Armagh’s ending of a 22-year drought to lift Sam Maguire was a huge event, not just for the county, but for GAA fans across Ulster.
BBC Two showed the nail-biting All-Ireland final live, bringing the sport to an audience well beyond the packed stands of Croke Park.
Celebrations are likely to last for weeks, but Sunday evening was always going to be a raucous one for fans in the Orchard County.
The players delivered a dream for a new generation too young to remember their first All-Ireland in 2002.
Back then the PSNI, which replaced the RUC, was less than a year old.
They were different times — the peace process was still fragile, with an uncertain future ahead.
Crossmaglen GAA ground in 2001 (INPHO/Andrew Paton)
In south Armagh’s ‘bandit country’, policing remained on a security footing, watchtowers still loomed large, ‘unapproved’ roads were still blocked with heavy concrete bollards.
In this republican stronghold, between 1970 and 1997, 123 British soldiers and 42 RUC officers were killed. Seventy-five civilians also died, as well as 10 IRA members.
There was huge distrust between the local population and the security forces, and that did not automatically end with the ceasefires, nor the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
Back then, part of the Crossmaglen Rangers GFC pitch was occupied by an Army base, with games played in the shadow of the huge fortified barracks. The cheers of supporters was often drowned out by helicopters.
‘There is no one like us’ – Armagh City a sea of orange and pride as GAA team celebrate homecoming
Watch: Sam Maguire arrives in Armagh for homecoming at Athletic Grounds
On Sunday, there was a recruitment advertisement for the PSNI in the official All-Ireland programme purchased and cherished by fans. That is most certainly a sign of progress in policing.
On Christmas Day 2019, such progress was called into question when Chief Constable Simon Byrne posted a picture of himself outside Crossmaglen PSNI station with a number of officers wielding assault rifles.
This caused outrage in the area. People felt it was a throwback to a time when they were policed with hostility.
It was not reflective of the PSNI envisioned by Sir Chris Patten in his policing reforms two decades earlier.
The row prompted a review, with sensible recommendations to improve the efficiency of policing in the Newry and Armagh areas, and community relations.
Hours after the All-Ireland win, the PSNI was filmed joining in with the celebrations in Camlough.
A video shows two police vehicles — with sirens blaring and blue flights flashing — joining a cavalcade.
One officer even takes an Armagh flag from a fan and waves it out the window.
Was it a poor example of driving? Yes, every day of the week.
Will it do wonders for community relations in an area once hostile to those in uniform? Yes, more than 20 policing reviews ever could.
Asking young nationalists and republicans to join the force — with all the dangers and life-changing consequences that go with it — requires more than just words.
Meanwhile, unionist politicians have contacted Chief Constable Jon Boutcher to complain about the officers’ actions.
Newry, Mourne and Down district commander Norman Haslett has announced an investigation.
Mr Boutcher is in the top post due to the early resignation of his predecessor, Mr Byrne, who was subject to a damning ruling by one of our most senior judges on the disciplining of staff involved in an incident on the Ormeau Road during the pandemic, when social distancing rules applied.
Two junior PSNI officers were sanctioned over the arrest of a survivor of the 1992 UFF Sean Graham bookies massacre during a commemoration.
Mr Justice Scoffield said they were disciplined to allay any threat of Sinn Fein abandoning its support for policing due to anger over what happened.
His ruling stated that Deputy Chief Constable Mark Hamilton received a phone call from party policing spokesman Gerry Kelly as part of a “frenzy of activity” in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
Unionist politicians were outraged at what they said was political interference in policing by Sinn Fein.
How Mr Boutcher treats the political demands for action to be taken against his officers in Camlough — with the Scoffield judgment still fresh in his mind — could be significant for policing here.
It is the first public test of the new PSNI leadership when it comes to officer discipline.
The force’s top brass needs to show professionalism, while also being mindful of community impact.
That such a joyous occasion for Armagh could cause political fallout at police headquarters in Knock is perhaps the most ‘pure here’ story of the year so far.
The celebrations will continue in the Orchard County for some time to come — but expect a much more muted reaction by police officers from here on in.
by BelfastTelegraph
7 comments
It was a fantastic moment and all you wee victim fetish crying cunts can get it right up you.
Scream at your flags, scream at the invisible line in the sea, scream everything we merely exist. But look at it for what it is, Northern Ireland has moved on and you’re all creatures of the past soon to be dead and forgotten.
Look at how much peace and prosperity angers these people. This is what you’re dealing with.
It actually does make me wonder if this will be remembered positively when they’re trying to recruit more PSNI from these communities.
I really _really_ hope there’s no punishments here. The DUP are gonna DUP, and the ombudsman investigating is a good thing (all reports should be investigated) but there should be _no punishments_. This was super good at humanizing the PSNI, which has been something they’ve consistently failed to do in republican areas.
Oh no! They aren’t scared of each other anymore! This is the end of policing as we know it!
Alternatively, it’s the start of policing as we should know it.
Allison has been flat out with this story think this is the 4th positive article she’s done on it already fair play to her.
I really hope nothing negative comes off of this, it should be applauded.
I’d never watched a GAA match in my life, tuned in on Sunday and what a belter it was. I’m not a big sports person, but I had a great time. Even decided to take a drive into Armagh after to see the celebrations and the atmosphere was so positive and electric.
Could honestly do with more to celebrate in this country sometimes.
I genuinely hope that the officers that celebrated in Camlough with the locals are not punished for it. Though that is unlikely. Regardless of how they may be reprimanded, I hope both officers realise that no amount of disciplinary action from the PSNI can undo the good that they have done in the local community. Those of us who don’t see everything through green or orange glasses have witnessed another successful step in the right direction for policing and for healing long term tensions in the area.
I genuinely believe that what we may see and hear publicly over the coming days/weeks from the PSNI investigation will be nothing more than damage control to appease the outraged minority. But behind closed doors the PSNI will likely acknowledge that it will benefit from what has happened.