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Gail Walker: How GAA scored an own goal over SF demonstration
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Just because it's Nelson McCausland, it doesn't mean he's wrong. The events surrounding that Hunger Strike anniversary rally at Galbally GAA grounds pose very disturbing questions for the organisation.
Since McCausland's measured statement about his concerns, we've had a lot of flack raised in a bid to make the issue ‘just go away'. The DUPer's refusal to attend Catholic services; the admission that he doesn't follow the sport; and, well, he's Nelson McCausland.
Nelson McCausland measured? Well, yes. In his statements, he’s made it clear that he thinks many in the GAA will be horrified with the rally. He calls for a rapid investigation.
He hasn’t foamed at the mouth, called for the GAA to be banned or hit by the withdrawal of public funds, just that it bring forward recommendations to ensure this won’t happen again.
McCausland was simply reflecting the concerns of many here —and not just unionists.
Yet SF's defence of the rally has been surreal. While the military-style parade is beyond question following publication of photographs of men on the pitch, the balaclava'ed men with the guns were on the streets outside.
Anyway,according to SF, it was — and it would be funny if it wasn't so pathetic —‘street theatre' put on by actors. (Actors? Were they Equity members or are we talking AmDram? “No, we're not doing Run For Your Wife this year, but something more edgy, Armed Struggle. Frank, you're the Quartermaster ...”) Oh, and lack of facilities in Tyrone meant the republicans had nowhere else to go.
Let's be blunt. This wasn’t a vague cultural demonstration, but a Hunger Strike commemoratation, sponsored by Sinn Fein, addressed by Gerry Adams and celebrating the struggle not just of the Hunger Strikers but of the IRA itself.
Theatre or not, inside the ground or not, the pictures on the internet glorify terrorism. And yet we're meant to believe that somehow this isn’t party political and flying in the face of the GAA's own constitution.
Party political? No, cry |the event's defenders, it also |commemorated INLA hunger strikers. And any part of the wider republican ‘family' — left, mainstream SF or, er, dissident — were welcome to come along.
It was a broader ‘community event'. So, er, 7A hasn't technically been breached.
Imagine the response to a rally at Windsor Park commemorating the sacrifice of UDA and UVF ‘volunteers', complete with paramilitary trappings?
Linfield out of the Irish League? The NI footballing authorities in crisis? A withdrawal of public funds? A campaign to ban Northern Ireland from international sporting events?
None are ridiculous scenarios, yet we’re meant to believe that it’s ‘just different' when it comes to the GAA.
The Association's response to the crisis has been less than convincing. After McCausland's complaints, the organisation made a terse ‘No Comment'.
It was only after SDLP deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell complained to the GAA leadership in Dublin that the organisation creaked into action, changed tack and said that they were “not aware” of the event until afterwards and had determined to find out what happened and “the involvement of the association in these events, if any”.Doesn't exactly sound like anyone's been given 24 hours to crack the case, does it? And what's this “if any” business?
Are the GAA seriously suggesting the Galbally ground was somehow “taken over” by republicans without the association's permission? Even though the event had, apparently, been advertised for weeks.
Good relations cut both ways. It isn't just up to unionists to be nice to nationalists. It works the other way round too. Many — and, yes, mainly unionists (but unionists are, in the final analysis, human beings too) — will not remember hunger strikers as ‘martyrs' but as part of an organisation dedicated to low level ethnic cleansing. They will ask why is the GAA giving its blessing to Sinn Fein’s version of the Troubles?
We’re constantly being reminded by our betters, that it's time to move on, and it is. But that applies as much to the GAA — or (weary sigh) ‘elements within it’ — as anyone else. Instead of playing host to a sinister version of the Commemoration Game, it should get into the 21st century.
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Comments
44 Comments
Mc, what Protestant denominations do they bar membership to? Please, inform me.
If there are any real ones, I'm guessing one of the few is the Quakers, because they're one of the few denominations independent enough to stand up to the OO's sectarian garbage.
