GAA lacks sincerity…
The GAA and its members/ proponents (not always the same thing) on a regular basis continue to supply the air waves (and internet waves of course) with endless claims and assertions of how inclusive it is, with particular emphasis on how welcome the Unionist community is within the ranks. Recent events have however reinvigorated the Unionist assessment that the claims are simply a clever cloak. Put bluntly Unionism simply believes much of the murky truth is hidden by maximising ‘spin’ and semantics for the benefit of the media (and more importantly grant awarding bodies).
The factual reality’s to back this belief up are undisputable. It would be a very disingenuous Pomeroy GAA member for example who would currently seriously expect anyone to believe that his Unionist neighbours are welcome in the aforementioned ‘ranks’, and shouldn’t have any concerns about membership.
It has also been suggested recently that Unionists ‘exclude’ themselves from membership. Well another ‘factual reality’ is that you cannot be a member of the GAA and be a Unionist. Existing as a Unionist would simply not be adhering to the Associations ‘ethos‘.
The organisation is NOT simply a sporting one, never has been and never will be. GAA President stated it quite succinctly in his speech at the recent visit of the Queen. The GAA is not about Sport. Sport is only an element. The GAA embodies the:-
The thing is it is a 32 County mood. A mood where Ireland does not control ‘all the national territory’. A mood centred on solely native ‘pastimes’, ‘language’, ‘music’ and ‘dance’. A political mood where Ireland must ‘govern her own affairs’.
Well you know what, the GAA and its members are totally allowed to believe and practise what they want within the limits of the law. No problem. However if there was more sincerity and truth, and less hypocrisy in its ranks maybe there would be a lot less ambivalence towards it by Northern Irelands majority community.
Update: Shane O’Neill’s GAA Camlough to host’ terror fest’ this weekend
Meant Cú Chulainn – whoops
charminator, all very well and good, if everyone has the historical knowledge, how many do? to take your example of a ‘young loyalist lad’ could it be possible that he would see the major events promoted on TV etc in english and then wonder why the ‘outreach’ designed (primarily?) to attract him carries a gealic title?
of course my first thought for an outreach to a ‘young republican lad’ would be to think of a catchy ulster-scots title…
JR…indeed
Thanks Between the Bridges.
You comment that it’s “all very well and good if everyone has the historical knowledge, how many do?”
I hope you’re not expecting the GAA to engage in history lessons and promote an educational vocation, as well as sports!
But like I’ve said, if Unionists and Loyalists cannot seem to agree on who is too Irish or who has a Gaelic name and shouldn’t be associated with Unionist/Loyalist culture etc, that’s certainly not a matter for the GAA to involve itself in.
If Cúchulainn’s Irish name is a problem, or somehow inconsistent with promoting an “outreach” programme to individuals of a similar community background to those who painted the Loyalist Cúchulainn mural, then I think we’re operating at different levels of logic here.
The idea that it’s ok for Cúchulainn to appear on a Loyalist mural, but not for the GAA to use him as a figure for cross-community programmes because he’s “too Gaelic” seems a little hard to believe. Now I don’t know what the people on the Shankhill Road think, but if Cúchulainn’s name is so objectionable, then I really cannot understand why such a Loyalist community would include him on a mural in the first place.
Charm… re hashing your reply still doesn’t answer my question…
as for ‘if Unionists and Loyalists cannot seem to agree on who is too Irish or who has a Gaelic name’,
well excuse me! If the GAA cannot seem to agree on which competitions to name in english, gealic, or after ira men…
btb,
All GAA competitions are named bilingually. Though I’ve only heard of the Ulster Football Championship cup (not the competition) refered to as the Anglo-Celt cup.
emmm…
Cumann Luthchleas GAEL / GAELIC athletic association.
Between the Bridges:
Apologies if you feel it’s rehashing any reply, but I’m sure you don’t need my assistance to check on the internet this information. As has been commented elsewhere GAA competitions tend to be as often referred to by the relevant cup, as the competition itself.
But I really don’t see the relevance to explaining Cúchulainn. The point remains that if he was good enough for a mural on the Shankhill Road and similarly a statue in the GPO, then frankly he’s one of very few mythical figures that all of Ulster can claim as part of their heritage. This – I suspect – was why the GAA affiliated the competition with him. Plain and simple.
And if you – or others – feel that Cúchulainn is some sort of Gaelicized hero whom no one else can (or should with appropriate history instructions) take anything to do with, then I suggest you explain that to the relevant portion of the Unionist/Loyalist community.
Frankly, I think you have a rather weak case: complaining about naming a cup after an individual who appears on a mural in the Shankhill Road on the basis that his name is objectionable – when that very community in question, the sort the GAA would like to at least “try” and make sincere efforts to reach out to – seem to have no problem whatsoever with the name.
Mark McGregor:
Quite right re competitions named in both languages – like everything in the GAA, though I would suggest a predominance of Irish perhaps in the vocab (like Ard Stiúrthóir – far more often referred to in Irish, rather than English translation).
Re the Anglo-Celt – isn’t that because it was initially sponsored by the Cavan weekly of the same name? Bit like the Irish Press Cup for the All-Ireland Minor Hurlers, even though of course the Irish Press is (like much else) a part of history.
Charminator,
What is the name on the USHC cup?
Many would say Antrim!
(Forgive me that one, we don’t win often apart from that)
I have to confess I didn’t know, but I see it’s the Liam Harvey Cup. Leinster I did and Munster’s not exactly challenging to remember (Munster Hurling Cup), but there you go…
But re Antrim, they’ll be hunting for the O’Keeffe Cup these days (with being in Leinster now sure.).
It seems there’s only so many provincial titles you can clock up before Congress give the system a good shake!
Kevin,
When you are finished, have a read of the rules at the bottom of the site. Keep the nasty racialist stereotypes to the necessary minimum. If you have aproblem with Q, or Dundalk, or Dundalk IT for accepting non Republican students, then take it somewhere else!!
Repstones,
no problem, apology accepted. Was away, sorry for taken so long to reply. I grew up less than 10 mile from you (70′s teen), so suffered the same vcps and checks as you did probably. Some soldiers were less than friendly but on the whole nothing ever happened that warranted killing anyone. Your experience may be different, it would interest me to hear what it was they did to you.