Ard Mhacha, I am sorry to read that you interpret my posts as a begrudging of prosperity, popularity or any other successes to the GAA. I was attempting to bring a little balance to the sweeping statements of yours about political and financial correctness in that organisation. You appear to be a "Fior Gael" who will hear no arguement against that which you love so deeply , there are some others just like you.There was one on Telly this evening out of several people from GAA backgrounds who were interviewed about using Croke Park for Rugby and Soccer this year (and next ?). All entitled to there various opinions. However please do allow that no organisation,( the larger it grows the less so), can be as "white" as you claim the GAA to be.
C.C.O'Brien was right to state the obvious importance of the GAA in shaping Ireland , who can argue with that ? What has that got to do with our argument ? I'm not denying it's importance either.
I believe that the two Irish Soccer teams did achieve some greatness in their International sports that can be measured favourably against anything the GAA have achieved in theirs, why not?
I do understand the principle that you explain to me McG of H. However , you will never convince me that the GAA does not have a commercial interest also, the day of the true "corinthian sportsman" in all sport,is long gone. I do not believe that it's famous rule 21 (?) was maintained so long into the 1970s just because Englishmen once ruled us.
Yes, of course there have been exciting Gaelic games, and some not so exciting as in all sporting contests but it is also true that back in the 1950s there was no other sport available to those "masses".
Anyway, to get back to my original question, perhaps you are prophetic and these latest results for our two teams may be a catalyst for both to help them see reason.