Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Kielty calls for an end to ‘casual sectarianism and tribalism’
PATRICK Kielty has called for an end to “casual sectarianism” and said tribalism around football should be stamped out.
The comedian and broadcaster also hit out at Northern Ireland’s “segregated” education system. The dad of two, originally from Dundrum, Co Down, was speaking at a major event at the Ulster University focusing on sectarianism.
An extensive report into the issue found the move towards integrated education seemed to have “come to a halt under devolution”.
Mr Kielty, whose father was killed during the Troubles, said: “I think we really have to address education, segregated education, and I think as a society we kind of have to start calling out that casual sectarianism.
“Whenever we had peace here we thought if we move on to a Glaswegian level of sectarianism that is fine, so we only hate each other every week when we go to football. That is not good enough.
“The tribalism of that is not good enough.”