The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) is a great sporting organisation. It has contributed hugely to community identity and solidarity. It has knit together small rural villages and deprived urban areas; helped to merge them into local, county and regional organisations and given spectators a range of wonderful games to shout about. Its voluntary nature has attracted ordinary citizens as administrators, coaches and committed supporters. Most importantly, it has provided leadership and good quality sporting facilities for an enormous number of young men and women on this island. And now it is being asked to behave as a healing force in Northern Ireland.
In spite of its voluntary nature and the commercial pressures of modern life, the GAA has grown and flourished. It has responded to all kinds of pressures; sanctioned rewards for players, built large stadia, entered sponsorship deals and signed television contracts. It has changed and adjusted as circumstances altered. Later this month, delegates will be asked to delete a rule that has excluded members of the security forces in Northern Ireland from membership.
The last time this issue was addressed was immediately after the endorsement of the Belfast Agreement in May, 1998, when a special GAA congress was called by the then president, Mr Joe McDonagh. On that occasion, delegates from the Republic were swayed by the vociferous and unified opposition to change by the great majority of Northern delegates.
They recalled the hostility, harassment and murder that had been visited on GAA members over a period of thirty years by the security forces; the occupation of GAA grounds and the unacceptable nature of an unreformed RUC. The motion fell.
The changing political situation in Northern Ireland and the possibility that the organisation may be in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights, has caused the current president of the GAA, Mr Sean McCague, to reopen the issue. A special congress will be held on November 17th. As of now, Rule 21 is likely to be erased. Sentiment in this State is strongly in favour of change. Last Monday, Donegal delegates reversed their earlier position and voted overwhelmingly for a new departure. In spite of that, resistance persists in some Ulster counties and delegates from Armagh, Derry and Fermanagh have already been mandated to vote in favour of the status quo.
A power struggle is being waged by Sinn FΘin for control of the GAA. While the SDLP, encouraged by the Government, has agreed to participate in the reformed policing structures in Northern Ireland, Sinn FΘin remains opposed. If Sinn FΘin has its way, the GAA will be placed in the invidious position of expelling its own members if they accept the advice of the Government and the SDLP and join the new force. At the same time, Sinn FΘin would enjoy valuable support for its stance within the nationalist community.
Politics and sport should not be mixed in this way. The GAA is a venerable and valuable national institution. It should not allow short-term political considerations to damage its long-term sporting interests.