FROM THE ARCHIVES:THE 45TH annual congress of the GAA in 1930 was concerned with building the "Irish Ireland movement" and some delegates wanted more stringent action against those perceived as being less Irish.
The Central Colleges’ Council reported continued progress, both in the organisation and standard of games in the schools and colleges. There were now sixty colleges affiliated. It was regrettable again to record the position of some of the schools in Munster, which, though playing Gaelic games, refused to affiliate to the Association or subscribe to some of its fundamental rules.
Attention was again drawn to the continued boycott of the national games in some of the secondary schools in the country and the supplanting of these games in all cases by those of the “foreigner.” The unrepentant attitude of these colleges demanded the closest and most active attention of the Association, and effective steps would be taken to remedy a condition of affairs which would not be tolerated in any other country in the world seeking a national destiny.
A discussion followed. Mr. T. Markham, Dublin, said that he was satisfied that Rugby players took part in Gaelic games, and asked what action would be taken concerning those ramparts of West-Britonism, like Clongowes, Blackrock, etc. Gaelic games were their bulwark against this.
Mr. Sean Malone, Clare, said that only one county had dealt effectively with the colleges, and that was Galway. Those colleges were a greater danger to Irish ideals than a hostile Press, and, unfortunately, prominent Gaels were sending their sons to those centres of “shoneenism.”
Mr. W. P. Clifford, Limerick, said that were it not for the work of the schools and the National teachers, the Gaelic Athletic Association would have been dead and buried long ago. They would have to hit the secondary schools financially and by public opinion.
The Chairman said the middle classes were the backbone of the Association. The Meath County Committee sponsored a motion that after the year 1932 all business in connection with the Gaelic Athletic Association be conducted in the Irish language.
A short discussion in Irish followed, when the Chairman said that there were Gaels who could not speak Irish who were just as good as those who did, if not better than some. Such a motion, he held, would have the effect of throwing out the old Gaels who had done so much for the Association.
Mr. McKeown, Antrim, moved that any member of the Gaelic Athletic Association writing Gaelic notes or giving information on Gaelic matters to “foreign” newspapers be expelled from the Association.
Mr. McKeown said that the newspapers referred to were anti-national and anti-Gaelic, and they had not introduced the Gaelic notes for the benefit of the Association. The man, he said, who helped to bring those newspapers into Ireland was a greater traitor than Dermot McMurrough.
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