Joe Brolly: How I faced down IRA man who branded me a traitor

[theskull1]

Imagine rugby authorities telling New Zealand that they had to stop the haka as other teams considered it intimidatory? There are some things that are just part and parcel of the occasion. Get over it I say...its not what our games are about but its part of us just the same.

[Maguire01]

 
Coming from a small rural club in a very strong Unionist/Protestant area, we continually struggle for numbers and at one stage a few years ago considered folding .Thankfully we are now a stronger club fluctuating between Junior and Intermediate.
At best we are tolerated by our protestant neighbours ,at worst extreme violence used against us, club house burnt down, members shot etc etc my own cousins dead and so on .

That was in the past and since the noughties onwards we have enjoyed relative peace . Our club has flourished and we have grounds to be proud of. What kept us together was our love of the sport(Football ,Hurling) the culture(Scor ,Irish Language etc) and our national identity. To us the club was not just a game of football, it was and still is, a strong source of national identity .

At championship games we fly the tricolour and play the national anthem and when it's played I as a chairman am so proud to know that after all the trouble and strife  we are still here.  I want to move forward , I want my neighbours playing our games but do I want to sacrifice my flag, my anthem? No definitely not, no more that I want the Unionists to abandon their sashes on the twelfth to please me . I accept what they are .It doesn't bother me at all. They shouldn't have to refine or redefine who they are . I might not like certain aspects but don't go changing it on my account. Similarly don't ask the GAA to waterdown our culture to make it acceptable to a minority.

Take me for what I am or not at all.
It reminds of a meeting I went  to in Armagh a good number of years ago set up by the bishops to make St Patricks Day more inclusive of both communities.  The Protestant representatives  proposal was not to have any green on display. No green bunting etc.Needless to say it was rejected and today the parade in Armagh is a huge success participated in by both cultures Ulster Scotch and Irish and more green than the New York Parade . We should learn to embrace each others culture and  not to become offended by it and dilute it. We are the guardians and custodians of our culture  not just the owners.
When our new facilities opened a few years back the then Galway Chairman came up with their county team and on looking at our history in pictures on a wall said our club more than anything else made him so proud to be Irish and GAA.   
My club is there for all to join. I can't join the Orange order even if I wanted to but I still respect their Britishness. To ask me to change our club name  ,remove our Anthem , take down our flag , remove the Irish name plates on all the doors all in the cause of inclusivity smacks of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

I don't think it's in any way appropriate to be equating the GAA with the Orange Order. It's not much of a benchmark to set ourselves. And you can't compare the prospect of a protestant joining the GAA with a Catholic joining the OO.

The last line too - I don't see why anyone would have valid grounds to argue against the Irish language. That is something that should be open to all, regardless of political persuasion.

[general_lee]

Rionach I am fairly certain of what club you are a member of. In many ways your club epitomises the importance of the GAA and you and your clubmates are to be commended for continuing to keep the games alive in your area especially against such adversity - but I ask you this: if you could have 5-10 guaranteed extra players at each age group pull on your club jersey, would you still not sacrifice the flag and anthem?

Really? Did you read his post?

I did yeah.

Just find it hard to comprehend, if it is the club I'm thinking of.

I know if my own club could have an extra 5-10 u21s, minors, u16s etc I'd gladly give up flag and anthem.

Do you really reckon that by giving up a flag that 5-10 extra lads from the Unionist community would join the club at every age group? Are you suggesting that there's the guts of 35/40 young Protestants kids ready and waiting to join the club? The question has to be asked then. If these lads are so keen to play the game but are put off by a flag and an anthem, why do you think flag and anthem should be more important to their beliefs than the beliefs of the home club?

By the way, I think Rionach's post was one of the most fair minded and honest posts I've read on here for a long time and wish his club all the best.

It was a hypothetical question Benny aimed at someone whose club has been on the brink not too long ago; I thought that would have been patently obvious. I am not seriously suggesting there are that many kids from a unionist background waiting in the wings to join this particular GAA club ;but are being held back by the flag and anthem.

It's good though to get the viewpoints of others, my own club would struggle, maybe not to the extent of Rionach's, yet my perspective would be somewhat different. I don't think the absence of flag/anthem would dilute my sport and culture any way whatsoever.

[rionach 4]

 
Coming from a small rural club in a very strong Unionist/Protestant area, we continually struggle for numbers and at one stage a few years ago considered folding .Thankfully we are now a stronger club fluctuating between Junior and Intermediate.
At best we are tolerated by our protestant neighbours ,at worst extreme violence used against us, club house burnt down, members shot etc etc my own cousins dead and so on .

