North’s education minister warns against wearing GAA tops
The North's Education Minster Caitriona Ruane said it would not be safe for her children to wear GAA jerseys in some areas.
The Sinn Féin MLA is a Co Mayo native but is married to a Co Louth man and lives in Newry.
Ms Ruane told the Parnell Summer School in Co Wicklow: "I have no difficulty with them wearing these jerseys around Newry but in other areas at certain times it would not be safe."
She added: "As a mother I would have to protect my children."
Ms Ruane was speaking on the theme of education in the North when a member of the audience said he had advised his Scottish grandson not to wear a Glasgow Rangers strip around Waterford.
"I think we should be able to celebrate diversity," said Ms Ruane.
"We have to create space where children can wear anything they want, in order to promote diversity and inclusion."
The MLA also told how living in Nicaragua as a 21-year-old in the 1980s helped shape her views on how education can drive change across society.
She said that when the ministries were being divided out in Stormont's powersharing administration, she argued passionately for the education portfolio.
Referring to her Mayo roots, she added: "People in Mayo saw third level as a way out of poverty and a way of creating opportunities.
"Getting a good education was something that was drilled into us from an early age."
