Granuaile club explain objection to British army team participation

Granuaile hurling club have revealed why they objected to the British army entering a team into the London GAA championship. Their explanation follows calls from the club to overturn the affiliation of The Irish Guards — since renamed Naomh Padraig.

In a letter, the club rejected the accusation that their proposal was motivated by politics, instead stating that the admission of the British army team violated the GAA’s community ethos and bent association rules.

“Granuaile Hurling Club believe in the principle that the Gaelic Athletic Association is a community-based organisation and as such is against the affiliation of work-based clubs. These existing structures recognise work-based units/clubs should not compete in the same structures as community-based clubs and this is acknowledged by two such diverse organisations as the British army and the Gaelic Athletic Association. Based on this recognised approach how can London GAA accept this affiliation request?”