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31/10/2001
Armagh and Derry vote to retain Rule 21
The GAA county boards of Armagh and Derry have voted against scrapping Rule 21, which bans members of the RUC and British army from joining the Gaelic Athletic Association.
News from the two hardcore counties against removing Rule 21 comes as results from the nine Ulster counties on the rule begin to stream in. The Fermanagh county board is to debate the rule on Monday 5 November with Tyrone making its decision the following day.
However the majority of southern counties are in favour of abolishing the ban on British security personnel from playing GAA. But a change is not possible without the backing of the Ulster counties.
In order to tackle the controversial issue the GAA central council announced that a special congress is being held on 17 November to decide whether the rule should be retained.
The last time Rule 21 was debated at national level, the GAA reached a compromise and decided the ban would be deleted if effective steps were taken to implement structures and policing arrangements envisaged in the Good Friday Agreement.
Recent movements on policing within Northern Ireland, which have been backed by the nationalist SDLP and the Catholic Church, although not by Sinn Féin, have shifted attitudes within the Gaelic association.
Rule 21 has been the most controversial regulation in the GAA’s rulebook. Opponents describe it as outdated, but previous attempts to scrap the security forces ban have been scuppered by fierce resistance from the GAA’s grassroots in Ulster. (AMcE)
News from the two hardcore counties against removing Rule 21 comes as results from the nine Ulster counties on the rule begin to stream in. The Fermanagh county board is to debate the rule on Monday 5 November with Tyrone making its decision the following day.
However the majority of southern counties are in favour of abolishing the ban on British security personnel from playing GAA. But a change is not possible without the backing of the Ulster counties.
In order to tackle the controversial issue the GAA central council announced that a special congress is being held on 17 November to decide whether the rule should be retained.
The last time Rule 21 was debated at national level, the GAA reached a compromise and decided the ban would be deleted if effective steps were taken to implement structures and policing arrangements envisaged in the Good Friday Agreement.
Recent movements on policing within Northern Ireland, which have been backed by the nationalist SDLP and the Catholic Church, although not by Sinn Féin, have shifted attitudes within the Gaelic association.
Rule 21 has been the most controversial regulation in the GAA’s rulebook. Opponents describe it as outdated, but previous attempts to scrap the security forces ban have been scuppered by fierce resistance from the GAA’s grassroots in Ulster. (AMcE)
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07 November 2001
Donegal GAA County Board vote to scrap Rule 21
Donegal has become the first Ulster County to back the abolition of the Gaelic Athletic Association’s controversial Rule 21 which bans members of the British Army from playing Gaelic games.
Donegal GAA County Board vote to scrap Rule 21
Donegal has become the first Ulster County to back the abolition of the Gaelic Athletic Association’s controversial Rule 21 which bans members of the British Army from playing Gaelic games.
19 November 2001
Rule 21 is ‘history’ says GAA president
The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) has voted to scrap its controversial Rule 21 which bans members of the security forces playing Gaelic games. The organisation made the decision at a special congress convened in Dublin on Saturday November 17.
Rule 21 is ‘history’ says GAA president
The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) has voted to scrap its controversial Rule 21 which bans members of the security forces playing Gaelic games. The organisation made the decision at a special congress convened in Dublin on Saturday November 17.
16 November 2001
Down GAA breaks with tradition on Rule 21
County Down is the first Northern Ireland Gaelic Athletic Association board to vote to scrap Rule 21, which prevents members of the security forces joining. The county’s GAA board made the decision at a meeting on Thursday November 16.
Down GAA breaks with tradition on Rule 21
County Down is the first Northern Ireland Gaelic Athletic Association board to vote to scrap Rule 21, which prevents members of the security forces joining. The county’s GAA board made the decision at a meeting on Thursday November 16.
21 August 2001
GAA repeat intent to abolish Rule 21
The GAA has confirmed its intent to abolish controversial Rule 21 which bars members of the British security forces from playing the sport.
GAA repeat intent to abolish Rule 21
The GAA has confirmed its intent to abolish controversial Rule 21 which bars members of the British security forces from playing the sport.
13 November 2001
Cavan and Monaghan vote to scrap GAA’s Rule 21
Cavan and Monaghan Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) county committees have backed the proposal to delete the GAA’s controversial Rule 21, which bans members of the British Army from playing Gaelic games. On Monday, November 12, the majority of Monaghan GAA county committee voted to support the abolition of Rule 21.
Cavan and Monaghan vote to scrap GAA’s Rule 21
Cavan and Monaghan Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) county committees have backed the proposal to delete the GAA’s controversial Rule 21, which bans members of the British Army from playing Gaelic games. On Monday, November 12, the majority of Monaghan GAA county committee voted to support the abolition of Rule 21.
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