http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0819/sinnfein.html I know Tyrone have the most posters per county on this website - anyone up there care to comment on why a Tyrone GAA club let a political party use their facilities? How is this meant to promote the GAA to people with different political views??? Surely, first and foremost, we're all GAA people here, and this is a GAA forum. Political views should be left out of this in my opinion. However, if people wish to discuss politics, please use the non-GAA forum. Interested to hear responses on this one.

3inarow08 (Kerry) - Posts: 2455 - 19/08/2009 11:19:13    396807

maybe it could be more about money, like why do gaa and rugby clubs build astro-turf pitches and rent them out to paople who play soccer-money...

HokeyPokey (Tyrone) - Posts: 1744 - 19/08/2009 12:50:24    396939

Is it not the case that political parties through the republic use GAA premises for events. I'm sure I have come across newpsper articles of events in clubs. It only seems to be an issue when it is a republican party involved. My own view is no political party should use GAA premises anywhere for anything. The country is full of high profile TD's etc who have used the GAA as an apprenteship towards their ultimate goal, political power and the benefits that come with it.

thistle_harps (UK) - Posts: 879 - 19/08/2009 12:53:59    396943

True HokeyPokey, but are the GAA not breaking one of their own rules in doing so? When Croke Park was rented out to the IRFU/FAI the GAA had to have meetings, pass motions, cast votes, change rules/laws etc. Why didn't this happen in this case?

3inarow08 (Kerry) - Posts: 2455 - 19/08/2009 12:57:02    396946

Triona, I agree wholeheartedly with your view that the GAA should be non-politcal however, there are a view things that have to be considered. The North as a whole is an anomaly in so much that politics is inextricably linked to most activities in some form or other. Sad I know but fact. As I stated in a previous post the GAA and support of it has always been viewed by the Unionist people as well as the "state" as being pro-catholic, pro-Irish and by extension pro-Republican. Although not the case for a large minority, there has generally been an unwritten link between those with a republican viewpoint and the GAA in that people supported both. In respect of Galbally last Sunday, this area is notoriously republican and as such the GAA people of the area almost invariably hold staunch republican views. Although seen to be a breach of GAA rules, the following has to be considered. The people of Galbally built the Gaelic Ground, they built their wonderful clubrooms and in their opinion, one incidentally I agree with is, that it is their community and their facilities and they should be allowed to use it for purposes that their community see fit. I am not going to get into the discussion in relation to hardships suffered as they have been well documented however it must be remembered that one of the hungerstrikers Vol. Martin Hurson was from Cappagh not a couple of miles from Galbally, and (I am open to correction) but most likely a member of the Pearse's club. This being the case, the people where commemorating one of their community along with his 9 comrades. I accept as previously stated that the GAA as a whole should be non-political, unfortunately in the North, especially in rural areas with a strong republican background, the people who promote and follow the GAA and the people who engage in political activities are likley to be the same. They therefore do not discern any problems with the use of the facililties they built, maintain and improve for other purposes than for GAA related occasions. Just my view

omaghredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 3656 - 19/08/2009 13:01:34    396958

Triona: No question the rules were broken alright!.... good spot by the way.. Interesting thread this..

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 19/08/2009 13:08:03    396968

Nelson McCausland is able to quote GAA rules now and when he was appointed he disparged the GAA by saying he knew little about, as much as lacrosse.

I'm sure clubs throughout the country are used by political parties in some form or other. It seems to only become an issue when it Sinn Fein. I'd imagine that's the only reason you started this thread 3inarow.

Yop (Wexford) - Posts: 362 - 19/08/2009 13:28:55    396991

oh man whatever next tyrone being accused of all the wrongs in the gaa world. why dont you ask the armagh boys are they collecting any rent of the MOD re use of crossmaglens pitch over the last 30 years. you kerry boys seriously are taking this anti-tyrone stuff a bit to far do you not think. i

reddoctor (Tyrone) - Posts: 1241 - 19/08/2009 13:33:34    396998

You should understand triona that the link between the GAA & nationalism in the 6 counties is very strong, for reasons you dont need me to elaborate on. A few years ago this would never have come into public domain, I remember attending a hungerstrike protest rally at our local GAA ground many years ago. That said I entirely agree with your sentiments regarding this but would not accuse the wider GAA of politicisation as knowing the area in question and the strength of feeling there, this would have been very much a local decision.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 19/08/2009 13:41:08    397008

Good point thistle, countless GAA people have used the organisation to boost their careers in FF/FG/Lab and SDLP but as soon as the Shinners are involved it is big issue! It is up to club who they decide to let use their premises. No one elses business as long as it does not contravene Association rules. Hope that helps ;)

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 19/08/2009 13:50:13    397014

3inarow08
County: Kerry
Posts: 1779

Surely, first and foremost, we're all GAA people here, and this is a GAA forum. Political views should be left out of this in my opinion. However, if people wish to discuss politics, please use the non-GAA forum.

3inarow08 you are asking us to comment on this yet you are asking that political discussions be kept for the non GAA forum.. you started this political discussion!

