A GAA STEWARD who told a Mayo fan and mum-of-four that she couldn't breastfeed her son at the Kildare v Mayo game last weekend has been removed from duty.
Iseult Mangan, 37, arrived with her husband and children to St Conleth’s Park in Newbridge, Co. Kildare two hour prior to the game's scheduled 7pm throw-in – allowing plenty of time to settle five-month-old Senan.
When she sat at a seat in the empty venue to feed Senan, a steward told her it was reserved and she could not breastfeed there as it "belongs in the toilet".
Iseult later burst into tears when she was told that she couldn't bring her buggy up to the tiered standing area.
Thankfully, two other stewards apologised and helped the Mayo mum with her buggy, telling her that the particular steward involved would not be working again.
This is what it's all about #KildareGAA
Thanks to all our supporters for the fantastic support over the last week, in Newbridge & around the county yesterday. A special mention to all our volunteers for their services in St. Conleth's Park yesterday #OurCommunityOurCounty pic.twitter.com/3LdWXT8B30
— Kildare GAA (@KildareGAA) July 1, 2018
Iseult said that her "whole issue was being told to feed in the toilets" and that "I've never had anyone ever say anything like that to me before".
Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1's Today with Miriam O'Callaghan programme, Iseult said: "I'd usually feed him straight away in the car before going into the stadium but he was fast asleep so I left him. I've fed him at other games at other stadiums before.
"He said ‘no, you can’t do that in the stand' and I said ‘Ok, well where can I feed him?' – He replied ‘that belongs in the toilet, you can do that in the toilet’.
"I was so shocked, I had my 11-year-old daughter with me, I took a step back, and said ‘are you for real?’ and he just looked over my shoulder and did not speak to me again."
Kildare GAA have said they are "extremely sorry" for the incident, adding: "We have already made the necessary steps to ensure a similar incident will not happen in the future."
The steward involved has now been removed from duty, according to Joe.ie.
Under current Irish law, the right to breastfeed in public is preserved under the Equal Status Act of 2000.
