The DUP’s Gordon Lyons is set to attend his first GAA match in his capacity as Communities Minister.
The Department for Communities is responsible for sport, but Lyons has been criticised for not attending a GAA match yet.
He was invited to the All-Ireland final last year, but the department said he could not go, citing diary commitments, however, the minister did attend a GAA games festival for young people in Antrim.
The Ulster Council of the GAA (UCGAA) issued the invite for the senior championship match between Armagh and Derry on Saturday.
A Department for Communities spokesperson said: “The Minister will be attending a GAA game on Saturday following an invitation from the UCGAA last week.
“The Minister is committed to supporting all sporting communities across Northern Ireland.”
During his visit to Washington in March, Lyons told reporters that he was “happy to attend a game,” and that he had “been to GAA clubs, events, and had met with the GAA.”
Other senior figures within the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) have attended GAA games, including former party leader and First Minister Arlene Foster.
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Education Minister Paul Givan have tried hurling and GAA during visits to schools and clubs.
Peter Robinson also attended a GAA match in 2012 and was the first DUP politician to do so.
