Cricket Ireland and Northern Cricket Union ‘dismayed and disappointed’ at kids’ camp controversy

Cricket Ireland and Northern Cricket Union join widespread criticism over rowFirst Minister Michelle O’Neill has branded the situation ‘deeply worrying’

Two cricket bodies have expressed “dismay and disappointment” at the cancelling of a summer kids’ camp in Comber following opposition to the event from an Orange Lodge.

Cricket Ireland and the Northern Cricket Union released a joint statement hitting out at the events and confirmed they have invited East Belfast GAA – one of the clubs sending young people to the camp – to participate in a similar event they are planning at Stormont.

The row has erupted after the cross-community camp was scrapped following opposition from the local lodge over the involvement of “a small group of children from a GAA club.”

First Minister Michelle O’Neill described the situation as “deeply worrying” and “unacceptable”.

In a statement from the Chair of Cricket Ireland, Brian MacNeice said: “Cricket Ireland and the Northern Cricket Union are dismayed and disappointed at the events which have led to the cancellation of the youth sports camp at North Down Cricket Club.

“North Down has been at the forefront of youth development in recent times.

"Participation in multiple sports by young people has been recognised as having considerable benefits both in sporting terms and mental wellbeing. It can only be to the detriment of the children concerned that this cancellation has occurred.”

The statement continued: “We applaud North Down Cricket Club’s initiative in planning the sports camp.

"We are committed to following through on the initiative and Cricket Ireland and the Northern Cricket Union are making plans to run a similar sports camp at Stormont.

"We have therefore approached East Belfast GAA and offered an opportunity to participate in this alternative sports camp which will also include other sports clubs. We look forward to further engagement with the GAA, and other governing bodies, for the benefit of all.”

The statement echoes the disappointment of an Alliance MLA, who earlier told the Belfast Telegraph she was “disgusted” at opposition from a group of “local loyalists” and the Orange Order over the North Down event.

Strangford MLA Kellie Armstrong also accused the groups of showing “intolerance” over the camp in Comber.

North Down Cricket club.

MLA Kellie Armstrong 'disgusted' after children’s cricket club cancelled after opposition to GAA Club

Ms Armstrong said the complaints opposing the event came from a group that calls themselves “the local loyalists of Comber and the local Orange Order”.

“Any opportunity for children to come together to play sports, to get to know each other... is to be welcomed. We need more of that across Northern Ireland. For the club to have to pull an event because some people’s outdated and backward considerations is wrong.”

Ms Armstrong added: “We have children that enjoy shared education, integrated education, that play other sports with each other all the time – why single out this one sports activity, a summer scheme where kids would be outdoors playing, learning a new sport, getting together, having a bit of craic and it’s upsetting a minority of adults.

MLA Kellie Armstrong outside North Down Cricket Club in Comber Photo: Kirsten Elder

"My heart goes out to North Down Cricket Club to be honest. Any sports club depends on its volunteers and of course they’ll look to protect the children that’ll be coming together…. their decision is theirs to make and it’s probably the right one when thinking about safety.”

She also said that residents from Comber and further afield had come together and made “some very vicious and vile comments about the fact that children from other backgrounds were coming to Comber.”

She concluded: “I’d like to ask for clarification from those groups and the Orange Order if they support excluding people. They’ve talked about inclusiveness but what I’m hearing is intolerance. Perhaps it’s time that the Orange Order and other unionist politicians stood up and actually said how they felt about it.”

North Down Cricket Club in Comber Photo: Kirsten Elder

Speaking on the Nolan Show this morning, TUV Councillor Ron McDowell said that the statement from Comber Orange Lodge has been “read into” and that the lodge’s complaint is not in opposition to sport.

He argued the lodge hadn’t prevented the event from taking place or made a threat of “protest, action or militancy” and claimed there were concerns over other controversies surrounding the GAA including children and youth tournaments being named after IRA leaders.

Raising her own concerns, First Minister Ms O’Neill said: “Children should be allowed to play together at summer camp without facing intolerance.

“These developments are deeply worrying and unacceptable. Sport has the power to unify.

“Political representatives must call this out. We need to send a clear message that we will continue moving forward together to build a brighter society and overcome such unacceptable intolerance.”

First Minister Michelle O’Neill (PA)

East Belfast GAA – which has faced bomb threats over recent years – have also spoke out about the controversy.

“The regrettable cancellation won’t stop any of the organisations involved from continuing their great work in building bridges, promoting peace, and sharing spaces for sport,” the club added in a statement.

“We look forward to future opportunities to collaborate with like-minded groups from Belfast and beyond so that everyone can enjoy a healthy lifestyle through sport and community.”

North Down Cricket Club had planned to host the kids summer camp at its Comber site on Friday but it was scrapped as Goldsprings LOL stated that a number of residents in the area “expressed significant concerns” on the GAA aspect of the event.

The cricket club had set out to involve 10 different local sports and community groups, including GAA games, to help the “building of friendships through shared activity”.

"As reaction to the event grew, we felt the spirit of the camp was at risk of being lost. With regret — and out of respect for all involved — we chose not to proceed”

A spokesperson from North Down Cricket Club said last night:

“The Sport Summer Camp was created to give young people from different backgrounds a chance to enjoy cricket, try something new, and simply have fun."

The spokesperson added: “The plan was to involve 10 different local sports and community groups — including organisations supporting ethnic minority communities — with the aim of building friendships through shared activity. A small group of children from a GAA club was just one part of that broader mix.

“As reaction to the event grew, we felt the spirit of the camp was at risk of being lost. With regret — and out of respect for all involved — we chose not to proceed.”

Ron McDowell

In a social media post, the area’s local Orange lodge, Goldsprings LOL, said the club’s presence “would be viewed with regret and opposition by many in the Comber area”.

“While the promotion of sport and youth engagement is widely supported across all sectors of society, many local residents have raised reservations about the GAA’s cultural and historical affiliations.

“Specifically there is unease regarding aspects of the organisation that have, in the past, celebrated or commemorated individuals associated with paramilitary activity.

“For a shared and peaceful future, such actions are viewed by some as divisive and incompatible with a truly inclusive society.”

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