Member's statement: Parkruns
Member's statement by Mr Andrew McMurray on .
- MLA
- Mr Andrew McMurray
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 4 February 2025
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Parkruns
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4778936
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I acknowledge the 10th anniversary of the Castlewellan parkrun, which takes place every Saturday at 9.30 am in the grounds of Castlewellan Forest Park. Admittedly, I do not partake in parkrun as often as I should like, but it is a fantastic event that takes place in the town. There are also events in Rostrevor and Downpatrick, as well as one that is just outside my constituency in the Montalto estate, Ballynahinch. I am sure that there is one in which every MLA could partake. That said, I know that Members are actively involved in parkrun as participants or volunteers, which further demonstrates its reach and impact. The events exemplify community in action and reflect the values that we aim to uphold as representatives of the Assembly. Indeed, Northern Ireland is now home to 41 parkrun events and 13 junior parkruns, which represents a remarkable growth since the first event at the Waterworks in Belfast. Across the region, over 50,000 people are registered parkrunners, and around 6,000 individuals take part weekly by running, walking or volunteering. In the number of people participating, NI punches well above our weight. In the rest of the UK, there is one participant per 347 of the population; in the Republic of Ireland, it is one participant per 333 of the population; but, in NI, it is one participant per 285 of the population. It has become a shining example of community resilience, inclusivity and well-being across Northern Ireland with its focus on cross-community engagement and its ability to positively impact on physical and mental health. Parkrun is a beacon of hope and unity in our society. It has grown into a vital community initiative that promotes health, well-being and inclusivity across Northern Ireland. As a free, weekly 5K event, parkrun welcomes participants of all ages, backgrounds and fitness levels to run, jog or walk and has a unique ability to bring people together regardless of community or creed. From public parks, such as Victoria Park and Ormeau Park in Belfast, to the Peace Bridge in Derry and through to the Lower Drummans event at Magilligan prison, parkrun connects communities in a way that transcends barriers. As Members of the Assembly, let us continue to celebrate and support parkrun for the incredible benefits that it brings to people in Northern Ireland.
386 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.02 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- Subject area: Sectarianism, hate crime and community relations.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.03 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.01 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.02 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.01 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.06 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.02 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Sectarianism, hate crime and community relations | 0.53 |
| Sport (including the GAA), the arts and cultural bodies | 0.36 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.06 |
| Religion and belief (including people of no religion), churches, faith communities and religious prejudice (including antisemitism and anti-Muslim prejudice) | 0.04 |
| Another identity-related subject | 0.01 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:51 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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