Con Martin, The Ban and the birth of an Irish footballing dynasty

Con Martin with his son Mick and John Giles. Picutre: Brian Lawless 

Seismic shifts don’t always disturb the ground beneath our feet. When the GAA repealed its infamous ban on foreign sports at its Congress in Belfast this week 50 years ago it did so with little in the way of discussion, let alone ruction. Rule 27’s presence was erased from the page in little over 60 seconds.

‘The Ban’ was described at one point as the most wicked and vile of stains upon the nation’s soul. This was long before Ireland awoke to the horrors of Mother and Baby Homes, clerical abuse and so much else, but it seems extraordinary that such an overbearing burden could have been lifted with so little by way of reaction.