Anger over ‘GAA’ hunger strike tops
SINN Fein have been slammed for “using the GAA” to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the hunger strike.
An event to mark the launch of a shirt – which has ‘Long Kesh 81’ emblazoned on the back – by party president Gerry Adams was postponed yesterday.
When contacted by the News Letter, a Sinn Fein spokesman said the shirt had “nothing to do with the GAA” and said the jersey would be launched at a later date.
However, on Sinn Fein’s online shop, the shirt is being sold as the ‘1981-2011 GAA JERSEY’.
A spokesman for the Ulster GAA council said they had “no knowledge” of the commemorative top.
“There has been absolutely no authorisation for this top from the GAA,” said the spokesperson.
“However there is nothing to stop someone reproducing a shirt similar to the GAA shirts, but they cannot use our logos and therefore the shirts would not be GAA tops.
“The GAA is a non-political organisation and we have nothing to do with this shirt at all.”
Edwin Poots, who became the first DUP politician to attend a gaelic football match in an official capacity in 2008, accused Sinn Fein of “using the GAA”.
“I remember well five years ago, when Sinn Fein released a GAA type jersey for the hunger strike’s 25th anniversary, and that caused nothing but trouble and as far I could see, very few people even bought the tops,” he said.
“I think it is very unfortunate that Sinn Fein have again sought to use the GAA as a means to market this top.
“This will do nothing but create suspicion among unionists over a link between the GAA and the political agenda of republicans and it very unfair that a sporting organisation like the GAA has been dragged into this through no apparent fault of their own.”
Mr Poots said that he welcomed the fact that the event to launch the shirt was postponed yesterday. He said: “I think it is very important that Sinn Fein reflect on the damage they have done to the GAA by seeking to promote their own activities.
“It is vitally important that sporting groups in Northern Ireland including the GAA are not used for political purposes in this way.”
Sinn Fein’s online store described the item as “GAA merchandise with a difference”.
“This beautiful GAA shirt commemorates the 30th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike.”
