GAA - sport for all?

In Northern Ireland, there are Gaelic Athletic clubs named after republican terrorists. There are also competitions named after IRA terrorists, and GAA property has been used to hold hunger strike commemoration rallies, which are grossly offensive to the Protestant population.

By any standard Darren Graham is a remarkable young man. A Protestant, he suffered more than most in the Troubles with his father and two uncles being murdered by the IRA. No one could have blamed him if he had shunned any contact with the nationalist community in his native Fermanagh given that tragic backdrop. Instead, he became an enthusiastic and proficient GAA player in both Gaelic football and hurling. His sheer love of the sports transcended any other feelings he must have harboured. But now he is in danger of being forced out of the sport because of the volume of sectarian abuse being heaped on him by, he says, some opposing players and some spectators.

To gain credibility with the Protestant population of Northern Ireland, and to distance itself from party politics, the GAA must act to stamp out all forms of sectarianism in its sport. If it wishes to be a purely sporting body, it must tackle the case of Darren Graham resolutely, and ban the use of its property for political republican rallies. The GAA should show leadership in Dungiven, where the local hurling team is named after an INLA terrorist. It should further have the tournaments named after IRA terrorists scrapped or renamed.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• GAA
• Gaelic
• Sport
• Football
• Hurling
• Camogie
• IRA
• INLA
• Farrell
• Lynch
• Dungiven
• Hunger
• Strike
• Ireland
• Irish
• Protestant

[caltonmedia]

30-Aug - More bad news for the GAA

A Tyrone GAA star is a major figure in the illegal world of dog fighting, a BBC Spotlight investigation has found. Gerard Cavlan, an all-Ireland medal winner, is a senior figure in a dog fighting operation known as The Bulldog Sanctuary Kennels.

[ohmsns]

Could you picture if a football team was named after Jonny Adair or another Loyalist?!

We'd never hear the end of it!

[billysown]

just goes to show how much bigoted ppl there still in the catholic community, and how they play the victim, great video uv got my support.

[bapfontein]

contd 3 , for their local hunger strike committes to plan and hold social events , again RA bands were the providers of the music. The amount of documented fact that the GAA was a closet and willing fund raiser , supporter , cheerleader of the IRA has always been known within the Protestant community, and to think that any self respecting Protestant give this evil organisation time of day is beyond the pale.

[bapfontein]

contd 2 allowed their social clubs to be used for homecomeing parties for released IRA prisoners , fund raiseing for prisoner welfare, IRA social night were the groups were known as RA bands as they played blood curdling songs about killing police and other secirity force members. During the hunger strike they also threw open their doors cond

[bapfontein]

Anyone who lived in N. Ireland during the troubles knows that the GAA were not only acted as cheerleader for the IRA , they also helped covertly fund the IRA killing machine. Its a known fact that GAA clubs were planning , recuriting , planning and social and drinking dens of the IRA. GAA clubs not only siphoned of millons upon millons from their social clubs but also contd2

[rangerwills]

Hit the GAA where it hurts - in their pocket - write to their sponsors and let them know what you think!

[rangerwills]

I agree, everyone should write to them and lets see if they can put any pressure on the GAA to do something about sectarianism in its ranks!

[rangerwills]

If you think that the use of GAA grounds for republican celebrations and the naming of GAA trophies after republican terrorists is something that the game's sponsors should be ashamed of then write to Carolan Lennon, Vodaphone Ireland Consumer Director and let her know!

[BLUETERRIER7]

Calling trophies and competitions after sectarian murderers like the Harte brothers of Drumnakilly fame shows how sectarian the GAA really is.

[ulsterscot]

the gaa is the biggest sectarian organisation in N.Ireland....

[eastbann]

Any big company that's sponsors gaa should be really hounded for supporting republican sectarianism.

[ramschairman]

just to respond to your video and comments below , dont judge all gaa members by what you read or listen to. i am the chairman of a new club in the isle of man and i work day and night to promote the games to anyone who wishes to learn the games regardless of religon,or colour.we have protestants and catholics playing along side each other along with english scots welsh manx and irish our club moto is EVERYONE IS WELCOME and discrimination in our club will never be tolerated.