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.
Good points, Maca.
Just to pick up on a point you made in the first paragraph about the GAA developing the games abroad. They should look at developing some of their games at home first. Are they ever going to do anything about developing hurling beyond its current stronghold of Munster and south Leinster? There are vast swathes of the country, particularly in Connacht (Galway excepted) and Ulster (Antrim excepted) where hurling is hardly played at all. There isn’t even a Connacht championship ffs.
On the whole GAA/nationalism issue, this will require a major change of mindset within the organisation as a whole. The GAA prides itself on being a very democratic organisation, but overall, maybe it’s a bit too democratic for its own good. A new president could take office aiming to do all you suggest, yet all of those proposals would probably get shot down at Congress. See how long it took to delete Rules 21 and 42.
If the GAA goes pro or even semi-pro (and I believe that it will, eventually), all of this “promotion of athletic fitness as a means to create a disciplined, self- reliant, national-minded manhood” bollocks will soon be cast aside, as they compete with soccer and rugby for professional athletes.
Thanks Gerry. I was worried that perhaps I didn’t put enough thought into it, i’ve one eye on work here also.
You’re right there about hurling, more promotion at home is certainly needed. It sometimes amazes me why hurling isn’t doing better, it’s such a fantastic game.
Hyvaa huomenta Maca
I always find this line of criticism of the GAA disappointing. I actually agree with unionists that the GAA is not merely a sporting organisation. Of course it isn’t!
It runs like a seam through whole strata of Irish society. It exists to promote and encourage native Irish sports, dance, music, language etc.
I can’t emphasise enough how strongly this matters to nationalists in the North. Since we were effectively excluded from national life for the best part of the last 100 years, the GAA has provided a space where we could express a part of our Irish identity (often in the face of extreme hostility from the unionst state.)
Now, if the GAELIC Athletic Association were to make all these changes as outlined above (some of which I agree with, some of which I’d oppose and some of which I think are irrelevant), then where is the guarantee that Protestants/unionists would suddenly drop their hostility to the Association?
And in truth (sorry to say this), these sort of suggestions often eminate from GAA clubs/boards/members south of the Border where there is an imperfect understanding of the situation on the ground. They are often well-intentioned and in the spirit of ‘peace and reconciliation’ but I’d really like an explanation as to why the GAA should effectively de-Gaelicize itself?
If Protestants/unionsts have an antipathy to Irishness or Gaelic sports, language etc why appease this antipathy by hiding and apologising for what we are?
Moi moi,
Deaglan
Oh, and on a lighter point!…
Hurling in Ulster is also well represented by Down where the Ards provides some quality hurlers (Gareth ‘Magic’ Johnson being a case in point!)
On a recent journey home to south Down I was flabbergasted to see how much work my local club was putting into hurling – witnessed a training session where there was almost 100 kids (from young ‘uns to minor-level) playing the small ball. So maybe it ain’t all doom and gloom.
No moro Deaglan!
Of course the first obvious thing is that there certainly is a huge difference in the GAA I have experienced and what you have experienced North of the border. Our club house was never petrol bombed and we were never attacked on the way home from training so our opinions are obviously going to differ. So you’re right to highlight that.
Two other things, this is not about appeasing unionists, such changes probably wouldn’t make a bit of difference to the majourity of them. It’s about getting rid of some of the politics which I personally feel no longer belong there. The hostility you mention might remain but I think we’d have a better more progressive organisation. Some people in the South are also turned off by the GAA, they see it as a backward nationalist organisation. Why does it need to be like this?
It’s also certainly not about de-Gaelicizing the GAA. As I tried to make clear, I still want the GAA to promote this Gaelic part of Irish culture but without some of the political trappings which may exclude many protestants. Many of the things I highlighted are basically irrelevant to the GAA anyway. IMHO.
I think we have a fundamental (if interesting) difference in perception. Where you see ‘poltical trappings’ I simply see the flag, anthem of my country – why should I change these to keep someone else happy?
“Some people in the South are also turned off by the GAA, they see it as a backward nationalist organisation.”
Maybe some are – but I’d suggest that the vast majority either aren’t bothered by the nationalism or support it. And if the GAA is an openly nationalist organsation…so what? I’m open to persuasion but I don’t see why it’s a sin to be openly nationalist. Again, perhaps we have a difference in perception.
Best,
Deaglan
[PS. I'm always amused at how I end up sounding on topics like this - sort of like Ruairi O'Bradaigh in an bad mood.]
An interesting post on GAA and Northern (and Irish) society can be read here: http://www.clickonsean.org/ (dated Oct 4)
I think we do have big difference in perception. I suppose it’s natural considering our differing backgrounds/experiences.
Of course it’s not a sin to be openly nationalist, I just don’t see the reason the GAA needs to be. I don’t see what politics needs to be part of it at all.
“I’m always amused at how I end up sounding on topics like this – sort of like Ruairi O’Bradaigh in an bad mood.”
LOL!
Thanks for the link btw, it’s an interesting post.
Btw, a related discussion is yet again taking place on Slugger.
You’re right there about hurling, more promotion at home is certainly needed. It sometimes amazes me why hurling isn’t doing better, it’s such a fantastic game.
Well, (as with the football) you need a proper pitch to play. Four school-jumpers in a schoolyard doesn’t cut it for the two GAA sports. This is a problem to which I can’t see a solution, given the scarcity and price of land in urbaia these days.
The hostility you mention might remain but I think we’d have a better more progressive organisation. Some people in the South are also turned off by the GAA, they see it as a backward nationalist organisation. Why does it need to be like this?
I think Deaglan is right, that people here in the South have no idea of what it’s like for Irish people up the North. In such circumstances, such anachronisms (as we might see it) still have considerable support behind them.
As to the “some people in the South”, who, exactly?
EWI
Good point. Soccer will always be number one choice when having a kick around … still, it’s not impossible to knock a sliotar around in a small area without goals, if the interest is there it’s doable.
It’s true, we certainly have a different perspective south of the border. But doesn’t life have to move on in the North? Eventually they have to find a way to live together. The GAA helped healed wounds early on in the life of the “Free State”, can’t sport (inc GAA) do the same North of the border?
“some people” are just certain peoplewho I know or have met in the past. They are probably a tiny percentage but they do exist.