Kelly: GAA fans won’t treat Donal Óg any differently

By Fiachra O Cionnaith and Niall Murray

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

FORMER GAA president Seán Kelly has insisted Donal Óg Cusack will be as respected as any other player after coming out in his autobiography.

The MEP for Ireland South, who led the Gaelic games organisation between 2003 and 2006, said the Cork hurler’s personal life was a private matter.

However, the Kerryman said that while some people fear Mr Cusack may suffer abuse when he returns to the field, in any right-thinking supporter’s eyes he should continue to be treated the same as any other player.

"The thing I’d say is his private life is his own, it is not anything to do with his sporting life," said Mr Kelly.

"I would expect fans to continue to show him the same support, and respect, as before and in that sense we have already shown in Croke Park that we are an open organisation."

The comment followed a warm reaction from other GAA players, including Seán Óg O hAilpín and Brian Corcoran, who were aware of Mr Cusack’s sexuality – contradicting a continuing silence from the Cork County Board.

Mr Cusack’s decision has also been welcomed by the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD).

The group’s director, Clive Byrne, said the reaction to the news was a sign of a maturing society and would prove vital in addressing homophobic bullying in schools across the country.

"If role models like this are setting a good example, then young people would have enough confidence in recognising their own sexuality.

"If high-profile people come out it becomes more of an accepted norm and the use of the word gay as a pejorative term will be less acceptable," Mr Byrne said.

He added that the NAPD published guidelines for second-level schools last week in conjunction with the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) on what improvements need to be made to support gay students.

The inter-county player’s comments have also received a similarly supportive backing from both GAA and non-GAA fans across the country, with countless messages posted on social networking sites celebrating the goalkeeper’s bravery.

A new fan club site on www.facebook.com in support of the player had been joined by 86 members by last night, all of whom welcomed the 32-year-old’s move.

"He has broken the ultimate taboo in GAA," wrote one poster, a statement which was echoed by Leroy Kehoe, who said the inter-county star had "courage" and should "feel great pride".

The comments were also mirrored on gaycork.com, where in 2006 administrators decided to delete posts after a number of members had attempted to "out" the GAA player.

"We removed the thread [in 2006] as he was not public back then and it would have been totally unfair on him. I have met him and I have to say he is a nice, decent and sound guy," the site administrator explained.

Referring to Mr Cusack, another poster simply wrote: "Hero."

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Tuesday, October 20, 2009