Smile for the cameras and United Nations

LIKE one of those families from a John McGahern novel, the GAA hid its private turmoil and set its best face to the world.

There were smiles all around as UNESCO, if you don’t mind, told us that hurling and camogie are precious cultural assets worthy of their protection.

Nothing makes the GAA purr like external validation, and this was a chance for super-slomo footage and as many panpipes as the human ear can tolerate.

No matter that the game is a minority sport in most of Ireland. Shush about the issues of violence or elitism. The world is watching. Smile for the cameras!

The truth is that hurling remains today what it was at the start of the week: a marvellous sport coming off perhaps its best ever season, but one that has no serious purchase in most of Ulster and Connacht, and parts of Leinster, too.

That is not necessarily a cause for concern; football has much more serious issues.

But hurling does not need the protection of the United Nations. The GAA should be able to look after itself, but doubts whether it can do that have thickened this year.

Addressing the concerns raised by Newbridge or Nowhere and the scenes of violence at club matches, as well as the fears over elitism, should be consuming the energy of the association’s leadership.