THE WEEKEND’S annual congress of the Gaelic Athletic Association provided an interesting snapshot of the organisation, as it celebrates its 125th anniversary. A changeover in the presidency together with a major debate on disciplinary playing rules were the main items of business but there was also the sense of a body trying to come to terms with how best to project itself in the modern world.
Despite the confident assertions from both incoming president Christy Cooney and his predecessor Nickey Brennan that the GAA remains as strong as ever and confident about its future, there were obvious concerns detectable.
One of the most nagging is the association’s ability to reform itself and respond to modern challenges. The GAA is not unique in requiring a weighted majority to effect rule changes but the necessity led on Saturday to a number of measures with overwhelming support failing to be adopted into rule.
Two of these, the more stringent sanctions for cynical, foul play and a proposal to stop under-21 footballers lining out during the National Football League in order to combat player burn-out, were the product of in-depth reports on the current state of the games and serious proposals to address difficulties identified.
The disappointment among leading officials was obvious despite the commitment to revisit the disciplinary issue as soon as possible. It has become an ongoing hazard for the GAA that no matter how high the level of expertise brought to bear on various areas of concern, there is no guarantee that rank-and-file congress delegates will be persuaded in sufficient numbers to give effect to recommended reforms.
It is one of the areas that will require attention during the incoming presidential term.
Mr Cooney’s inaugural address was interesting in the range of its ambitions for his first year in office. Having been dogged over the past year by the controversial dispute between players and officials in his own county as well as having to give evidence to the Public Accounts Committee in respect of his employers Fás, the Cork man will be glad finally to get his feet under the desk.
With the impact of the current recession and the freeze in public spending yet to impact fully on the GAA, and the Croke Park rental money from rugby and soccer internationals about to dry up next year, there are real challenges ahead for the organisation during the coming presidential term.