Eimear Ryan: Rural or urban, GAA folk are cut from the same fabric

Since transferring clubs, I’ve become highly conscious of the little differences between urban and rural clubs, writes Eimear Ryan.

Pic: Sport Minister Shane Ross with Patrick O’Donovan TD, who were joined by, from left, Camogie Association CEO Joan O’Flynn, Monaghan footballer Ellen McCarron, Kilkenny camogie player Edwina Keane, Sinead McNulty from Dublin IT, Meath footballer Niamh Lister, and LGFA president Marie Hickey, at the announcement funding to the value of €428,000 will be provided to adult inter-county camogie and Ladies Gaelic Football teams in the coming weeks. Picture: Matt Browne/Sportsfile

We’re an emotive bunch in the GAA. We exist in a tribal system where county allegiance isn’t chosen, but designated at birth. We take pride in the fact that our game is among the oldest and fastest of all sports. We tell ourselves myths about the prowess of hurlers and heroic on-field exploits, even codding ourselves that Cuchulainn himself was a hurler.