GAA keen to embrace unionists, MLAs told

The GAA wants to reach out to unionists, an official said today.

Ulster Secretary Danny Murphy told a group of Assembly members that his organisation was working tirelessly to attract those alienated by the body’s nationalist ethos.

He was giving evidence to the Assembly’s sport committee today as part of its inquiry into the health of outdoor pursuits here.

“I believe that there’s an imperative on us as an organisation to work with the unionist community and to assist them where we can assist them regardless of whether they want to be active in our organisation,” he said.

“The GAA is non party political and non-sectarian.

“I believe very fundamentally that if we are going to build a more stable community... that if we can work together.. we have to make sure it does work.”

He was questioned on parts of the GAA’s constitution enshrining its commitment to a united Ireland.

Nelson McCausland (DUP, North Belfast) said: “It is quite clear that Gaelic games under the GAA auspices are open to people who may be Protestant but it’s this issue of people who are unionist.

“It says in the constitution that if you join the club you have to be committed to the rules so a unionist could not sign up to that.”

The GAA lifted a ban on members of the security forces playing in 2001 and in 2005 repealed controversial Rule 42 preventing “foreign” sports like football or rugby from being played at its grounds.

However, in 2006, controversy arose over the use of Casement Park GAA stadium in west Belfast for a republican rally commemorating the 1981 hunger strike, addressed by Gerry Adams and Sinn Féin chairperson Mary Lou McDonald.

The GAA Central Council in Dublin said that the rally was a breach of the organisation’s rules forbidding political events; however the Antrim County Board ignored this ruling and the rally went ahead.

At the time the DUP accused the GAA of attempting to politicise sport, a charge denied by the organisers.