User:Jnestorius/GAA ban

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270448708_Vigilance_and_Vigilantes_An_Oral_History_of_the_GAA%27s_Ban_on_Foreign_Games/amp

https://books.google.ie/books?id=bjolDwAAQBAJ&lpg=PA114&ots=06yRmFKNV_&dq=%22rule%2027%22%201971%20gaa&pg=PA108#v=onepage&q=%22rule%2027%22%201971%20gaa&f=false

http://www.politics.ie/forum/culture-community/52179-gaa-ban-rule-27-a.html

https://www.si.com/vault/issue/43071/91 https://www.si.com/vault/issue/43071/96

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/president-falls-foul-of-exclusion-rule-1.773965?mode=amp

https://www.encyclopedia.com/international/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/gaa-ban

Chronology
https://twitter.com/gaanostalgia/status/719535593294860289?s=09

"Archbishop Croke opposed any such ban" (Tierney 1984)

Parnellite split weakened GAA and Conventions in early 1890s (which rescinded bans) had few attendees. (ML 31-2) John Coffey Bishop of Kerry withdrew as patron of Killarney GAA over IRB links (ML 33) July 1896 motion: (ML 33)
 * That the Gaelic Athletic Association shall be a strictly non-political and unsectarian association; no political questions of any kind shall be raised at any of its meetings.

Centenary of 1798 Rebellion marked resurgence of nationalism in the GAA. (ML 35-37)

Breandán Ó hEithir described reading The Steadfast Rule as "rather like entering the caves at Mitchelstown to find men dressed in bearskins painting little pictures on the walls".

The ban and IRB relationship were the two dominant themes of the GAA up to 1922.
 * 1905: GAA Central Council Minutes, 8 January 1905: "That persons who play rugby, soccer, hockey, cricket or any imported games shall be suspended for two years from date of playing such games, and this rule to take effect from 1 February 1905"
 * 1905: 46–32 vote to retain ban. Extended to military.
 * 1906: 15–51 vote to make ban optional.
 * 1907: 19-70 vote to rescind ban.
 * 1908: confirm that "encouraging" includes as spectator GAA prohibits Irish athletes competing for Britain as opposed to Ireland at the 1908 Olympics.
 * 1909 and 1911 [why repeated in 1911?]: ban attending RIC/army social events.
 * 1916: Finance (New Duties) Act 1916 added entertainment tax; s. 1(5)(d) Exception from new entertainment tax allowed for "the object of reviving national pastimes", but revenue commissioners disallowed implicitly because of ban (which ban — foreign games or crown forces?)
 * 1918
 * July 4 -- proclamation under DRR 9AA banning "meetings, assemblies, or processions in public places" without police permit.
 * July 20 Central Council mandates automatic indefinite suspension for club or person applying for a meeting permit; schedule Gaelic Sunday for 4 August; readmits "individuals previously identified with soccer and rugby expressing their outrage at the ‘banning’ of national pastimes and asking for readmission to the GAA".
 * July 29 -- "We do not intend for a moment to interfere with ordinary indoor arrangements for meetings, or with games or sports. I believe there were one, or perhaps two, cases, unfortunate cases, where the police misunderstood their instructions; but I have been at pains to have a proper circular sent out, explaining to the police all over Ireland that the only meetings which are intended to require permits are those that have a political character. If you will mix up political speeches with your sports, then that particular sports meeting will require a permit; but, unless that is so, the sports require no permit at all."
 * August 1 "a football and hurling match advertised to be held in the athletic grounds, Cork, on Sunday last [July 28] in aid of the funds* for the widows and orphans of the Cork sailors who lost their lives through the sinking of their ships by German submarines was not held owing to the action and prohibition of the police" / "the county inspector wrote to the promoters of the match referred to, telling them that it would not be allowed to take place without a permit. The permit was not applied for, and the match was not allowed to take place. It is very doubtful if the real object of the meeting was that alleged." (*This was the Cork Sailors’ Widows and Orphans Fund which related to six specific Cork steamers: Bandon, Ardmore, Lismore, Kenmare, Innisfallen and Inniscarra. Not Navy.)
 * August 4 -- Gaelic Sunday
 * 1923 — The Army Athletic Association: first AGM voted to retain its Constitution's ban on "Foreign Games" but not to extend it to tennis and golf.
 * 1927 -- committee of Irish Ireland organisation formed, including GAA and Gaelic League, to co-ordinate and co-operate.
 * "in to the 1930s": ban organising "foreign dances"
 * 1930: ban writing on GAA for foreign press.
 * 1931: Gaelic League bans those attending foreign games or dances from serving as officers.
 * 1932: ban attending foreign dances.
 * 1930s, foreign dance rule widely flouted.
 * 1935 Fianna Fáil aeriocht held in Dalymount Park. In Irish, with set-dancing, athletics, and cycling; attended by Éamon de Valera, Seán T. O'Kelly, Cormac Breathnach, and Eamonn Cooney.
 * 1968, ten motions to amend or rescind rules 26-29 and 39.
 * 1977 - Cork football panel suspended for wearing Adidas shorts against Kerry instead of Irish-owned brand (I think Irish-made but under licence from Adidas). Donal Foley: Buy Irish rule was "very often broken ... but an official public defiance could not be accepted". Foley remembered his club's objection being rejected by a GAA Board as the paper it was written on did not have an Irish watermark.
 * 1978,
 * GAA President Con Murphy banned members from playing a celebrity field hockey match (to raise funds for Ireland men going to the 1978 Men's Hockey World Cup in Argentina) because since European Hockey Championship 1970  the IHU had used Derry Air and Four-Provinces as anthem and flag.
 * Cork county board allow Cork City Sports at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, concession to BLÉ: despite 1967 agreement, some counties remained loyal to rump NACA, including Cork, Clare and Kerry (both ceded before Cork) and Waterford (reviewing in 1978) Implications of Cork decision are far-reaching, Sean Kilfeather
 * 2001 Bertie Bowl controversy; suggestion that public funding for Croke Park upgrade was contingent on abolishing Rule 42, denied in 2020 by Bertie Ahern.


