All-Ireland medals not what they used to be

THE GAA executive, allegedly on the advice of marketing consultants, last year decided to denationalise its All-Ireland medals for hurling and football by omitting the replica of the national sovereign seal from them.

The first to receive the denationalised new all-Ireland medals were the magnificent Kilkenny hurling team, perhaps the greatest hurling team in the 125 years of the GAA. The unsolicited change of design of the All-Ireland medals and the secrecy surrounding the decision must pose grave doubts about the quality of transparency and democracy existing within the GAA for its members at club, division, county board and provincial council level on such a key and fundamental change that led to the exclusion of the replica of the sovereign seal of the Irish nation from the most revered medals in Irish sport.

Has the GAA actively begun to shred its shroud of national heritage and culture, as well as reducing its dependence on volunteerism and its amateur status, in pursuit of its growing commercial interests.

What concerns me most of all is the exclusive groupings it has created at executive level and upon whom it has bestowed exceptional decision-making powers.

In its 125th year, the GAA has achieved much and has a major role to play in the future provided it does not continue to exclude its membership from decision-making, especially on fundamental issues such as excluding the sovereign seal from its All-Ireland medals and lose its main focus to commercial interests at the expense of its national ideals and objectives.

I wish the GAA well and congratulate it on its achievements from its beginning in Thurles to the premier position it has and still enjoys in Irish sport

John J Hassett

Croke Street

Thurles

Co Tipperary