GRANUAILE Hurling Club believe they have been hung out to dry by the London County Committee (LCC) and Central Council in the wake of their bid to have the affiliation of a British army team to London GAA overturned.
The club have opened up on their stance taken with the affiliation of the Irish Guards’ team, who have since started competing under the name of Naomh Padraig, claiming their motives were never politically charged.
Instead, they insist their grievances were down to a violation of the GAA community ethos, with the challenges of a community club in London much greater than those of a work-based club, pointing out that the Irish Guards will benefit from multiple resources “on hand”.
“Granuaile Hurling Club believe in the principle that the Gaelic Athletic Association is a community based organisation and as such is against the affiliation of work-based clubs,” reads the statement.
“Granuaile Hurling Club was exercising its right under a rule in the official guide, this right has not been publically acknowledged by either LCC and Central Council. We are well aware once you make a stance in public you can be subject to hate e-mails, texts and attacks on social media by unknown sources who neither know the issues or care.
“We know standing up for one’s principles costs and we hope Granuaile, its officers and members in future will never shirk their responsibility to do so. We do, however, expect fellow members of the Gaelic Athletic Association to acknowledge our right of “freedom of speech” within the association, especially once exercised in accordance with official guide.”
Here's how the new Irish Guards' jerseys look after being re-named Naomh Padraig #GAA pic.twitter.com/9tFoXwv0g0
— Irish Post Sport (@IrishPostSport) March 31, 2016
The regulation referred to is Rule 4.3 (O.G 2015), which “exists for the purpose of rescinding decisions of a committee and is a right given under official guide to a club,” added the statement.
“Our rescindment notice in compliance with rule 4.3 (O.G 2015) was not to disregard, ignore or attempt to circumvent democracy as some have said.”
Explaining their relative silence up until this point, Granuaile say they have simply been following orders from Central Council not to discuss the matter publicly, which they believe has been to the detriment of their club.
“We could have easily explained our stance on this affiliation and avoid the abuse given to our club, we didn’t in order to honour the agreement not to discuss the matter.
“This despite our officers and members being contacted by radio stations and the print media from Ireland and England.
“The Gaelic Athletic Association should not allow clubs to be “devoured” in public for their stance or opinions when that club complies with official guide and issues correspondence to county secretaries only.
“Although this subject is now complete for Granuaile the question remains as to why the affiliation procedure for Naomh Padraig was contaminated by disregard for set rules and procedures.”
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