The role of the GAA and the Gaelic League in the development of cultural nationalism in Ireland

In the 1870's and 1880's, a new type of nationalism emerged in Irelnad that was influenced by cultural rather than political issues. This new movement became known as cultural nationalism.The culture of a nation refers to its "way of life" and can include language, customs, traditions, food, manners, games, dress, music and dance. At the time Irish people were struggling with their identity. They spoke English, played English sports and many areas of everyday life were covered by English traditions.Their movements were tied to politics. cultural nationalism defined Irishness as beig different from the English.
On 1 November 1884 the Gaelic Athletic Association was officially formed at a meeting in Thurles. There were only seven people at this meeting. Two of them were John Cusack and Maurice Davitt, who was one of the most famous, respected and successul athletes in Ireland. The GAA was formed because the Irish played English games and they needed their own, otherwise another part of life would be covered by foreign traditions. The aims were to organise Irish sports according to Irish rules. These had to be drawn up and the membership was allowed to all classes. It was agreed that Davin should become the GAA's first president and Cusack was appointed secretary. Archbishop Croke, Parnell and Michael Davitt became patrons.
Throughout 1885 and 1886, the GAA developed very quickly. New clubs were formed and games and athletic meetings were organised. Similarly to the meetings of the Land League these were attended by large crowds.The clubs were established on parochial system, but a town was allowed to have more clubs if there were enough inhabitants. First inter-parish games were organised and this laid the basis for a national competition. In these clubs the Irish had the opportunity for the first time to take part in administration, organisation and set their own rules. One of these was the ban of joining any non-GAA athletic clubs for members. Archbishop Croke opposed this and it was dropped in 1886, as the inmediate opponent, the Irish Amateur Athletic Association failed. It was formed in February, 1885 by 5 Dublin based clubs.The GAA county Committees became a major center of the people's life.
The GAA did commence as a cultural movement, but was linked to political nationalism from the very start. His patrons were all linked to the IRB; Parnell, Davitt as founder of the Land League, John O'Leary, a former Fenian and Archbishop Croke, a firm nationalist. The GAA did not hide his sympathy for nationalist politics and it had two reasons; they did not want unionists to join tried to attract the IRB's interest. In November 1886, the GAA's second convention elected a new Genereal Council. All of the members, apart from Davin, were members of the IRB. Over the next year they banned RIC members from the GAA. Another key decision was to automatically appoint every Central Council member to a member of every County Committee. These political disputes nearly undid the success of the GAA.
Davin resigned in protest in May 1887 and there was also much opposition to the IRB takeover from the Home Rulers and the Catholic Church. At the GAA's third convention 200 delegates walked out and the IRB had to agree to compromise. On the next meeting Davin was re-appointed and the IRB's influence was reduced.
Although the original idea could be defended against politics another problem weakened the GAA. Parnell's private life, and the scandal on the divorce. The Catholic Church condemned Parnell's behaviour and the Home Rule Party split as well. So did the GAA's patrons, but the GAA, controlled by the IRB came out in support of Parnell, a minority viewpoint. The GAA formed a guard of honour at Parnell's funeral in 1891. The public saw the movement as a Parnellite organisation and remained in minority during the 1890's. At the annual meeting in 1892, only six counties with 200 clubs were represented. Some coutnties did not even have any clubs. The GAA did survive, and a revival of the association began in the 1900's. The GAA now focused on sports and stayed clear of politics. By 1914 the GAA was an enormous success. In 1913, ca 35,000 spectators attended the All-Ireland final and the works on the national stadium, Croke Park began.
The success of the GAA was helped by the Gaelic League. The Gaelic League was set up on 31 July, 1893, by 7 members. Their main aim was to stop the decline of Gailge as a spoken language. Since the early 19th century due to the Great Famine, emigration, the lack of education, the media and popular attitudes less and less spoke it. There were no classes in national schools for Irish, no Irish newspapers and the official language was English only. Many tried to deal with the problem, but the League suceeded. They proposed a bi-lingual society and the development of a modern Irish literature, too. The League grew slowly, and this only changed due to the nationalist feelings during the commemoration of the 1798 Rebellion. The League failed, where the GAA could survive; in 1915 the IRB took over. Douglas Hyde resigned in protest, but the League became part of the violent nationalism.
The Gaelic League was innovative in many ways. It was the first major organisation to admit men and women as equals. One of them was Lady Augusta Gregory. Lady gregory came from a prominent, unionist background and opposed Home Rule. However, she later came ot accept it. She was interested in Irish folklore and through her wealth and influence Lady Gregory was able to patronise Yeats and others. Yeats was born to a middle class , protestant family. He became interested in Irish folklore and was drawn towards nationalism. In 1888 Yeats helped to found the Pan-Celtic Society, their aim was to promote writing solely of Irish interest. He was founder of the Abbey Theatre as well.
Even though both the GAA and the Gaelic League were founded as on-political movements, they were influenced by the IRB. Their biggest legacy was that they provided something to the people which was their own and uniquely Irish. The people by joining these movements had the opportunity to organise and administreate. These skilled men later became the Irish politicans and ministers.

[Written by Daniel Dalicsek, Sources:Movements for Political and Social Reform, 1870-1914 by Michael Doran published by FOLENS]