Madam, - For decades the GAA has been viewed by unionists as the sporting wing of the IRA - which is hardly surprising given that many GAA clubs and grounds are named after republican heroes such as Wolfe Tone, Robert Emmet, Roger Casement, the Pearse brothers, etc.
The unionists are not always wrong, but it it to be hoped that a couple of recent events will start to build a new relationship.
St Brigid's GAA Club in Belfast hosted a friendly football match against the PSNI and the GAA Central Council decided to withhold tickets from Sinn Féin representatives because of their misuse for political purposes of Casement Park.
All such actions by the GAA, aimed at reducing sectarianism and encouraging cross-community participation, should be loudly applauded.
- Yours, etc,
PETER MOLLOY, Haddington Park, Glenageary, Co Dublin.