Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Protestant GAA player gives up sport after sectarian abuse…
Gaelic Football has a grace and skill about it that is hard to resist at close quarters. It’s not surprising that despite the cultural chill around some of the flags and symbols, it is played with enthusiasm and passion by some (albeit very few) Protestants. Darren Graham is probably more senior than most of those who have taken up the sport, but he has finally given up playing after taking regular sectarian abuse.
Deirdre Donnelly, the Press Officer for the Fermanagh County Board GAA, told the ‘Herald’ it was the first time she had heard of that form of abuse: “And, I know from talking to other officials, they have never been aware of it. But, certainly, if individuals feel there is an issue, they should bring it to their club and the club should take it to County Board.”
Darren Graham is adamant: ‘unless there is something really done about it and the County Board realise that this is all happening, I am definite, I am not putting on the shirt again’.
For the record, Rule 7(b) of the GAA constitution states clearly: ‘the Association shall be non-sectarian’.
And, in Febraury this year, the GAA President, Nicky Brennan, in the course of an interview for the Church of Ireland Gazette, insisted there was nothing wrong with the GAA that would stop Protestant people joining. Indeed, he suggested the only intimidation might come from their own community.
It begs the question that if the GAA doesn’t actually know this stuff is going on: is this just the tip of a very large iceberg?
Mick Fealty @ 12:25 PM
“Gaelic Football has a grace and skill about it that is hard to resist at close quarters”
Dear God, I almost want to pull on a county shirt myself.
Posted by on Aug 01, 2007 @ 12:41 PMGot to admire Darren Graham’s bravery in speaking out
Posted by on Aug 01, 2007 @ 12:43 PMAs a life-long CLG/GAA supporter, i think the organisation should investigate this issue fully and any player making sectarian statements to fellow players should be suspended from competition.
Gaelic games are for everybody and will increasingly be played by people from all backgrounds in the future. The level must be set now.
Posted by on Aug 01, 2007 @ 12:48 PM“any player making sectarian statements to fellow players should be suspended from competition”
surely they should be expelled ?
Posted by on Aug 01, 2007 @ 12:52 PMThe man has shown his credentials for being able to put up with this kind of shite. However enough is enough! The GAA has an opportunity to show other sports how to deal with even the slightest whiff of nasty sectarianism, they should jump on it from a great height!
No messing about, deal harshly with all involved.
I commend Mr Graham for speaking out.
Posted by on Aug 01, 2007 @ 12:52 PMThe GAA is a political and sectarian orginisation which bans Unionists from membership. It should be of no great surprise that it conforms rigidly to a narrow and sectarian view of Irishness.
http://www.youngunionists.org.uk/2007/02/gaa-not-for-me.php
Posted by on Aug 01, 2007 @ 12:55 PMAs a life long supporter of the GAA I too look forward to this being investigated and those found guilty dealt with in the strictest manner.
As for those not wanting to join well the loss is yours but there is no-one forcing you !!
Posted by on Aug 01, 2007 @ 01:04 PMSickened by this. Some idiotic bigots have caused the possible end of what looked like a noteworthy Football and Hurling career.
I hope Darren does decide to play again maybe when things can be implemented. I mean, there is a lot of ‘chat’ during games that is designed to put off your opponent but obviously anything sectarian or racist can’t be accepted. I don’t know what can be done to make him feel like he could return.
Perhaps, if he’d informed his club, they could have complained directly to the clubs he had experienced problems with and it may have been able to have been dealt with. i’m thinking in lines of the other clubs either suspending or disciplining the players who caused the abuse.
I only speculate of course. I do hope he can play again. If someone with Darren’s family background could have felt able to play Gaelic games and do so well in them, then surely any Protestant can.
It is a great shame that these bigots have pushed that realisation further out of our grasp. Gaelic games is poorer without Darren Graham. I hope his speaking out can bring greater protection for players who may experience sectarian or racist abuse from fellow players in future.
