McCausland has now decided to put pressure on GAA clubs to rename their sporting grounds. Sinn Féin will block any attempts by Nelson McCaulsland to implement a sectarian charter within DCAL. Mr McCausland needs to remember that he is not in a DUP administration. He needs to remember that this Executive is jointly headed by a republican and a unionist - as equals.
"Nelson McCausland is not the Minister for some cultures or some sports. He has a responsibility to respect all cultures, traditions and sports. This means he must recognise and respect nationalist and republican history, culture traditions and sports. The people of all communities would benefit if he got on with his job rather than chasing Jim Allister's shadow with his increasingly sectarian and bigoted behaviour
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