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GAA Should Campaign For A United Ireland.

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Joe Brolly has said that the GAA should campaign for a united Ireland in any future border poll. According to Jarlath Burns, the GAA would not be neutral in a border poll as its basic aim is the "strengthening of the national identity in a 32 county Ireland through the presentation and promotion of gaelic games". Should the GAA actively engage with the debate or would a statement of support suffice?? Would it be best to keep out of it all together?? I found this interesting as I remember watching a programme that said that the GAA failure to support the hunger strikers at the time threatened to split the association. REDANDBLACK30 (Down) - Posts: 1617 - 07/03/2019 09:59:39 2170780 Link
Replying To REDANDBLACK30: "Joe Brolly has said that the GAA should campaign for a united Ireland in any future border poll. According to Jarlath Burns, the GAA would not be neutral in a border poll as its basic aim is the "strengthening of the national identity in a 32 county Ireland through the presentation and promotion of gaelic games". Should the GAA actively engage with the debate or would a statement of support suffice?? Would it be best to keep out of it all together?? I found this interesting as I remember watching a programme that said that the GAA failure to support the hunger strikers at the time threatened to split the association." To be fair supporting the Hunger Strikers ( which I have no qualms in saying I do) is fundamentally different than supporting a united ireland via a democratic border poll. The most recent IRA campaign no matter which way you look at it was highly divisive even within the Nationalist community in the six counties ( even those that supported the campaign can recognise that) hence the events surrounding the hunger strike of 1981 , despite the groundswell of support for the demands of the POWs were incredibly difficult for the organisation at the time. Given the stated constitution and aims of the association then it naturally follows that they would take some positive position on a border poll, whether that extends to active campaigning we would have to weigh up the pros and cons.....a border poll is provided for within the GFA and is simply an expression of the democratic wishes of the people in this island hence it is unlikely to be as highly charged as the tragic events of 1981. PaudieSull1 (Down) - Posts: 738 - 07/03/2019 10:29:24 2170792 Link
Sport and politics should never mix, by all means individuals can campaign like in the recent abortion referendum, but the organisation itself should stay out of it. Royal.Legend (Meath) - Posts: 665 - 07/03/2019 10:30:56 2170793 Link
We can't look after what we have never mind looking after 6 more counties Inaroundehouse (Cavan) - Posts: 975 - 07/03/2019 10:35:15 2170795 Link
Replying To PaudieSull1: "To be fair supporting the Hunger Strikers ( which I have no qualms in saying I do) is fundamentally different than supporting a united ireland via a democratic border poll. The most recent IRA campaign no matter which way you look at it was highly divisive even within the Nationalist community in the six counties ( even those that supported the campaign can recognise that) hence the events surrounding the hunger strike of 1981 , despite the groundswell of support for the demands of the POWs were incredibly difficult for the organisation at the time. Given the stated constitution and aims of the association then it naturally follows that they would take some positive position on a border poll, whether that extends to active campaigning we would have to weigh up the pros and cons.....a border poll is provided for within the GFA and is simply an expression of the democratic wishes of the people in this island hence it is unlikely to be as highly charged as the tragic events of 1981." I take your point. I meant that most nationalists, even soft Nationalists, where supporting the hunger strikers at that time even if they did not agree with the IRA campaign?? The GAA did not support the populous view at that time. They stayed neutral but there was a protest at half time in the Down v Armagh Ulster final. REDANDBLACK30 (Down) - Posts: 1617 - 07/03/2019 10:40:55 2170800 Link
I think it's something for individuals to decide and the GAA would probably be best sticking to the sport itself and nothing else. yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11230 - 07/03/2019 10:55:18 2170806 Link
Yes they should and actively, the gaa is not just a sport it's a cultural movement as much as a sport, and they should be unapologetic about it. Barrowsider (Carlow) - Posts: 1592 - 07/03/2019 13:04:31 2170846 Link
Does anyone in the six counties even want to be part of a united ireland? things have been going pretty well and peaceful the last 20 years. Brexit of course has put a massive spanner in the works. just wondering would an independent state of its own be more beneficial for all? theweanling (Cavan) - Posts: 414 - 07/03/2019 14:37:54 2170870 Link
Replying To Barrowsider: "Yes they should and actively, the gaa is not just a sport it's a cultural movement as much as a sport, and they should be unapologetic about it." As should any Irish government cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5012 - 07/03/2019 14:40:41 2170873 Link
Agreed. They should campaign for it. Jack_Goff (Meath) - Posts: 2920 - 07/03/2019 15:03:48 2170880 Link
No the GAA shouldn't even countenance campaigning. Individuals are free to do whatever they want. The GAA is a sporting organisation and should hold no opinions on outside matters. I'd be appalled if they took part in a campaign. They'd lose a huge amount of members if they did. For me I'd think the people of Northern Ireland should keep working away to make their country better. Didn't the last census indicate that more and more people are identifying as inbetween British and Irish..ie Northern Irish. Thats a fine ambition in my opinion. People like Jarlath Burns and Joe Brolly and the rest of that green brigade have no idea how Southerners feel and think.. They want us all to be Republicans and Nationalists with them in Charge. bloodyban (Limerick) - Posts: 1710 - 07/03/2019 15:16:20 2170882 Link