Posted by on Aug 01, 2007 @ 01:05 PMHate to say i told you so…
Darren Graham was somewhat naive to expect anything different. As a victim of sectarian abuse from drunken, Gaelic football shirt clad bigots because of the Norn Iron top I was wearing, I have encountered first-hand what a substantial proportion of these people think of their Protestant neighbours...and I was only wearing a Norn Iron top, supporters of which come from both sides of the divide!I have been a vociferous opponent of the GAA since I can remember because of the hidden (and sometimes not so hidden) agendas of a large proportion of the clubs and players. I am not saying there aren’t people who play Gaelic for the love of the game, that’s a given, but the overtly sectarian nature of games with tricolours flown and “The Soldier Song” played makes it hard for me to understand how ANY Protestant would want to take part in and give succour to such an anti-British, partisan sport. The institutionalised racism of the GAA as a whole, i.e. their so-called “Rule 21”, also leads me and most other Protestants to the conclusion that the organisation is a nasty piece of work that mixes politics and sports to further their republican aspirations…
Posted by on Aug 01, 2007 @ 01:05 PM>>narrow and sectarian view of Irishness.<<
For someone who seems to look up to A. McCann I find this quote bizarre! Irony Michael?
>>bans Unionists from membership.<<
Again, bizarre!
I’m sure Mr Graham is glad you are on his side, eh...Not!
Posted by on Aug 01, 2007 @ 01:07 PMIs there an actual rules that says “No Unionists Allowed?” At the end of the day Nationalists playing in the current NI Team stand and show respect for the British Anthem and UK flag without quibble.
Posted by on Aug 01, 2007 @ 01:12 PMIt is only colourful local language ;-)
Posted by on Aug 01, 2007 @ 01:13 PM“surely they should be expelled ?”
Suspension with length depending on severity of offence followed by expulsion for a repeat violation seems strict enough to me? Especially as potentially you have younger people.
Alternatively, we could just lynch them.
Posted by on Aug 01, 2007 @ 01:15 PMI hope the GAA take firm action against anyone guilty of sectarian or racist behaviour and that they realise the importance of such action being done publicly.
If they do so and especially if they can create an atmosphere where Darren Graham feels welcomed and appreciated so that he stays then some good might come from this yet.
Posted by on Aug 01, 2007 @ 01:15 PMThere are several rules that make Unionists ineligible. read the article.
Posted by on Aug 01, 2007 @ 01:17 PMDepressing how some of our less sophisticated Unionists friends seem to find the GAA sectarian (and an implied ban on Unionists, no less) because of the presence of the National Flag and playing of the National Anthem, yet will witter away for hours regarding the great, fun for all atmosphere at NI matches, and accuse non-interested Nationalists as malcontents.
Posted by on Aug 01, 2007 @ 01:19 PMAstonished given his family history that Mr Graham played Gaelic sports at all - representing a Catholic school even. Terrible shame that he’s been bigoted out. GAA natioalistic constitution sure but certainly doesn’t ban Unionists or Protestants. Wasn’t Sam Maguire protestant ?
Posted by on Aug 01, 2007 @ 01:20 PMA couple of years ago i spent the guts of two hours on a GAA team bus going to an Ulster final. As far as I know, I was the only protestant on the bus, and only three or four others on the bus knew I was a prod.
I spent the two hours sh!tting myself listening to vitriolic anti-prod/anti-brit humour and songs. Those on the bus who were my friends came up to me afterwards apologizing for what I had to go through,and saying that they too had been nervous in case anyone had found out I was protestant.
Although the match was ok, the casual sectarianism that I experienced first hand on the journey there and to a lesser extent on the journey home put me off going anywhere near the GAA for the foreseeable future.
Posted by on Aug 01, 2007 @ 01:22 PMFrom time to time a bit of whataboutery is a good thing.
Perhaps this thread could be compared to the threads on the NI football team and both ‘sides’ whould reflect on how they think and act when faced with the same situation but from the other side so to speak, and to try and avoid the ‘but thats different’ argument when they realise that in fact they’ve done a complete 180 degree turn.
