NEW YORK BOSTON |#Popular: Irish Celebrity Gossip Irish in US Politics Irish Festivals Irish Roots Irish Entertainment Offbeat Irish

Home Page > News > Armagh GAA hits out at “racist and personal attacks” during recent Laois game

Armagh GAA hits out at “racist and personal attacks” during recent Laois game

Say players were subjected to sectarian chanting

DARA KELLY,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Thursday, March 22, 2012, 8:12 AM

Updated Thursday, March 22, 2012, 8:12 AM

Larger Text

E-mail

15 Comments

Armagh Captain Ciaran McKeever

Photo by Google Images

The GAA is embroiled in a row after an Armagh football club released a statement saying their players were subjected to “racist and personal” taunts during game against Laois last weekend.

It is alleged that the Armagh captain, Ciaran McKeever, was called a “British bastard” by a Laois player during the game last Sunday. McKeever was sent off at half time after allegedly kicking a Laois player. However, the captain did not accept the referee’s decision and returned to the field for the second half of the game. He has denied any wrongdoing.

The Armagh statement expressed concern “at the alleged racist and personal abuse, directed at our players, apparently going unpunished. Racist abuse is in direct contravention of Rule 1.12 : The Association is Anti-Sectarian and Anti-Racist.”

It continued: “The chanting of “God Save the Queen” and malign taunting of “British Bastard” has no place either on or off the field of play.”

“We endeavor to promote respect and fair play both on and off the field and do not condone any action which is a contravention of such fair play.”

It concluded: “However, we also expect to be treated fairly and the rules of the game to be applied in a fair and equitable manner.”

Nster.com

E-mail

15 Comments

See all comments

ancavker | Apr 04, 2012, 01:40 PM EDT

Is Mc Keever a Protestant? I am not sure why exactly he was attacked?

Report abuse

DanOLoingsigh | Mar 27, 2012, 05:58 AM EDT

barneyjo - I'm talking about England today, 2012...not NI. The 'political' aspect of sport often throws up anomalies...Devs Blackrock was/is a big Rugby school...banning participation by certain groups, and banning your players from other sports...is another practice best left in the past...

Report abuse

barneyjo | Mar 26, 2012, 06:43 PM EDT

@Dan - you think? You should have felt the heat I got when I tried to convince hard-line loyalists of the fact that the Father of Ulster Unionism, Edward Carson, was an avid player of Gaelic Sports; hurling in particular. His Mother was one of the Lambert Family which had a large Estate at Castle Ellen, near Athenry, in Galway. Each summer, young "Ned" spent his holidays there and hurled with the local team. It was also due to Carson that GAA sports got through the door of Trinity College Dublin. Your average dyed in the wool Loyalist could never get their head around that one :)

Report abuse

barneyjo | Mar 26, 2012, 06:41 PM EDT

@Dan - you think? You should have felt the heat I got when I tried to convince hard-line loyalists of the fact that the Father of Ulster Unionism, Edward Carson, was an avid player of Gaelic Sports; hurling in particular. His Mother was one of the Butler Family which had a large Estate at Castle Ellen, near Athenry, in Galway. Each summer, young "Ned" spent his holidays there and hurled with the local team. It was also due to Carson that GAA sports got through the door of Trinity College Dublin. Your average dyed in the wool Loyalist could never get their head around that one :)

Report abuse

DanOLoingsigh | Mar 25, 2012, 06:44 PM EDT

@barneyjo...I'll have to take your word on the Orange Bands...I don't profess to know anything much on them...in England there is little support for sectarianism these days...but everywhere has a loony fringe...best kept to the margins, imo!!

Report abuse

barneyjo | Mar 25, 2012, 06:13 PM EDT

@Dan - you know the old addage yourself; "One man's terrorist is another's choice for president" The Orangemen do exactly the same thing only in terms of naming "memorial" bands to commemorate a folk hero to the "cause". It doesnt make it any more or less right, but its the human condition at work I think!!

Report abuse

DanOLoingsigh | Mar 25, 2012, 10:30 AM EDT

@barneyjo...a national anthem is rarely, if ever played, in English Leagues of any sort, to the best of my knowledge, and is reserved for important finals, and internationals...there again, you wouldn't hear them at the end of a night's pub entertainment either...and you certainly won't see people standing to attention..as in IRL. The GAA has always had a political side, as it was formed to counter the influence of 'Foreign Games'. You certainly would get some animosity if you named a sports club after a man who came to bomb your neighbours...as in one of Armagh's clubs...but I suppose that's just another attack on nationalist 'culture'?

Report abuse

barneyjo | Mar 25, 2012, 09:27 AM EDT

@Dan - agreed, absolutely. I dont imagine for one minute that Amhran na bhFiann is played at league and competition game England, Scotland or Wales. Before the troubles broke out in Northern Ireland there were many Protestants who played football and hurling, but were driven out by the perceived politicisatiion of Gaelic Sports. Happily in more recent times, that is starting to change, albeit slowly, though the perceptions around allegiance will remain an impediment until it changes. It doesnt help that Protestants who have been brave enough to take to the field have been verbally and in some cases physically abused by Neanderthals who genuinely believe that they have no right to be there in the first place. But change is coming. The sight and sound (or lack of sound) of 8000 Gaels at an Inter-county Gaelic match, observing a respectful minute of silence at the death of a Police Officer, who was himself a Gael is proof enough of that!!

Report abuse

DanOLoingsigh | Mar 24, 2012, 08:54 PM EDT

barneyjo - maybe acknowledging both traditions would help to move things on...it was played at Croker, after all...too high a price to pay, say some? Discuss.

Report abuse

barneyjo | Mar 24, 2012, 07:46 PM EDT

In case it needs repeating, but the British National Anthem "God Save the Queen" is NOT played at any GAA matches in Northern Ireland. The Irish National Anthem "Amhrán na bhFiann" IS played at all GAA league and competition matches in Grounds in Northern Ireland.

Report abuse

DanOLoingsigh | Mar 23, 2012, 06:12 AM EDT

Only in Ireland...would reference to the visiting teams National Anthem be considered racist...still, the home crowd seem to have achieved the reaction they were after...

Report abuse

ciaradexy | Mar 22, 2012, 06:04 PM EDT

Georgie Dildo, IM the one who isnt a racist here! You dont like irish people OR migrants into Ireland. Youre the kinda American the world doesnt need and the kinda American the Irish mock.

Report abuse

GeorgeDillon | Mar 22, 2012, 03:12 PM EDT

I'm not surprised at this. We can see the narrow-minded Little Irelander attitude of 26 County Irish in the posts here of people like Sirpeter and Ciaramurphy. I'm sure glad I don't have to live among such bigots.

Report abuse

irishhero84 | Mar 22, 2012, 02:47 PM EDT

Ireland would be better off without a theme park. It will just make things more congested and more difficult to enjoy the history and natural beauty of Ireland.

Report abuse

Seanmor | Mar 22, 2012, 01:57 PM EDT

I offer my deepest sympathy to the Armagh footballer who was the victim of an alleged racial slur. The Down team that won the Sam Maguira Cup in 1968 played New York selected in the latter's home venue a short time later and were victorious again. After the match the Down captain tried to say a few words on the loiudspeaker, but was rudely interrupted when the plug was pilled. It is possible that the alleged offender at Armagh V. Laois match was merely reflecting what seems to have become a culturally acceptable attitude in recent years of Southerners toward their fellow countrymen north of the Border. The G.A.A., like rugby, cricket and hockey regards all of Ireland as a sigle entity and thank God for that.

Report abuse