TWO of Co Donegal’s best known Gaelic footballers have clashed publicly on social media over religion.
In a series of Tweets, former county football star, Kevin Cassidy accused All Ireland winner, Eamonn McGee of being "tiresome" over his criticism of the Catholic Church and education.
Cassidy was responding to criticism by his Gweedore GAA club mate over the role played by the Catholic Church in education in the Republic.
A debate is ongoing south of the border over the Catholic Church’s management of the vast majority of primary level schools.
In a post on Twitter, McGee said: “Sad to see in this day and age religion being used as a selection criteria in schools. Is there any genuine argument in having it this way?”
Cassidy responded by posting: “@EamonMcGee your religious comments are getting tiresome. Did you not go around coaching in Catholic schools?? You had no issue then!
@EamonMcGee your religious comments are getting tiresome Did you not go around coaching in Catholic Schools?? You had no issue then!!
— Kevin Cassidy (@KCASS7) September 30, 2015McGee, who won an All Ireland senior medal with Donegal in 2012, has campaigned publicly on a number of issues in the Republic. Earlier this year, he supported the campaign for gay marriage.
Like McGee, Cassidy is considered one of Donegal’s all-time great Gaelic footballers, having twice won a GAA All Star award.
However, he was dramatically dropped from the county team in 2011 following a row with former manager, Jim McGuinness.
McGuinness dropped the popular Cassidy after he contributed to a book on the GAA.
In response to Cassidy’s criticism, McGee posted: “I’m sorry Cass I can’t connect the do5ts on the last tweet, me coaching in schools and their admission policy/ethos aren’t related.”
@KCASS7 I'm sorry Cass I can't connect the dots on that last tweet, me coaching in schools and their admission policy/ethos aren't related?
— Eamon Mc Gee (@EamonMcGee) September 30, 2015However, Cassidy claimed McGee did not raise his opposition to the Catholic ethos when he was working in schools as a GAA coach. McGee responded that he was “young and afraid to speak up” at that time.
Later in the exchange, which was joined by a number of others, Cassidy posted: “Like I said its getting tiresome 1 week it’s Schools next it’s the Pope then it’s Mass!! U should stop now (sic)”
@EamonMcGee @PaulDPWolfe like I said its getting tiresome 1 week it's Schools next it's the Pope then it's Mass!! U should stop now
— Kevin Cassidy (@KCASS7) October 1, 2015McGee and Cassidy have played together both for their club Gweedore and for Donegal.
