Sir, - It is with considerable interest and understanding that I read the comments of contributors to your letters page of October 4th regarding the scenes at the All Ireland Football Final, and Mr Jack Boothman's subsequent comments. However, as somebody who has been fortunate enough to have played both hurling and football all my life, I feel it necessary in some way to qualify Mr Boothman's remarks.
Anyone who has listened to him on previous occasions would know that he does not condone the type of behaviour witnessed. Yet the fact that he could not bring himself to condemn it served further to make us immerse ourselves in the semantics that have been so prevalent in Irish political society over the past 24 months.
It is understandable that parents might feel that such scenes undermine their attempts to raise children with respect for each other and resolve conflicts in a peaceful way. However, when the final whistle blew on Sunday week - despite certain players reported conflicts - each and every true sportsman on the field shook hands with his opponents in a genuine effort at congratulations.
People are very quick to condemn players, and the GAA, for displays on the field over 70 minutes that are the culmination of nine months' hard slog. To be selected for your county as your club representative is the ultimate achievement for any player. As you pull on your county colours, you carry with you everything your club stands for, and carry with you the hopes and dreams of those not as fortunate to be selected. Each and every player, by his very presence in the club, provides a role model for every young child aspiring to become an inter county player.
For three to four nights a week, through the winter and on into the spring, with the county panel, these men display the gritty commitment, loyalty, pride, passion and determination to put in the effort necessary to reach an All Ireland Final. While there certainly is a lesson to be learnt for every child in ensuring that violence on the field is not encouraged, it would be a much more practical lesson for any parent to note those required qualities - or indeed, to bring their child to any GAA club during the summer months to see adults giving of their time to coach children to play a game that inspires passion in those that participate. It would be a much more practical lesson for any parent to try and understand what it is that makes the eyes of people like Ger Loughnane, Mick O'Dwyer and Liam Griffin light up when somebody asks them about their game. Every player in Croke Park stood with his heart and mind racing, remembering everything he represents, as the strains of Anhran na bhFiann echoed in his chest. These first five minutes of madness provided an opportunity - foolish, yet understandable - to rid himself of the tension, nervousness and the "fire in the belly" that has him so stoked up on his day. his club's day and his county's day.
Rather than being so quick to condemn, as we have always been in Ireland, why not think for a minute and truly understand what it is about the game that drives people to such limits? Whatever it is, the most eloquent among us could not do it justice, and long may it prosper. - Yours, etc.,
Na Piarsaigh GAA Club,
Luimneach.