Ar Aon Chreideamh Amháin... One of Belief...

[ziggysego]

Ar Aon Chreideamh Amháin...
Of One Belief...

As a group of ordinary GAA people we believe:

The GAA is, and must continue to be, based totally on voluntary
input: nobody in it is obliged to do anything. That's why we're
just as totally opposed to any notion of any grants for any of
our volunteers, on or off the field. Pay-for-play is pay-for-play,
however it's dressed up. It can't be part of the GAA agenda
because in it lies our assured destruction.

• The idea of "striking" in the GAA is nonsense. An immeasurable
volunteer pyramid supports the elite people at the top: we're
honoured to be part of that pyramid which includes, of course,
those who sweep out changing-rooms. If the burdens at the top
are too much, then people should go elsewhere and do other
things. The GAA is about providing relief from drudgery
... not about creating it.

• Paid managers and coaches take more away from the GAA than
they bring to it. We all engage in a bit of hypocrisy here. To rid
ourselves of it we should apply the same eligibility criteria to
coaches and managers as we do to the players in the teams
they oversee and the officers in the Clubs and Counties they do
business with.

• The increasing reliance on complex legal procedures
and on technical legal points - some from very strange sources
- at the heart of our discipline system might look clever, but
it isn't smart. Our GAA is based on integrity. It's about taking
your sanctions from your peers with honour ... not about
fooling yourself (but no one else) on the basis of some obscure
legal point.

• The GAA isn't soap opera. It's vastly more important than that.
That's why we're disappointed in people who publish tittletattle,
just to make money out of it.

• None of us has any right to prevent any of our young
people trying to make a good living at another, professional
code, if they get the chance: we should instead wish them
well at it ... just like we'd wish them well in any career
that might take them away from gaelic games. But as
an Association we should not be developing formal, playing
links with other professional codes. The GAA is about
amateur gaelic games ... not some sort of manufactured
global competitiveness.

• The modern GAA is a pride and joy. After all, we helped build
it. And we're part-owners of it. We're totally proud of what we
have in Croke Park and elsewhere. But we're concerned about
things like pay-per-view and sponsorship being sold to high
bidders, irrespective of whether or not it conflicts with what we
should be promoting as a value-driven Association. "The price
of everything and the value of nothing" wasn't what made the
GAA. But it is what will drag it down.

• Ireland and Tyrone are places of great and increasing
variety. Our GAA needs to continue its good work in terms of
holding out the hand to others. An exclusive, narrow GAA is no
GAA at all.

• We nonetheless are what we are. And we should be proud and
confident about that. The GAA is about gaelic games within an
overall context of "Irishness". Watering that down belittles us all
and patronises those who hold different world views.

• The GAA journey never ends. And on that journey "good
enough" just isn't good enough. There's plenty of work in here
for willing volunteers at all levels!

www.greencastlegaa.com/CreideamhAdvert.pdf

[orangeman]

Congrats to Ziggy - excellent piece.

[ziggysego]

To my knowledge, they are just a group of like-minded GAA people in Tyrone who are channelling their voices against the GPA. Better to protest with one loud voice, than many quiet voices.

[DMarsden]

Well researched and meticulously pieced together idealistic nonsense

[DMarsden]

Why must there be an alternative?

[thebandit]

Excellent stuff Ziggy 

[pintsofguinness]

What's so funny?

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

Why must there be an alternative?

That says it all really, quite pathetic.

Great piece Ziggy.

[Rois]

Good stuff Ziggy

[john mcgill]

Ziggy, thanks for that.  The silent majority is starting to assert itself.

[SouthArmaghBandit]

Have to agree with it all.

[ziggysego]

I must say that I cannot take credit for this. I was asked to bring it to the attention of everyone here on the gaaboard.com

However it is something that I whole heartily agree with and know that the large majority of everyone on this board will too.

[orangeman]

Fair dues to you Ziggy - you can take the credit for it as far as I'm concerned !