Republican hits out at GAA probe into rally
By Francesca Ryan
A GAA investigation into why last Sunday’s hunger strike commemoration rally was held at Casement Park has been slammed by a former blanketman.
Over 30,000 people from across the country and beyond flocked to West Belfast for the event organised by the National Hunger Strike Commemoration Committee (NHSCC).
The GAA Central Council, based at Croke Park, had prohibited the use of the grounds , however the Antrim County Board which runs the stadium decided to allow the organiers the use of the ground.
West Belfast man Jake Mac Siacais, who spent four years on the blanket protest in the late 1970s, said the GAA should have made their reservations clear when the NHSCC made its application to hold the rally some six months ago.
“We applied for permission to hold the event six months ago and if they had a problem with it, the matter should have been addressed when they received the application, not two weeks before the event.
“The only reason they had a problem with it was because of comments made in other newspapers.”
Mr Mac Siacais also questioned whether the GAA would be considering changing any other seemingly political links with their organisation, starting with the Andersonstown GAA park’s name.
“What will the next move be by the GAA Central Council?
“Are they going to allow unreconstructed unionists and right-wing nationalist politicians to push for a campaign to rename Casement Park because they find it unrepresentative of their opinion or because he was a political figure?
“I’m sure Roger Casement would have had no problem with Sunday’s hunger strike rally.
“This was a national event, non-party political and a reflection of the cultural identity of people on this island.”
John McSparran, head of the County Antrim Board of the GAA, said the final decision from Central Council came too close to the date of the rally.
“The decision was taken within two weeks of the rally going to happen,” said John McSparran.
“We raised this issue with Central Council as far back as February and we are upset that it took so long for the decision to come out.”
Journalist:: Francesca Ryan
'So venceremos, beidh bua againn eigin lá eigin. Sealadaigh abú.'
--Bobby Sands