The Mayor of Causeway Council, Councillor Ivor Wallace, has defended his decision not to host a reception for the Antrim camogie team.
Posting on Facebook earlier this afternoon, Councillor Wallace wrote: “The very first enquiry I made to council staff when I became Mayor was how I could recognise the fantastic work of St Vincent de Paul. Organisations like it, as well as Salvation Army, CAP, Foodbanks and many other cross-community groups, will be my focus during my term.
“I have a finite budget to spend, and I will spend it however I see fit.
“I have absolutely no intention of having a reception for any organisation wedded to one side or the other.
“I won’t be offending the many people who have contacted me in recent days, encouraging me not to be bullied into making a decision I’m not happy with. It is not my intention to offend anyone.
“We need to get beyond the them and us. We need to accept each other for who we are but we also need to understand we have differences that we need to work through.
“As I have previously said, my focus this year will be on the many community and voluntary organisations who provide advice and support in our Borough, and whose role is more important now that ever.”
