"Patrons"

[Eamonnca1]

What's all this business about the word "patron" being a new invention? I remember sitting in the old stands of Croke Park on the wooden seats when I was a wee lad and the word "patron" was used by the stadium announcers all the time. I remember it used at Clones, at Casement, throughout the GAA and nobody batted an eyelid and nobody thought ill of it.  Why has it suddenly become a bone of contention? Why have people got such short memories?

[Hardy]

Why have people ... what?

[brokencrossbar1]

Why have people ... what?

[JHume]

I always thought it was short for patronise.