GAA stalls proposal to kick out Irish Guards team

The GAA's Central Council has put the brakes on attempts by one of its London clubs to eject the Irish Guards.

In September the association narrowly voted to admit a team from the regiment – made up overwhelmingly of Irish men – into the London Junior Championship. It was the first British regiment ever to be accepted, as UK armed forces were banned until 2001.

However, in an email sent from the London County Board to club representatives last week, London hurling club Granuaile proposed rescinding the regiment’s membership.

The club has refused to explain the move, saying it would only do so at committee.

A spokesman for the GAA emphasised that the association was not moving to eject the regiment but that “one club unit in London” had tabled the motion.

He added: “Only they can confirm the rationale behind their submission of this proposal. At central level, after concerns around procedural issues in relation to rescinding the affiliation of a club unit, the GAA at central level has asked the London County Committee, to defer any discussion or vote on this topic until the Management Committee and Central Council of the Association meet this weekend.”

A spokesman for the Irish Guards said it was an internal GAA matter.

There is no official British Army team but the Irish Guards play the game in their own time, he said. “This is a team made up of young men who for the most part played the game when at school in Ireland.”

UUP councillor and former Royal Irish Army captain Doug Beattie said the GAA had taken “huge strides forward in its attempt to be inclusive,” in recent years. He also commended the organisation’s leadership for “putting the brakes” on the proposal from the London club. “It would be absolutely ironic if Irish GAA players in London are attempting to exclude other Irish GAA players on account of their employment,” he added.

South Down TUV councillor and former Irish Ranger Henry Reilly said he was not surprised by the London club’s proposal.

“A few years ago they [a Tyrone GAA club] ran a competition for under 12s where children were presented with medals bearing the picture of a dead IRA man,” he said. “Similarly they name both grounds and competitions after IRA terrorists.”