Northern Ireland

Arlene Foster considers attending Ulster GAA final following Fermanagh win

DUP leader Arlene Foster, pictured at Stormont yesterday. Picture by Hugh Russell
DUP leader Arlene Foster, pictured at Stormont yesterday. Picture by Hugh Russell DUP leader Arlene Foster, pictured at Stormont yesterday. Picture by Hugh Russell

DUP leader Arlene Foster has said she will consider attending Fermanagh's appearance in Gaelic football's Ulster Final.

Mrs Foster indicated she could be in Clones, Co Monaghan on June 24 for the Ernemen's first final outing in a decade.

The Fermanagh assembly member hailed the team's success in making it to a final for the first time in 10 years when she offered her best wishes to her home county following their win.

In a message posted on social media, Mrs Foster wrote: "Congratulations to my fellow county men who have just surprised those in the know".

It came after Fermanagh shocked red-hot favourites Monaghan with a thrilling win in the semi-final in Omagh on Sunday.

The tweet was welcomed by many on social media as a positive gesture and even prompted a member of the Fermanagh squad to tweet her back with the offer of a ticket.

Mrs Foster told the Press Association last night she had not been "formally" invited but would consider saying yes if one arrived.

"I will consider any invitation that's sent to me," she said.

"I understand somebody tweeted me an invitation or a ticket, but of course I haven't been formally invited yet and I'll wait and see what happens."

In the past unionist politicians have been uneasy at the prospect of attending GAA matches in Northern Ireland, given the Irish national anthem is played at the start of games. However that would be less of a concern for a match played across the border in Clones in Co Monaghan.

In 2008 Edwin Poots became the first DUP politician to attend a Gaelic football match in an official capacity when he watched a Dr McKenna Cup fixture between Down and Donegal in Newry.

Former DUP leader Peter Robinson also attended a GAA match at the Armagh Athletic Grounds alongside the late Martin McGuinness in January 2012.

On both occasions the DUP politicians took their seats after the national anthem was played.

Mrs Foster said a lot of her neighbours and friends were "very much GAA supporters and for them this is a huge deal to actually get to the Ulster Final because the last time was 2008".

"They weren't expected to win yesterday - well maybe the Fermanagh team were expecting to win - but a lot of people and a lot of pundits outside of Fermanagh didn't rate their chances and the fact they have won, I just acknowledged that and said congratulations to my fellow county men."

On the prospect of attending the final, she added: "As I understand it the final is on Sunday 24 June. Obviously there is a lot of water that will go under the bridge between this and that and let's wait and see."