Sir, - I find it necessary to object to the propaganda that all sport and sporting organisations are the same and of equal value, and to protest against the acceptance by leading members of the GAA that sporting organisations are equal and therefore that no preference be given to the national games.
They seem to be afraid to express the national position of the GAA. It seems that they do not understand that the aim and object of the organisation is to help and assist to maintain an Irish national identity. Today there is both an English and a European pressure upon our national culture and identity and that pressure insists that the GAA be regarded solely as a sports body and no preference be given to it. The pretence is that there is a European national identity.
In the Phoenix Park the GAA was born. It was later to be baptised in Thurles. All around was evidence of English culture and influence. The Irish people were apathetic towards things Irish and Irish nationality, snoneenism was everywhere to be seen. It exists today when newspapers and broadcasters refer to the national game of hurling as a "Gaelic game". The GAA had as its national objective, the preservation of the Irish identity. Any other sports body has as its objective the promotion of its own sport - tennis, rugby, snooker, etc. They are not concerned with the national identity as such but only with the sport.
The GAA is non-sectarian and non-party-political, but it has a national political objective to assist and maintain an Irish national culture. Therefore it is within the remit of an Irish Government to assist such a sports body, not alone to assist but to provide an annual grant to maintain the Irish national culture throughout the 32 counties of Ireland. - Yours, etc.,
Patrick Cregg, Ballybane, Galway.