Thanks for standing up for the embattled GAA
FAIR play to Shane McGrath for his article headlined, ‘GAA did not deserve the barrage of cheap shots’ (MoS, July 29).
The GAA was an easy target for soccer pundits and politicians when it was hampered by its own rules as regards hosting the Liam Miller benefit game.
But people like Damien Duff and Shane Ross conveniently overlooked the shortcomings of the FAI. How many have asked where the money accrued from past World Cups went?
While the GAA is far from perfect, the knockers should look on the positives.
Frankie Fallon, Kells, Co. Meath.
…IT IS my view that the GAA has been subjected to unfair press coverage over the Liam Miller fundraiser.
The hostility shown towards the GAA for not sanctioning, with immediate effect, approval for the charity match to be hosted in Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, despite being prohibited in rule from hosting such games, was, by any standards, regrettable.
I noticed that the FAI, despite initiating the event, was not subject to the same level of scrutiny as the GAA.
The FAI, which benefited to the tune of €191m of taxpayer money that was channelled into the FAI/ IRFU Aviva Stadium, has no problem finding the money to pay its chief executive over €300,000 per year.
Despite decades of attracting huge attendances at international football fixtures, which in turn generated massive revenue for the FAI, nothing was done to secure exclusive national and provincial stadiums for Irish soccer.
This income was inflated further by the €5m given by Sepp Blatter and Fifa to the FAI in order to stop any Irish legal action over the Thierry Henry hand-ball incident.
The opening up of Croke Park by the GAA to both soccer and rugby was a positive step in sporting ecumenism and a magnanimous gesture to the FAI and the IRFU while Lansdowne Road was being redeveloped.
By accommodating other sporting codes, the GAA projected a progressive image of the association which had in the past been portrayed as both narrow and insular. This ‘reaching out’ by the GAA culminated in a warmly welcomed visit to Croke Park by Queen Elizabeth in an act of Anglo-Irish reconciliation.
When can we expect the FAI to stop using other organisations as a crutch? Tom Cooper, Templeogue, Dublin 6w.
Hope for No voters
MANY people, including some of those who voted yes, were shocked by the triumphalist behaviour in Dublin Castle following the recent abortion referendum.
However, it now appears that the disgusting celebrations, were premature in the extreme.
It has recently been reported that the Catholic bishops have reiterated the long-held principle that hospitals with a Catholic ethos, the majority, can have nothing to do with faciliting abortion.
In addition, many GPs (and Mr Harris had boldly proclaimed that this would be a GP-led ‘service’), have now stated that they also have serious ethical objections to abortion.
Not surprising, given that the medical profession is grounded on the principle of ‘do no harm’.
For those of us who voted No, it seems that all is not yet lost.
Eric Conway, Navan, Co. Meath.
Winner takes it all
NOW I’ll never enter or win a best dressed contest anywhere, never mind Galway.
The style this year at Galway was absolutely outstanding, with several deserving winners. Yet the winner last Thursday has already won a best dressed competition at least three times this year, including at Royal Ascot. She was elegant and her outfit was beautiful, but surely there should be some rule about entering, if only to give others a chance?
You don’t see the same Rose of Tralee winner enter year after year.
Margaret Gleeson, by email.
Brexit dangers
I WAS impressed to read MEP Brian Hayes’s comments on the dangers of Brexit (MoS, July 29).
Too often, politicians and pundits seem to treat Brexit like a competitive sport whereby we cheer our own team and boo the rivals. In Ireland’s case, that tends to involve clinging firmly to whatever the official EU line is.
But ultimately, if there’s a hard Brexit, everyone will suffer. Chances are, the UK would be worst affected, but Ireland would be hit almost as hard and it would send shockwaves right across the EU. So we urgently need everyone to work as hard as possible to secure a deal. This is a case where either everybody wins or everybody loses. Alan O’Toole, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.
Bikinis? No thanks
ALANNAH BEIRNE has a funny idea about female empowerment if she seriously thinks that bikini contests are a positive thing worth campaigning for (MoS, July 29).
I can’t think of anything more demeaning. Áine Kerr, Co. Laois.