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Will the removal of the anthem and flag from GAA games encourage an influx of northern protestants to take up the sport?
Id argue that some would, most wouldn't. Most would still find fault and an excuse not to play. Most still see the GAA as the IRA at play. I'm not sure if that perception will ever change.

So is there a benefit to the GAA community, as we are now, for the removal of the flag and anthem?

Some are saying it is outdated/ not with the times/ a worn out novelty.

For me I've stood on the pitch facing the tricolour with clubmates & county mates in big matches with the anthem playing and the hairs just stand up on the back of my neck and a lump forms in my throat.
So, for me, I would miss them if they were removed.

So if we can't recruit every single northern Protestant them we shouldn't bother trying to attract any of them? Why does it have to be all or nothing?

There are legitimate arguments to be had on both sides of this. I can understand why people would argue that the GAA is a nationalist organization and shouldn't be ashamed of it. That's a well-intentioned sentiment, but keeping divisive symbolism is ultimately self-defeating. If you want to keep such an exclusive identity then knock yourself out, but don't be surprised if your growth is limited because only a certain type of person wants to join in with the games. But if we want more people to play the games and want them to appreciate Irish culture, then you have to give some serious thought to the way the organization is perceived and consider the possibility of making it more accessible.

A lot of people seem to be missing the distinction between politics and culture here, which is unsurprising given the way culture has been weaponized for years. There are northern protestants who clearly don't want to get involved with the politics of Irish nationalism, but on the other hand they would have an interest in the culture of the country. If we don't reach out to them and make some sort of gesture then we're missing an opportunity.

The thing about politics is it's not one of those topics you bring up in polite company, because as soon as you declare your allegiance then you've just alienated half the people in the room. For the GAA to effectively do the same thing and alienate half the people in the north  doesn't make a whole lot of sense. 

The people who wave the tricolour the most always seem to be the people who understand its meaning the least. Particularly the orange part.

Eamonnca1
If we removed the flag and anthem from our games, unionist would accuse the GAA of trying to lure unionists toward a United Ireland. I think Jarlath know that himself

There's no winning with them. They appear to just want to get us to jump through hoops (if they could) for the sheer enjoyment of it all.

And I say again that there are nuances within unionism. Some of them will display the attitude that you describe, others will be appreciative and will feel more inclined to get involved with the GAA.

Here's the best part. The people who would prefer to keep the anthem and flag as it is are the same people who most fervently want a united Ireland.

To achieve a united Ireland you need to convince a majority in the north to go for it.

To convince a majority in the north to go for it means getting a critical mass of moderate northern Protestants on board.

Getting a critical mass of moderate northern Protestants on board means making them more comfortable with Irish culture do it doesn't feel foreign or hostile to them.

Getting them more comfortable with Irish culture means making it more accessible to them through gestures like the one Jarlath proposes.

So the ones going on about how we should stick to the status quo are advocating a course that makes Irish unity less likely and more difficult to achieve.

I knew the PC brigade would be on to this article - falling over themselves to try accommodate the likes of Tom Elliott.

If anything why doesn't the rugby team remove the anthem and the flag. Can't really claim to be Irish playing a British sport. And as for their cringeworthy fans belting out the national anthem...

I stopped reading at "PC brigade."

Bomber - you've overtaken Fearon as the worst poster on this place.

Just take a second to think about that

That's below the belt.

Of course there are hardliners in unionism who'll never attend a GAA match no matter what. But there are plenty of moderates who will. The fact that protestant parents let their children partake in the cross-community Cu Chullain hurling teams should be proof of that. Do we give up on the moderates because extremists exist?

Sport is war without arms.. discuss.

Sport and politics have always been linked. It's a known fact.

Feck the lot of them.

Perfectly sums up the attitude of many people in our midst. No interest in building bridges, no interest in inclusiveness, no interest in persuasion, no interest in reconciliation. Their idea of trying to reunite the country is by waving the tricolour and shouting Tiocfaidh ár la. But bringing northern protestants on board to make it actually happen? Forget it.

I'd love to see Frank visiting Armagh just to get up the noses of certain planters! I wonder if they'd riot.

The GAA should not introduce partition, that should be a core value in the organisation.

They use Euros in the south and Sterling in the north. Is that introducing partition?

All sporting organisations in the North should drop National flags and anthems.
Neither are necessary to play any sport.

The GAA is a national organisation. Should we in the South drop our flags and anthems? Or maybe we should all sing along to Ireland's Call? That'll get the Unionists on board...

Flags and anthems are a tad less controversial in the free state than they are in the north.

I would imagine the Irish Guards didn't have the same insurance issues. Sounds to me like your anger is being directed to the wrong place. Work with the insurance companies and get it sorted out. No need to air your dirty laundry in public like this.

The Irish Guards clearly increase the likelihood of some sort of political stuff. There are two unrelated issues being conflated here, but there the OP has no "dirty laundry", it is is a legitimate question.

It's an internal matter for our organization. Going public with this sort of thing is the wrong way to go about it. Work with the higher-ups, address their concerns, work the problem, and get it straightened out.

I would imagine the Irish Guards didn't have the same insurance issues. Sounds to me like your anger is being directed to the wrong place. Work with the insurance companies and get it sorted out. No need to air your dirty laundry in public like this.