LocalLass (Tyrone) - Posts: 151 - 19/08/2009 14:00:18    397031

its terrible that the association is associated with such nonsense- is this not covered in british terrorist legislation is it not now an offence to glorify terrorism? Gaa could have itself in a dodgy spot with this- proves one thing in the north that the gaa is confined to one side of the political/religious devide- its a very say day for the gaa- old failings still very mush alive in the gaa- such a shame!!

liathroidboy (Mayo) - Posts: 4921 - 19/08/2009 14:12:20    397047

Excellent post omaghredhand. I know of a GAA club in Co Monaghan who had a FF fundraiser event in it 2 weeks ago!! No complaints here then!!?

Tom1916 (Armagh) - Posts: 2001 - 19/08/2009 14:16:27    397053

omaghredhand - great post.

I'm not picking up on this because it's Sinn Fein/Tyrone/Republicanism which are seen as the popular things to have a go at on this forum. It's just from a GAA perspective, some rules can be broken and some can't and I wonder sometimes why the GAA even has a rulebook!

Just thinking though that if Theresa Ferris wanted to use my clubhouse I'd be down to open it up for her myself!

3inarow08 (Kerry) - Posts: 2455 - 19/08/2009 14:28:54    397072

The people of Galbally built the Gaelic Ground, they built their wonderful clubrooms and in their opinion, one incidentally I agree with is, that it is their community and their facilities and they should be allowed to use it for purposes that their community see fit.

It is up to club who they decide to let use their premises. No one elses business as long as it does not contravene Association rules.

The point is it does contravene association rules. Its funny to see that ulster people feel they should have their own rules and not have to abide by the gaa rules like everyone else. You are either part of the gaa or you are not. If you are you follow the rules, its very simple. Why are ulster gaa people always looking for special treatment? The endless whinging and victim mentality has to stop at some stage.

bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4649 - 19/08/2009 14:30:06    397077

Tom1916 if that is true why dont you name them?

bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4649 - 19/08/2009 14:32:51    397085

Im really not surprised at this as it has happened before. Casement hosted this event a few years ago to cause a similar who-ha. Triona maybe you should get on the blower to patrique before you lay into us tyrone gaels. I think its regretable because I really really don't want the GAA to become a Sinn Fein vechile a la the irish language. The other night a 90-year old protestant man who you could describe as a typical protestant Ulster farmer asked me did I enjoy the match. I was very taken aback but I said I enjoyed it greatly. He said he thought we played well so he obviously watched the match. For this reason the GAA must progressively discard some of the Republician baggage. If people such as this can bring themselves to watch GAA matches then surely we can also meet them halfway by becoming more accommodating.

However I also understand the views that led to the rally being held in Galbally. It can be o.k. for Bad Monkey on his high horse to look down upon the event and sneer at the North's backward little ways. I can safely say you didn't attend as many funeral's during the troubles as the gaels of Ulster. The Agahloo club lost their chairman, shot simply because he was a member of the GAA. He had no paramilitary affilations. The vast majority of the Ulster member's of the GAA suffered during the troubles, whether through abuse or driscrimination or suffering a greater casualaty such as a young Patrick Kielty. It can be easy for some to say we should discard the political message entwined in the Ulster GAA physche but for those who still bear the raw physical and emotional scars inflicted by a blood thirsty loyalist sect, a prejudiced Stormont government and an series of indifferent Westminster parliments it can be impossible to let go. They were who they were and as such the gaels of Ulster could often play a inconcievable price for their loyality to thier own identity and to their own beliefs and aspirations.

Maybe you can't understand this Bad monkey. In fact im sure you won't but still I'll say it anyway.

trileacman (Tyrone) - Posts: 759 - 19/08/2009 14:37:44    397090

LocalLass
County: Tyrone
Posts: 131

3inarow08 you are asking us to comment on this yet you are asking that political discussions be kept for the non GAA forum.. you started this political discussion!
____________________

No I did not. Read my posts again please. It has more to do with the breaking of GAA rules.

3inarow08 (Kerry) - Posts: 2455 - 19/08/2009 14:39:09    397093

Yop
County: Wexford
Posts: 240

I'm sure clubs throughout the country are used by political parties in some form or other. It seems to only become an issue when it Sinn Fein. I'd imagine that's the only reason you started this thread 3inarow.
________________________________________

You're throwing accusations around now Yop, I'm sure one of them will stick if you throw enough of them.

I am not anti SF. I am not pro SF. If it was any other political party I'd raise it the same. However, and here is where I can see your point, the fact that it was SF has brought it into the public eye. SF are headline news. I'd be pretty sure that if it was the Alliance Party having some function this wouldn't be on various websites/in the news.

But my point is not political like I keep trying to tell everyone. I'm wondering why rules are made only to be broken. Would Fine Gael, for example, be allowed use a clubhouse in a traditional stronghold like Mayo? I honestly don't think so. And rightly so.

3inarow08 (Kerry) - Posts: 2455 - 19/08/2009 14:44:37    397103

Yawn..save me the guilt trip trileacman... either Ulster GAA teams are part of the GAA and follow the GAA rules or they are not.

bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4649 - 19/08/2009 14:46:06    397108