Ryan accurate in saying GAA was ‘bullied’

IN having the temerity to defend his organisation, GAA director general Tom Ryan drew more wrath down on him and his colleagues.

In his first report as DG, Ryan addressed the extraordinary controversy of last summer when the GAA were derided for days until they made Páirc Uí Chaoimh available for the tribute match to former Ireland soccer player Liam Miller.

He was entitled to do so, just as he was accurate in his use of the word ‘bullied’.

The criticism aimed at the GAA was in places plainly demented. Much of this was corralled on social media, where the rights of an organisation to its own property and the freedom to choose how it uses it, were ignored in favour of frothing gibberish about dinosaurs.

An awful lot of the ire directed at the GAA seemed to be the fruit of long-cultivated jealousy and resentment.

This was an opportunity to hammer a body that has done more good in Irish society than just about any other.

Ryan was also right to argue that any public funding the GAA gets must not be contingent upon its willingness to accommodate other sports.

This risible point was made by the Minister for Sport, and supported by his underling.

Crass political opportunism also thrived like dry rot in the conditions of that particular controversy.

The GAA are entitled to their version of events.