I noticed quite a few had entered ‘RAF’ as their club. When you entered, you were asked to fill out a sheet asking you what club or society you were from. Last November, I attended a brilliant talk organised by Tyrone GAA, researched and delivered by Dr Donal McAnallen, hosted at their Garvaghey Centre of Excellence on GAA members who had fought in World War I. More than most, they have gone out of their way to host inclusive events and show off their premises to others. Others will work for firms and teach in schools that will take a very dim view of it.Īs a body, Tyrone GAA are far from sectarian. Some are in respected professions and will have Protestant clients. How difficult must it be for some of the Tyrone players at work this week? When Tyrone have won All-Irelands in the past, and even when they lost last year, the first place the bus stops is Aughnacloy where there is a stage laid out for them to welcome them back into their county.Īre we serious about shared spaces here or not? There are lifelong friendships between those in the local GAA clubs and members of this flute band. A flagship county team singing rebel songs on the team bus? Let’s not over-intellectualise it, it’s deeply stupid behaviour and somebody on that bus should have stopped it instantly. If you are inclined to believe that the GAA is sectarian, then this would only back up your prejudice. For the past few years he has been raving about the homely feel of the club to friends, but the moment the clip was circulated, he began receiving messages of the ‘told you so’ type. He is a serious asset to the club, so our phone conversation on Tuesday was illuminating. Added to that, when there is a pitch to be lined or weeds to be sprayed, he is first through the gate. One, in particular, has emerged as a real leader within the senior team and puts an incredible amount into working on his game. Our aim in both cases is to attract as many people with an interest in playing Gaelic football, hurling, and camogie, from all faiths and none.Īs long as you enjoy sport, you are welcome.Īghaloo have been very successful in attracting players from various faiths. Since settling here, I have become involved in the local GAA club, Aghaloo O’Neill’s, and have also helped, along with others, a hurling and camogie club, Cúchulainn An Ghleanna. If all of that sounds inclusive, it is because of the outreach work done in the community, of which I am a part, having moved here in 2015. It is not uncommon for some musicians in these bands to double up and play with the Brantry Hibernian Pipe Band, and parade on St Patrick’s Day. Like many other country bands, this is not a Blood and Thunder, ‘Kick The Pope’ band. Here’s a detail for you the stewards at the parade actually waited until the local parish priest, Fr McEvoy, was in his driveway and waved to him to signal that, with the parishioners returning home, they would start then. So, in the spirit of co-operation, the band delayed the start to 8.30pm. However, that coincided with the local Saturday night Mass at St Mary’s Catholic Church. To give some context, this parade used to take place at 7.30pm on a Saturday night. If there was a joke, it backfired spectacularly on Saturday evening as the Tyrone team were held up in Aughnacloy as they returned from beating Cavan in Clones for round four of the All-Ireland Qualifiers and some belted out the song while waiting for the local band, Lisgenny Flute Band, who were parading through the town. The Brady Family ham company also used the tune and changed the lyrics for an amusing advertising campaign, so perhaps the edges were rubbed off it a little.
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