DUP Communities Minister Lyons Attends First Senior GAA Match

Northern Ireland's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, a member of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), is set to attend his first senior Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) match since taking office, after facing criticism for not attending any senior games despite his sport portfolio. Lyons has engaged with the GAA previously at youth events and has expressed commitment to supporting all sports in Northern Ireland, acknowledging the GAA's role in promoting sport participation. His attendance follows calls from GAA president Jarlath Burns, who criticized Lyons for not attending senior matches and highlighted tensions regarding stalled redevelopment funding for Casement Park in Belfast. The timing is significant as a key funding decision for the Casement Park redevelopment, which has a £150 million shortfall, is expected soon after a Treasury spending review, with contributions pledged from the Stormont Executive, Irish government, and GAA. Lyons has cited diary commitments and personal beliefs about Sunday events for prior absences but pledged during a March trip to Washington DC to attend a match before the season's end. Other DUP figures, including former leader Arlene Foster and current Stormont speaker Edwin Poots, have attended GAA matches in the past, illustrating a precedent for political engagement with the sport.