Pride

From its position at the rear of Hill 16, the camera caught Croke Park in all its glory. After an evening of unrivalled entertainment involving free flowing & high scoring football, music, fireworks and a spectacular light show, it was the final scene which threatened to tug a tear from our drunken eyes. The light show was in its final act. The Cusack Stand stood cast in a green haze, The Canal End in white and The Hogan Stand in orange. Croke Park, illuminated by the tricolour, our country's flag, sat still in honour of the fantastic association we call the G.A.A.

It was the kick-off of the 125th Anniversary celebrations of the Association and the G.A.A. pulled out all the stops. As with most things they do, there was no shortage of criticisim ahead of the big night. The expense associated with the evening was most people's main agitator. However, for any Irish person watching from their seat in Croke Park, at home or in the pub, it could not have failed to stir the emotions.

The G.A.A. is an organisation which consistently heralds the volunteers who cut the grass, paint the posts, train the teams and wash the jerseys (to name just a few of their activities). The night was as much about celebrating their work over the past 125 years as it was the anniversary itself.

I watched the evening unfold from my perch in de Valera's in Place Flagey, Brussels. Sitting with Kerry, Cavan, Cork, Dublin, Wicklow, Tipperary and Donegal men & women, the pride which emanated from our section of the bar was immense. The banter flew from table to table as Dublin and Tyrone gave a footballing endorsement of the new rules. I chuckled as I watched the Dubs in our company leap with excitement as they took the lead in the closing stages. However, at the final whistle their heads hung low as the Red Hands swept them aside. From a Dublin point of view it was probably an ideal result as it keeps their notoriously high expectations in check for another week or two and will let the team continue its prepartions in a more realistic environment.

Some quality but inappropriately timed live music was overwhelming the sound from the TV so practically all the dialogue and music was lost to us. Still, we sat in awe as the fireworks and lightshow released the energy of thousands of G.A.A. members across the country. Personally, it made me feel incredibly proud to be part of the G.A.A. and to be Irish. I don't know how those at home felt but for all of us watching from abroad, it succeeded in bringing a tear to my eyes and those around me.

Ten or twenty minutes of chest beating and self-appreciation followed the end of the show. However, as you would expect from any gathering of the G.A.A. the emotion became localised very quickly and heated debates ensued regarding all things G.A.A., with the Cork hurlers featuring prominently, and they continued late into the night.

What an organisation it is. Binding us together and contributing strongly to our national identity, making us proud of the counties from which we hail, but more importantly, giving our towns & villages and their people, the sense of community and togetherness from which they can thrive.