By Conor Sharkey
STRABANE'S Tinnies may have pulled on their Tyrone jerseys for the last time, following a complaint from the Mid-Ulster Young Unionist Party.
A row over the public displaying of Tyrone regalia has been brewing since last Wednesday, when a local civil servant was ordered to remove a flag from her car as it had offended another employee.
The controversy stepped up a notch at the weekend when the Chair of Mid-Ulster Young Unionists Ryan Moses accused Strabane Council of blatantly endorsing 'intimidation' against Protestants by allowing the 'Let the Dance Begin' sculptures to be decked out in Tyrone's colours.
Castlederg's Mr Moses added that it was unacceptable that the Tinnies had been "defaced with GAA sportswear" and questioned whether Orange Sashes would be deemed acceptable, come July 12.
The Chronicle contacted Mr Moses on Monday, asking that he join us on the streets of Strabane to point out just exactly what it is that intimidates him and his party. The Mid-Ulster Young Unionist Chairman at first accepted our invitation, however he then became 'unavailable' on Monday, Tuesday and indeed Wednesday.
The Tinnies were first kitted out when Tyrone reached the All -Ireland final back in 2003. A joint effort between O'Neills Sportswear and Sigersons GAA Club, the huge jerseys have courted light-hearted media attention from across the globe.
Earlier this week however, sport and the North's politics collided once again, a collision which will almost certainly spell the end for the traditional dressing of the Tinnies.
On Monday, councillors were informed that Mr Moses had lodged an official complaint and that as a result, legislation on the issue would have to be reviewed.
The man who first dreamed up the Tyrone Tinnies idea, Aodhan Harkin, said he was disgusted that Mr Moses had chosen to politicise an issue which should essentially unite the county.
"This is nothing but pure, petty sectarianism and if Strabane Council do bow to this complaint, then they are only pandering to someone making stupid comments.
"With regards to whether sashes can be put up on July 12, I would say to Mr Moses go right ahead. You are more than welcome to put the sashes up but I don't know how long they will stay there.
"For years the GAA has done its damndest to remove politics from the sport. They have bent over backwards to accommodate all sections of the community, but listening to the comments made by Ryan Moses, I'm not sure his problem is with the Tinnies at all.
"He has made it abundantly clear that his problem is with Strabane town. If he wants to play politics, then let him stand for election and he can air his grievances in the chamber of Strabane District Council.
"As a sporting body, we aren't interested in anything he has to say and our only concern is that Tyrone win on Sunday," Mr Harkin added.
Ulster Unionist councillor Derek Hussey was reluctant to become involved in the controversy, saying only that he understood the point Mr Moses was trying to make because of "the perceived connotation and connection that the GAA movement would have with a political aspiration."
The MLA added that it was likely Mr Moses was expressing the views of many young unionists but that he also understood the controversy had now put Strabane Council "in a trying circumstance".
