Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The idea that a president of the GAA would be with today us is not new to Seanad Éireann. The diaspora extends that sense of belonging beyond boundaries, as we know in this House through our former colleague, Mr. Billy Lawless, and by Senator Mark Daly being the first spokesperson for a political party for the diaspora. The GAA very clearly demonstrates this in a real way. It has a worldwide presence the founding fathers could only have dreamt about in 1884.

In our midst today we have the 40th president of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael and first overseas official to be elected to the office; an Irishman living in New York who is involved with the club and with the GAA across North America. Anybody who watched the victory over Sligo in New York a couple of weeks ago could not but have been taken by the photographs of Conor and his dad, the president of the GAA, celebrating the joy and ecstasy of that victory. It meant that the impartiality of the presidency had to be cast aside for those few moments. That picture does not just demonstrate this, however. If we go to the Middle East, Australia, North America, the Far East or wherever, the GAA's presence demonstrates its power as an organisation of Irishmen and women, and also our new friends who are not Irish, playing our game. We are fortunate that the GAA plays an important role in our lives. For those living abroad, however, it gives them an extra sense of pride. I thank all those people throughout the world who have retained their love of the GAA and never lost their enthusiasm for supporting their country team. Within that enthusiasm, they find an indelible link to home and their parishes, towns and villages. It means they connect with other members of our diaspora, wherever they may be in the world. I thank Mr. Declan McBennett for GAAGo and the GAA coverage of our Gaelic games, and our local radio stations. Through the media of apps on our smartphones now, we have live commentary of the matches wherever we are in the world. I was in Sierra Leone for St. Patrick's Day. I had my iPhone tuned into county sound on RTÉ Radio 1 listening to Cork v. Louth and Cork v. Clare across the world in Africa. That is the beauty of the GAA. We still love our parish and county.

Many also play Gaelic games in their new homelands and choose other nations and new enthusiasts to join in an important part of our proud culture and heritage. As a result, our games are flourishing in many places throughout the world. The GAA community has provided a home from home for emigrants for many years. I thank all of our emigrants again today because it is a very important occasion. I got some lovely messages today in advance of Mr. McCarthy's address about the importance of the GAA around the world. The beauty of sport in general is that we dream. Tomorrow is always ahead of us. It is that sense of hope and optimism that it gives us that sense of what happens in next year's championship when this year's championship is over - more good things to come. To extend that thought, maybe that is the beauty of the GAA in particular. It is the sense of hope and optimism it gives us for the place where we belong; our home place. Today, within our GAA clubs and inter-county teams, we have role models in our players. We thank all our players for their commitment and dedication. We thank those who train and support our teams as well.

The uachtaráin and I are both Cork men. Our first immersion in Cumann Lúthchleas Gael came with our beloved Bishopstown GAA Club; a club we both know very well. Mr. McCarthy is the first president from Bishopstown and I am the first Cathaoirleach of the Seanad from Bishopstown. We know what it feels like to win and also to lose.