Big strides with 'One Small Step'

Trevor Ringland: I think the barriers and divisions that existed in Northern Ireland are slowly being removed and sport has a part to play. "One Small Step" is a campaign in which I am involved as chairman.

It is based on creating a relationship of understanding between the communities. A few weekends ago, we organised a cycle which went up through the Shankill and down the Falls Road. It's a modest enough pursuit but would not have been possible a few years back.

Coming from a rugby background probably helped me to form friendships throughout Ireland. My upbringing was traditionally Ulster. My father was a policeman and prior to 1969 we regularly went to Arklow in the summer so we had a broad knowledge and appreciation of Ireland. My father served in the RUC until 1983, through some of the worst of the Troubles.

Sport was affected by sectarianism in the same way as almost every other aspect of life and society. That is one of the reasons the Irish rugby team was so important.

When I was playing, we didn't really discuss the Troubles very much. It was just a team. These were our team-mates and our friends. We went to play rugby. But I don't think people realised at the time there was a gesture involved in us standing for The Soldier's Songin those years.

When my Ulster and Ireland team-mates David Irwin, Nigel Carr and Philip Rainey got caught in the bomb blast that killed Lord Justice Maurice Gibson and his wife, Cecily, it received a lot of attention - 20 years ago this April. I knew Lord Gibson, a man I had a lot of respect for. But the boys were just in the wrong place at the wrong time and Nigel's rugby career was ended. I often thought whoever pressed that button simply didn't care about who was in proximity.

Things have improved considerably. Ulster winning the European Cup in 1999 was a very emotional day. I will never forget the "good luck" signs through Drogheda and Dundalk. For me, that was really strong evidence people were moving on.

There are examples of co-operation between sports across the North now. In Belfast, St Bridget's GAA club share their ground with rugby. The same is happening in Ballymena, and Jarlath Burns introduced rugby to his school, which would have been traditionally Gaelic.

Rugby was probably regarded as the unionist or Protestant sport but I think all clubs would give a kid from any background an equal welcome now.

I will be going to Croke Park. I was always curious but didn't feel it was right to go until there was an indication the ban . . . would be removed. So a friend got me a ticket for the 2002 All-Ireland football final when Armagh played Kerry. It was a great day out in an absolutely fantastic stadium. I think this weekend is going to be very special for everyone.

Trevor Ringland is a solicitor in Belfast. As UUP spokesperson on sport, he famously called on all Ulster people to support Tyrone in the 2005 All-Ireland final with the words, "Stand up for Ulstermen and stand up for Tyrone." He made his Ireland debut in 1981 and retired in 1988, having won 34 caps and scored nine tries.