logo
Little-Pengelly ‘saddened and disappointed' by cancellation of sport summer camp

Little-Pengelly ‘saddened and disappointed' by cancellation of sport summer camp

ITV Newsa day ago
North Down Cricket Club has said its decision to cancel a children's camp in Comber involving young people from East Belfast GAA was not influenced, and had been taken before, any comment from Goldsprings Orange Lodge.
In an updated statement on Thursday afternoon, the club said concerns were raised with it privately and later publicly on social media.
Posting on Facebook today, the lodge said it supports cross-community initiatives but suggested the GAA "remains overtly political in its constitution".
Cricket Ireland has made alternative plans for the camp, which was due to take place tomorrow.
Earlier the Deputy First Minister, Emma Little-Pengelly, has expressed her disappointment at the cancellation of the cross-community sports camp.
First Minister Michelle O'Neill also reiterated her dismay.
On Wednesday, Cricket Ireland announced it plans to step in to arrange a similar sports camp at Stormont later this month.
Speaking during a visit to the Open in Portrush on Thursday, Ms O'Neill and Ms Little-Pengelly both expressed disappointment at what had happened.
Ms Little-Pengelly said 'while there are legitimate questions to be asked of the GAA around their lack of inclusion, this is not the time or place'.
'Sport can be a great unifier,' she said. It's been really disappointing, very saddened to see that the club felt that they had to cancel this particular summer camp.
'I've reached out, and I've been speaking to the North Down Cricket Club.
'Of course, there are legitimate questions to be asked of the GAA around their lack of inclusion and the barriers that many feel to participation, but this is not the time or place. The time and place for that is not a children's summer camp.
'Cricket has been a great unifier right across all different types of religions, races, politics, we see that play out every single week, and I think it's really disappointing that these young people won't get that opportunity to play cricket at that summer camp but I'm continuing to work with the club, and with others, to see what the opportunities may be in the future.'
Michelle O'Neill said: 'I was so deeply disappointed that anyone thought it was appropriate to advocate that these kids should not be invited along.
'For kids to come together through the medium of sport. It's just something that should always be a positive experience. So it makes me really sad to actually hear that someone doesn't want those kids to be invited.
'It's just totally not acceptable. Young people should play sport together, young people from all different backgrounds should always be encouraged to come together.'
Ms O'Neill added she was 'quite dismayed by the fact that somebody thought it was appropriate to actually advocate against that'.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Fearless Bob MacIntyre roars 'I'm not scared' as Oban hero ready to roll the dice for final Open charge
Fearless Bob MacIntyre roars 'I'm not scared' as Oban hero ready to roll the dice for final Open charge

Daily Record

time4 minutes ago

  • Daily Record

Fearless Bob MacIntyre roars 'I'm not scared' as Oban hero ready to roll the dice for final Open charge

The Scot sizzled on day two at Royal Portrush to smash a brilliant 66 and charge into Claret Jug contention Fearless Bob MacIntyre insists he's not scared and won't back away from an Open triumph. ‌ The Scot sizzled on day two at Royal Portrush to smash a brilliant 66 and charge into Claret Jug contention. ‌ MacIntyre says he'll roll the dice as he's right where he wants to be heading into the final 36 holes. ‌ The Oban hero has his sights set firmly on the title and going one better than his runner-up finish at last month's US Open. MacIntyre is determined to press if he gets the scent of victory and said: 'No, I'm not scared. I'm not going to back away. It's completely different to Oakmont. Oakmont, I couldn't roll the dice. 'It was never let's press, let's press. It was always, right, let's go out here with pars. This week, hopefully come the 69th, 70th hole, I've got a chance. If I've got a chance, I'm going to roll it. ‌ 'There's potential. It could be anyone's time. I'm in a good spot. I feel happy, confident, comfortable. I'm going to go out and give it my best shot all the way through Sunday afternoon. 'Now I feel like this is where I want to be. These are the tournaments I want to compete really hard in come Sundays. I feel like the last three majors I've put myself in good position after 36 holes. 'However long my career is going to be, this is what I want to do. Until I give it up, I'm going to give it my best shot. ‌ 'I feel like the team that I've got around me are a massive, massive help in that. I trust them with everything, and they trust me with everything. Just keep the foot down and keep going forward.' MacIntyre finished tied-sixth at Portrush on his Open debut six years ago as a raw youngster and has returned to Northern Ireland a complete article. ‌ He feels the alteration and said: 'Yeah, it's different. It doesn't feel as much pressure. Probably change that, probably less expectation for myself. 'In 2019 I was nervous, excited, but put a lot of pressure on myself because I love the golf course and there was so much going on, first major. 'It's brilliant. I've got so much more confidence and so much more belief that I am good enough. Obviously winning in Europe, winning in America, you're good enough for that, there's another little level to it. 'I've, obviously, managed to finish Top 10s in majors before, but I've never competed. 'In the PGA Championship this year, I was right in the mix. There was a lot going on Saturday, Sunday, and I fell away, but I had so much confidence going in that I was at that level now. 'Oakmont obviously happens, which gives you another boost, but now I said it just last year, if it's not a major championship, the Scottish Open. Now we've got that, the full focus is on winning majors.'

