Anniversary celebrations show how far GAA has come

THE GAA was incelebratory mood last weekend and was itself widely celebrated.

It was nice to hear every news bulletin on radio and television refer to the historic 125th birthday on Sunday while many newspapers, including the Irish Examiner, wrote complimentary and reflective editorials on the GAA’s contribution to Irish society and its example as a modern democratic voluntary organisation.

It has even been suggested that the running of the country should be handed over to the GAA. Now that’s not a bad idea – I wonder would I have any chance of a cabinet seat if that happened!! TG4 gave over their entire programming on Sunday to the GAA. This was remarkable and a wonderful tribute to the GAA by our Irish language station. TG4 has boldly gone and bravely carved out a niche for themselves in the highly competitive TV stakes by sheer hard work, genuine enterprise and refreshing creativity rather than by going down the much easier and probably more lucrative route of facile imitation and cheap importation.