GAA at best is a cold house to Unionists, but for exactly the same reasons as I can also accept that the NI football team is.
Recognising this and highlighting this (in both instances) is a good thing.
Posted by on Aug 01, 2007 @ 01:22 PMWhat is worse the sectarian abuse dished out at Darren Graham by gobshites on a pitch or the GAA President opening a club house named in honour of the kind of people who murdered his father and uncles ?
Or Antrim GAA letting with impunity its facilities to be used once again in honour of such people ?
Certain aspects of the GAA Institution are rotten to the sectarian core and require a kind of leadership to cleanse them out that is clearly lacking among Brennan and his cohorts.
The reason you dont hear more of this kind of thing is so few Protestants engage in Gaelic Sports and one of the main reasons is they know they would not feel universally welcome and hence it wouldnt even get near a Protestant School curriculum.
GAA foundations are rooted in a Gaelic, Catholic and anti British notion of Irishness which remains an anathma to Protestants and nobody should at all be surprised that this the outcome.
It is up to the GAA to ditch a lot of its history if it wants to be part of any long trem solution to Ireland rather than an ongoing example of division.
Posted by on Aug 01, 2007 @ 01:26 PM“ Is there an actual rules that says “No Unionists Allowed?” “
Have you read the constitution?
”Basic Aim
The Association is a National Organisation which has as its basic aim the strengthening of the National Identity in a 32 County Ireland through the preservation and promotion of Gaelic Games and pastimes.”and
“Membership of the Association shall be granted only by a Club, to persons who subscribe to and undertake to further the aims and objects of the Gaelic Athletic Association, as stated in the Official Guide.”
Posted by on Aug 01, 2007 @ 01:28 PM“There are several rules that make Unionists ineligible. read the article.”
I read it. I didn’t mention any rules that would make Unionists ineligible.
Posted by on Aug 01, 2007 @ 01:30 PMmnob
“GAA at best is a cold house to Unionists, but for exactly the same reasons as I can also accept that the NI football team is.”
Not quite the same - the NI football team is ultimatley about national identity which in NI is disputed territory
The GAA says it is purely about sport - so it needs to make its mind up
Posted by on Aug 01, 2007 @ 01:32 PMWe won’t mention the Catholic schoolboy who could not playe for the Ulster schoolboys team owing to the singing of the Sash etc..
Posted by on Aug 01, 2007 @ 01:32 PMVery sad, but unfortunately such abuse has to be expected in a place and amidst a ‘culture’ where the wearing of a GAA top or the top of a particular football team whilst walking down the street automatically earmarks a person as being from one side or the other. You may as well walk out the door with a big placard saying, “I’m a Prod/Catholic.”
Given the inherent sectarian association that most folk will place on a person who wears a GAA top, i.e. they are a RC, it’s no wonder that quite a few GAA players seem to think that the playing of sports such as hurling and gaelic football should be the preserve of ‘proper’ Irish, i.e. Roman Catholics. The same is obviously true of the, thankfully dwindling, number of loyalist sympathisers who like to nurse a sectarian grudge upon showing their ‘support’ for the NI football team by singing ‘No Surrender’ etc at Windsor Park.
This annoys me as the NI team should be seen as a team for all; likewise many posters on this thread see that the GAA should be an association for all in Ireland. It’s time for firm action to be taken against bigots who’d rather sport become a sectarian slanging match or an opportunity to display your tribal colours rather than it be a harmless and enjoyable past-time.
A bigger man than many, Northern Ireland needs more people like Darren Graham. He is someone who has obviously suffered a lot of grief in his formative years, yet he can still at least attempt to put his family history behind him and try to reach out to Catholics in his community by playing Gaelic games. He’s done all this despite the GAA looking to the ordinary Prod as nothing more than the sporting branch of Republicanism and therefore an anti-Protestant organisation.
But as usual any good deeds or attempts to reach out to the other community here will inevitably be shot down by the louder, hate-filled minority on either side of the fence who don’t want change nor any improvement in cross-community relations.
Posted by on Aug 01, 2007 @ 01:38 PM