 * 2021 Ballygunner GAA rented its astroturf pitch to soccer club Bohemians FC Waterford, for training children aged 4 to 10, until a complaint was made to GAA headquarters and Ballygunner were told to stop, because such an arrangement needed pre-approval from central council.

Particular rules
https://www.nytimes.com/1971/03/17/archives/the-banning-of-the-ban.html rules 26 to 29 in 1971
 * Rule 26—British servicemen and policemen may not join the G.A.A.
 * Rule 27—Members may not play or attend “foreign games,” specifically soccer, rugby, cricket and hockey.
 * Rule 28—Members may not promote or assist foreign games.
 * Rule 29—Members may not organize non‐Irish dances, or attend such dances organized and run by “foreign games” clubs.

As of 1968, Rule 28 required central council, and provincial and county committees, but not divisional committees, to appoint "Vigilance members". Presume this covered rule 27 as well.

Athletics boycott
More at https://web.archive.org/web/20070701114851/http://multitext.ucc.ie:80/d/History_of_the_Gaelic_Athletic_Association_GAA#14TheReconciliationJanuary1888

Aimed at IAAA. Resolved at GAA's 3rd meeting, 17 Jan 1885.
 * that, after 17 March 1885, any athlete competing at meetings held under other laws than those of the G.A.A. shall be ineligible to compete at meetings held under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association

Called "the war of 1885" by Michael Cusack. IAAA formed 21 Feb 1885 Dublin. IAAA had some sort of exclusion rule. (ML 15) excluded "labourers tradesmen and artisans" (ML 21) Previously clubs used AAA rules.(ML 13) On 17 June 1885 at Tralee meeting by County Kerry Athletic and Cricket Club (IAAA) prompted Moore Stack et al to have GAA meeting; latter much more support. (ML 16) Before 1st annual congress of GAA (31 Oct 1885) feelers for both sides to drop bans (ML 16) and Dr Croke private letter to GAA supported this (ML 16-17) Cusack opposed, Davin supported, matter unresolved. (ML 17) Croke went public in Freemans Journal (ML 17-19) Cusack reluctantly ceded, viewing non-boycott as less bad than IAAA-GAA merger. (ML 20-21) IAAA favoured merger (ML 21) GAA rejected (ML 21-22) Ban lifted at reconvened first convention 27 Feb 1886: (ML 22)
 * That all duly qualified athletes be permitted to compete at sports held under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association

IAAA soon "extinction" says ML (p22)

Ban reimposed c.1906. IAAA athletes competed in 1908 Olympics but not [some] GAA athletes. In fact neither was affiliated to AAA but GAA was cold and IAAA warm to BOA. In 1912 fewer Irish generally; GAA boycott firmer; Irish road cycling team [?GAA linked?] allowed to wear shamrock though still classed as GB&I.

As of 1968, I think Rule 39 restricted GAA to National Athletic and Cycling Association, not "Amateur Athletic Union of Éire". A 1968 GAA Congress motion was to extend toleration from NACAI to Bord Luthchleas na hÉireann (BLÉ), though without withdrawing it from the rump NACAI that rejected BLÉ.

1984 Congress had similar motion from Galway withdrawn on the basis that a report from Liam Mulvihill had clarified existing situation.

Security forces (Rule 21)
Executive 27 Feb 1887 passed, with Davin absent: (ML 27-28)
 * The the Hon. Secretaries and Committees of all affiliated clubs about to hold sports or tournaments of any kind under G.A.A. rules be instructed not to receive entries from the members of the R.I.C. under any circumstances; that the members of that body be not eligible for membership of any affiliated club in consequence of their action towards the people throughout the country on almost every occasion that they have been brought into contact with them. This resolution not to apply to the army or navy.

