GAA president challenged on drinks sponsor
Mr Kelly's latest statement is so vacuous it's impossible to deal seriously with it in limited space.
He suggests that the sponsorship money could "be used... to alleviate the scourge of excessive drinking"; that the GAA "would be wimps to refuse such sponsorship, and that would be very disloyal" ... and "we fully recognise the responsibility that we carry in relation to the matter".
Is the man being facetious?
Rather than deal with such fallacies I wish to address the core issue and to summarise two points that I put to him last May. He has not yet found it convenient to reply to me.
Mr Kelly seems to have forgotten that he is the leader of a splendid and unique association whose charter has constantly professed a commitment to the welfare of the people of Ireland. Has he forgotten what these words imply?
I reminded him of them in the press a year ago; but without avail.
May I tempt him with another, unanswered challenge?
This is based on the notion of responsibility, a concept which the president has actually paraded in his latest statement. Overuse of alcohol is a social evil and sponsorship by alcohol firms promotes that overuse. The GAA is engaged in such sponsorship and, consequently, is not acting responsibly. Can the president answer this challenge?
If he continues to evade my challenge let your readers, including his boasted (but unsubstantiated) majority, be the jury.
If I am not mistaken there is a real majority among genuine GAA members parents and others who can see what is happening in our society and who agree with me that this scandal must be stopped.
Leon Ó Morcháin,
Cluain Cearban,
Co Mhuigheo.
