15,000 Gaels call for all-Ireland citizens assembly
Over 15,000 Gaels across Ireland have now signed a letter addressed to An Taoiseach urging him to start preparing for a referendum on Irish unity and establish a Citizens’ Assembly.
Gaels le Chéile, a Gael-on-Gael initiative that began in Antrim and was spearheaded by former county stars Jane Adams and Paddy Cunningham, is now gaining significant support from GAA members in other provinces and has now reached County Down.
Derry’s Chrissy McKaigue, Donegal’s Kevin Cassidy, Tyrone’s Ronan McNamee, Dublins Abdullah Al Jumaili, Armagh’s Aimee Mackin, Corks Ashling Thompson and Kerry’s Tomás O Se are a few of the high profile GAA figures who have supported the campaign so far.
The letter, initially signed by 3,000 Antrim Gaels, was delivered to An Taoiseach Mícheál Martin in May 2021 but was never acknowledged.
However, with numbers ballooning to over 15,000 embracing the aims and objectives articulated in the letter, Adams and Cunningham hope the newly appointed Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will take notice and begin to plan.
Former Antrim camogie star Jane Adams said: “This initiative has gained huge traction right across Ireland amongst all codes and at every level of the Gaelic Athletic Association.
“Undoubtedly, the repercussions of ‘Brexit’ and the perceived slow, unwieldy nature of government has prompted GAA members to become more involved in the national conversation on a new Ireland.
“I’ve sat on many zoom calls with Gaels from Kerry and many others across the country, people with many AllIrelands under their belt; their drive and appetite for change and the desire for a new Ireland is as strong as anyone’s in the northern province.”
Paddy Cunningham added: “This letter is the manifestation of the times that we’re living in and it’s a responsible thing for us as Gaels to contribute to the debate. This is not party-political, this is driven solely by Gaels.
“We were hopeful that the Taoiseach would have acknowledged the letter we sent in 2021. We were disappointed that this wasn’t the case.”