This was ulta vires, because Rule 14 of the 1886 constitution banned the Executive from amending rules; only the Convention could do so. (ML 28) Davin objected on this basis at 11 Apr 1887 Executive meeting but others stood firm and Davin resigned. (ML 28)

Cusack was opposed to the current Executive and objected to non-application of the ban to army and navy; this was because the IRB wanted its army/navy infiltrators to be able to continue in GAA. (ML 28-29)

Nov 1887 Convention reduced IRB influence on Executive. (ML 29) Special Convention 4 Jan 1888 passed: (ML 29)
 * That no member of the Constabulary, including the Dublin Metropolitan Police, be eligible for membership of any affiliated club, or be allowed to compete at any Gaelic sports

16 April 1893 convention removed RIC ban. (ML 32) Later in 1893 Munster Fusiliers club affiliated to Dublin GAA (ML 32)

June 1899 London GAA refused affiliation of Royal Irish Fusiliers team from Colchester. (ML 39)

Convention 1901: (ML 40)
 * That handicappers holding licences from the Association be prevented from officiating at police sports meetings under penalty of having their licences cancelled and that no permits be granted to the promoters of athletic meetings under the auspices of Dublin Castle.

Combined with Rule 27 qv from 1905; new Rule 21 from 1972 replaced abolished Rule 27.

As of 1915 it was Rule 9a; Leix proposed removing the "or participates in dances or similar entertainments promoted by or under the patronage of soldiers or police" clause and also exempting Ireland in the First World War service.

"Ruling of Congress, 1919" was that ex-soldiers stayed banned for 2 years; 1920 motion to reduce to 12 months.

December 1918 council and April 1919 congress per Harry Boland proposal, ban extended to civil servants who took oath of allegiance. Ulster dragged heels between December and March; Ulster Council President as Justice of the Peace had to resign; many teachers affected. 1920 motion to rescind.

Support for Rule 21 in Ulster GAA reflected general antipathy to the British security forces and in particular incidents involving GAA grounds and players; besides Bloody Sunday in 1920, there were incidents during the Troubles of people shot outside GAA grounds, Aidan McAnespie shot on the way to play in a match, the commandeering of Casement Park (after Operation Motorman in 1972) and Crossmaglen Rangers (1971–1998)

Background to removal; Denis Faul supports; debate on whether Good Friday Agreement sufficed, or Army withdrawal, or RUC replacement by PSNI.


 * https://www.rte.ie/archives/2015/0407/692491-will-rule-21-be-debated-at-gaa-congress/ RTÉ News report broadcast 7 April 1995
 * https://www.rte.ie/archives/category/sports/2018/0524/965712-gaa-retain-rule-21/ RTÉ News report broadcast on 30 May 1998
 * https://www.rte.ie/archives/2016/1110/830589-gaa-ends-ban-on-british-security-forces/ RTÉ News report by Marty Morrissey was broadcast on 17 November 2001.

Supporting foreign games (Rule 27)
The "embryo of the Ban which we know to-day" (ML 23) motion at reconvened first convention 27 Feb 1886 proposed by John Cullinan: (ML 23)
 * that affiliated clubs be requested not to play football or hurling matches against any club which is not a properly organised club playing under Gaelic Rules

Intended mainly against rugby. (ML 23) Laune Rangers originally rugby, switched to GAA. (ML 25) Lee Football and Cricket Club was in GAA. (ML 25)


 * Executive meeting 5 June 1886 Davin said clubs playing non-GAA games ineligible for GAA membership. (ML 25)
 * Executive meeting 27 Sep 1886 Davin said players playing non-GAA games ineligible for GAA membership. (ML 25) Michael Joyce opposed. (ML 25) Davin also "only hurling, football, handball and athletic clubs (including gymnasia) can be affiliated". Both Davin motions passed. (ML 27)

Annual Convention 15 Nov 1886 Rule 12: (ML 27)
 * Any member of a club in Ireland playing hurling or football under rules other than those of the G.A.A cannot be a member of the Association and neither can members of any other athletic club in Ireland be members of the G.A.A.

Michael Davitt was a founding patron of the GAA but also a patron of Celtic F.C. of Glasgow, laying the first sod, of Donegal shamrocks, at Celtic Park on 20 March 1892.

Ban removed "quietly at the adjourned Convention of 1896". (ML 32) Cork County Board objected. (ML 33)

Richard T. Blake, GAA secretary 1895-98, as well as administrative reforms ended the ban and added a ban on political discussions. He was ousted by more militant nationalism after the 1798 centenary.

In 1898, Belfast Celtic F.C. rented Celtic Park for a hurling match. Was this possible during the ban, or did paying rent amount to illegal support of a foreign game? Also, Gaelic football played at Wembley Stadium 1950s to 1975.

