Madam, - Donal O'Donovan (February 17th) questions the GAA's use of its club properties.
The GAA has developed a vast infrastructure of facilities in almost every village, town and parish in rural and urban Ireland. Independent analysts have estimated the cost of the provision of these facilities at more than €2.6 billion.
In addition, the association has provided sporting and social facilities around the world for the Irish Diaspora.
These facilities have been provided through the hard work, dedication and general support of association members and those who acknowledge and support the GAA's role in providing for the sporting, social, mental and physical well-being of communities. Much of the infrastructure was provided before the Celtic Tiger and before governments, local authorities or any other organisation had the means or the will to help in providing it.
This is why it is normally difficult to tell where the GAA club starts and where the community ends. It is why the GAA club is the focal point for the 21st birthday party and the old folks' social, and where families and friends retire after funerals.
By his own narrow definition, Mr O'Donovan's concern has nothing to do with the GAA's role in the community, but is based on the illogical argument that for some reason we now have to take responsibility for the infrastructural deficiencies of other organisations throughout the country. - Yours, etc.,
Danny Lynch, Public Relations Officer, GAA, Dublin 1.
Madam, - The GAAocrats must be suffering from collective amnesia, denial, or both in insisting that Rule 42 prohibits sporting activities "not controlled by the GAA" from availing of its facilities.
When did American College Football, played in Croke Park in September 1988, become a Gaelic game? I think RTÉ televised it. - Yours, etc.,
ADRIAN CARROLL, Clonmel, Co Tipperary.