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Nationalism and community relations[edit]

Nationalism[edit]

The speed of the association's early growth was attributed to its role as part of the larger Gaelic cultural revival which was closely associated with Irish nationalism.[1][2][3][4][5] Michael Cusack, one of the leading founders of the GAA, stated that he wished to ‘nationalise and democratise sport in Ireland’[6], and to revive and promote Gaelic Ireland whilst discourgaing anglicisation.[6]

The GAA's nationalist aspect was further enhanced upon its creation with the appointment of Charles Stewart Parnell, leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party, and Michael Davitt, head of the Land League, to become patrons of the association,[6] whilst the nationalist MP, William O'Brien, offered to provide space for weekly articles and notices within his newspaper, United Ireland.[6] In its early years the association was infiltrated by the Irish Republican Brotherhood, whose members rose to prominent positions such as president and chariman, with them eventually gaining control of the associations central executive in 1887.[6]

Divisions between constitutional and revoluntionary nationalism came to the fore in the association and the politicisation of the GAA was reflected in the naming of clubs indicating support for either the Irish Parliamentary Party or the Fenians, for example: the Parnells, the Davitts, the Ballina Stephenites, and the Kickhams.[6] However, IRB dominance within the GAA central executive came to an end on 4 January 1888, when they were outnumbered and ousted from the organisation, and saw them going underground.[6]

Unionist alienation[edit]

After Ireland was partitioned, the GAA’s nationalist ethos secured support amongst the Catholic and nationalist community in Northern Ireland, but also opposition within the unionist community which led to Protestants being under-represented in Gaelic games in Ulster. Since then, while the GAA's tendency towards overt nationalism has waned, [7] some practices still remain in place which raise concerns in Northern Ireland [8] where the Protestant unionist population still largely considers itself excluded from the games by a political ethos[9][10][11] despite rules that prohibit sectarianism or involvement in party politics.[12] The flag of the Republic of Ireland is flown and Amhrán na bhFiann, the national anthem of the Republic, is played at matches in Northern Ireland as well as in the Republic. Some GAA grounds, clubs, competitions and trophies are named after nationalists or republicans, such as Sam Maguire, Seán Treacy, Theobald Wolfe Tone, and more recently Kevin Lynch.[13][14][15][16]

Suspected associations between GAA members and republicans are also said to have deepened mistrust.[17][18] Two incidents of hunger strike commemorations on GAA grounds drew criticism from unionists, even though these incidents violated the GAA's rules.[19][20][21][22] Other critics point out that the "Parish rule" can appear to align the GAA with the Roman Catholic church and others point to protectionist rules such as Rule 42 which prohibits competing, chiefly British, sports (referred to by some as "garrison games"[23][24][25] or foreign sports) from GAA grounds.

As a result, the GAA became a target for loyalist paramilitaries during the Troubles when a number of GAA supporters were killed and clubhouses damaged.[26][27] As the profile of Gaelic football has been raised in Ulster so too has there been an increase in the number of sectarian attacks on Gaelic clubs in Northern Ireland.[28]

Cross-community outreach in Ulster[edit]

The GAA points out the role of members of minority religions in the association throughout its history. For example the Protestant Jack Boothman was president of the organisation from 1993 to 1997, while Sam Maguire was a Church of Ireland member. Nonetheless, to address concerns of unionists, the GAA's Ulster Council has embarked on a number of initiatives aimed at making the association and Gaelic games more accessible to northern Protestants. In November 2008 the council launched a Community Development Unit which is responsible for "Diversity and Community Outreach initiatives".[29] The Cúchulainn Initiative is a cross-community program aimed at establishing teams consisting of Catholic and Protestant schoolchildren with no prior playing experience.[30] Cross-community teams such as the Belfast Cuchulainn under-16 hurling team have been established and gone on to compete at the Continental Youth Championship in America.[30] Similar hurling and Gaelic football teams have since emerged in Armagh, Fermanagh, Limavady.[31]

The ‘Game of three halves’ cross-community coaching initiative was established in predominantly Protestant east Belfast in 2006. Organised through Knock Presbyterian Church, this scheme brings GAA coaches to work alongside their soccer and rugby counterparts to involve primary school children at summer coaching camps.[32][33] The Ulster Council is also establishing cross-community football and hurling teams in schools and is developing links with the Ulster-Scots Agency and the Church of Ireland.[33] The Council has also undertaken a series of meetings with political parties and community groups who would have traditionally have had no involvement in the GAA.[33]

Other community outreach[edit]