Posted by Saighdúirí | 14.09.09, 22:42 GMT
Infact Mc - I could go further and really shred your 'just a thought' by saying I think the OO should go purely on the basis that it is discriminatory against whichever protestant factions it does ban aswell. Afteral discrimination plays no part in any humane society, whatever it's belief system.
How you thought that would somehow make my arguement fall apart I'm not too sure, perhaps you should have a go at explaining it to me in more detail.
By all means celebrate your Britishness, go right on ahead, we are part of the UK afteral, just try to be civil (perhaps more Christian like) and not to rub it up people's faces that still believe their country is being occupied - which it still technically is.
Posted by Common sense | 14.09.09, 20:13 GMT
Mc - I agree with you, but then I do mention other religions, perhaps you should read my previous comment again? So your thought doesn't hold any water.
But...I shall comment further on your what your trying to get at, yes I'm picking specifically on their anti-catholic ethos, not their anti-church or ireland (even if they're banned, I don't know). I'll be honest, their anti-catholic (or whatever religion they're anti) ethos isn't what bothers me but its just a nice sticking point to hang my debates on. It's more the fact they celebrate a protestant british victory over the catholic irish, now I don't know everything about the OO but this I know is fact. It all boils down to rubbing it in every 12th of July, not exactly forgetting the past to everyone making friends. Its discriminatory whatever way you slice it.
Posted by Common sense | 14.09.09, 20:05 GMT
Common Sense, you go to great lengths to scream to us that the OO are anticatholic. Why do you neglect to mention that they OO also bars membership to certain Protestant denominations too??
Some might reach the conclusion that to do so, would undermine your OO witchhunt.
Just a thought.
Posted by Mc | 08.09.09, 20:31 GMT
Many Unionists have accused the GAA, and sometimes with good reason, of being a sectarian organization. Luckily the GAA has now dropped the politics and concentrates on the games as they should. I can't speak for the North but in the South I have many Protestant friends who play Gaelic and Hurling and love it. Religion or nationalism doesn't come into it. The same cannot, and will never be said for the Order. They're a relic of a hateful past and simply cannot adapt.
Let's all move on without them. If Northern Ireland wants to remain British, reunify with Ireland or even go it alone, that's your right. But try and end the divisions, something we've largely done down here
Posted by Saighdúirí | 07.09.09, 23:42 GMT
Steven73 - "bigoted rants about the OO", can't you see the irony here? The OO are at heart, bigots! Ahhhhh! Why can't people try, just please !try! to take an unbiased approach to nothern irish issues? Ignore the brain-washing your parents/friends/community have implanted in your mind about the "other side" and think for yourself.
I want you to explain to me in a civilised manner how on earth you came to the conclusion that mine and others' views on the OO are bigoted? I'm just trying to point out the madness here in this country that allows an openly anti-catholic (other religions as well) organisation to exist. Yet you think I'm being bigoted? Come on Steven, a bit of common sense!
I understand that perhaps because your a unionist you have to support the OO by default but that doesn't make it morally correct.
Posted by Common sense | 05.09.09, 18:53 GMT
I'm a Unionist and find the IRA repulsive, while I admire the courage of volunteers such as the hunger strikers who had the conviction to starve themselves to death, I cannot condone the many sickening and cowardly actions of IRA violence.
However, let's get this into perspective, Sinn Fein/IRA holding a legitimate commemoration service at a sports ground to their comrades does not all of a sudden make the GAA the big evil bigoted organisation many here are portraying it as. This simplistic conclusion is in itself deeply bigoted.
The GAA is and has been the cornerstone of nationalist communities for the past century, and in rural areas GAA halls are used as community centres, so hosting this event probably seemed like the natural thing to do in Galbally.
As for the bigoted rants about the Orange Order, it's the same thing, you'll always get a few hard core bigots as you do with the GAA, but most of the bigoted views I've read here are based on pure ignorance.
Posted by Steven73 | 03.09.09, 20:00 GMT
ireland abu
"It's great all these people wondering what Walker wrote in 1991 and attacking what's written now."
Just because you Free State folk have short memories, it does not mean that the oppressed Catholics of Northern Ireland should have equally short memories.
