Whiskey shot for Adams son in whiskeyshot backersaBushmills sponsor

One of Ireland's biggest whiskey firms is sponsoring a football team which includes Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams' son in a bid to counter a propaganda campaign in America.

Bushmills Whiskey, who have been accused of not employing enough Catholics, are sponsoring the Antrim GAA who Geroid Adams, 21, plays for.

The whiskey giant decided a few days ago that they would provide a five-figure sum to sponsor the club and their players up to the year 2000.

The move was aimed at showing they are totally non-sectarian in both business and sponsorship.

Bushmills have been under constant attack from Father Sean McManus, of the Irish National Caucus in Washington, for not employing a "reasonable" number of Catholics.

The streets in the North Antrim village near the Giant's Causeway, where the firm have their HQ, have red, white and blue kerbstones.

In the past the company has consistently been accused of not doing enough to combat the surrounding sectarianism.

And in New York, bottles of Bushmills whiskey have been poured down the drains by protesters following a vigorous campaign against the firm by republicans.

Pressure brought by the parent company of Irish Distillers - Pernot Ricard in Paris - is believed to have resulted in Bushmills attempting to stem the sectarian attacks.

Bushmills chose to sponsor the GAA team closest to their HQ.

It is well known in Northern Ireland that Gerry Adams' son plays for the team.

Geroid is Adams' only son and, like his mother Collette, is one of the most rarely-photographed people in the province. SDLP leader John Hume, who recently rejected the opportunity of becoming the next Irish President because of his involvement in the current peace talks during the IRA ceasefire, is on record as describing Bushmills as "a cornerstone of the Irish economy".

The GAA League has been the subject of controversy for years because of a rule-book stating that members of the security forces should not be allowed to play for any county teams, regardless of their religion.

Copyright 1997 MGN LTD
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.