Re-convened Convention 1901, "the Ban was back in principle" motion passed became Rule 28: (ML 40-41)
 * That we the representatives of the Gaels of Ireland in convention assembled hereby pledge ourselves to resist by every means in our power the extension of English pastimes to this country, as a means of preventing the Anglicisation of our people: that County Committees be empowered to disqualify and suspend members of the Association who countenance sports which are calculated to interfere with the preservation and cultivation of our own national pastimes : that we call on the young men of Ireland not to identify themselves with rugby or Association football or any other form of imported sport which is likely to injuriously affect the national pastimes which the G.A.A. provides for self-respected Irishmen who have no desire to ape foreign manners and customs : that we call on the newspaper press of the country, which does not profess to support alien rule, and on our own public representatives and national organisations to assist the Association in its struggle to crush English pastimes and in its patriotic efforts to make young men more thoroughly and essentially Irish and self-respecting.

Convention 30 Nov 1902: (ML 43)
 * That rule 28 be amended as follows—any member of the Association who plays or encourages in any way rugby or Association football, hockey, or any other imported game which is calculated to injuriously affect our national pastimes, be suspended from the Association and that this resolution apply to all counties in Ireland and England


 * Any member of the Association who plays or encourages in any way rugby, football [sic], hockey or any imported game which is calculated to injuriously effect our National Pastimes, is suspended from the Association (Moore 2012, back cover; also Mullan 1995)

Cronin says the reasons for the 1880-1905 bans are difficult to reconstruct; later advocates asserted they were nationalist. Cronin endorses Rouse's suggestion that the 1880s ban was more about administrative expediency to quash competition, not initially related to its appeals to nationalism. The breadth of opinion within the GAA through to 1922 was retrospectively simplified to fit the ascendant revolutionary narrative.

1905, combined Crown forces and Foreign games rule restored:
 * persons who play rugby, soccer, hockey, cricket or any imported games shall be suspended for two years from the date of playing such games, and this rule to take effect from 1 February 1905. That police, militiamen and soldiers on active service be prevented from playing hurling or football under GAA rules.

I guess "police, soldiers, and sailors on Government service be ineligible to play hurling and football under GAA rules" (Mullan 1996) is inaccurate

As well as the broad national-v-foreign contrast, other comparisons used were amateur-v-professional (soccer); manly-v-effete (cricket, hockey); popular-v-elitist (rugby).

Ulster counties opposed ban because of relative strength of soccer and rugby; GAA was almost non-existent in Derry city for long periods up to the 1930s. Donegal lax enforcement before 1930s. Sligo regularly opposed the ban due to Sligo Rovers strength, what the county GAA centenary history called "an unexplained preference for another code". Conversely, Kerry's significant rugby was over 1900s largely eclipsed gaelic football in part due to the ban. Likewise cricket in Kilkenny by hurling. Ban detrimental in Dublin.

1920 Congress motion proposed "participants in foreign games" not eligible for Schools and Colleges competitions.

Oscar Traynor prominent FF minister and FAI President. "Many soccer supporters accepted that hurling was authentic but tended to view Gaelic football as a somewhat contrived game, designed to provide the GAA with an alternative to soccer and rugby." Traynor in 1928 argued many patriots played non-GAA games; Kevin Barry rugby and cricket.

Éamon de Valera played rugby at Blackrock College; once in politics was circumspect about expressing his enthusiasm publicly. Attended 1938 soccer international with Hyde, but as not a GAA member there was no GAA response.

The ban did not prevent the growth of soccer in urban areas up to 1922, but afterwards in the Irish Free State it contributed to making soccer seem nationalistically suspect.

In the 1930s banned games were deprecated for differing reasons: soccer for professionalism, rugby for elitism, and cricket as unmanly.

The Free State Army and Garda Síochána initially played only Gaelic games. Eoin O'Duffy influential supporter of ban, unusual for pro-treaty.

