Concerns the Irish Football Association has not bought into an Ulster Hall of Fame project raised by Lisburn councillor
Concerns the Irish Football Association (IFA) has not bought into an Ulster Hall of Fame project have been raised by a local councillor.
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council’s communities committee was given an update on an ‘Ulster Sports Legacy’ (USL) programme to develop a museum.
A report to the council shows round table discussions included the GAA and Ulster Rugby, but not the governing body of soccer for Northern Ireland football team, the IFA.
Councillor Brian Higginson said: “I would like to raise a concern that there seems to be no buy in from the IFA on the Ulster Sports Legacy.”
An image on a USL strategy programme shows Northern Ireland footballing stars including George Best and the 1982 World Cup squad, as well as the current women’s NI team.
Sporting heroes such as golf grand slam winner Rory McIlroy, motorcycle legend Joey Dunlop and boxing world champion Barry McGuigan are also highlighted. as well as many others.
It is proposed that a virtual and physical museum will represent multiple sporting achievements on a local, regional, and national level with a Hall of Fame also planned.
Councillor Thomas Beckett added: “For a wee country of our size we have certainly been punching well above our weight in sport.
“We have great names such as Alex Higgins and Dennis Taylor for snooker as well as many boxers.
"We were a European City of Sport years ago and Belfast is going towards that now also for 2026.”
A council officer responded: “There were offers sent out to organisations for discussions at the round table and those mentioned in the report are the initial groups to respond.”