On the Field of Dreams

national | miscellaneous | opinion/analysis Sunday February 11, 2007 18:42 by jim travers jimtravers at eircom dot net

GAA opens its doors to the future

History was made today as the GAA opened its doors and welcomed in a modern Ireland for all to enjoy.
The pitch was fantastic, the fans were in their thousands and the stadium was a shining tribute to an association that calls itself the governing body of amateur games while boasting a world class stadium for its members to play in.

On the field of dreams

At 14.52pm today history was made as the GAA opened its stadium to rugby, soccer and for the rest of the world to marvel at one of the best and most magnificent stadiums in Europe. As a young boy who made his way to Croker to see the Dubs battle it out on the pitch, I always wondered why, over such a long period in time the GAA pursued an isolationist mentality with an asset as valuable as their games and a stadium the vast majority of Irish people held with pride, a pride that was locked within a fortress of Irish nationalism. The GAA has made an impressive and bold move in helping to develop and promote its games far beyond the island of Ireland and in so doing, will do far greater good for the promotion of Gaelic games than it could ever have envisaged throughout its history.

With an audience of millions tuned into viewing the match, the GAA will at last present to a globalise audience of sport and non sporting people, a stadium that is steeped in Irish history, combined with a clear indication that it has finally become part of the modern world and has separated its political ideologies from its passion for sport. When Ronan O’ Gara ran behind the French posts and placed the ball firmly on the grass, the roar that erupted from the stands in Croke Park could be heard by the sea gulls resting on Rockall in the northwest coast of Ireland. For the first time in our history people from all political and sporting divides were brought together under the roof of a magnificent stadium, showing us all what a modern Ireland is all about.

Conor O’Shea and his father Jerome, who is a three all Ireland final medallist for Kerry have shows us how the older generation has caught up with the thoughts and aspirations of the younger generation in that sport is for everybody and should be enjoyer by everybody irrespective of their political or religious affiliations.
Let nobody be under any other illusion, the hosting of this match in Croke Park was a significant and historic break with tradition for the GAA. When Nicky Brennan who is the President of the GAA said of the pride felt by every Irish person and his belief that the GAA was a credit to the people, he signalled the possibility of future moves by the GAA to bring all sporting bodies on the island of Ireland closer together.

The GAA is unfortunately influenced by a small but dwindling number of die hard members who can only see Ireland as it was fifty years ago and who cannot come to grips with the fact that Ireland has matured and taken its rightly place among the nations of the world. In an expanding Europe and a now globalised world, Ireland’s past problems although not forgotten, are now relegated to the history books as people from North and South, Protestant and Catholic stood together under the roof of an association that symbolised everything that took place in the struggle for Irish freedom.

Seamus Mallon, Kevin Moran, Ken McGuiness and many other political and religious leaders stood side by side to cheer on their side. In a small way, I was sorry I made my way to Croke Park, for in my time of attending Croker; I have never experienced a consistent deafening roar that echoed throughout the stadium which never seemed to letup. The Lansdowne roar may have been something magic but the added addition of supporters made the roar in Croke Park unbelievable. Looking around, I could not help thinking about the numbers that made up the contingent of rugby supporters and those who were members of the GAA.

It was a marvellous occasion, with the atmosphere and rugby to the very highest of level. With 82,000 people filling the stadium, Ireland brought the game to France in the second half and nearly came away with a surprising win over a very experienced French side. Paul O’Connell captained the team and with five minutes left to play, it looked as if Ireland was about to add the icing on the cake and complete the party.
Unfortunately France proved that little bit too strong for Ireland, especially with Stringer and O’Driscoll being left out of the team.

In reflection, France showed how it will be difficult for any team to snatch the grand slam away from them. The next big match and test for Ireland will be the match that takes place in Croke Park against England. The atmosphere will be electric as hard line GAA supporters are forced to swallow the bitter pill of God Save the Queen being played on their pitch. As the M&M pills are swallowed in Dublin in great numbers the potency of the pills swallowed will increase as you travel further beyond the pale of Dublin towards the extreme corners of the west of Ireland. The die hard’s will scream and roar for Ireland to beat England and later will ask why the GAA gave in to the playing of foreign games on their pitch. The local GAA Clubs will be full of wrap the green flag around me boys who think what they helped build is theirs and theirs alone to enjoy. Discussions and more discussions will take place as mentors complain about this unwanted intrusion by other sports into the heart of their game as they pack their sons and daughters into the car and drive them to a soccer field so they can play on their local soccer team. And I cannot forget my local GAA club Round Towers, whose member’s often came into the members bar and turned off “Match of the Day”, irrespective of who was watching or enjoying it, such was foreign muck.

Times have changed in the GAA and any future changes will only lead to the association becoming stronger in the promotion and development of its games. It is up to the GAA to manipulate this unique situation that it has presented to itself, by embracing a closer working partnership with other sporting bodies on this island and beyond.

Bring on the England match