IT IS regrettable that the GAA was not present when several other sporting bodies attended the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation in Dublin Castle yesterday. An opportunity to show that the GAA favours the aims of the Forum may have been lost.

Representatives from Cospoir, the IRFU, the FAI and the OCI attended the Forum, as well as figures from hockey and showjumping. The absence of the GAA will have been noted by those who are antagonistic to the association and enjoy knocking it. In other words, the GAA has cut a stick to beat itself.

It is scarcely adequate to say the GAA did not have enough time or that its officials were too busy with other matters to prepare a submission. The invitation was issued last October but the GAA says it will not be ready to attend a sitting of the Forum until mid April at the earliest.

As things stand the Forum may have completed its deliberations by mid April in which case the GAA's input will not be taken into account at all.

The association is fond of striking poses phrase `not merely a sporting organisation' is trotted out frequently to give it a kind of, clout which other sporting bodies cannot claim.

There is, indeed, some justification for this assessment. The GAA was formed by men of nationalistic fervour in response to the snobbery ridden sporting organisations of the day which had little time for things Irish. It was a time of some political upheaval and men like Davitt and Parnell were closely associated with its foundation. The Irish language and music were embraced and so also were other athletic activities, though other organisations have since taken up these causes.

The GAA does, however, hold a unique position in Irish life. There are many who would say that it is exclusive in nature despite its rule to the effect that it is a nonsectarian, non political organisation - a rule which other sporting bodies do not consider necessary.

That rule is part of the historical quasi political baggage of the GAA which served it well in its earlier year when attempts to politicise it threatened its very life again during the Civil War when it managed to tread a very tight rope between the warring factions.

Rule 21 which forbids membership to the RUC and the British forces is also part of that baggage. It serves no purpose whatever but the GAA finds it difficult to shake it off just as, at a different level, Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution would be very difficult to remove.

Perhaps it is thin historical baggage which has given the GAA reason to tread carefully regarding a submission to the Forum, and that is understandable to some degree. It should not, however, have made the GAA so nervous that it takes six months to put together a submission.

A couple of years ago Jack Boothman, in his capacity of president of the GAA, made a courageous speech at tbe opening of a new stand at St Tiernach's Park in Clones. Feelers were being sent out to the divided communities in the North about political movement and change.

On that occasion - Jack Boothman said: "We are now at a stage where there have been significant positive developments emanating from the nationalist community in the six counties. I say to you that, should there be an appropriate response to this initiative and should there, evolve an acceptable settlement in which the national and cultural traditions of the people of Ireland are equally recognised and respected, the concept of an exclusion rule will have no relevance to us."

That was a clear and unequivocal referfence to the rule excluding RUC and British forces.

That speech was made more than two years ago. The paramilitary ceasefires have been in place for more than a year. Surely it would be appropriate therefore for Jack Boothman to deliver on his promise by attending the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation and to announce there that the GAA was prepared to play a positive role by dropping Rule 21. It is not acceptable to say that rules, can only be changed by annual congress.

The GAA hash through its own efforts, given the lead to other sporting bodies in this country with the visionary development of Croke Park as a state of the art sports stadium. That took courage and leadership. What a shame that a wonderful opportunity for the display of courage and leadership at another level seems to have been lost.