Anger over ban that led to three supporters being escorted from Mayo GAA match

A Mayo journalist and broadcaster has hit out after photographs emerged on social media last night of three supporters being escorted by gardaì from Elverys MacHale Park in Castlebar before the Mayo SFC semi-final between Breaffy and Westport.

GAA fans have been temporarily banned from attending matches in the Republic of Ireland since August 18 in an effort to prevent the further spread of Covid-19.

In a Facebook post, Michael Commins described the situation which transpired at the game in Castlebar last night as 'horrendous'.

He elaborated: "Honest to goodness decent people being escorted from MacHale Park in Castlebar that can hold around 33,000 people.

"Several hundred at the Tyrone semi-finals in Healy Park, Omagh . . .and rightfully so.

"Not a budge out of our four TDs here in Mayo. "Come on folks, get real and stand up for the people who voted you in.

"We can't take this bunkum any longer.

"Thousands walking through Grafton Street in Dublin and other main streets in our cities and towns.

"And a few parish-loving people at a Mayo semi-final are treated like this.

"It is time to take back our country."

Speaking to The Connaught Telegraph this afternoon, he called for an urgent rethink, making the point the GAA, IRFU, FAI and other sporting bodies should be allowed to operate like the businesses they are.

* Pictured is an image from Elverys MacHale Park last night with Westport and Breaffy playing in an empty stadium. PHOTO: SPORTSFILE