ártybhoy
10-29-2007, 04:30 PM
Hijacking of Sam Maguire trophy
RSF news - Republican Sinn Fein - http://rsf.ie
Press Release/Preas Ráiteas
Phone: +353-1-872 9747
Fax: +353-1-872 9757
e-mail: saoirse@iol.ie
rsf.ie
For release
29ú Deireadh/Fómhair 2007
Republican Sinn Féin
Teach Dáithí Ó Conaill,
223 Parnell Street
Dublin 1, Ireland
Sinn Féin Poblachtach
Teach Dáithí Ó Conaill,
223 Sráid Pharnell, BÁC 1, Éire
For further information contact:
Des Dalton:
Vice-President: 086-329 1809
Ruairí Óg Ó Brádaigh
Publicity Officer: Dublin 872 9747,
087-648 2061
‘Sam Maguire’ used to normalise British rule
Statement by Republican Sinn Féin Vice President Des Dalton
Referring to the use of the GAA’s Sam Maguire All-Ireland Senior
football trophy in the so-called ‘International Police Gaelic Football
Tournament’ in London on October 26/27 involving the RUC/PSNI RSF Vice
President Des Dalton said:
“The hijacking of the Sam Maguire trophy to help in the normalisation
of British rule in Ireland is an abuse of a symbol of Irish national
independence and unity. Each year the Sam Maguire trophy is presented to
the winners of the Senior All-Ireland football championship, as such it
symbolises the essential unity of the Irish nation, something which is
denied by the Stormont and St Andrew’s agreements.
“The campaign of normalising the continued British occupation of
Ireland is insidious. This is not the first time that an important symbol of
Irish cultural historical identity has been abused in this way. In
February the England rugby team was hosted in Croke Park, along with the
playing of the English national anthem ‘God save the Queen’ there,
whilst in August Pairc Elser in Newry was used for the playing of a hurling
match involving the British colonial police.
“In recent years the Sam Maguire trophy has been brought to Stormont,
in order to lend that assembly, a bulwark of partition and British rule,
legitimacy in nationalist eyes. The irony of using a symbol of the
unity of the historic Irish nation for such a purpose is not lost on those
who organise such events. As a member of the GAA I am immensely proud
of all that our Association has contributed to the Irish people at home
and abroad in sporting, social and cultural terms. The GAA should not
allow itself to be co-opted into aiding the normalisation of British
rule in our country. “
RSF news - Republican Sinn Fein - http://rsf.ie
Press Release/Preas Ráiteas
Phone: +353-1-872 9747
Fax: +353-1-872 9757
e-mail: saoirse@iol.ie
rsf.ie
For release
29ú Deireadh/Fómhair 2007
Republican Sinn Féin
Teach Dáithí Ó Conaill,
223 Parnell Street
Dublin 1, Ireland
Sinn Féin Poblachtach
Teach Dáithí Ó Conaill,
223 Sráid Pharnell, BÁC 1, Éire
For further information contact:
Des Dalton:
Vice-President: 086-329 1809
Ruairí Óg Ó Brádaigh
Publicity Officer: Dublin 872 9747,
087-648 2061
‘Sam Maguire’ used to normalise British rule
Statement by Republican Sinn Féin Vice President Des Dalton
Referring to the use of the GAA’s Sam Maguire All-Ireland Senior
football trophy in the so-called ‘International Police Gaelic Football
Tournament’ in London on October 26/27 involving the RUC/PSNI RSF Vice
President Des Dalton said:
“The hijacking of the Sam Maguire trophy to help in the normalisation
of British rule in Ireland is an abuse of a symbol of Irish national
independence and unity. Each year the Sam Maguire trophy is presented to
the winners of the Senior All-Ireland football championship, as such it
symbolises the essential unity of the Irish nation, something which is
denied by the Stormont and St Andrew’s agreements.
“The campaign of normalising the continued British occupation of
Ireland is insidious. This is not the first time that an important symbol of
Irish cultural historical identity has been abused in this way. In
February the England rugby team was hosted in Croke Park, along with the
playing of the English national anthem ‘God save the Queen’ there,
whilst in August Pairc Elser in Newry was used for the playing of a hurling
match involving the British colonial police.
“In recent years the Sam Maguire trophy has been brought to Stormont,
in order to lend that assembly, a bulwark of partition and British rule,
legitimacy in nationalist eyes. The irony of using a symbol of the
unity of the historic Irish nation for such a purpose is not lost on those
who organise such events. As a member of the GAA I am immensely proud
of all that our Association has contributed to the Irish people at home
and abroad in sporting, social and cultural terms. The GAA should not
allow itself to be co-opted into aiding the normalisation of British
rule in our country. “