Don’t forget the GAA

Ireland’s spectacular Six Nations victory over France in Paris and the equally spectacular solo display by Brian O’Driscoll in his final international appearance will long be remembered in Irish and international sporting history.

Don’t forget the GAA

The plaudits being showered on Ireland’s rugby team and on Brian O’Driscoll in particular have been well earned. However, we should not lose sight of the fact that these players are highly paid full-time professionals. This is their paid chosen profession.

On St Patrick’s Day in Croke Park, just two day’s after Ireland’s rugby victory over the French, four GAA teams contested the All-Ireland club hurling and football finals. Despite the amateur status of both these codes, those in attendance at Croke Park and those watching on TV were treated to spectacular displays of sporting skills. For generations, the GAA in villages, towns and cities, exclusively on the premise of volunteer participation, turned the GAA into one of the world’s largest and most successful amateur sporting organisations. They are true sporting heroes.

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