Madam, - A report in your edition of March 7th quotes Dr Gerry Crowley TD comparing Government funding for the GAA with that for cancer services.
The GAA caters for 14,050 youth teams and 5,833 adult teams in its clubs and has a playing population of nearly half-a-million people.
It has provided sporting and social facilities in virtually every town and parish in Ireland, urban and rural. It has also provided an infrastructure for many of the great occasions that adorn our annual sporting calendar.
In doing this for 119 years the GAA through its members and their support has spent billions of euro and successfully promoted its games which have provided a healthy sporting and social outlet for generations of our young people and a sporting focus for the enjoyment and benefit of the population generally. The GAA has done this on a voluntary and non-profit basis.
The direct benefit that has accrued to the Exchequer far exceeds any financial assistance that the association ever received.
More importantly, however, are the benefits to the physical and mental well-being of our society through the efforts of the countless GAA volunteers of both genders.
The remark attributed to Dr Crowley is an affront to these people and the association they represent. It is a cheap shot unworthy generally, but in particular of a medical doctor. - Yours, etc.,
DANNY LYNCH, PRO, Gaelic Athletic Association, Croke Park, Dublin 1.