Replying To bloodyban: "No the GAA shouldn't even countenance campaigning. Individuals are free to do whatever they want. The GAA is a sporting organisation and should hold no opinions on outside matters. I'd be appalled if they took part in a campaign. They'd lose a huge amount of members if they did. For me I'd think the people of Northern Ireland should keep working away to make their country better. Didn't the last census indicate that more and more people are identifying as inbetween British and Irish..ie Northern Irish. Thats a fine ambition in my opinion. People like Jarlath Burns and Joe Brolly and the rest of that green brigade have no idea how Southerners feel and think.. They want us all to be Republicans and Nationalists with them in Charge." So you give out about Joe Brolly and Jarelth Burns for having an opinion on what is happening in the north. You tell us what people in the north should do ie embrace Northern Ireland. You then follow that up by saying that Brolly and Burns don't know how people in southern Ireland feel. Do you see anything contradictory there at all? Up here is a lot better than it was but it is far from perfect. We are being run by a tory government and the dup, The same tory government that have just announced that all security member murders in the troubles were done in a dignified way. The DUP are an awful awful party that have no time for anything Irish or non British. They try to enforce their views on everyone. With attitudes like the above all 32 counties would still be controlled and dominated by British rule. I assume you count your ancestors who live in the south prior to 1916 as British and would have been happy for them to accept that? As pointed out by others the gaa is much more than a sporting body. It's a cultural body to strengthen our national Irish identity. Attitudes like the above goes against everything it was set up for. We in the north our as Irish as you and have every right to call ourselves that. A Another (None) - Posts: 193 - 07/03/2019 15:31:10 2170886 Link
Replying To Royal.Legend: "Sport and politics should never mix, by all means individuals can campaign like in the recent abortion referendum, but the organisation itself should stay out of it." +1. royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 07/03/2019 15:43:42 2170889 Link
Replying To A Another: "So you give out about Joe Brolly and Jarelth Burns for having an opinion on what is happening in the north. You tell us what people in the north should do ie embrace Northern Ireland. You then follow that up by saying that Brolly and Burns don't know how people in southern Ireland feel. Do you see anything contradictory there at all? Up here is a lot better than it was but it is far from perfect. We are being run by a tory government and the dup, The same tory government that have just announced that all security member murders in the troubles were done in a dignified way. The DUP are an awful awful party that have no time for anything Irish or non British. They try to enforce their views on everyone. With attitudes like the above all 32 counties would still be controlled and dominated by British rule. I assume you count your ancestors who live in the south prior to 1916 as British and would have been happy for them to accept that? As pointed out by others the gaa is much more than a sporting body. It's a cultural body to strengthen our national Irish identity. Attitudes like the above goes against everything it was set up for. We in the north our as Irish as you and have every right to call ourselves that." Cultural yes. Political in 2019? No. Why did it not allow itself to be used in the 2 recent referendums? Btw which was the right thing to do, gaa should keep out of politics, there was uproar when David gaugh asked could he wear a wristband, he was told no, cause the gaa does not partake in any political debates, why would it be different from this , ie another referendum, individual members are of course entitled to campaign as they wish. The organization as a whole ? No way. royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 07/03/2019 15:53:04 2170890 Link
Replying To royaldunne: "+1." You lads really don't know much about the gaa or it's stated aims. This isn't so much a political issue as doing what is right for our country that should never have been broken up (or invaded before that) in the first place. A Another (None) - Posts: 193 - 07/03/2019 15:53:58 2170891 Link
Replying To royaldunne: "Cultural yes. Political in 2019? No. Why did it not allow itself to be used in the 2 recent referendums? Btw which was the right thing to do, gaa should keep out of politics, there was uproar when David gaugh asked could he wear a wristband, he was told no, cause the gaa does not partake in any political debates, why would it be different from this , ie another referendum, individual members are of course entitled to campaign as they wish. The organization as a whole ? No way." If for example North Korea invades the south of Ireland in the morning (and it's army lands at a game game and indiscriminately shoot's gaa members). Would you sit back and say the gaa shouldn't take a view on it as it's a political issue? A Another (None) - Posts: 193 - 07/03/2019 16:00:54 2170893 Link
Replying To A Another: "If for example North Korea invades the south of Ireland in the morning (and it's army lands at a game game and indiscriminately shoot's gaa members). Would you sit back and say the gaa shouldn't take a view on it as it's a political issue?" Yes. As I would also back the cricket union the rfu the fai ifa or any ather organization. It is a SPORT. it doesn't want or need politics. So keep it out. I don't want bigots or sectarian nonsense anymore in the gaa. And I know the gaa won't allow it despite what brolly and his like want, joe can blow them kisses. End of debate. The gaa is no longer a political organization and don't you dare try to drag it back to it. royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 07/03/2019 16:06:24 2170894 Link
Of course the GAA should campaign for a united Ireland. It was founded in the first place to promote Gaelic games and everything Irish. It's our culture and this includes Gaelic football, hurling, camogie and handball. It also promotes the Irish language, Irish music and Irish dancing. OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 07/03/2019 16:08:56 2170895 Link
And there was me thinking the Royal referred to Meath cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5012 - 07/03/2019 16:19:44 2170899 Link
Replying To royaldunne: "Yes. As I would also back the cricket union the rfu the fai ifa or any ather organization. It is a SPORT. it doesn't want or need politics. So keep it out. I don't want bigots or sectarian nonsense anymore in the gaa. And I know the gaa won't allow it despite what brolly and his like want, joe can blow them kisses. End of debate. The gaa is no longer a political organization and don't you dare try to drag it back to it." There is absolutely nothing sectarian or bigoted about wanting to see a united Ireland. Up here the two are often linked for some reason and it's totally wrong to link the two. The gaa was set up to promote Irishness and Irish values on a 32 county basis, it would be ridiculous if it didn't openly support it. And it is much more than a political issue. A Another (None) - Posts: 193 - 07/03/2019 16:26:17 2170900 Link