Dawn breaks on ‘a new GAA’
He said the association was very different now from the one which 34 years ago in Belfast accepted that the ban on playing and attendance ‘foreign games’ had outlived its usefulness.
“It’s hard to compare because times are different,” claimed Mr Mulvihill. “But the GAA has changed an awful lot over that period. We’re not really talking about the same GAA anymore.”
“That was very obvious from the (weekend) debate. You could see the gulf between the GAA that some delegates understand and the one others see it to be. That’s a fact we have to come to terms with.”
President-elect Nicky Brennan expressed a similar view, while saying that the ideals of those who opposed the change were ‘not going to be any less’. “They may be marginally different because they can still hold the traditional ideals, but life changes and people’s views of the world is changing. Today’s decision is perhaps an expression of how a newer generation of people perhaps are thinking.”
In Mr Mulvihill’s view the ‘preparation’ that had gone into the Rule 42 campaign throughout the country had been ‘a very democratic exercise.’
“The clubs spoke and had their say. Most people were slightly surprised at the extent of the majority in the end, but I thought it might be slightly greater, that there might be a last-minute move on the part of people who felt that there was an inevitability about the vote.”
On the eve of Congress he ‘sensed’ that a lot of people believed Rule 42 wasn’t the most important matter on the agenda, that it made sense to reach finality on the matter and get on to ‘the next business.’
Kerry chairman Sean Walsh articulated that view. “Rule 42 has been a distraction. We’ve elected a president and there was hardly any talk about it for the last two weeks. We should have been focusing on their issues and how they were going to lead the association. But the association had got totally wrapped up in Rule 42 - all we were doing was moving power from Congress to Central Council. It wasn’t a big issue at all,” he explained.
Mr Mulvihill has no fears that the issue will create problems for the association, feeling the debate had been handled ‘very sensitively’. “Everybody had the opportunity to have their say. There were strong opinions expressed, but it never got personal and it never got rancorous. It was never in any way divisive. I would be very confident there won’t be any fallout of that sort at all from that point of view.”
While accepting that the image of the GAA could have suffered if Congress had taken a different view, he feels the goodwill they have earned will last long. “It will be forgotten when some other decision is taken. But we are well used to the ups and downs and I wouldn’t be jumping to any conclusions yet that we will become the darlings of the media or anything like that. It will take more than one decision to change our image.
“The important thing was that people just came to the conclusion that Croke Park was a special case, that they were prepared to change the rule to accommodate a situation with regard to Croke Park and it was done in a very practical way. So be it. Next business. We move on.
“Obviously there will be tactical issues down along the line in terms of the conditions under which the stadium will be made available, what the charges are etc., and other people will have big decisions to take at that stage. But, they (the other sports) will find that Croke Park isn’t going to be a cheap place to use and they’ll earn whatever they make from using it here.”
Former president Pat Fanning is not ‘all that certain’ that Croke Park will open to rugby and soccer, explaining: “When confronted with the demands of the people who might wish to come in, and when they are confronted with our conditions, we could have egg on our face,” he said.
“We have made it possible to open Croke Park without realising either the terms on which we will open it or the consequences of opening. As far as living with the thing, we will adapt as we have adapted in the past. It is true to say that there are strong feelings on both sides and I feel a principle has been sacrificed on the alter of expediency. But the decision has been taken and it won’t affect my loyalty to the association.”
Sports Minister John O’Donoghue yesterday recognised the concerns of people like Mr Fanning while at the same time welcoming the decision.
“Within GAA, irrespective of positions which people hold, there is a great deal of integrity and a great deal of understanding in relation to the manner in which Irish life should advance. And, if it’s integrity you want, you’ll find it within the GAA.
“Looking at Croke Park, you are reminded of the enormity of the effort which went into achieving the goal. Yes the Government contributed its share as did the GAA, but above all else the men and the women of the association in the clubs right across the country made the largest contribution of all. This in the final analysis, is their pride and joy.
“The future of the association is secure because it recognises more than anybody else that it is not a self-serving organisation. It’s an association which serves and works for and nurtures the young people of Ireland. And, irrespective of views held on one side or an argument or the other, let this much be said: many of those who held an alternative view are the people who gave most to the association.”
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