Sports people belong in the public square

WHAT to make of Mickey Harte and his ‘GAA Athletes For A No Vote’ group?

Our initial reaction was to recoil from it, to see it as a cynical attempt by Mr Harte and his colleagues on that campaign to leverage the GAA’s standing for political and partisan ends. Ends to which the GAA – as it made clear in a statement released on Monday after the launch of the campaign – does not subscribe.

The GAA was at pains to point out it doesn’t take any position and that’s how it should be for a sporting organisation. Non-partisan and non-party political. Of course the members within it are entitled to hold whatever views they want – as Mr Harte does – and that’s the point, the GAA is for everyone, for repealers and for retainers and for those who are yet to make up their mind, if they ever do.

All that said there’s something admirable about these people – admitting their approach in this instance is at best problematic – taking a public stand on the matter (even if you don’t agree with it). Most of us would consider it more trouble than it’s worth and yet here they are putting themselves up to be shot down.

It’s been interesting to see how many sports people are taking a position on the referendum on both sides. Donegal’s Eamon McGee and Munster’s Duncan Casey have strongly advocated for repeal.

We need more people not less participating in the public square.