Well, firstly, the GAA is not solely a sporting body. It is also a cultural body that came into being as a result of the national revival of the late 19th century.

Secondly, as Colm Bradley, points out, the basic aim o fthe GAA was amended in the 1970s to give it a more "nationalist" sound. It could be amended again. Personally, I don't have a problem with the current version - its a pretty valid aim that doesn't necessarily exclude unionists; although, I accept it would exclude most in reality.

Rule 15 could possibly be removed eventually but it would have to be a 32 county thing. Removing the national flag for GAA matches in the 6 counties alone wouldn't be accepted by anyone within the organisation.

The National Flag should be displayed at all matches.
is this always the case?
I’ve seen games in both England and Europe and there hasn’t been a tricolour (or occasionally an Irishman) in sight. I’ve never felt uncomfortable at the admitedly few games I watched there, I’m not sure that would be the case at a match where my own county(Antrim) played. Whether that’s mainly the fault of the GAA or the kind of society we live in is a moot point- but the fact is that the GAA’s 6 counties in NI have made very little effort to reach out beyond their own traditional support base. I know at least of one “state” school in Cty Antrim which
offers gaelic football during games lesson, although not yet competitively- I’m guessing that very few of those potential players will move on to play for clubs or even their county- which I think is their, their county’s and the sport’s loss.

An interesting debate with some good
points made.

I've written an article on the subject which
comes in two parts and can be accessed here:

http://www.anfearrua.com/story.asp?id=2602

and here:
http://www.anfearrua.com/story.asp?id=2602

Sorry, the second part can be found here:

http://www.anfearrua.com/story.asp?id=2608

Why is the GAA institutionally sectarian! Why does an alleged sport need a republican political ethos?

The issues around the political stance the GAA has taken over the hunger striker suicide pacts with Sinn Fein/IRA and their republican prisoner supporters? The use of GAA facilities for hunger strike and political rallies is hardly an invitation to Unionists.

The GAA in recent times, have permitted the naming of a girls camogie competition in honour of dead IRA terrorist Mairead Farrell shot by the SAS when she was about to detonate a car bomb that would have killed many innocent men, women and children. Then we have a book launch and a GAA pitch naming in honour of dead INLA suicide pact hunger striker Kevin Lynch in Dungiven. And numerous GAA clubs after dead IRA personnel! In addition, the GAA have permitted the use of their GAA ground at Casement Park, for a hunger strike and political rally on Sunday 13th August 2006.

These acts are not the acts of an organization that is non-sectarian or non-political.

Taking that prominent role at the Kevin Lynch book launch and pitch naming was Sinn Fein/IRA's Martin McGuinness and GAA President Nickey Brennan, who officially opened the new GAA pitch in honour of the dead INLA terrorist and suicide hunger striker Kevin Lynch.

The attendance of GAA President Nickey Brennan at the ground naming can only be seen as a full endorsement from the GAA's governing council to the glorifying of a suicidal dead Irish republican terrorist!

Again is this the acts of a non-sectarian and non-political, alleged sporting organization?

The Antrim County GAA board fully endorsed the permission, for Sinn Fein/IRA to hold a hunger strike and political rally at Casement Park on August 13 2006. Dr John McSparran chairman of the Antrim County GAA board defended his position and the position taken by the Antrim County GAA board on this matter. He stated that Casement park was paid for and built by the local nationalist population, and he fully endorsed its used by the nationalist population for this hunger strike and political rally.

What he did not state was that the events of the 13th of August was in direct contravention of the GAA’s rules.

Dr McSparran went on to condemned Unionist political parties for politicizing this issue at the expense of the GAA, over the use of Casement Park by Sinn Fein/IRA. However, Dr McSparran needs to be reminded that it was his council’s decision to permit the use of Casement Park for the hunger strike and political rally. It was the GAA’s decision that made this a sectarian and political issue, not the Unionists. Dr McSparran made his defence of his decision on BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster program. This is more evidence the GAA is taking a sectarian stance and moving into the political arena.


We would like to remind everyone that the hunger strike of 1981 was an attempt by republican terrorists both IRA and INLA to force the Government to grant political status to terrorist prisoners. During the hunger strike in 1981, the GAA central council endorsed the 5 aims of the terrorist hunger strike prisoners, further evidence of the sectarianism and politicization of the GAA, this time not just from the Antrim Council but from the GAA’s central council.

We would also like to remind everyone the GAA has rearranged a game between New York and Antrim GAA hurling teams. The GAA are changing the venue of this game from Casement Park Belfast to Boston Massachusetts. This is because of the anticipated visa problems with the travelling New York team, and the likelihood members of the travelling team who entered the USA illegally, would be refused re-entry back into the USA.

Therefore, to facilitate the illegal emigrants in the New York GAA team the GAA are moving the venue to Boston Massachusetts. The changing of the venue of this game has only one aim and that is to assist; the illegal emigrants in the New York GAA team evade USA immigration officials. All this takes place with the approval of the GAA central governing body.

So one can only conclude that the GAA’s governing committee is complicit in assisting their members to evade USA immigration officials and effectively the law.

Therefore, I ask again what type of sporting organization is the GAA, and what type of game is the GAA involved in. Again, they are indulging in the political arena instead of the sporting arena.


Now no one cannot fail to see that the GAA at all levels is complicit in sectarian, political, Anti Unionist bias and complicit in helping illegal emigrants evade the law

"Now no one cannot fail to see that the GAA at all levels is complicit in sectarian, political, Anti Unionist bias and complicit in helping illegal emigrants evade the law"

AND...they eat Protestant babies.

Any legitimate problems the unionist community may have with the GAA aren't done any favours by rants like that!