Gaels Le Chéile address Féile an Phobail

In May 2021, a group of grassroots GAA members penned a letter to An Taoiseach asking him to begin to plan for the future by establishing an all island Citizens’ Assembly on Irish Unity. To date, the letter, which has been signed by over 12,000 Gaels, has gone unanswered.

In a packed room at St Mary’s University, Belfast, on 11 August, Antrim’s Paddy Cunningham explained:

“Gaels le Chéile want a new and improved Ireland. This is not an elite initiative; this is not an Antrim initiative. Conversations are happening pitch side, planning for the future needs to begin now and the Irish government must lead it.”

The discussion, which took place as part of West Belfast’s annual Féile an Phobail events, was chaired by journalist Brendan Crossan who has written for the Irish News Sports Department since 1999.

Crossan moderated the discussion, which lasted for over an hour, with all panel members outlining their reasons for becoming involved and how they wanted the campaign to develop.

Antrim camogie star Jane Adams explained the origins of the group, which came about from a discussion between herself and Paddy Cunningham, saying:

“This is a Gael on Gael initiative and I am asking Gaels across Ireland to get involved and sign the letter to the Taoiseach. This isn’t a political initiative. In sport, politics is lost on the field. I want to hear other voices, to have the discussion.”

Crossan questioned Cork’s Aisling Thompson about the appetite for Irish Unity in the south. Thompson’s answer was insightful; she replied that people in the south are not educated on the issue, and that she herself had been trying to ‘read up’ on constitutional matters ahead of the discussion in Belfast.

• Gaels le Chéile Féile an Phobail panel discussion: Aisling Thompson (Cork), Terrence ‘Sambo’ Mc Naughton (Antrim), Meeting Chairperson – Brendan Crossan The Irish News, Paddy Cunningham (Antrim), Jane Adams (Antrim).

The notion that you need all the answers before you can have an opinion or contribute to the discussion is interesting. Of course, the more informed you are the better, but an initiative like Gaels le Chéile needs to be welcoming to everyone, regardless of the depth of their knowledge of constitutional matters.

Sambo McNaughten spoke of the role of sport beyond the playing field citing Neil MacManus’s defibrillator campaign and the power of sport to provide a platform for other ideas. “I want to help my community too”. Well said, Sambo.

When asked about the next phase of the campaign, a number of panellists cited the 2,700 GAA clubs across Ireland, encouraging their members, and Gaels across Ireland, to get involved by signing the letter to the Taoiseach.

This can be done through the website www.gaelslettertotaoiseach.ie. Gaels le Chéile are also active across all social media platforms.

This group deserves commendation. They are not politicians; they are interested, motivated, and articulate citizens exercising their right to participate in the political process.

A similar discussion at a forum in the south of Ireland would be a positive development for this initiative. 

• Emma McArdle is a Campaign and Policy Manager on Sinn Féin’s Uniting Ireland project.