Meeting between Pat Fanning (GAA president), Neil Blaney (FAI president), John Charles Conroy (judge and IRFU officer) and Ronnie Delaney (Olympic runner) to discuss the future of Irish sport.
 * Early decades controversial and motions to ease ban often raised and sometimes nearly passed.
 * Ban hardened after independence and vigilance committees were established.
 * 1920s annual motions at GAA Congress to drop, until motion that such motions could only be raised every three years.
 * Rumour that Mick Mackey got himself on the vigilance committee to allow him to attend rugby matches. This ruse was common in the 1950s; other times simply ignored.
 * 1920s–30s: FAIFS "uneasy acceptance" of GAA ban, rarely commented on it; more assertive in conflict with IFA.
 * 1940s, controversy over whether Irish Army should allow non-Gaelic games. [zzz need better source to elaborate]
 * University gaelic games clubs until the 1930s were not affiliated to the GAA and did not enforce a ban. The ban was widely ignored in universities in the 1960s, with Sigerson Cup and Fitzgibbon Cup players often also playing intervarsity rugby or soccer.
 * St. Flannan's College Ennis opted out of colleges competition 1928-43 in opposition to the ban.
 * Douglas Hyde made patron of GAA in 1902 but removed in 1938 after attending soccer international as President. Pádraig MacNamee, then GAA President, said soon after, "My only complaint is that we are not half intolerant enough. We and all Irishmen who value the inheritance of the Gael must always be intolerant of everything foreign in this country." Polish consul Wacław Tadeusz Dobrzyński later said had invited Hyde while taking tea at Áras an Uachtaráin, unsure whether the GAA ban might compel him to decline. The FAI sent a written invitation on 3 November; match was on 13 November 1938; on 17 December central council removed him as patron (or rather stated that he had ipso facto removed himself); despite controversy, confirmed by annual congress in April 1939.
 * George Ormsby's ban earlier in 1938 for attending a soccer match was rescinded as he was on duty as a Garda at the time. This might have been a precedent for Hyde, but was not invoked.
 * 1942 Leinster Final, Cavan objected that Dublin player had been seen entering a rugby groiund, but Seamus Gardiner dismissed as witness was not on the Vigilance Committee.
 * 1950s, Westport United F.C. were granted £125 by Westport urban district council, which was cancelled after the GAA lobbied the Department of Local Government.
 * Text as at 1956 and 1971 rulebooks was "Any member who plays, attends, or helps to promote Rugby, Soccer, Hockey, or Cricket thereby incurs automatic suspension from membership of the Association."
 * Paddy Doherty suspended after playing for Ballyclare Comrades
 * Tom Cheasty 1962 (other source says 1963 — between home and overall final of 1963 NHL) attended function in soccer club, 6 month suspension
 * Arrival of television, with broadcast of Irish soccer and rugby internationals, made ban unenforceable.
 * Martin O'Neill played gaelic football for St Malachy's College and soccer for Distillery FC; the 1970 MacRory Cup was moved from Casement Park to Tyrone as the Antrim GAA board objected to O'Neill playing.
 * Schoolboy Ray Cummins was a freelance sports photographer for the Cork Examiner while captain of the Cork 1964 minor hurling team. He admitted taking pictures at a "foreign game" but argued that he left before the match started and was attending for business rather than pleasure. The county board agreed not to suspend him if he desisted.
 * Tom Woulfe, founder of the Civil Service Gaelic Football Club was a key driver of the removal of the ban. He missed his sons' appearances in Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup finals. He got associates to sign letters to newspapers, then wrote opposing letters under pseudonyms to prolong the discussion.
 * 1967 in Galway, an indoor 5 a side soccer cancer-charity tournament between teams gaelic, soccer, and rugby players; ban not applied.
 * 1967 The Steasdfast Rule published. In 1984 Breandán Ó hEithir wrote in Over the Bar, "To read the book now is rather like entering the caves at Mitchelstown to find men dressed in bearskins painting little pictures on the walls".


 * "The idea of dropping the relevant provision, then Rule 27, was first floated by Woulfe and the club in 1959 but it would be another 12 years before the rule was finally deleted at the congress of 1971 in Belfast. At the congresses of 1962, '65 and '68 [motions needed one third support to be raised more than once every three years] the motion to delete attracted rising levels of support - seven, 52 and 88. What secured the success of the campaign was a proposal from Mayo, accepted in 1968, that the GAA examine the reasons behind the prohibition. The motion included provision for a plebiscite of all club members, which ultimately spelt the end of the ban."


 * One argument in favour of abolition was that private rugby-playing schools would start playing Gaelic games; this did not happen to any great extent.
 * https://www.rte.ie/archives/2016/0411/780930-gaa-removes-rule-27/ RTÉ News report broadcast on 11 April 1971
 * "the decision was made in opposition to practically every GAA leader at county, provincial and national level including GAA presidents. It was a motion from the Dunboyne club in Meath, which requested that every GAA club in Ireland should call a special meeting and have their members decide on Rule 27, that led to the Rule being ended with 30 counties voting in favour of abolition. GAA leaders were shocked but were powerless to alter what was the very definition of democracy in the GAA."

GAA players used pseudonyms competing in soccer or rugby.

1971 shortly before conference, Mick O'Connell shown in newspaper photograph at soccer match.

IT 1971 article:
 * Pat Fanning, President, personally opposed but was dignified and ensured temperate.
 * adopted without debate
 * Motion was in name of 27 counties; two opposed (Antrim and Sligo)
 * "the expression of the young men of the country" said Jack Rooney of Antrim
 * "a special committee (to be set up this week) as the basis of a charter for the GAA of the future. Then, he added, a special congress would be called, within six weeks, for the purpose of ratifying that charter" — that would be the 1972 Constitution. Two relevant motions passed
 * membership, registering, protection for chattels, amateurism
 * national culture and industry; only for GAA purposes
 * deletion of Rule 29 (prohibition on the promotion of non-Irish dancing) passed like Rule 27
 * delete Rule 26 (British Service and RUC) not moved; 12 counties sponsored — so it was a separate rule even then.

Dublin–Kerry rivalry of the 70s included players with rugby and soccer experience who revolutionised Gaelic football.