"And what exactly did you do Mr McMahon about the Louth demonstration back then? Or about this atrocious sectarian act last week?"
What point are you making, Stater? I did not interfere about either incident. I was consistent. Gail Walker has been selective in her supposed concern.
Posted by John McMahon | 31.08.09, 19:07 GMT
It's great all these people wondering what Walker wrote in 1991 and attacking what's written now. And what exactly did you do Mr McMahon about the Louth demonstration back then? Or about this atrocious sectarian act last week?
As usual, battalions of sectarians rush to their keyboards with their bitter, twisted, vile little hatreds, puking all over our pavements.
Carry on, people. You're a credit to peace.
Posted by ireland abu | 31.08.09, 12:07 GMT
it goes on and on and on........ Your brother is bigger than my brother!! As a Protestant let me throw in 1798! Why are we Prods not celebrating our heroes who fought for a united Ireland? History= the curse of Ireland!!!! Is there any way we can get a bit of peace?
Posted by rob Mckeown | 31.08.09, 11:54 GMT
One GAA club is not the GAA and the GAA is not one GAA club.
I wonder what Nelson McCausland had to say about the Armagh CuChullain's cross community hurling team competing in the Continental Youth Championships is San Francisco earlier this month. He probably never heard about it. Why would he? The unionist press only report on the GAA when there's something potentially negative to report about.
Posted by Watcher | 31.08.09, 04:19 GMT
Ms Walker's outburst would have carried more credibility if she had spoken out in September 1991 when a GAA ground in County Louth was used for an anti-Sinn Fein demonstation after the IRA had claimed responsibility to killing a Mr OLiver.
Posted by John McMahon | 30.08.09, 00:36 GMT
I take it the GAA is accepted then as the equivalent of the Orange Order? And GAA clubs the equivalent of loyalist bands named after killers? That seems to be the consensus in the comments here. Just clarifying ...
(Parnell would indeed be proud.)
Posted by ireland abu | 29.08.09, 23:09 GMT
Sandra, the past? The Orange Order are still living in the past - would people on the Shankill allow a Republican parade from Ardoyne to Carrick Hill? No, thought not!! This is not 1690. Get real girl!
Posted by Patrick | 29.08.09, 02:20 GMT
Common Sense, I see there are a few things in your comments that have expertise in, connecting your dots, the battle was violent, it was not about religion "true" and the Pope backed William, which is also true, but I would still advise you to learn more though, beacuse, to become a proper critic of Orangesim you have to be able to tell the difference between the Order and the bands, as members of the Orders do not twirl sticks. I'm sorry, the truth thing was about some of the comments made in response to Gail's article and not aimed at you.
Posted by sandra | 28.08.09, 20:53 GMT
In 1884 on "All Saints Day" in Thurles , Michael Cusack , Pat Nally and Maurice Davin among others formally founed the GAA . Its patrons Michael Davitt , Charles Stewart Parnell and Archbishop Croke over 100 years of proud History , no case to answer .
Posted by Kerrygold | 28.08.09, 19:34 GMT
Mc - huh? Perhaps you should search the defination of common sense....
....even so, is this another 'bored' comment that has no relevant point? Perhaps I should let you into a little secret, the battle of the boyne isn't and never was a battle of/or about religion. An unbiased outsider might question the OO's ethos today and see it as odd...too many people here can't seem to connect the dots? (or rather lack of dots to connect).
And what's the truth Sandra? That some OO supporters can't see the obvious?
Posted by Common sense | 28.08.09, 13:36 GMT
Patrick, You are starting to go back years ago, when everyone used any venue for anything. Gail's comments are about the present time and not the past.
Posted by sandra | 28.08.09, 12:02 GMT
Some people just can't accept the truth. common sense, i think you should read up on the history of the orange order, or you will never become a Grand Master Of Ireland.
Posted by sandra | 27.08.09, 23:06 GMT
Right Gail. And the Belfast city council years ago also shot themselves in the foot by letting Ulster Resistance use the Ulster Hall and Ormeau Park by Vanguard.
Posted by Patrick | 27.08.09, 23:00 GMT
44 Comments