Less than 100 words and no conclusion. Yesterday evening’s joint statement from the GAA and the Organising Committee for the Liam Miller Tribute match was like watching that chimney in the Vatican when the ballots are burned after voting for a new Pope but the smoke is a dull grey.
In many ways taking time to reflect was the best thing in this situation which has escalated quickly, as is the way with modern ‘crises’, and generated far more anger and vitriol than common sense at times.
There has been some degree of fault on all sides, most notably though perhaps from those who could not resist but jump into the middle of the melee and shout as loudly as social or mainstream media permits that this was akin to the sky falling in.
Read More on the Complexity of the Decision Needing to be Made
Quiet words earlier in the process might have better served the memory of the man at the centre of the storm’s grieving family.
They might have allowed a compromise to be worked out that satisfied the winning solution of making Cork’s biggest stadium available but without seeming as though it was being forced by people with a sharp axe to grind against the organisation who own, maintain and run it.
Sport is a competitive business and while collaboration is now much more commonplace, there are still those who would believe that any hand offered from one to another was as likely to be in the shape of a clenched fist as an open palm.
Intemperate language and personalised criticism are much easier than recognising the layers of history and the weight of responsibility that lies on those for whom values are more important than money, regardless of how loud some might shout in opposition.
There were good people on both sides of the table yesterday, from Tom Ryan and John Horan to Michael O’Flynn and Ciaran Medlar of BDO, with Tracey Kennedy, the Chair of the Cork County Board also in the mix.
They will get something sorted which raises money primarily one imagines for the Marymount Hospice and honours the memory of a Cork man who ‘gave it back’ by coming home to Cork City at the end of his career.
Perhaps once that happens, those who have been shouting the loudest, most often on social media and in comment sections to those of equal ease to upset, will calm down and get on with life, at least until the next time the sky threatens to fall in on civilisation as we know it.
Oh and the 95 words that made up the statement…
A meeting took place today between the GAA and members of the Organising Committee of the Liam Miller Tribute Match.
This meeting involved the GAA’s Director General and Uachtarán and the Chairperson and Secretary of the Cork County Committee.
The Organising Committee was represented by its Chairman Michael O’Flynn, Graham Barrett and Ciarán Medlar.
Both parties agreed that the meeting was open and constructive and the GAA will now further consider the proposal discussed at the meeting.
There will be no further comment from any of the parties involved in these discussions at this time.
A time to reflect then, and a decision to be taken in the best interests of all, not just in knee-jerk response to wails of consternation and condemnation…
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