Mother's anger over GAA club's 'IRA medals' for under-12s

[CitySlicker11]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18322046  What do people think of this issue?

[nrico2006]

She has little to be at.

[Tubberman]

There's another thread on it in the non-gaa section.

[screenexile]

She has little to be at.

Why would anyone be happy about their 12 year old child having a picture of an IRA member home with them . . . "Mum look what I won!"

I'd be fucked off too if I were in her position. Apart from that they are the worst looking medals I've ever seen. Completely ill-advised by Galbally you'd think they had more kop on at this stage!!

[magpie seanie]

I thought U-12 was supposed to be non-competitive but here we have medals being presented. Shameful. 

[CitySlicker11]

Was Martin an active playing member for Galbally? I saw this topic as more GAA related than non.

[RadioGAAGAA]

Pretty stupid from the club if you ask me. It certainly does the GAA no favours in appealing to people of a unionist persuasion to consider playing the games. IMO the best chance of a prosperous united Ireland in the future will require much persuasion of unionists that they will not be frozen out or discriminated against. Incidents like this do very little to further that.


Here are some of the rules; which some people may see as conflicting in this instance.



1.2 Basic Aim
The Association is a National Organisation which has as
its basic aim the strengthening of the National Identity
in a 32 County Ireland through the preservation and
promotion of Gaelic Games and pastimes.

1.4 Additional Aims
(a) The Association shall actively support the Irish
language, traditional Irish dancing, music, song,
and other aspects of Irish culture. It shall foster
an awareness and love of the national ideals in
the people of Ireland, and assist in promoting a
community spirit through its clubs.
(b) The Association shall promote its aims amongst
communities abroad through its overseas units.
(c) The Association shall support the promotion of
Camogie and Ladies Gaelic Football.
(d) The Association shall use all practical endeavours
to support Irish Industry especially in relation to
the provision of trophies and playing gear and
equipment.

1.11 Non-Party Political
The Association shall be non-party political. Party political
questions shall not be discussed at its meetings, and no
Committee, Club, Council or representative thereof
shall take part, as such, in any party political movement.
A penalty of up to twenty four weeks suspension may be
imposed for infringement.

1.12 Anti-Sectarian/Anti-Racist
The Association is Anti-Sectarian and Anti-Racist. Any
conduct by deed, word or gesture of a sectarian or racist
nature against any player, official, spectator or anyone else,
in the course of activities organised by the Association,
shall be deemed to have discredited the Association.
Penalty: As prescribed in Rule 7.2(e).

[armaghniac]

Can we not keep this to one thread?

[Hardy]

We could if people like you didn't keep replying to this one.

[armaghniac]

We could if people like you didn't keep replying to this one.

Practice what you preach.

[Hardy]

There you go again. How are we ever going to stop this thread if you keep doing that?

[AZOffaly]

Doing what?

[Croí na hÉireann]

That!

[Wildweasel74]

a tad irresponsible for issuing medals like that to u-12, even if he had previously played for the club, the parents are right to be annoyed as the child and am sure the rest of his team mates will be wondering why they got a medal with someone on it, who was he, what he do, was he a great galbally footballer? how u answer that in relation to Gaelic!its the response from the Tyrone county board is the strange one!! that the parent should have come to them first!! exactly what are they going to do about it!! the county board been limp on discipline in recent years i don't think they would act on this, even now its in the public eye! Just really another excuse to bash Gaelic from the unionist side really and we don't have much of  comeback on it really!!

[Go home ref]

What about all the parents who didn't complain and were quite happy with the medals? Why should the opinion of one woman with too much time on her hands be more important than the opinions of everyone else?