New Irish language documentary explores the GAA and Civil War
Date Posted: May 9, 2023
In a new Irish Language Broadcast Fund documentary, Gráinne McElwain explores how the GAA across Ireland helped to heal and bridge the bitter divisions created by the Civil War, 100 years ago. Produced by Imagine Media, Ré Réabhlóide: CLG agus Cogadh na gCarad airs on Thursday 11th May at 10:15pm on RTÉ One.
The Civil War tore Ireland apart. Families were ripped in two and communities were irreparably damaged. It impacted all aspects of life in Ireland, but unlike other national organisations, the GAA refused to split during these years of division.
During the period of 1914-1921, the GAA embodied the emergence of a new, radical and culturally aware Ireland which was keen to break free from the shackles of British rule. Those who were at the cutting edge of the new revolutionary movement were also those who helped forge the GAA into a national organisation with a club in almost every parish. Therefore, when the revolutionary movement split, it impacted heavily on the GAA.
Well-known GAA sports’ presenter Gráinne McElwain unpicks the fascinating story of how the GAA managed to stay the course and emerge as a vehicle for reconciliation and healing which has enabled it to grow to become the organisation we know today. She travels the length and breadth of the country to explore the rivalries which continue to exist between certain GAA clubs, some 100 years on. Using the framework of the Association she examines rifts and hostilities of the past and discovers how, despite the enmity, the GAA has had a remarkable healing influence in counties north and south.
One of the most striking aspects of the film is how the Civil War impacted on the Association in the six counties, where it wasn’t fought. As an Ulsterwoman, Gráinne is keen to unravel the impact this bloody period of history had on her neighbours. The intense rivalry which exists between Belfast clubs O’Donovan Rossa and St. John’s has its roots in the Civil War. Rossa founding member, Joe McKelvey, was executed by a Free State firing squad in Mountjoy Jail, whilst early St. John’s teams included former Free State army officers.
Gráinne will also look at how the Civil War impacted on the naming of trophies. For example, the South Derry football trophy, the Larkin Cup, is named in memory of Ballinderry native, Sean Larkin, who was executed by the Free State on 14 March 1923 at Drumboe in County Donegal. And she examines why, still to this day, there is no cup or club commemorating either Michael Collins or De Valera.
Fiosraíonn clár faisnéise nua Gaeilge an CLG agus Cogadh na gCarad
I gclár faisnéise nua de chuid an Chiste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge, fiosraíonn Gráinne McElwain an dóigh ar chuidigh CLG ar fud na hÉireann na scoilteanna searbha a tháinig as Cogadh na gCarad 100 bliain ó shin a leigheas agus an bhearna eatarthu a shárú. Craolfar an clár atá léirithe ag Imagine Media, Déardaoin 11ú Bealtaine ag 10.15.i.n. ar RTÉ 1.
Stróic Cogadh na gCarad Éire as a chéile. Stróiceadh teaghlaigh ina dhá gcuid, cuireadh deartháireacha i ndeabhaidh a chéile agus rinneadh dochar do phobail nárbh fhéidir a chur ina cheart. Bhí tionchar aige ar gach gné den tsaol in Éirinn, ach dhiúltaigh CLG scaradh i mblianta sin na deighilte, ní hionann agus eagrais náisiúnta eile.
Le linn thréimhse 1914-1921, ba léiriú é CLG ar Éirinn nua radacach a bhí eolach ar a cultúr, agus fonn uirthi a bheith saor ó laincisí sin riail na Breataine. Ba iad na daoine céanna a bhí chun tosaigh sa ghluaiseacht réabhlóideach nua agus a chuidigh eagras náisiúnta a dhéanamh de CLG, agus cumann i mbeagnach gach paróiste. Mar sin, nuair a scoilt gluaiseacht na réabhlóide, ba mhór an tionchar a bhí aige sin ar CLG.
Cíorann an láithreoir spóirt mór le rá Gráinne McElwain scéal iontach fán dóigh ar éirigh le CLG leanúint air agus a theacht chun tosaigh mar ardán don athmhuintearas agus don leigheas, rud a d’fhág ar a chumas fás ina eagras mar is eol dúinn inniu é. Siúlann sí ó cheann ceann na tíre leis an iomaíocht atá ann ar fad idir cumainn áirithe de chuid CLG, céad bliain ar aghaidh nach mór. Scrúdaíonn sí achrann agus doicheall an ama atá caite ag baint úsáid as creatlach an Chumainn, agus an dóigh, in ainneoin an naimhdis, a raibh tionchar an-leigheasach ag CLG i gcontaetha ó thuaidh agus ó dheas.
Ar na gnéithe is suntasaí den chlár, tá an dóigh a ndeachaigh Cogadh na gCarad i bhfeidhm ar an Chumann sna sé chontae, áit nár troideadh é. Mar Ultach mná, tá fonn ar Ghráinne an tionchar ar bhí ag an tréimhse fhuilteach seo sa stair ar a cuid comharsana a fhiosrú. Is i gCogadh na gCarad atá fréamhacha na dian-iomaíochta idir na cumainn sin i mBéal Feirste, Ó Donnabháin Rosa agus Naomh Eoin. Cuireadh Joe McKelvey, ball bunaithe de chuid Chumann Uí Dhonnabháin Rosa, chun báis roimh scuad lámhaigh i bPríosún Mhuinseo, agus ar theacht ar ais go Béal Feirste dóibh tar éis an chogaidh, chuaigh iar-oifigigh de chuid an tSaorstáit le Cumann Naomh Eoin ar bunaíodh i 1929.
Amharcfaidh Gráinne fosta ar an tionchar a bhí ag Cogadh na gCarad ar ainmneacha na dtrófaithe. Mar shampla, tá trófaí peile Dheisceart Dhoire, Corn Uí Lorcáin, ainmnithe i gcuimhne ar fhear de chuid Bhaile an Doire, Seán Ó Lorcáin, fear a chuir an Saorstát chun báis ar an 14 Márta 1923 i nDroim Bó i gContae Dhún na nGall. Agus scrúdaíonn sí an fáth nach bhfuil corn ná cumann go dtí an lá inniu a dhéanann comóradh ar Michael Collins nó ar Éamon De Valera.
