AN influential independent unionist has revealed his enjoyment at attending a first hurling game, after being invited to watch by the chair of an embattled Belfast GAA club.
Richard Garland, who is currently working as an intern in the offices of DUP MLA Emma Little-Pengelly and has a large following on social media, accepted the invitation after publicly defending the East Belfast club when its members recently faced what he believed was unfair criticism and threats.
Mr Garland enjoyed the game and described the club as "truly welcoming", arguing its members are showing leadership challenging the GAA on certain issues as they are striving to create a "genuine" cross community club. He drew some flak on social media, including being blocked from a unionist Facebook group he was involved with.
The club became embroiled in some controversy after Belfast City Council management decided to mark out an otherwise disused corner of Victoria Park as a GAA pitch.
Mr Garland believed this was unfair as the club did not ask to use the ground and for the area to be marked, a position cemented after his attendance at a game against Portaferry at Mallusk last Thursday.
The unionist, who is not a member of the DUP and has 17,000 followers on Twitter, said he was in touch on social media with club chair Kimberly Robertson prior to the Victoria Park controversy and had agreed in vague terms to accept an invitation to a game.
"I had been tweeting about the GAA, in general criticising them. Kimberley messaged me about meeting up. I always want to engage with people, something my father taught me was really important," Mr Garland said. "I said I was up for it."
That was some months ago, then the Victoria Park issue happened.
"I heard that story and felt a bit of sympathy for the club. I do have issues with the organisation but...I wrote a tweet supporting their right to have a ground. Everyone should be entitled to a place to play their sport, for the sake of the community," said Mr Garland.
"She messaged me to ask was I up for going to a match. This was a good opportunity to engage, talk to her to understand the issues I am concerned about.
"They are challenging the GAA as an organisation, going out of their way to be as inclusive as they can. From a unionist perspective we should be right behind them even if they have concerns about the organisation."
Some unionists object to the GAA constitution, which states the organisation's aim is for a united Ireland. They have also criticised clubs for erecting memorials and naming grounds, clubs and stands after IRA members, mostly pre-dating the recent Troubles.
Mr Garland said the East Belfast club chair, originally from the US, sees dialogue coming from his attending the game.
"Really enjoyed hosting Richard tonight at our hurling match. It’s so important to engage positively and listen to each other with understanding and compassion," she wrote on social media following the game. "Looking forward to the next match."
Mr Garland said he will continue to criticise the organisation but added: "I will be supportive of someone in that organisation that shows leadership and wants to reach out to bridge the divide."
In a message in response to comments on social media again criticising the GAA, Mr Garland said: "Many of the issues that have been raised are legitimate, and these concerns are shared by people both inside and outside the association.
"I really hope a constructive dialogue might be opened that could assist in addressing this for the sake of everyone involved."
Mr Garland will not became a regular attender of GAA games, but described hurling, of which previously he had only seen short clips, as an excellent game.
On whether he might one day visit Croke Park on All-Ireland Hurling Final day, Mr Garland would only say he was there once before, to see the Rolling Stones.
