Saturday, July 29, 2006
GAA Board grants ground to Hunger Strike rally
The Antrim GAA Board has granted permission for its Casement Park ground to be used for a Hunger Strike Rally. Casement Park received a substantial funding package for improvements in 2000 including support from Making Belfast Work, the Sports Council and European Peace funds. Does this non-sporting and political use of the facilities improved by public monies breach grant conditions?
Fair Deal @ 12:18 PM
committee in casement a tight ship,knowing their make up they would not allow the sporting grounds to be used for political use without the heavies applying the pressure,maybe money has changed hands,slice of the 26 million nbr towards the flood light fund.....lol, a flood lit vigil and rally to remember the hunger strikers.....atr
Posted by on Jul 29, 2006 @ 12:46 PMWhat do you think F_D?
I attended the 20th Anniversary rally(2001 - already after the granting of the funding package) in lashing rain, which also gathered in Casement Park, with 3 good friends from Germany (uninitiated in the intricacies of the whole affair). There was a big enough crowd despite the atrocious weather, although it faded somewhat as the temperature seemed to drop and the raindrops grew fatter and more furious. It was somehow a very fitting atmosphere - solemn and subdued, and most people had the whole terrible period back in 81 on their minds. About a third of the crowd had caught the first bus home by the time a beautiful cover of redemption song was performed and then Christy Moore suprised everyone by not only appearing, but playing about 20 songs. It was extremely moving somehow to be there in the heart of Andersonstown where so many terrible things had happened, and to be remembering it all - and somehow it was a celebration that the bad old days were gone.
It wasn’t an “up the ‘ra, tiocfaidh ar lá” atmosphere at all - more a community commemoration of sad times passed.Labelling this kind of event purely political is a bit too facile. Of course if the grant clearly stipulates that the use of the venue for non-sporting activities is a breach of the conditions then there is no argument. Then it is completely irrelevant if we’re talking about a hunger strike rally, a royal visit or a travelling circus. However, I imagine that this would not be the case and the use of the venue is at the discretion of the GAA.
And hey, if ya don’t like it, ya don’t have to go. I’m sure it won’t be gettin too much telly coverage, so it will be easy to ignore.Posted by on Jul 29, 2006 @ 12:53 PMCan there be any doubt that (at least in Ulster) the GAA is simply SF/IRA at play? Is is any wonder that loyalists quite rightly see the GAA as a legitimate target?
Posted by on Jul 29, 2006 @ 01:25 PMKeith,
You may have thought you were being very clever by adding question marks but your post clearly says/shows you see the GAA as legitimate targets for loyalists
‘Is is any wonder that loyalists quite rightly see the GAA as a legitimate target?’
[edited Moderator]
Posted by on Jul 29, 2006 @ 01:55 PMIs is any wonder that loyalists quite rightly see the GAA as a legitimate target?
Keith, I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt here, and assume that you didn’t fully think that one through before you clicked “Submit”
Posted by on Jul 29, 2006 @ 01:58 PMKeith M
“Can there be any doubt that (at least in Ulster) the GAA is simply SF/IRA at play? Is is any wonder that loyalists quite rightly see the GAA as a legitimate target?”
A despicable comment.
The GAA sometimes deserves criticism, no doubt, but you are here defending the murders of numerous GAA officials down the years.
Hope it makes you feel good.
Posted by on Jul 29, 2006 @ 01:59 PMIs is any wonder that loyalists quite rightly see the GAA as a legitimate target?
Keith, what is your definition of a legitimate target, exactly? A target for what, exactly? I am of the opinion there should be no targets, legitimate or illegitimate. I would be really interested to hear who you think loyalists should and should not be targeting. Assuming of course you’re not just an odious troll.
Posted by on Jul 29, 2006 @ 02:00 PMKeith,
My previous post was edited to remove a series of abusive comments directed at you. You deserve them but I understand the moderators decision. Consider yourself to have been sworn at.
