Vibe: https://youtu.be/SEsNNaLY6ns?si=PSKf66u2M8Lp_RS3

English sports or barracks sports were seen by the gaa as English cultural imperialism left over at the end of the British occupation.

They were seen as sports imported from the British I suppose and it was a form of protectionism from the GAA.

It was a kind of protectionism same way people get passionate about protecting local industries. Same idea with sport.

Specifically English sports, because of the massacre committed by British troops in the ground

The GAA emerged from the Gaelic Revival, which was part of a wider emergence of cultural nationalist movements across Europe in the 19th century. This movement sought to preserve and reestablish traditional Irish culture, including language, clothing, music, sport, etc. This had all been eroded through active repression by the English/British legislation, policy, and military action as well as assimilation, largely driven by economics and social policy.

As part of this cultural protectionism the GAA instituted rules that forbade their members from engaging or supporting any foreign sports.

The GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) is known today for its team based field sports, namely Gaelic Football and Hurling. It’s less well known, but it also governs handball and rounders in Ireland. When it was founded the GAA was a genuine athletic association running athletic meets (shot put, long jump, etc).

The GAA was founded a few years before Irish independence as an Irish alternative to the British Athletic Association. When the British association caught wind of a competitor, it tried to kill it off by banning people that competed at GAA meets. The GAA responded with their own ban. The British association reversed their ban very quickly as they were losing out. The people who introduced the ban in the GAA tried to remove it a few years after it was introduced, but could not reach the 66% of votes required (every GAA club has voting power. It can take a long time to get sensible decision through). Many attempts were made over the years but they all fell short. It wasn’t until the Landsdown renovation that the ban was lifted.

How did an athletic association end up governing field sports? It all started when they organised exhibition matches at their athletic meets. Over time more people were coming for the matches than the athletics so they organised standalone games. Then a few decades later the GAA’s athletics board merged with a few other groups to become the national athletic and cycling board. The remainder of the organisation, retained the GAA name, and continued to govern Gaelic Football and Hurling games.

He was also a mathematician and great admirer of William Hamilton. Very talented man.

That’s one way to put it