Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Thar ceann Sheanad Éireann, is mian liom fáilte chroíúil a chur roimh uachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, an tUasal Seán Ó hÓráin.

On behalf of Seanad Éireann, I wish to warmly welcome the president of the Gaelic Athletic Association, Mr. John Horan, who has been invited by the Seanad to address the House in accordance with Standing Order 57(2), which provides for addresses by "representatives and persons in civic and public life".

I understand that he is accompanied here today by his wife, Paula, and sons, Jack and Liam, his sisters, Mary and Therese, and their husbands, as well as Alan Milton and Teresa Rehill from Croke Park headquarters. They are also most welcome to the House today.

I also wish to acknowledge the presence of John Costello, chief executive officer of the Dublin GAA county board, Jim Bolger, Leinster GAA council chairman and John Cregan, chairman of Limerick GAA, the county that won the All-Ireland last year, we think. I also welcome Bob Ryan who is a senior figure in Cork GAA. He is a former chairman of the county board and is now a member of the central council. There are probably many others that I am neglecting to mention but if I get a reminder I shall come back to them.

Mr. Horan, may I congratulate you on your election as president of the GAA in what I understand was a landslide victory in 2017? You, therefore, have a strong mandate and I wish you well in your tenure in this very important role. I hear you grew up in a staunch GAA environment and that there was little chance of you escaping Croke Park and the GAA, having lived on Marguerite Road in Glasnevin, which is only a couple of long pucks from Jones's Road and rumbles to the roar of big crowds on match days.

The GAA is Ireland's largest and oldest amateur sporting and cultural organisation. It is steeped in history, culture and tradition. It has played, and continues to play, a pivotal role in the lives and hearts of Irish people and in Irish culture. It is about building a sense of community and identity at both local and national level. It reflects society in a very real way. It was in recognition of the GAA's influential role and impact on all aspects of Irish life and culture that we invited Mr. Horan to address Seanad Éireann today. The grassroots of the GAA can be found in every town and village, in every school and parish in this country and, indeed, beyond. The thousands of volunteer men and women around the country play a vital role in the GAA.

Coming as I do from the great county of Cork, the rebel county, I am sure he will forgive me if I make reference to some iconic names from the rebel county. I am thinking of the great hurler, Christy Ring, the great ladies footballer and camogie player, Rena Buckley and I cannot forget our famous former Taoiseach, Jack Lynch, who graced Croke Park in both codes.

He was an outstanding hurler and gave epic performances on our GAA fields. He also graced the Houses of the Oireachtas as Taoiseach.

I wish to quote a few lines from the song written by Brian McNamara to the air of "Old Skibbereen" - I will not sing it - which captured the brilliance of Christy in his "Song for Christy Ring":

How oft I've watched him from the Hill move here and there in grace

In Cork, Killarney, Thurles town or by the Shannon's race

"Now Cork is bet; the hay is saved" the thousands wildly sing

They speak too soon, my dear garsún, for here comes Christy Ring.

We might be singing that again soon.