Hosting foreign games (Rule 42)
Rule 42 (since 2009 Rule 5.1, from 2005-2008 Rule 44 ) is a rule of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) which prohibits GAA grounds from being used for field games other than Gaelic games. Discussions of Rule 42 often use the term "foreign games", in quotation marks, as shorthand for the prohibited games, although the text of the rule refers only to "field games other than those sanctioned by Central Council". Rule 27, abolished in 1971, prohibited GAA members from playing or supporting four explicitly named sports: soccer, rugby, field hockey and cricket. Paul Rouse says 'what the GAA still officially describes as “imported games”'. Justified partly as "some attempt to preserve competitive advantage". (See also policy document on ancillary facilities.)

Rule 42 was added in 1971 by Fanning as a sop to those opposed to abolition of Rule 27. Application of wording was unclear. The 1971 congress which voted to abolish Rule 27 also voted to have a special congress within six weeks to draft a new constitution (see RTÉ report). So I guess Rule 42 came in at that later congress. Cronin says new constitution was 1972.

Non-field sports, including track and field athletics and boxing, have been staged under GAA auspices. International rules football obeys the spirit if not the letter of the rule, likewise composite rules shinty–hurling. OTOH American football matches have been staged at Croke Park: why did the ban not apply to them?


 * 1924-32 Tailteann Games — what was staged at Croke Park?
 * 1953: American football — assuming the only ban there was under Rule 27, this did not fall under it.
 * 1968 Waterford United move 1968–69 European Cup match against Manchester United to Lansdowne Road; presumably no question of using a closer GAA stadium.
 * 1971 Limerick FC were refused use of the Gaelic Grounds for 1971–72 European Cup Winners' Cup match against Torino; used Thomond Park instead.
 * 1986 Galway United wanted to move 1986–87 UEFA Cup match against FC Groningen to Pearse Stadium from Terryland Park but were refused. The match was played at Páirc an Chathanaigh, Carraroe, a community-owned pitch used by Carraroe GAA and An Ghaeltacht rugby union club.
 * 1993: previous (to 2010) policy review (by subcommittee ) of implementation of Rule 42.
 * 1996: Shamrock Classic American football — unlike the 1953 match, this definitely fell under the Rule 42 ban.
 * 1998 Omagh bombing soccer friendlies between Omagh Town F.C. and three English Premier League clubs could not be held in Healy Park, Omagh's 20,000-capacity GAA stadium. The soccer ground's capacity was raised to 7,000 by temporary seating costing £70,000, and a total of £15,000 was raised for the victims' fund. The GAA rejected allegations of lack of generosity, and separately donated £100,000 from Central Council and an estimated £1m from clubs.
 * 2001 nearly passed, response to Bertie Bowl proposal.
 * 2003 rejected plan for 1971-style club referendum
 * In 2005–2007 Thomas Davis GAA protested against Tallaght Stadium being developed by South Dublin County Council without accommodating a full-size GAA pitch.


 * https://www.rte.ie/archives/2015/0216/680549-plans-to-debate-rule-42/ RTÉ News report by Eamon Horan broadcast on 16 February 2005
 * https://www.rte.ie/archives/category/sports/2015/0416/694483-rule-42-temporarily-lifted/ Tony O’Donoghue on 16 April 2005
 * https://www.rte.ie/archives/2016/1025/826780-gaa-floodlights-for-croke-park/ RTÉ News report by Justin Treacy broadcast on 2 November 2006
 * Early 2009 Nemo Rangers investigated after Irish rugby squad trained at its indoor facility. One suggested loophole was that the facility rental was controlled by a separate legal entity, albeit connected to the club. Ultimately the GAA accepted the excuse that Nemo was unware of the identity of the group, which made the booking at the last minute after its PBC Cork training pitch was frozen. Journalist Donnchadh Boyle said the precedent made the rule unenforceable. "Rental of all-weather pitches largely given a blind eye until the high-profile Nemo incident".
 * December 2009 Faythe Harriers GAA investigated in for alleged soccer rental. Journalist Cliona Foley points out that in post-2008 Irish economic downturn clubs need to maximise revenue to survive. Let off with "wrists slapped".
 * 2010 Croke Park temporary rule made permanent. Had raised €36m rent money. The FAI released a statement:
 * We have had a number of queries from administrators and fans in relation to the situation. ... It was on the premise presented to both the FAI and the IRFU that Croke Park under no circumstances would be available to Rugby and Football after the completion of the new stadium (now called Aviva Stadium), that the plans and financial models were created for the new stadium. ... All of the contracts including the naming rights, the catering contract, the pouring rights, box sales and premium seat sales were done in the knowledge that all football and rugby internationals will be played in the new stadium from 2010 onwards.
 * August 2010: Central Council introduced an "operational policy", summarised in March 2011 in General Secretary Páraic Duffy's annual report. It "clearly distinguished between ancillary facilities and playing pitches ... ancillary facilities are defined as clubhouses, halls, dressing-rooms, handball alleys, meeting rooms, indoor halls, non-full-size Astroturf facilities, squash, basketball or tennis courts". Full-size pitches can't be rented to anyone; others can be rented to "groups of individuals, for recreational purposes" but not to "rival organisations". Applies to matches and training.
 * 2011: Punishment reduced from automatic suspension; Motion 27, from Central Council, passed: "Any unit that breaks the rule on letting its property to rival sports be subject to a fine rather than suspension." [this synopsis seems more liberal than the 2018 text]. Seen as response to recent controversies. "The severity of the [old] penalty has led to reluctance to implement it".
 * 2013 2027 Rugby World Cup proposal carried by 93%.
 * 2014: Ancillary facilities policy revised.
 * 2015 Limerick GAA county board responded to reports of soccer and rugby events at GAA grounds by circulating the 2010 document Broad Policy on Use of GAA facilities, which states "The Gaelic Athletic Association has a policy not to provide the use of its Grounds or facilities for rival field sports in respect of which the Association is in competition for membership and participation".
 * 2016 proposal by Clare, to allow Central Council to allow use of county grounds as well as Croke Park, was defeated by a 235 to 77% of Congress votes.
 * 2016 Dromard GAA, County Longford fined €2000 (reduced by Central Hearings Committee from €3000 proposed by Management Committee) for allowing UCL Harps FC to use its astroturf pitch for a soccer camp hosted by Jamie Carragher.
 * May 2016 Connacht Rugby won the 2015–16 Pro12 and qualified for 2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup and wanted larger venue than its 7,800-capacity home, Galway Sportsgrounds. Connacht GAA ruled out using Pearse Stadium or MacHale Park (capacity 26,000 and 38,000 respectively).
 * 2018 allowing grounds outside Ireland to host other sports
 * 2019 allow county grounds with permission.
 * 2019 Naomh Colmcille club in Newtowncunningham held a charity soccer tournament despite being refused permission; its senior teams were banned for 8 weeks — not for foreign games, but for "unauthorised tournament" (Rule 6.40). On appeal this was reduced to 12 weeks' loss of home venue and a €500 fine.

