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Can the GAA not do the right thing?
LIMERICK'S Tom Wall, who endured years of abuse at Glin Industrial School, has suggested that in recognition of those whose suffering was highlighted in the Ryan Report, there should be a minute's silence before the All-Ireland hurling final on Sunday week.
To its credit, the Limerick county board has backed the idea and county chairman Liam Lenihan endorsed it at a meeting of the GAA Central Council last week.
Regrettably, the idea appears to have found no support among other GAA delegates and Mr Lenihan was told that it was "a matter for the Government".
In other words, "it's nothing to do with us". Over the years, millions of GAA supporters have watched the Artane Boys Band entertain Croke Park on All-Ireland hurling and football final days. They are part of GAA history, part of a tradition very dear to this nation. The Ryan Report revealed brutal and systemic abuse at the Artane Industrial School.
Large numbers of the boys who appeared in Croke Park down the decades were victims of this abuse, along with thousands more around the country. Other victims now live abroad and watch the All-Ireland final in pubs around the globe.
As a nation, Ireland turned its back on the victims of abuse in industrial schools. The GAA has been offered the opportunity to acknowledge, in a dignified manner, that we failed these children. A minute's silence at Croke Park would mean the world to Tom Wall and many like him.
A single minute would send out a powerful message. Can the GAA not find the decency to do the right thing by these victims? And if not, will the Government not persuade the association to give over a mere minute of their big day?
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Weather for Limerick
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 10 C
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Wind direction: South east
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