Gaelic Athletic Association

Compiled: Martin Melaugh ... Additional Material: Brendan Lynn and Fionnuala McKenna Material is added to this site on a regular basis - information on this page may change Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) The GAA was founded in 1884 to promote those sports which were indigenous to Ireland. At the same time the aim was to discourage British influence on sporting and other cultural aspects of life in Ireland. Hence there was, at one time, a rule in the GAA rulebook that forbid members from playing 'foreign' games such as cricket and soccer. A recent controversy involving the GAA concerned 'Rule 21' which prohibited members of the (British) security forces, such as the British Army and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), from joining any GAA club. The GAA held a special congress in Dublin on 17 November 2001 and following a debate voted to remove Rule 21 from its rulebook. Approximately 80 per cent of the delegates voted to remove the rule. Among the six counties in Northern Ireland, County Down voted to drop the rule while the other five counties voted to retain the rule. A number of members of the GAA have been killed by Loyalist paramilitary organisations and some members have been killed in disputed circumstances by the security forces. The British Army (BA) also occupied part of the grounds of Crossmaglen Rangers Gaelic Football Club. Despite competition from soccer the most popular sport in Ireland remains Gaelic football. Hurling - a fast and physical field sport played with a ball and hurling sticks - is also very popular in Ireland. [Web Site ] Garda Síochána (Irish for 'Guardians of the Peace') synonyms: An Garda Síochána; Irish Police An Garda Síochána - Ireland's National Police Service - has its headquarters in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, Republic of Ireland. The general direction, management and control of An Garda Síochána is the responsibility of the Commissioner, who is appointed by the Government. He is responsible to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform who in turn is accountable to the Dáil (the Irish Legislature). During the conflict nine Garda Síochána officers were killed. [Web Site ] Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition (GRRC) The Garvaghy Road Residents Group (later the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition; GRRC) was formed by Nationalists in Portadown in 1995. The main aim of the group was to highlight what they saw as the provocative nature of Orange Order marches along the Garvaghy Road. The group has held protests at Orange parades and attempted to have the marches, mainly the Drumcree church parade and the Twelfth feeder parades, re-routed. (See: Section on parades .) Glencree Centre for Reconciliation (GCR) The group was formed in 1974 to try to improve relations between the Republic of Ireland and its neighbours in particular Northern Ireland. Glencree provides facilities for individuals and groups who wish to explore issues of conflict resolution and prejudice reduction. Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective (GARC) The Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective (GARC) was one of a number of residents groups set up, in nationalist areas across Northern Ireland, to protest at loyal order parades. GARC was established in 2009 following violence after an Orange Order parade passed along the Crumlin Road close to Ardoyne. The GARC appeared to be opposed to Sinn Féin and it was reported in the media that it was aligned with dissident republicans; a claim it denied. GARC appeared to have been established as an alternative to the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents Association (CARA ). "The Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective was established in 2009 in response to Loyal Order Parades being forced through our community. That regularly cause militarised curfews, inevitable rioting, negative community tensions and the demonisation of Ardoyne residents. The primary function of G.A.R.C. is to properly represent the opinion of greater Ardoyne and prevent future secterian marches. No Parades - No Violence". Blog e