Liam Miller
Summer 2018 controversy over whether Cork GAA could or should allow Liam Miller tribute match to be moved from 	 Turners Cross (capacity 7,485) to Páirc Uí Chaoimh (capacity 45,000). After initially stating that its rules prevented it, the GAA met the organisers and agreed to allow it. Journalists specialising in GAA coverage differed in ascribing the change pressure from variously the general public, the media and politicians. Commentary:
 * Joe Leogue:
 * real questions need to be asked as to whether the GAA rulebook runs contrary to the terms under which they took taxpayers’ money for Páirc Uí Chaoimh ... We know the Department of Transport, Tourism, and Sport has a sports capital unit that oversees grant funding and that its officials were involved in talks with the GAA over the Páirc saga. What we don’t know is what conclusions these officials have drawn from this controversy. Our political leaders have been careful to avoid expressing any conclusive remarks on this aspect of the issue. The onus is now on these policymakers to establish definitive clarity as to what the terms of the public funding of Páirc Uí Chaoimh means for access to the stadium in future.
 * Martin Breheny:
 * the GAA's decision to backtrack ... was made because of enormous political pressure. ... It's worrying for everybody as it shows that the Government is prepared to meddle in areas where it should not be involved. ... [allegedly] the €30 million Government grant was made on the basis that the facility would be made available for broad community activity. Was that written into the agreement? Surely Government officials knew the GAA rules on use of grounds and would have demanded a change at the time. As for the GAA, they would have spotted the implications of such a condition and addressed it.
 * Paul Rouse:
 * government policy continues to be predicated on the notion that there are GAA grounds and there are other grounds. Every penny given to the GAA and to other sporting organisations has understood the divide and has never sorted to bridge that divide. The idea of municipal stadia — so central in other countries — has never been attempted in Ireland.

Tom Ryan, GAA director general, in 2018 annual report:
 * As a governing body charged with trying to uphold standards, we should not be in the business of finding ways around our own rules. I personally should certainly not be. Nonetheless as the days progressed it became evident that to not 'find a way' would only do the Association more reputational damage, however unjustified. So that is what we did - we found a way around our own rules. That is something I am still very uncomfortable with. ... The mechanics involved identifying a legal route, establishing independently its validity, and convening at two days notice our voluntary Central Council from all around the country and overseas to a difficult meeting. ... I don’t think any of us were enthusiastic about the outcome we reached. The overwhelming sentiment being that we felt we had been bullied into a course of action that we might well have taken anyway if give the chance.
 * This little account is still relevant today for two reasons.
 * There was an inference at the time that the GAA should be under some moral, if not legal, compulsion to allow the use of our pitches for other sports because the Association, or the specific pitch, had received public funding. This is not factually correct and is not morally defensible. Any funding we receive is, and should continue to be, predicated solely on the intrinsic value of Gaelic Games.I am not aware of any other sporting organisation being assessed on the degree to which it promotes rival sports. And nor should they be.
 * The process we undertook during the summer involved conceding that there was an ambiguity in our property rules, and asking Central Council to reach an interpretation. A necessary consequence of this is that we ask Congress to address that perceived ambiguity. There is a motion before delegates to do precisely that this weekend

Text

 * Basic rule since at latest 2003:
 * Uses of Property
 * (a) All property including grounds, Club Houses, Halls, Dressing Rooms and Handball Alleys owned or controlled by units of the Association shall be used only for the purpose of or in connection with the playing of the Games controlled by the Association, and for such other purposes not in conflict with the Aims and Objects of the Association, that may be sanctioned from time to time by the Central Council.
 * (b) Grounds controlled by Association units shall not be used or permitted to be used, for Horse Racing, Greyhound Racing, or for Field Games other than those sanctioned by Central Council.

