‘Big Society’ plan fails to sway small minds in Stormont

ONE of the biggest secrets in the western political world is that the British Prime Minister David Cameron is a GAA fanatic.

In fact, it’s fair to say he’s totally evangelical about Cumann Luthchleas Gael.

Cameron’s secret is so secret that he’s not even aware of his deep-seated devotion to the GAA. But, there is no doubt that if Cameron had the faintest idea of what the GAA was, then he would be a card-carrying member.

If you’re not convinced, take a look at ‘The Big Society’ idea that Cameron has struggled and failed to sell to the British public. Unlike the British electorate, GAA members have absolutely no problem understanding the basic tenets of ‘The Big Society’.

Some of the objectives of the ‘Big Society’ are to: 1) give communities more power; 2) encourage people to take an active role in their communities; and 3) to support co-ops, charities and social enterprises.

Essentially, Cameron wants community organisations to become more autonomous. Instead of being driven by policies drafted by bureaucrats, and funded by the public purse, he wants local groups to respond to local needs.

It says something about British society that few people have a clue about what Cameron’s ‘Big Society’ is about.

In contrast, we in Ireland understand what Cameron is on about because we have the ideal reference point. ‘The Big Society’ is basically the GAA in action. On paper, the GAA is a sporting and cultural organisation that aims to promote Gaelic games and pastimes. In reality, its influence stretches far beyond that remit.

Take a county like Tyrone. Anyone who was at the wake or funeral of Michaela McAreavy would have noticed the active role taken by the Errigal Ciaran club and the Tyrone County Board. From early morning to late at night, members from Errigal Ciaran took charge of the logistics involved in ferrying thousands of people up and down a small country road.

A situation that could have created traffic mayhem was run with seamless precision.

In the GAA, we take it for granted that members from the local club will lend its assistance during a wake or funeral.

It’s so commonplace, we don’t think about it. Yet, we would need to remind ourselves that such activities have got nothing to do with the GAA.

Consider also the 120-mile bike ride completed by 160 members of the Killyclogher/Cappagh GAA club in Tyrone from Croke Park back to the outskirts of Omagh. Everyone was kitted out in the same gear. Months of hard-work and practice went into organising the event, which raised funds for the local club.

But as one member who took part in the event said: “It was about so much more than fundraising. It brought together so many people.

“They learned that their club is about so much more than playing football. Everyone that was involved could not help but be touched by the unifying effect of this brilliant event.”

In a society that has become increasingly fragmented and where neighbours don’t know each other, David Cameron would endorse an organisation that brings people together through sport but then keeps them together because of the community they find when they get there.

Since their epic trip from Dublin, the Killyclogher club now hosts Sunday morning bike rides. Again, cycling has got nothing to do with the GAA. The same applies to road-runs. Five GAA clubs in Tyrone (Carrickmore, Dromore, Drumragh, Loughmacrory and Greencastle) are hosting 10km road-runs. In these harsh times, the road-run is a cheap fundraiser. There are virtually no overheads so it can be a good moneyspinner while at the same time promoting health and well-being in rural communities.

Like most other counties in Ireland, the GAA lies at the heart of society in Tyrone. Clubs support their communities by supporting themselves. David Cameron can only dream of an organisation like the GAA. For now, it’s just an obscure notion that his advisors and backers are hoping he’ll stop talking about.

But given the contribution that the GAA makes to community life in Tyrone, it would be interesting to discover the British Prime Minister’s reaction to news that Stormont has refused to commit a single penny to the county’s key development plan.

The Garvaghey Project will be the new centre for Tyrone GAA. There will be new pitches, changing rooms, a weights rooms, hurling/camogie walls and a new administrative centre.

It’s going to cost £6.7m (€7.6m). Unlike other bodies that rely on near total government support, the GAA is going to stump up 75% of the cash. The GAA wants the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) to contribute the remaining 25%, which is £1,675,000 (€1.9m).

Tyrone GAA estimates that 20,000 people will use the facilities at Garvaghey every year. It will be the training centre for all men’s and women’s football, camogie, hurling and handball. Schools and clubs will also use the pitches. It lies at the very heart of the community. It is the Big Society.

David Cameron would surely approve. Unfortunately for Tyrone, the big vision coming from Westminster isn’t shared by the small minds in Stormont.

Contact: [e-mail]