Madam, – Niall Ginty’s criticism of Tom Humphries’ Lockerroom column is not only shrill in its tone but it misses the point (May 13th) .
Mr Humphries’ point appears to be that professional sports such as elite rugby and the Premiership are often little more than “products” within the “entertainment industry” and that sport, at its best, is about participation, not consumption. It is about helping out your local club, not a publicly quoted company. It is about being able to meet your hero in the flesh and not having to register on his website. If Mr Ginty ventured out in his community he would see that the GAA makes a huge contribution to Ireland in terms of what sociologists call social capital, and what the rest of us call civic pride. We need a bit of that pride and spirit now.
The GAA has been guilty (very guilty) in the past of promoting its sports in a narrow-minded and nationalistic way but today, and across Ireland, GAA clubs remain (as do local soccer and rugby clubs) at the heart of community life. They need more support. Local Irish sport is not always a very sophisticated “product” but does everything now have to be so neatly packaged to satisfy the sports “consumer”? If Mr Ginty’s wish comes true, and the GAA declines and disappears, what then, outside of the inanities of 24-hour satellite sports “news” channels, will be left for Irish sport and those of us, and our children, who just want to play a game of ball? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – As a rugby fan I was saddened to read Niall Ginty’s response to Tom Humphries’ column. I don’t share Mr Humphries’ disposition towards rugby. I rejoice in our recent rugby successes and glory in our leadership of the forthcoming Lions tour. But I am a GAA man and I am at my wits’ end to understand from where Mr Ginty draws his conclusions that the GAA is in some sort of decline.
Had he last Sunday visited any GAA club near to him in Dublin 5, 3, 7, 11 or my own in Dublin 9, he would have marvelled at the tens of thousands of children and adults celebrating their love of our GAA games and their local club. The arrival of Sky Sports, the Premiership, Roman Abramovich, the Heineken and the Magners competitions has (contrary to Mr Ginty’s opinion) coincided with the greatest period in the GAA’s history at local and national level. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Tom Humphries’ column was clearly not an excuse to talk up the skill levels of GAA players. Neither was it evident from the piece that the GAA has seen a demise of its games in rural areas. While it is true that the successes of Irish teams in professional rugby and soccer have provided many great sporting role-models for aspiring Irish athletes, the GAA continues to occupy a special place in the heart of Irish sports enthusiasts as it is an essentially humble and honest sporting culture. From small towns to packed stadiums, the GAA can throw up some rather outspoken, yet irresistibly humorous characters. These people and the many great events that the GAA has brought us are part of the fabric of our courageous and unconceited “underdog” sporting profile, as reflected in Mr Humphries’ satire. – Yours, etc,