Other rules:
 * 3 "promote and control the National games of Hurling, Gaelic Football, Handball and Rounders, and such other games"
 * 4 (a) "Irish culture ... national ideals" (b) "Camogie and Ladies Gaelic Football" (c) "Irish Industry"
 * 5 "solely to the above aims"
 * 46 (a) "All property ...[used] exclusively for the purpose of playing Gaelic Football, Hurling and Handball, and for such purposes, not in conflict with the Aims and Objects of the Association, that may be sanctioned from time to time by the Central Council." (b)–(g) specifics of trustees to own property
 * 47 "acting contrary to Rules 44 or 46 ... automatic suspension"
 * 76(e)/77(f) "[The functions of Annual Congress shall be...] To determine Association policy in broad outline."
 * 146(a)/147(g) Discipline Procedure, "notice in writing ... Exceptions ... Rule 47."

Camogie
Camogie's various governing bodies have always been separate from the GAA. In 1935, Cumann Camógaíochta na nGael's ban on field hockey was lifted after a proposal from Dublin clubs, prompting a split which lasted until the 1950s after mainly Ulster clubs formed the rival National Camógaíocht Association.

Foreign culture
Foreign music added to Rule 27 ban from 1929–32. Foreign dance ban dropped in 1971. (Distinction between music and dance is not clear from Rouse.) Opposed jazz music, supported traditional Irish music and Irish dancing.

Anti-jazz campaign was being by Gaelic League and led to Public Dance Halls Act 1935.

Stanley 2018 says 1930 motion declaring it illegal for clubs to promote foreign dances, defied by a club in Derry; and generally a "remarkable degree of non-compliance by GAA members".

LUP says that "foreign dances" were banned, but not defined, in March 1932. Camogie Association same ban January 1935.

I think a 1968 Down motion, to except "old-time waltzing and old-time dances" from the ban, was passed and thus prevailed until the full repeal in 1971.

The Artane Boys Band's performances in Croke Park before finals was restricted to Irish music. When the band leader added "In the Mood" to the program one year, the crowd applauded but the chief steward warned against any repetition. As a county anthem for Kerry, "The Rose of Tralee" was forbidden, so "Fáinne Geal an Lae" was chosen, which few people recognised.

Introduction of Scór in 1969 may have interacted with removal of ban.

How about Irish showbands? First stadium rock may have been Siamsa Cois Laoi; first Croke Park may have been U2 in 1985; Féile from 1990 was a festival.

For review

 * Administrative documents 1913–1923 GAA Museum centenary exhibition


 * [has accounts of all conventions]
 * possibly revised from:
 * revised from:
 * possibly revised from:
 * revised from:
 * revised from:
 * revised from:


 * [online title "The Ban: Vigilance committees and the policing of Irishness"]
 * [online title "The Ban: Vigilance committees and the policing of Irishness"]
 * [online title "The Ban: Vigilance committees and the policing of Irishness"]

Main topic

 * Chapter 2, reprint of
 * Chapter 5, reprint of
 * Chapter 2, reprint of
 * Chapter 5, reprint of
 * Chapter 2, reprint of
 * Chapter 5, reprint of
 * Chapter 2, reprint of
 * Chapter 5, reprint of
 * Chapter 2, reprint of
 * Chapter 5, reprint of
 * Chapter 2, reprint of
 * Chapter 5, reprint of
 * Chapter 5, reprint of

Side topic

 * "There is full discussion in Volume II concerning the role of Dublin GAA in pushing the agenda on Rule 27"
 * (Willie McGee hears "Burrishoole" chant in Dalymount Park)
 * "There is full discussion in Volume II concerning the role of Dublin GAA in pushing the agenda on Rule 27"
 * (Willie McGee hears "Burrishoole" chant in Dalymount Park)
 * "There is full discussion in Volume II concerning the role of Dublin GAA in pushing the agenda on Rule 27"
 * (Willie McGee hears "Burrishoole" chant in Dalymount Park)
 * "There is full discussion in Volume II concerning the role of Dublin GAA in pushing the agenda on Rule 27"
 * (Willie McGee hears "Burrishoole" chant in Dalymount Park)
 * "There is full discussion in Volume II concerning the role of Dublin GAA in pushing the agenda on Rule 27"
 * (Willie McGee hears "Burrishoole" chant in Dalymount Park)
 * (Willie McGee hears "Burrishoole" chant in Dalymount Park)
 * (Willie McGee hears "Burrishoole" chant in Dalymount Park)