Last week I posted about the fact that a GAA club in county Tyrone had given children medals depicting an IRA terrorist. The IRA man was Martin McCaughey and the club was Galbally Pearse's.
The matter was raised initially after the mother of one of the children reported the matter to the media. Lord Morrow commented on the issue and said that it 'will horrify many Roman Catholics, never mind Protestants.' However the response of the GAA was extremely muted and less than adequate. There was no criticism or condemnation at all from the organisation.
Today Trevor Ringland, a former international rugby player, called on the GAA to address the issue. 'Should the GAA make a public statement distancing themselves from this?' 'I think they should.'
And last week the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee at Stormont agreed to write to the GAA about the matter. The issue was raised by a DUP member and it was agreed that the committee chair, Michelle McIlveen MLA, would send a letter to the GAA on behalf of the committee.
This is a controversy which has yet to gain the momentum it deserves and it has certainly not yet run its course. The handing out of medals depicting an IRA terrorist totally contradicts the claims of the GAA that they are reaching out to non-GAA sections of the community.
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