Sir, – Last weekend’s GAA annual congress will best be remembered for the protests regarding Allianz sponsorship of the national leagues. . GAA president Jarlath Burns may have hoped that this emotive and moral issue had been put to rest at Christmas when the executive rejected the motions forwarded by 10 counties to drop the Allianz sponsorship.
Regretfully and shamefully, the delegates from those 10 counties failed to raise their voices in defence of their motions in Friday evening’s meeting.
The grassroots Gaels were angry and frustrated. Little wonder then that they were left with little option but to make their way to the top table on Saturday and remind delegates that the matter is not going away.
Jarlath Burns dismissed the protesters as having crossed “a red line and making an illegal entry to our congress and our property”. But that arrogant dismissal failed to recognise that the protesters are every bit as much part of the GAA as he is and most sacrifice themselves every weekend for the promotion of our national games.
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Burns told the protesters to “examine their conscience” but perhaps it is he who needs to examine his own conscience and discern how he can continue to take tainted sponsorship when more ethical companies of integrity can easily replace Allianz.
Having handled the matter so poorly, any decision to continue or discontinue the partnership will not gain him any credit. Perhaps Allianz might read the writing on the wall and save him embarrassment by quietly withdrawing at the end of this league campaign. – Yours, etc,
FR GABRIEL DOLAN,
Aghadrumsee,
Co Fermanagh.