That was in the past and since the noughties onwards we have enjoyed relative peace . Our club has flourished and we have grounds to be proud of. What kept us together was our love of the sport(Football ,Hurling) the culture(Scor ,Irish Language etc) and our national identity. To us the club was not just a game of football, it was and still is, a strong source of national identity .

At championship games we fly the tricolour and play the national anthem and when it's played I as a chairman am so proud to know that after all the trouble and strife  we are still here.  I want to move forward , I want my neighbours playing our games but do I want to sacrifice my flag, my anthem? No definitely not, no more that I want the Unionists to abandon their sashes on the twelfth to please me . I accept what they are .It doesn't bother me at all. They shouldn't have to refine or redefine who they are . I might not like certain aspects but don't go changing it on my account. Similarly don't ask the GAA to waterdown our culture to make it acceptable to a minority.

Take me for what I am or not at all.
It reminds of a meeting I went  to in Armagh a good number of years ago set up by the bishops to make St Patricks Day more inclusive of both communities.  The Protestant representatives  proposal was not to have any green on display. No green bunting etc.Needless to say it was rejected and today the parade in Armagh is a huge success participated in by both cultures Ulster Scotch and Irish and more green than the New York Parade . We should learn to embrace each others culture and  not to become offended by it and dilute it. We are the guardians and custodians of our culture  not just the owners.
When our new facilities opened a few years back the then Galway Chairman came up with their county team and on looking at our history in pictures on a wall said our club more than anything else made him so proud to be Irish and GAA.   
My club is there for all to join. I can't join the Orange order even if I wanted to but I still respect their Britishness. To ask me to change our club name  ,remove our Anthem , take down our flag , remove the Irish name plates on all the doors all in the cause of inclusivity smacks of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

I don't think it's in any way appropriate to be equating the GAA with the Orange Order. It's not much of a benchmark to set ourselves. And you can't compare the prospect of a protestant joining the GAA with a Catholic joining the OO.

The last line too - I don't see why anyone would have valid grounds to argue against the Irish language. That is something that should be open to all, regardless of political persuasion.

It's obvious then that you haven't heard Gregory Campbells   "Currie my Youghurt " rant . Many in the Unionist community see the Irish language as a further extension of nationalists trying to impose their identity on them. Go to stormont or any council meeting to hear them snigger and scoff when Irish is used. The point I was making with the OO  is if it's their thing they are welcome to it. It doesn't annoy me. I dont compare them to the GAA .and to emphasise the point I stated that I couldnt join it even if I wanted to.

[Rossfan]

Aren't there a crowd of "loyalists" in East Belfast running ranganna Gaeilge?
I heard some were guests at the AI hurling final.

[rionach 4]

 

Aren't there a crowd of "loyalists" in East Belfast running ranganna Gaeilge?
I heard some were guests at the AI hurling final.

Yes there are and it is led by Dawn Purvis former head of the PUP .
An enlighened group who I met in Donegal at the Gaeltacht this summer.  Unfortunately East Belfast is the domain of Peter Robinson and Dawn mentioned the struggle  to maintain their Ranganna Gaelige in that area.

[Maguire01]

Aren't there a crowd of "loyalists" in East Belfast running ranganna Gaeilge?
I heard some were guests at the AI hurling final.

Yes there are and it is led by Dawn Purvis former head of the PUP .
An enlighened group who I met in Donegal at the Gaeltacht this summer.  Unfortunately East Belfast is the domain of Peter Robinson and Dawn mentioned the struggle  to maintain their Ranganna Gaelige in that area.

Linda Ervine, you mean?

[Orior]

Aren't there a crowd of "loyalists" in East Belfast running ranganna Gaeilge?
I heard some were guests at the AI hurling final.

Yes there are and it is led by Dawn Purvis former head of the PUP .
An enlighened group who I met in Donegal at the Gaeltacht this summer.  Unfortunately East Belfast is the domain of Peter Robinson and Dawn mentioned the struggle  to maintain their Ranganna Gaelige in that area.

Linda Ervine, you mean?

Yes, it is Linda. Met her at a wedding in the summer. Nice lady, and good intentions.

[rionach 4]

Aren't there a crowd of "loyalists" in East Belfast running ranganna Gaeilge?
I heard some were guests at the AI hurling final.

Yes there are and it is led by Dawn Purvis former head of the PUP .
An enlighened group who I met in Donegal at the Gaeltacht this summer.  Unfortunately East Belfast is the domain of Peter Robinson and Dawn mentioned the struggle  to maintain their Ranganna Gaelige in that area.

Linda Ervine, you mean?

Yes, it is Linda. Met her at a wedding in the summer. Nice lady, and good intentions.

Sorry meant Linda Ervine