The terrible events in parts of Eastern Europe over the past few years may have left their mark on the population there but, judging by a letter which was received at Croke Park this week, the lives of people living there can be brightened up in many diverse and surprising ways.

For some time now Mary Boland, who operates in the public relations department in Croke Park has been in touch with one Professor Nino Skrabe from Zagreb in Croatia on matters pertaining to Gaelic games and was delighted to receive the letter quoted below.

"Dear Miss Boland,

"Thank you very much for your letter of 4th October, 1997. Our post-seasonal letters became now a nice tradition. I was again delighted with your selection of GAA promotional material. The attractive county crests and colours are a great hit among the Ireland-loving friends in Croatia and I have many problems to hide it from potential stealers.

"The season 1997 was very successful for Mumha people especially for the `Banner County' and `The Kingdom'. The GAA, this year broke two long traditions. On the first Sunday of September, I directed my satellite antenna towards RTE radio, but in vain. No Hurling! So I called you guthan and a very kind gentleman explained to me, All-Ireland hurling final will be second September Sunday.

"Who gonna play, I asked? Clare and Tipperary. Thank you very much. Next week I thought about it. Something is wrong! Two Munster counties in the final. Impossible!

"I called again your guthan and a very kind young lady explained (to) me all about losers of Mumha and Laighin finals. Are the fans from Connacht and Uladh satisfied with these changes? I'm not sure.....

"I followed both All-Ireland finals with great pleasure, although my teams lost, I was not very sorry because I love all Irish counties!"

Coming in a week in which aspects of the GAA and its activities have come under some scrutiny which has caused a great deal of concern in Croke Park, the arrival of such a letter from such a troubled place as Croatia certainly helps to lighten the load.

What the letter should tell Croke Park, however, is that much of the goodwill which accrues to Gaelic games at home and abroad can be seriously dissipated by failures in the way the GAA deals with its problems.

Last Tuesday night, I attended part of a Leinster Council meeting in Portlaoise. To the credit of that council, journalists are allowed to attend such meeting and that is a commendable thing and shows a progressive attitude.

I had scarcely taken my seat, however, when one of the delegates turned to me and enquired, petulantly: "What are ye fellas doing here tonight?"

Clearly he would not have "fellas" like me there if he had his way. What the GAA should learn and know is that, if it deals openly and honestly with its own affairs, it has nothing to fear from "fellas" like me. The games of hurling and football have never been more popular or more publicised and scrutinised. All of this makes a positive contribution to the popularity of the games and if harsh words must be written or said at times, the whole thing usually comes out on the credit side of the ledger.

The open manner in which the Leinster Council does its business, however, is vastly different from the way such meetings are conducted in Ulster where meetings are not only held behind closed doors but also, by rule, conducted in Irish. One can only wonder, in these circumstances, how Professor Nino Skrabe would react if he happened to drift into a meeting of the Ulster Council in Monaghan when that council sits down to consider last Sunday's affair at Casement Park.

Will those brought before that council who are not fluent in Irish be allowed to defend their actions in English or will they be allowed an interpreter? Perhaps we should be told!

No more than many other bodies in this benighted country of ours, the GAA retains some ante-deluvian attitudes. If the games and activities surrounding them can give solace to some people in Croatia then, surely, it is time that a more open approach can be adopted here at home.

In this context the furore over the removal of the Irish language from the halls and walls of academe in Queen's University in Belfast is interesting in view of the attitude of the Ulster Council of the GAA throughout that province. What a strange people we are to be sure!