Posted by on Jul 29, 2006 @ 02:04 PMKeith M,
You are correct in your assertions. How are we, the loyalist people, expected to respect the GAA as a purely sporting organisation when they consistently “get into bed” with the RAfia of SF/IRA.
There are Loyalists like myself who would come under the “dove” rather than “hawk” category and are willing for Loyalists/Unionists to compromise to a certain extent to consolidate the peace. After the Provos literally blew up their ceasefire at Canary Wharf in 1996 I was a very young but also very angry person who was only beginning to understand the complexities of the Ulster question. Even then however I would rather have seen active republicans targetted than GAA premises or their members, unlike other hot-headed young people who would have been attracted to the UYM (junior UDA), who felt that any symbol of republicanism or any organisation giving succour to these animals was a legitimate target.
How can I tell other young people in my loyalist community that tit-for-tat attacks on Roman Catholic Churches, GAA premises and other symbols of Roman Catholicism and/or Irish republicanism is futile and politics is the way forward to maintain the Union and stave off the threat of a non-inclusive, descriminatory 32-county Irish Republic, when the GAA, one of the organisations they are convinced give support to an IRA who prosecuted a 30-year sectarian pogrom against their co-religionists, do just that by allowing a rally to remember at least one Republican mass-murderer?
The simple answer is I can’t, with any conviction, tell them that the Church of Rome in Ireland (e.g. Priest Alec Reid, Claudy bombing) or the GAA, have no association with, or give no support to the IRA, because I would be a liar if I was to do so…Posted by on Jul 29, 2006 @ 02:06 PMCan we not just leave the troll alone - its breath is sickening - and address the post?
I’d be interested in F_Ds position on this.Posted by on Jul 29, 2006 @ 02:07 PMMake that plural!
Posted by on Jul 29, 2006 @ 02:09 PMIt seems the GAA in Northern Ireland, and perhaps specifically in Antrim, is a sectoral political movement which happens to play a bit of sport. It’ll be interesting to see how this goes down in Bushmills!
There really is no excuse for this - contrast with the refusal to allow a game of (real) football to be played on a GAA ground to raise funds for the Omagh victims and their relatives.
Sport For All? That’s a laugh.
On the other hand, Keith M’s comments are way OTT. No one should be a legitimate target in our situation.
Posted by on Jul 29, 2006 @ 02:25 PMSorry Keith and CL, but using the logic followed here, the Orange Order would also be legitimate targets.
Of course I agree with esmerelda - there should be no targets, legitimate or otherwise.
Posted by on Jul 29, 2006 @ 02:29 PMBy the way - the above doesn’t mean I agree with glorifying the hunger strikers, but doing something distasteful isn’t grounds for shooting anyone.
Posted by on Jul 29, 2006 @ 02:34 PMI repeat that labelling this kind of event purely political is a bit too facile. In fact its plain lazy and allows people to dismiss it out of hand without having to bother their wee heads actually thinking about it.
It seems that as soon as the words Hunger Strikers appear a lot of people still have the red haze descending and refuse to engage in any kind of debate. Its a pity.
In the Andersonstown area (and I write of there as I know that area best), the whole hunger strike period brought a huge change. It was a low point that the people there never again want to return too, and remembering these times in the very heart of Andersonstown is extremely poignant and relevant.
Now continue to bang out your old IRA at play clichés if you will, and hide behind prejudices - anything to keep you from talking about the issue at hand. It seems that ignorance really is bliss for some.Posted by on Jul 29, 2006 @ 02:35 PMIt’s time someone asked a few questions off those who hand out the grants to this so-called sporting organisation.
Posted by on Jul 29, 2006 @ 02:42 PMThe priest who murdered the people in Claudy was James Chesney.
Posted by on Jul 29, 2006 @ 02:43 PMMy, but what a plethora or histrionics my little contribution has made, and not just from the “usual suspects”.
“Concerned Loyalist” has given a far more insightful perspective from loyalists eyes, than I can ever aspire to.
