Viewing the GAA in a crystal ball

Sir — I have just read Colm O Rourke’s rounded views on both education and the future of GAA (Sport, Sunday Independent, October 15). It was well presented by Colm, so I looked into my crystal ball about the GAA and set it for 2027. That year’s All-Ireland semifinals were contested between counties Fingal, South Dublin, Tallaght and Dublin Port. The other former Dublin team was knocked out in the Super 8s, but Rathdown-Dun Laoghaire had a good run.

Kerry improved on the previous year’s defeat by Tallaght; this time holding Fingal to a 10-point margin. RTE has shown the last free-to-air All-Ireland final; Sky now has the exclusive rights until 2030. Despite widespread fears, club football and hurling survive in pockets of the nation. The Glens of Antrim, Wicklow and Aherlow produce caman men. Tourists flock to watch when the inter-county scene permits.

Football is still played in schools up to under-17s, but any aspiring youngster not signed to a county by then tends to take up cricket or basketball. Clergy, all Irish symbols and language are prohibited by Rule 1000A: “The GAA is a non-religious organisation committed to the globalisation of our games via our chosen media partners, Sky and Fox. In keeping with the new corporate image, use of Irish language and symbols is now discontinued.”

At Congress, held in Saipan last May, a motion was passed that will permit counties to change their names to something more appropriate — hence ‘New York Green Cards’ and ‘London Expats’, along with ‘Kerry Creams’ and ‘Mayo-Naise’ are just some of the names we will see next season. Leitrim had an issue with the word ‘lovely’ but a compromise was reached. Leitrim/Louth ‘The Little Ones’, was assembled, bearing in mind the size of both counties.

I’m 65 now, so I figure I might just make it to the year 2027. I expect a motion to be put forward that year: “To place Dublin GAA back into one county again.” John Cuffe, Dunboyne,

Meath