GAA meanness of spirit highlights fears

international | public consultation / irish social forum | news report

Wednesday April 13, 2005 21:24

by The plain truth

The unanimous decision by the Derry County Board of the GAA to oppose opening Croke Park to other sports, followed by probable similar decisions by all six northern counties, though not necessarily by the same margin, while disappointing is nevertheless unsurprising.

This meanness of spirit and lack of generosity simply highlights unionists' fears as to how they would be treated in any all-Ireland arrangement in the future.

This decision was clearly not adopted on conscience grounds as Croke Park has already played host to numerous other events, including rock concerts.

These were pragmatic commercial decisions, designed to accelerate the repayment of loans. However, it appears that some organisations' money is superior in some aspect to that of others, even if the monetary amount is identical.

The Republic's Government has donated taxpayers' money to fund the development of Croke Park and, therefore, a strong case exists to make it available to other organisations.

How many GAA clubs in Northern Ireland, boasting superb playing pitches and excellent changing rooms and club houses, owe this in no small measure to money obtained from lottery grants and sports bodies, collected from taxpayers who have little or no connection with the GAA?

Unfortunately this episode reveals that the cancer of bitterness and sectarianism is not only one-sided but also has a long way to go before being exorcised. Regrettably, reconciliation is still on such a distant horizon that it is not even registering a tiny blip on the radar .