Gregory Campbell Talks Some Balls…
Talking Balls 1 Comment »
Gregory brough further attention to himself in the way only he can by dragging his heels in a fashion that is unusual for a man that can march in step and on time on every other occasion, when he took his time offering the Tyrone Minors and Seniors a reception at Stormont. Eye-witness reports from Friday’s event suggest that the delay could have been due to the long time it took to come up with a satisfactory room layout that meant those two Prods Sam Maguire and Gregory Campbell couldn’t be photographed together. Well according to the Irish News that is. (And in case you don’t know, as far as Talking Balls is concerned if its in the Irish News its true, except for that oul folksy shite Paddy Heaney makes up about growing up round Maghera. Aye right Paddy!)
Anyhow, making a truth of the maxim that there isn’t much distance between a pat on the back and a kick up the arse, Gregory was quick off the mark dishing out the compliments: A deir sé:
“Progress has been made and leadership has been demonstrated. However, my views and the views of many are that further action needs be seen to be taken if the GAA is to position itself to play an even greater role in helping to improve community relations.”
He referred in particular to “significant rule changes” that allowed members of the police and the British armed forces to play its games.
“I would encourage the GAA along with the other sporting bodies in Northern Ireland to continue the good work which they all have commenced and I want to see sport recognised for what it is, without any connotations or linkages that have been perceived to be a cause of division in the past.”
Talking Balls assumes then that Gregory will also be using his good offices to ask that team with strong ‘Ulster’ connections, Raoinithe Glaschú to desist with their Oul-Come-All-Ye’s about being up to their necks in fenian blood with the same po-faced enthusiasm he has for ‘encouraging’ the likes of the GAA in their work.
Taking a leaf from that great Derry singer D:Ream, Mickey Harte was heard to say: “Things can only get better.”
February 21st, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Wonder what Greg would make of the NZ Maori being banned from playing rugby in SA as they are a team selected on a racial basis. Maybe he could arrange for the Ozzie rules team to be banned from a game at Casement on some spurious interpretation of the more interesting laws in NI, like they discriminated in picking no small people for the team