12 April 2001 Edition
Foot and ball
BY SEAN î DONAILE
Just when we thought it was safe to disband our Men's Crochet Pattern Groups and return to sanity and the hallowed sward of Jones's Road, Mary Harney had to put her foot in it.
Maybe she was a fine camogie wielder in her day, but to force her media consensus ``aren't we all open minded now'' dictates on the Ga', cannot go unanswered.
Us diehards refused to play the garrison games as youngsters and those before us sent spies to soccer and rugby games to spy on unfortunate Gaels , who were promptly expelled from the GAA, which was at the time seen in some southern areas as one of the bedrocks of Gaelic and pure Catholic Ireland.
Those days are, fortunately, behind us.
It's almost a cliche now to lambast the church as part of our 'backward' past and many in the media deem the GAA as a suitable fellow target.
The GAA has spent vast sums of money on a super stadium in the capital, while at times neglecting to promote the games among the Youth and compete with the at times more attractive Premiership.
But while this may be true and Croke Park may be underutilised, it is entirely up to the organisation who they do or don't want using their facilities, be it Neil Diamond or Bayern Munich, without pressure from the media or politicians.
It may be possible to reap financial reward from soccer internationals and the GAA may be foolish to refuse large wads of cash, but it is entirely their business.
While recognising the importance of soccer and other games to the Irish and the cultural role they play, it has not been mentioned that sports are in competition with each other, particularly in the cities, where kids are enticed into various clubs from an early age. It would be foolish of the FAI to promote hurling or cricket for that matter, and likewise for the GAA to promote other sports.
If they decide to avail of the large wads on offer that's their business, not Mary Harney's.
The GAA is fully entitled to taxpayers' notes , considering the huge contribution its members have made to society over the last century.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Graigue Ballycallan's hurley wielders are busy sharpening the axe for a tilt at reigning All Ireland Club Hurling Champions Athenry.
The club championship have continued to expand rapidly over the last ten years, far outreaching the Railway Cups and National Leagues in terms of interest and importance, reaching a delayed climax on Easter Monday.
Graigue have prospered on a small pool of talented strikers and a long established youth polic, with the rotund Adrian Ronan keen to prove his natural skills , which were somehow never fully realised with Kilkenny, but Joe Rabbite's Athenry pack have too much firepower and all round strength and should add to their haul next week.
Similar to Ronan, Eugene Cloonan hasn't quite managed to transfer his lethal scoring rate to intercounty championship level, but should do nicely again at club level. It must be somewhat reassuring for Athenry folk to be known for feats other than that dreadful dirge sung to death every weekend on Ireland's barstools.
Mayo's latest group of Ônearly never made its', Crossmolina, take on Cork traditionalists Nemo Rangers in the football decider.
Crossmolina had the dubious honour of having 100 rainy days in a row recently and is home to Mick Loftus the ex-President who has taken a strong position against Guinness' involvement in the hurling championship, though if the weather is that bad down there you can't blame them for drinking.
Nemo are the artisans of club football, leading the roll in the honours list and producing such luminaries as Dinny Allen, Dave Barry and the prodigal Colin Corkery If Cross' can leave the Mayo crooked boots habit behind them, they have a chance of banishing the cry - ``What do you call a Mayoman with an All Ireland medal? - A transvestite''.
Trannys aside, and their l won't tiocfaidh for a while yet, there'll be no cross dressing with the boys in green for another year at least, when the GAA will probably yield to the Mary Robinson mentality and allow the funny balls in.
Just when we thought it was safe to disband our Men's Crochet Pattern Groups and return to sanity and the hallowed sward of Jones's Road, Mary Harney had to put her foot in it.
Maybe she was a fine camogie wielder in her day, but to force her media consensus ``aren't we all open minded now'' dictates on the Ga', cannot go unanswered.
Us diehards refused to play the garrison games as youngsters and those before us sent spies to soccer and rugby games to spy on unfortunate Gaels , who were promptly expelled from the GAA, which was at the time seen in some southern areas as one of the bedrocks of Gaelic and pure Catholic Ireland.
Those days are, fortunately, behind us.
It's almost a cliche now to lambast the church as part of our 'backward' past and many in the media deem the GAA as a suitable fellow target.
The GAA has spent vast sums of money on a super stadium in the capital, while at times neglecting to promote the games among the Youth and compete with the at times more attractive Premiership.
But while this may be true and Croke Park may be underutilised, it is entirely up to the organisation who they do or don't want using their facilities, be it Neil Diamond or Bayern Munich, without pressure from the media or politicians.
It may be possible to reap financial reward from soccer internationals and the GAA may be foolish to refuse large wads of cash, but it is entirely their business.
While recognising the importance of soccer and other games to the Irish and the cultural role they play, it has not been mentioned that sports are in competition with each other, particularly in the cities, where kids are enticed into various clubs from an early age. It would be foolish of the FAI to promote hurling or cricket for that matter, and likewise for the GAA to promote other sports.
If they decide to avail of the large wads on offer that's their business, not Mary Harney's.
The GAA is fully entitled to taxpayers' notes , considering the huge contribution its members have made to society over the last century.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Graigue Ballycallan's hurley wielders are busy sharpening the axe for a tilt at reigning All Ireland Club Hurling Champions Athenry.
The club championship have continued to expand rapidly over the last ten years, far outreaching the Railway Cups and National Leagues in terms of interest and importance, reaching a delayed climax on Easter Monday.
Graigue have prospered on a small pool of talented strikers and a long established youth polic, with the rotund Adrian Ronan keen to prove his natural skills , which were somehow never fully realised with Kilkenny, but Joe Rabbite's Athenry pack have too much firepower and all round strength and should add to their haul next week.
Similar to Ronan, Eugene Cloonan hasn't quite managed to transfer his lethal scoring rate to intercounty championship level, but should do nicely again at club level. It must be somewhat reassuring for Athenry folk to be known for feats other than that dreadful dirge sung to death every weekend on Ireland's barstools.
Mayo's latest group of Ônearly never made its', Crossmolina, take on Cork traditionalists Nemo Rangers in the football decider.
Crossmolina had the dubious honour of having 100 rainy days in a row recently and is home to Mick Loftus the ex-President who has taken a strong position against Guinness' involvement in the hurling championship, though if the weather is that bad down there you can't blame them for drinking.
Nemo are the artisans of club football, leading the roll in the honours list and producing such luminaries as Dinny Allen, Dave Barry and the prodigal Colin Corkery If Cross' can leave the Mayo crooked boots habit behind them, they have a chance of banishing the cry - ``What do you call a Mayoman with an All Ireland medal? - A transvestite''.
Trannys aside, and their l won't tiocfaidh for a while yet, there'll be no cross dressing with the boys in green for another year at least, when the GAA will probably yield to the Mary Robinson mentality and allow the funny balls in.