Madam, – I am a proud GAA member but the organisation’s misguided attempt to prevent post-match celebrations on the Croke Park pitch needs to stop now before it alienates supporters throughout the country. I am sure I was not the only armchair anarchist who had a little smile when the “Plan B” message flashed across the big screens and the Kilkenny supporters had their wonderful moment.
The clampdown being issued against joy is deeply worrying. The only danger evident on the pitch last Sunday was the crush at the barrier which the GAA had erected for its unfortunate presentation attempt. Now this is being used as further proof that pitch “invasions” are a danger to us all. Interestingly, I never recall “invasion” in a GAA context being associated with menace before this particular crusade began.
The only factual justifications I have heard are the stadium’s 21st- century capacity and a general nod towards “modern times”. However the 82,000 or so attendance of Sunday was regularly equalled in the old days of terracing and represents far fewer than the 90,000 which attended the 1961 football final. And while latter-day nutrition might have made us all bigger and stronger, surely we are not any more aggressive or violent in our moments of euphoria? I’d be interested in seeing any data on this.
There is one other health and safety “issue” we have all been disgruntedly living with for the last number of years. Unlike modern stadiums all around the world, we Irish are prevented from bringing a nice cold beer, in plastic cups, anywhere near our Croke Park seats and are forced to consume them quickly, herded like cattle, before getting back to see the action. This we are required to understand is for our protection. However at the recent Kerry v Meath semi-final I had a cup of hot coffee spilled over my neck and back by the person behind me. Beer would have been far less objectionable.
But at least someone is looking out for us all. – Yours, etc