Paul Rouse: GAA must do more to stand against cowards who claim the tricolour for exclusion

The Association's capacity to bind communities together is vital in a changing Ireland.

Flags flutter in the wind beside Hill 16 before a championship game this summer. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

There is no surprise in the news that the GAA is again moving to amend a rule which says that the gear worn by its players is “of Irish manufacture”.

Rule 1.14 currently reads: “All jerseys, shorts, stockings, tracksuits (tops and bottoms) and kitbags, worn and/or used for official matches, in pre-match or post-match television or video interviews, player walk-ups and photographs, shall be of Irish manufacture. This requirement shall also apply to replica playing gear.” The idea that this rule exposes the GAA to a multi-million euro fine under EU competition law is not a new one and the proposed amendment would see the words “of Irish manufacture” replaced with “manufactured by a GAA licensed kit manufacturer”.