GAA should copy FAI dress sense

THE FAI should be commended for its announcement that the original version of the country’s name, Éire, should be featured on international jerseys during the forthcoming World Cup campaign.

It is a small but significant step in promoting the Irish language and a prouder sense of Irish identity among supporters of the international team.

I look forward to the day when the shirt will be worn with pride as the team goes from strength to strength under its new manager.

It is a little ironic that the administrators of this so-called foreign game are leading the way for the GAA in this regard.

When our GAA heroes took to the field last year during the controversial International Rules series with Australia, they did so wearing a jersey which didn’t include one word of Irish.

The GAA, at a national level, is not alone behind the play with the FAI but also with county and club teams which mostly include the name of the team as Gaeilge on their shirts.

In other Celtic countries such as Wales and Scotland, sporting administrators are paying due respects to the national cultures by featuring the name of the respective countries on their international shirts in rugby and soccer, Alba for Scotland and Cymru for Wales.

They reap the dividend with increased sales for the jersey and it doesn’t seem to have done their sporting prowess much harm either. This is a win-win situation for the GAA. It’s long past time the international jersey was redesigned for the mooted resumption of the International Rules series next year and a decision to feature the Irish version of the name of the country would be welcomed not alone for its symbolic value, but also for its cultural and commercial value.

I have previously highlighted the failure of the GAA to reach an accommodation with TG4 which would allow the Irish language station to broadcast the All-Ireland championships live and as Gaeilge.

As far as I can gather, this failure was down to purely mercenary reasons. If I can’t appeal to the patriotic nature of the GAA, then perhaps this should be directed to their business brain. This proposal is inexpensive to implement and has revenue-earning potential way beyond the expense incurred.

The Irish language is becoming more and more popular thanks to Gaelscoileanna, Gael Taca and TG4 and, not least, the efforts of our GAA heroes such as the Ó hAilpíns and the Ó Sé’s.

Until such time as the GAA and Irish rugby administrators at national level catch up with the FAI on this issue, neither my children nor I will bepurchasing the GAA or rugby jerseys of our country.

Concubhar Ó Liatháin

Cúil Aodha

Co Chorcaí