My point is very simple. The GAA (and most especially in Ulster) is not simply a sporting organisation. It is a political organisation, that also organises some sporting events. The fact that the tricolour of the Republic and “The Soldiers Song” is played at games in Northern Ireland says it all. Could you imagine if (for example) the Irish Association insisted of flying the union flag and playing “God Save The Queen” at games in this country?
Given that the GAA is now holding a rally to celebrate the lives of terrorists who committed suicide, any pretence of the GAA being a sporting organisation is dead.
Loyalists are therefore quite right in seeing the GAA in the same way as they do SF/IRA or other republican organisations. They are all cast from the same mould. They are as much a “legitimate target” as the local IRA men, and in many case are one and the same people.
in an ideal world of course there should be no “legitimate targets”. In an ideal world terrorists would not be holding the government to ransom and in an ideal world sporting organisations would not be staging a rally for terrorists.
Posted by on Jul 29, 2006 @ 02:45 PMin an ideal world of course there should be no “legitimate targets”.
Well, I’m glad you concede that anyway - assuming I’m not one of the “usual suspects”, take this constructively: try to engage your brain in future before battering your keyboard to justify attacks on anyone; political, apolitical or otherwise: it does not do your credibility any good. This is not histrionics but reasonable reaction to a threatining post.
Posted by on Jul 29, 2006 @ 02:52 PMKM
“They (the GAA) are as much a “legitimate target” as the local IRA men, and in many case are one and the same people.”Funny how all the moderators have suddenly done a runner. My 14 year old brother is an active GAA member and footballer - is he a legitimate target Keith?
Posted by on Jul 29, 2006 @ 03:00 PMes,
Point out to me where Keith M was “threatining” as you put it, somewhat illiterately if you don’t mind me saying?Posted by on Jul 29, 2006 @ 03:04 PMFair Deal
At the risk of being accused of whataboutery, how does this differ from the Orange Order’s grant to stage ‘Orangefest’, which is clearly policitical?
Posted by on Jul 29, 2006 @ 03:09 PM<a >Keith M’s legitimate targets</a>
Posted by on Jul 29, 2006 @ 03:12 PMThe Antrim GAA has shown itself again to be an exclusive, anti-unionist, extreme nationalist entity. A few weeks ago the Antrim manager and two players launched a “hunger strike commemoration Gaelic football shirt” without sanction from the Antrim Board.
But what is the stance of GAA HQ. When the hunger strike shirt was launched, they issued a statement to distance themselves, but what about this terrorist commemoration?
The rules of the GAA make it clear that hosting such an event on GAA property requires official sanction from the GAA “Central Council”. Has this event been approved?
Why does the GAA ban charity football matches from its property, but allow terrorist commemorations?
The GAA is clearly for one community only, and they’re more than happy to keep it that way.
Posted by on Jul 29, 2006 @ 03:14 PMCircles
I suppose I should make some commment on the substance of FD’s post so here goes (I don’t normally comment on these sort of debates and I’m probably about to show why!).
I am completely apathetic about the GAA as I am apathetic about commemorations of all sorts in NI. Far too many people caring too much about the past and not using their neurons to plan for the future. If it breaches the grant conditions, the appropriate authorities should be involved but I really don’t care that much. Always thought the GAA was a bit green for me anyway…
If groups of people, whoever they are want to got around marching to drums, wearing berets or bowler hats, carrying tricolours or union flags and celebrating days past, that’s their buisness. These celebrations are united by one thing; they celebrate failure. Orangeism still thinks it’s about to be sold down the river into a united ireland and are under attack from nationalists, the two governments, the RC church and the GAA and republicanism are no closer to obtaining the nation state that is their sworn objective. People wanna celebrate ten dead starved men or a 300 year old battle, go right ahead. Me? I’ve got better things to do with my life.
Regards all.
Posted by on Jul 29, 2006 @ 03:15 PM
