A hurling competition named after Unionist leader Edward Carson will form part of an event to take place at Stormont Castle as part of this year's Féile an Phobail. The West Belfast Festival will hold a competition in which participants will attempt to hit a 'sliotar' the furthest at Stormont.

The winner's trophy has been named after Dubliner Carson, who played hurling at Trinity College in the city before going on to achieve fame for his opposition to Home Rule and Irish independence.

The iconic statue of the barrister and politician in front of Paliament Buildings will overlook the scene as competitors try to reinact the actions of Setanta, who according to Irish legend would hit a sliotar ahead of him as he travelled and would be able to catch it before it hit the ground.

At the launch of the event in Parliament Buildings Sinn Féin MP Gerry Adam's explained the reasoning behind the decision to name the trophy after the prominent Unionist.

"I discovered, much to my surprise, that Carson was a hurler in his days at Trinity College. So this man who is arguably the father of unionism was also a Gael and I thought that was an interesting concept.

"When Carson was playing for this hurling club at Trinity he got an honourable mention in the Irish Sportsman as having distinguished himself on the field so we thought it would be a great idea to have an Edward Carson trophy," he added.

(BMcC/GK)