The GAA has always made it very clear that it is not a political organisation.
But that’s a hard idea to reconcile when you have so many GAA clubs across the country named after republicans from the 1916 Rising, as well as various other struggles during our bloody history.
The issue of British Army personnel playing GAA was always a hot topic, but thanks to the peace process and changing attitudes, that all changed in 2001.
That year the GAA took the historic decision to remove Rule 21, and last year it was announced that a team of soldiers in England wanted to play GAA competitively.
The Irish Guards, or Garda Eireannach as they will be known, were officially affiliated as a GAA team at a London county board meeting last September, when the chairman at the time Noel O’Sullivan, cast the deciding vote after a tied vote.
The idea of the regiment competing in the Junior Championship was a highly divisive issue at the time and reports today suggest one GAA club are seeking to revoke the decision.
The Irish Post are reporting that Granuaile club have asked the London County Board to rescind last September’s decision and remove the possibility of the soldiers playing competitively this year.
The regiment, nicknamed the Micks, were due to begin competing shortly in the local London GAA leagues.
No reason has been given as of yet for their decision to seek the removal of the soldiers from this year’s GAA activities.
The issue is likely to be discussed at the London County board meeting this coming Monday
Club Notice: County Board Meeting
Monday 11th January – 8.30pm#IrishTVGroundsRuislip— London GAA (@LondainGAA) January 8, 2016
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