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Naked Bigotry On Display in Antrim

29/04/09

éirígí spokesperson Breandán Mac Cionnaith has said the decision by a supermarket store in Antrim to instruct children to remove GAA shirts was “startlingly bigoted”.

The children from St Comgall’s GAA club were taking part in bag packing for charity at Tesco in Antrim town when they were told to remove their club shirts by management.

One man and his two nine-year-old daughters were refused admittance to the store until they returned home to change out of their shirts.

Tesco claims that they received a number of “very vociferous complaints both in person and on the phone” about the presence of the children.

One of those who complained, on behalf of constituents he claims were offended, was Ulster Unionist Party councillor Adrian Watson.

Mac Cionnaith said: “Tesco’s decision to treat these children and St Comgall’s GAA club in this manner was a startlingly bigoted one.

“Sporting and youth groups of many varieties often carry out charity fundraising in this store with their club colours proudly on display. Quite rightly, there is never any problem with these events. Yet, when it came to children in GAA tops, the store has allowed itself to be pressurised into causing maximum offence.

“An official apology should be issued by Tesco without delay to the children and members of St Comgall’s. The children should also be invited back to the store to complete their scheme in the manner originally intended and deemed acceptable for every other sporting group.

“The Ulster Unionist Party also has questions to answer about this matter. Do the actions of councillor Adrian Watson reflect official party policy? Is it the opinion of the UUP that young members of GAA clubs should not be allowed to wear their club colours in public settings?”

Mac Cionnaith continued: “This incident highlights the wider contempt with which Gaelic games and culture are held by pro-British elements in the Six Counties.

“In the very recent past, GAA clubs have been burnt to the ground and its members threatened with attack. The adoption of such an anti-GAA policy by a multinational company and politicians sustains the atmosphere in which these attacks are allowed to happen.”

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