Little-Pengelly ‘saddened and disappointed' by cancellation of sport summer camp
North Down Cricket Club had planned the sports summer camp for young people from different backgrounds, including the involvement of 10 different groups, one of which was the East Belfast GAA.
But a local Orange Order lodge said there were concerns among local residents about the 'perceived move of the GAA into the local community'.
In a statement on social media, the North Down Cricket Club said it cancelled the event because it felt the spirit of the camp was at risk of being lost.
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 told the PA news agency.
'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.'
Ms O'Neill added: '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'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Belfast Telegraph
17 minutes ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Mike Browne wins Race of Legends finale to seal Armoy four-timer
The Republic of Ireland rider is only the fourth winner of the blue riband Superbike race along with Ryan Farquhar, Michael Dunlop and Davey Todd. Browne also won the Open race for a big bike double and added another win in the Supersport race for a brace in the class on the BPE/Russell Racing Yamaha after opening his account on Friday. The Cork man left himself with work to do in the Race of Legends finale after fluffing his lines at the start on his new Honda. Browne was in fourth place on the opening lap but soon forced his way into contention as he chased after pole man and race leader Paul Jordan on the Jackson Racing Honda. He quickly passed Marcus Simpson and Michael Sweeney to pursue Jordan and was ahead of the Ulsterman by the end of lap three. Jordan had no answer as Browne set the fastest lap of the race at 106.898mph to pull away. He won by 4.313s from Jordan, with Sweeney (MJR BMW) holding off Conor Cummins (Burrows/RK Racing BMW) and Jamie Coward (KTS Racing BMW) to secure the final podium place in the final Irish road race of the year. Browne only rode the Honda for the first time at the Southern 100 earlier this month but has gelled quickly with the machine. 'Alistair (Russell) and the team done an awful lot of work the last two weeks because we just got that bike and we're trying to make it our own,' he said. 'We're still actually missing a few bits to finish it off but they done some job to get us on the grid even and turned the bike inside-out, and it was our second time on the bike so it's confidence going forward – it's a good bike.' Jordan held his hands up for a wrong tyre choice on the front of his Honda, with the Magherafelt rider choosing an intermediate. Some rain showers had left parts of the County Antrim course damp, but these dried out rapidly as the big race began. 'We went for the wrong tyre choice on the front which is my own fault,' Jordan said. 'To be honest, ten minutes before the start we were still on a wet set-up and fair play to the boys, the rear shock was out, and to get them a second is good.' The Open race was delayed after a rain shower but it made little difference to Browne, who never looked back after passing early pacesetter Sweeney. In tricky conditions, he went on to win the reduced six-lap race by almost nine seconds from Sweeney, while Jordan finished third on his 600cc Jackson Racing Honda machine. 'That was just a gamble with what set-up to use, with half dry, half wet (conditions),' said Browne. 'It was bone dry down to the village but then very wet at the last road end. 'It was very hard to work out and it was tough, but it was nice that everyone got around as well there because it was tricky.' Coward, Neil Kernohan (Yamaha) and Cummins were the top six. In the Supersport race, Browne came out on top once again but this time he was kept honest throughout by Jordan. The duo broke away from the rest of the field and although Jordan was able to keep in touch with Browne, the 34-year-old was unable to find a way past. Browne won by 0.523s, with third going to Sweeney on his Yamaha, who only just held off Coward on the KTS Macadam Racing Triumph for third. Cummins (Burrows/RK Racing Ducati) and Manx rider Joe Yeardsley (Yamaha) were fifth and sixth respectively. Jordan wrapped up a double in the Supertwin class on the Jackson Racing Aprilia, beating Barry Furber (DC Autos Yamaha) by 9.7s in a damp race. Sean Brolly, who plies his trade in the Support classes, excelled to take third on his Aprilia on corrected time ahead of Sweeney after starting in the second group. Kevin Lavery from Dungannon won the Junior Support race with Brolly taking victory in the Senior Support race. The Lightweight race was won by Barry Davidson while Chris Meyer held off Nigel Moore for victory in the Moto3/125GP race. Andy Farrell won the Classic Superbike race by 11.9s from Sam West.
Scotsman
17 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Padraig Harrington steps up bid to complete rare Claret Jug double
Irishman holds two-shot lead in ISPS HANDA Senior Open at Sunningdale Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Padraig Harrington takes a two-shot lead into the final round of the ISPS HANDA Senior Open as he bids to become just the fifth Open champion to win both Claret Jug events. The Irishman, who held a one-stroke lead at the halfway lead at the Berkshire venue, doubled his advantage after carding a second successive 65 to sit on 13 under par. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Padraig Harrington in action during the third round of the ISPS HANDA Senior Open 2025 at Sunningdale |American Justin Leonard, who is also bidding to complete the rare double, leads the chase after a third-round 65, with Thomas Bjorn a further shot back in third spot. 'I still wasn't comfortable,' declared Harrington, who is bidding to make it back-to-back over-50s' major wins after landing last month's US Senior Open. 'But I don't think I rode my luck as much today. I wasn't out of position but I certainly didn't play much better than yesterday. Maybe a little bit more cautious today.' Harrington would join Bob Charles, Gary Player, Tom Watson and Darren Clarke in the record books if he can complete the double. 'The goal is to try and keep making the birdies,' said the 2007 and 2008 Open champion. 'There will be a few mistakes, but, hopefully, I'll make enough birdies to counteract that.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Leonard, who won The Open in 1997 at Royal Troon, signed for seven birdies in his bid to etch his name in history. Just enjoying this golf course, and it's kind of firming up a little bit, which I kind of like,' said the American.
BreakingNews.ie
3 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Donegal woman cops an All-Ireland ticket thanks to heroic Kerryman
A big-hearted 'Kerry' cop has fulfilled the wish of a Donegal woman to see the All-Ireland Football Final after a chance meeting on the streets of Toronto in Canada. Letterkenny woman Clare O'Brien was waiting in traffic shortly after Jim McGuinness' team booked their place in the GAA centrepiece at Croke Park by beating Meath. Advertisement The proud young Donegal woman just happened to be still wearing her county jersey when a Toronto policeman cycled by in traffic. The eagle-eyed lawman spotted the jersey, leaned in the car window and shouted 'Up Kerry.' The brief encounter got the pair chatting and, in a very Irish way, it was like they knew each other for years. The cop turned out to be Conor Holly, a Canadian cop whose father Michael is from Ballylongford in Kerry and mother is from Belfast. Advertisement Clare's well-known mother Connie McGranaghan from Letterkenny posted the brief roadside encounter on Instagram and TikTok and it went viral. Gentleman Conor chatted to the Donegal crew for ages before inviting them down to his local station in Toronto for a tour. He even joked that he would try his best to get Clare an All-Ireland Final ticket. Conor scoured his Kerry connections via his father and earlier this week managed to secure Clare and himself the golden passes. The pair flew in yesterday for the game and it will sit together - but will obviously be shouting for different teams! Clare's mum Connie said Clare was "over the moon" at getting tickets and said Conor could not have been more of a gentleman. "To think it all stemmed from a bit of craic when Clare was stuck in traffic. Conor has been brilliant and so true to his word. "I really hope they have a great time together at Croke Park. "I'm delighted Conor has been able to come home to Ireland and see some of his family but just as long as Donegal win," she laughed.
