IN ALL FAIRNESS - GAA need to explain charities jersey ban
Sometimes in life you deserve the criticism that comes your way for a bad decision and this week the GAA certainly deserve it.
Following a recent meeting of the GAA’s Ard Comhairle, it was announced, rather surprisingly, that units would not be allowed to promote charities, campaigns etc... on playing gear, citing “there are other ways to promote these without modifying playing gear.”
Talk about shooting ones self in the foot or both feet as in the GAA’s case. First of all, it is hard to know where this has come from. Was there crowing concern or complaints regarding charities or campaign’s being carried on playing gear? It had to come from somewhere or someone as it wouldn’t have made it to the Ard Comhairle clár otherwise. To then compound the situation, Ard Comhairle voted it into regulation which comes into effect immediately.
In essence, what it means is when Tipperary face Limerick in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship on May 21st next at FBD Semple Stadium, both sides will now not be allowed to wear once-off specially designed jerseys carrying the Dillon Quirke Foundation logo as part of the fundraising effort for the charity which is aiming to raise money to set-up a screening program for SADS (Sudden Adult Death Syndrome) which will save the lives of boys and girls around the country.
The GAA prides itself as a community organisation with a strong connection to its roots in each and every parish in the community, but there is no one that I have come across, that can understand why this decision has been taken.
One wonder what this now means. The Portroe club have carried the Pieta House logo on their jerseys for a couple of years now, so are they now in breach of GAA rule and have to go and get a new set of jerseys. A few years ago, the Roscommon teams carried the logo of Roscommon Hospice but that is not allowed anymore, it would appear.
What makes this more unfathomable is that charities cannot be allowed to be promoted on playing gear but it is still okay to carry logos of betting companies or public houses which promoted alcohol consumption, but it is not okay for a county to promote a cause that can only do good.
We still haven’t gotten an explanation from the GAA of the reasoning behind it, which would allow its members to decide for themselves whether there is any merit in it. As it stands, there is absolutely none.