A chara, - In spite of what one might think, the GAA has made efforts to get crowds in Croke Park to respect the National Anthem. All to no avail.
But there's something the GAA can do. It can insist that the players respect the anthem by standing with dignity until it is over. Too often we see the players wriggling and shifting during it, or standing with bored, hangdog expressions, or with heads down, only to burst into activity when the crowd starts to roar, long before the last notes are finished.
It's a pity they don't take the example of how players the world over of rugby, soccer, hockey, American football or whichever behave when national anthems are played. Our hurlers offend more than the footballers. The wearing of helmets during the anthem is disrespectful, of course. Wearing them while being introduced to An Uachtarβn is just plain bad manners. - Is mise,
Pβdraig E. O Hanluain, Athone, Co Westmeath.