Bryson DeChambeau backs Trump's Turnberry for Open return
Bryson DeChambeau backs Trump's Turnberry for Open return

Daily Mail​

time32 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Bryson DeChambeau backs Trump's Turnberry for Open return

Bryson DeChambeau has backed Donald Trump to make the Open great again if it returns to the US president's course at Turnberry. R&A chiefs revealed earlier this week they held a 'really good discussion' with Trump's family over whether their course could stage another Open. 'Oh, yeah, I think he would,' said DeChambeau after his incredible round of six-under turned around a horror opening loop yesterday to likely make the cut at Royal Portrush. 'He'd still probably respect the R&A and what they're trying to accomplish. Darbon has not long succeeded previous chief executive Martin Slumbers, who had suggested taking the Open to Turnberry would take the focus away from golf and be too toxic, but has loosened the R&A's stance on the matter. 'I met a couple of months ago with Eric Trump and some of the leadership from the Trump golf organization and from Turnberry, said Darbon. 'We had a really good discussion. I think they understand clearly where we're coming from. We talked through some of the challenges that we have so we've got a good dialogue with them.' Reports in February claimed White House officials had asked Prime Minister Kier Starmer about the Open returning to Turnberry during his visit to Washington while King Charles also mentioned the course in a letter inviting Trump on a state visit. 'We've been extremely clear on our position in respect of Turnberry,' said Darbon. 'We love the golf course but we've got some big logistical challenges there. You see the scale of their setup here and we've got some work to do on the road, rail and accommodation infrastructure.'

Rory McIlroy confident of a weekend charge in The Open at Royal Portrush
Rory McIlroy confident of a weekend charge in The Open at Royal Portrush

Leader Live

time38 minutes ago

  • Leader Live

Rory McIlroy confident of a weekend charge in The Open at Royal Portrush

Six years ago, he failed to make the weekend by a stroke after a terrible first day, but there was no danger of that this time around as a second-round 69 left him three under and within five of clubhouse leader and former champion Brian Harman. Since 1970, 89 per cent of Open winners have been within four of the lead after 36 holes so McIlroy will have to buck that trend, but he is feeling good about his game. Royal Portrush doesn't whisper. It roars. Rory moves to three-under with a birdie. — The Open (@TheOpen) July 18, 2025 'I maybe could be a couple closer to the lead, but overall in a decent position heading into the weekend. 'I didn't have this opportunity six years ago, so to play an extra two days in this atmosphere in front of these crowds, I'm very excited for that. 'I feel like my game's definitely good enough to make a run. 'I've been somewhat close to my best over the first two days in little bits here and there. 'I'm going to need to have it all under control and have it sort of all firing over the weekend to make a run.' The Masters champion mixed the majestic with the mediocre over the front nine before gaining some control after turning for home. Last in the field for driving accuracy on Thursday after hitting just two fairways, he struggled to recalibrate his radar early on but that did not prevent him making birdie at the first from 18 feet after finding the semi-rough. However, he was a foot from driving out of bounds at the par-five next and had to take an unplayable lie and eventually chipped to seven feet to save par. The 176-yard third caused him problems as his tee shot caught the bank of a bunker, forcing him to stand in the sand and choke down halfway on the shaft of his wedge with his ball well above his feet and that resulted in a bogey. A 348-yard drive and approach to six feet brought a birdie at the next but the driveable par-four fifth caused him problems after pulling his three-wood into a bunker, which produced the response, 'Don't go in there. Idiot.' Another bogey followed and despite hammering a 372-yard drive down the par-five seventh he came up short with his approach, chipped to nine feet but missed the birdie attempt. There were more missed fairways, although seven found over the course of his round represented a significant improvement, but he was able to pick up two shots coming home without further drama. His eagle putt grazed the hole at the 12th and chipped an 87-yard approach to 17ft for another birdie on the 14th.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store