Gaelic games are close to my heart. Although I’m not a GAA member or player at the moment (I play handball every week, does that count?) I was a hurler in my younger days and I have had *some* small involvement with the GAA in Europe within the past few years. Still, I’ve always been critical of certain aspects of the GAA, mainly their love of money. They talk about developing the game abroad yet the tight fisted cunts find it hard to part with any money for even a few sticks (personal experience). Then there’s the issue of player compensation for example!
Another area I have a problem with, and this is the purpose of this post, is the links with nationalism. This is obviously most evident in Northern Ireland where the “nationalist ethos” of the GAA is seen to ‘exclude’ half the population there. It’s 2005, there’s no reason for an entire community to feel excluded from our cultural/sporting organisation. And while we can argue that our intention is not to exclude anyone you can easily understand, given the nationalist tone of our Official Guide preamble or the links between the GAA and nationalism in Northern Ireland, why many in the NI protestant community would feel excluded? Isn’t it more than a tad shameful that still today in multicultural progressive Ireland a significant proportion of our island population is unable to participate in our national sports, some of the finest sports in the world? Whether they’d want to or not is irrelevant, there shouldn’t be anything preventing them from participating.
I’d like the GAA to be able to promote Gaelic sports & culture for all, not a single soul excluded. We should be making the GAA a better organisation, an organisation where we can put hand on heart and say that this is an organisation where all are welcome regardless of skin colour, religion or political affiliation. Of course I can easily put hand on heart now and say that all ARE welcome, and I truly believe that but the GAA’s links with Nationalism contradict that claim. So we need changes and I’m going to highlight a few which I believe, if implemented, would make the GAA an organisation we can be more proud of.
Btw, most of these suggestions come from discussions with members of the protestant community in NI, where better to get feedback but from those ‘on the outside’.
Reference: GAA Official Guide 2003 [pdf]
Problem: Preamble of the Official Guide. Archaic irrelevant nationalist nonsense. It’s easy to see why this would turn off those on the island of a different political persuasion.
Solution: Delete it. There’s no need for anything other than a basic introduction.
Problem: Basic Aim. While I see little problem with promoting the ‘national identity’ throughout the ‘32 counties’ per se, the wording is divisive and can cause offence.
Solution: Simple re-wording. The Basic Aim should be very simply to promote Gaelic sports & culture for all.
Problem: Rule 8 “Non-Party Political/Non-sectarian” has been made a mockery of in NI.
Solution: Strict enforcement.
Problem: Rule 11,19 & 25, use of the Irish language. As you may know I am extremely passionate about the Irish language and a strong supporter of efforts to promote the language but I think the GAA’s language requirements could be more flexible. For some clubs in protestant areas of NI or outside of Ireland rules like Rule 11 or 19 (& maybe 25) could be a problem.
Solution: Relax the rules for clubs outside of the Irish state.
Problem: Rule 16 plus anthems. Always a problem.
Solution: Outside of the Irish state local anthems & flags could be used. In NI both the Irish & Northern Irish flags could be flown together or alternatively the Ulster provincial flag could be used. A new anthem must be chosen for NI games.
Problem: GAA clubs & competitions named after Provos, clubs using Republican symbols, for example, Cumann na Fuiseoige, Twinbrook.
Solution: Clubs named after Republicans to be ordered to rename or face expulsion, political emblems to be banned. Strict guidelines on the naming of competitions. Rule 25 exists for a reason, why isn’t it enforced?
Problem: Rule 31, Home Club & Native Parish. The parish may be the traditional home of clubs in Ireland but I don’t like these ties to one religion.
Solution: Remove any such “parish” references from the Guide.
Problem: Rule 42. It’s not simply about soccer or rugby in Croke Park. It’s about allowing the community use of GAA grounds. The GAA is nothing without its community, show some flexibility and allow more non-GAA events on the sacred ground.
Solution: A re-write. Allow more flexibility.
Problem: Use of GAA clubs for Republican events
Solution: Any such political events should be banned from all GAA clubhouses. Severe penalties put in place for rebel clubs. Rule 8 anyone?
Problem: GAA lads with big mouths coming out with “foreign sports”, “synonymous with Republicanism” or other such bullshit.
Solution: A change in attitude is needed. There are still many backward thinking people within the GAA who need to realise it’s 2005.
Problem: Development in protestant areas of NI … or rather lack of … Is there a single club in NI with a significant percentage of protestant members?
Solution: Ulster GAA clubs backed by their county boards should be working with local communities in NI to open their clubs to the protestant community. Get involved with state/integrated schools to promote the games among kids from all communities.
This is just a very simple list of issues which come to mind at the moment (when I should be working). A few of these issues could be addressed by simply enforcing some of the existing rules while a number of other issues do require a definite rule re-write.
While I don’t expect to see any of these addressed in the near future it would be good if any GAA members/supporters would keep these sort of things in mind. Our aim should be to make the GAA the best amateur organisation in the world. Lets start with fixing some of the problems at home.
p.s. Looking closer at the Official Guide it really seems outdated and not geared for an ever expanding GAA. With new clubs opening up across Europe and the rest of the world the GAA should examine the Guide closely and give it a makeover to reflect the international nature of the GAA today.
p.p.s The GAA will not fix NI’s social problems, but it doesn’t need to be part of them. It can play its part in breaking down barriers. And while I would like to see some degree of cooperation in the NI protestant community the GAA should get the ball rolling.
Cionaodh, who pops in here occasionally, posted this elsewhere. I hope he doesn’t mind me stealing it.
