East Belfast GAA has released a statement after a school was intimidated following an event for young children on its grounds.
A 'taster' event was held by the club on the grounds of Strandtown Primary School in East Belfast and, following a number of "intimidatory comments", the school said it had been forced to end any association with East Belfast GAA.
The club has now issued a statement expressing gratitude to the school, stressing that the event had been intended as an "opportunity for children from all communities, societies and ethnic backgrounds" in the area.
Read more: East Belfast primary school 'intimidated' following children's GAA event
In a message sent to the club and seen by Belfast Live, principal Victoria Hutchinson said that they were "exceptionally disappointed" to find themselves forced to halt association with the club and felt that it didn't reflect the ethos of the school.
On Saturday, a spokesperson for the club said: "East Belfast GAA Academy are grateful to Strandtown PS for the hire of their premises for our 'Come and Try' event, which was an opportunity for children from all communities, societies and ethnic backgrounds in East Belfast to have a chance to try a new or unfamiliar sport."
The spokesperson continued: "We would like to thank everyone within our local community for the support they have given us and continue to give us.
"For us and our academy, Gaelic games are simply about children from all sections of our community playing sport - together."
In order to protect the school, which the principal said had "poor security access", the school had informed the club that it couldn't' "sustain the arrangement" and that it was concerned about negative attention that has been generated in "the belief that this was a one off event."
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