THE GAA is to co-operate with a review of public funding arrangements after Stormont culture minister Nelson McCausland criticised the naming of some clubs after republican figures.
The DUP minister said in response to an Assembly question: “I have asked officials to review the equity clause in the terms and conditions and to advise if changes should be considered. Any change should reflect that sport makes an important contribution to a shared and better future, one in which terrorism and sport cannot be mixed.”
The GAA has said it is confident its clubs are fully compliant with the requirements of public grant aid. “The GAA is by rule a strictly non-party political, anti-racist and anti-sectarian organisation,” a spokesman said. “It also has a long established publicly stated anti-violence policy.” He added he was confident the GAA met all required standards for receipt of funds.
McCausland’s review follows a republican hunger strike commemoration at a GAA club in Galbally, Co Tyrone, which involved a display with paramilitary elements.
He told the BBC: “The republican commemoration on the GAA pitch in Galbally was a disgraceful incident. And I think people at the very highest level in the GAA agree with me. I met the GAA after that and asked them to investigate the situation and report on it. I also asked them to bring forward recommendations as to how we can ensure this sort of thing never happens again.”