In January 2011 President Mary McAleese announced the launch of an island-wide project called the GAA Social Initiative. This aims to address the problem of isolation in rural areas where older people have limited engagement with the community.[34] The initiative was later expanded by teaming up with the Irish Farmers Association to integrate that organisation's volunteers into the initiative.[35]

  1. ^ Bairner, Alan (2001). Sport, Nationalism and Globalization. Albany: State University of New York Press. p. 78.
  2. ^ English, Richard (2007). Irish Freedom: The History of Nationalism in Ireland. Pan Books. pp. 227–231. ISBN 9780330427593.
  3. ^ Connolly, S. J. (2007). Oxford Companion to Irish History (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 222–226. ISBN 9780199234837.
  4. ^ R. Holt (1992), Sport and the British: a modern history, p. 240, Oxford. Cited in Garnham, N: Association Football and society in pre-partition Ireland, page 135. Ulster Historical Foundation, 2004
  5. ^ Garnham, N: Association Football and society in pre-partition Ireland, page 134. Ulster Historical Foundation, 2004
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Cite error: The named reference Cusack was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Moran, Sean (March 23rd, 2011). "GAA wary of starting on rocky road to change". Irish Times. Retrieved March 23rd, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  8. ^ "Sport and Community Relations in Northern Ireland". Retrieved 2008-07-28.
  9. ^ Cronin, M. (2000). "Catholics and Sport in Northern Ireland: Exclusiveness or Inclusiveness?" (PDF). 'International Sports Studies', Volume 22, Number 1, 2000. pp. 26, 33–34.
  10. ^ John Sugden and Scott Harvie (1995). "Sport and Community Relations in Northern Ireland". Centre for the Study of Conflict. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
  11. ^ Sugden, J (1995). Retrieved 18-09-2009. Sport, Community Relations and Community Conflict in Northern Ireland. London: McMillan Press Ltd. p. 203. {{cite book}}: Check |url= value (help); Text "in Seamus Dunn (ed) Facets of the Conflict in Northern Ireland." ignored (help)
  12. ^ ""The Association shall be non-[[sectarian]]." Official guide 2003" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-03-03. {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  13. ^ Sugden, 1995, p.203
  14. ^ "A History Of Sam Maguire". Retrieved 2007-04-30.
  15. ^ "Rebel GAA, Sam Maguire". Retrieved 2007-04-30.
  16. ^ . Sunday Tribune. 20th September 2009 Instant Expert ... Sam Maguire http://www.tribune.ie/archive/article/2009/sep/20/instant-expert-sam-maguire/ Instant Expert ... Sam Maguire. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. ^ Dr Martin Melaugh. "Sugden Harvie report". Cain.ulst.ac.uk. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
  18. ^ "Sectarianism in Sport in Northern Ireland Research Paper 26/01 para 2.7" (PDF). Northern Ireland Assembly, Research and library Service, October 2001.
  19. ^ Sugden (1995), p.203)
  20. ^ "Stadium rally 'politicised sport'". BBC News. 2006-08-14. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
  21. ^ "McCausland slams H-Block event". BBC News. 2009-08-18. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
  22. ^ "Probe call into republican event". BBC News. 2009-08-20. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
  23. ^ "A long way from Dublin's bloody past". BBC News. 2007-02-03. Retrieved 2010-05-03.
  24. ^ Paul Ward (2004), Britishness since 1870. p. 79, London: Routledge
  25. ^ Tim Pat Coogan (2000), Wherever the Green Is Worn, p.179. New York:Palgrave.
  26. ^ "CAIN: Chronology of the Conflict 1991". Retrieved 2008-03-03.
  27. ^ "CAIN: Chronology of the Conflict 1997". Retrieved 2008-03-03.
  28. ^ Dr Martin Melaugh. "Sugden Harvie report, section 1.5.2". Cain.ulst.ac.uk. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
  29. ^ "Ulster Council to launch new strategic unit". The Irish News. 11 November 2008. p. 42. Retrieved 11 November 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |curly= ignored (help)
  30. ^ a b "Ulster GAA annual report published". Retrieved 2011-02-28.
  31. ^ "McAleese honours GAA team". UTV. 2010-10-25. Retrieved 2011-02-28.
  32. ^ "Ulster GAA Club & Community Development Conference - 15 November 2008". 2008-11-15. Retrieved 2011-02-28.
  33. ^ a b c "Council making plans". The Irish News. 2008-10-21. p. 44. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
  34. ^ John O'Brien (2011-02-20). "No more hiding places in the battle against rural isolation". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  35. ^ "GAA Social Initiative to Expand with Stronger Links Between IFA and GAA". Irish Farmers Association. 2011-03-02. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
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