The new all-inclusive GAA knows how to win young hearts and minds

AS there’s a shortage of bread (money) in Ireland at present we may as well enjoy whatever circuses are presented to us. Let’s be thankful therefore for having the GAA.

There was plenty of cribbing before last Saturday evening’s start to the 125th birthday celebrations of the association because of the cost of the fireworks and lighting display and other associated events at the Croke Park national football league match between Dublin and Tyrone.

The critics were silenced by the pyrotechnic display and all of the 72,000 people in the stadium on that cold night were enthralled by what they saw, as was the TV audience on Setanta. Even better, they enjoyed a cracking game of football beforehand.