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The Irish Republican Socialist Party in Dublin today spoke out against what it described as 'external pressures' placed upon the GAA and called on that organisation to now place a 'ban' on the British national anthem from being played on their most historical ground at Croke Park.
In a statement issued by the IRSP in Dublin, spokesperson John Murtagh said: "Firstly, I would like to state that today's decision to create changes to the GAA's controversial Rule 42 was a decision for the entire membership of our national sports organisation to take alone. However it must be said clearly that outside forces ensured that this wasn't going to be the case. Today's decision will now allow the likes of soccer and rugby to be played in Croke Park under certain circumstances. "It is our opinion that GAA has undoubtedly bowed to the external pressures and the media spin brought on for some time now to endorse changes to that organisation's controversial Rule 42 would be made. We have already had the sickening endorsements following today's vote from both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste who openly welcome the GAA decision. Can this really be described as a 'good day for sport'? "It is a very sad day in the opinion of many, many republicans and for the corps of people who lost relatives in what was to become historically known as Bloody Sunday. Twelve innocent GAA spectators murdered by British auxiliaries within the grounds of Croke Park on the 21st November 1921. It is for that reason that we would call upon the GAA to honour the memory those murdered by British forces by formally outlawing the British national anthem from being played before any international games at Croke Park. Maybe then many who objected to changes to Rule 42 could at least gain some comfort and honour in today's tragic decision." STATEMENT ENDS |