THE ugly appendages of unionism still think they’re living in Mississippi, where cultural subjugation is deemed a credible and valiant past-time in 2023.
Northern society, of course, has changed beyond all recognition. East Belfast has changed beyond all recognition – demographically, physically, psychologically and culturally.
East Belfast GAA club reflects all those positive changes. Their amber and black colours were adopted - colours synonymous with the east Belfast shipyards, and the club emblem - containing the words Together, Le Chéile , Thegither - celebrates the Irish, English and Ulster-Scots traditions.
You will always encounter those in society who can’t countenance change because they liked the way things used to be – a cosy, uncomplicated monolith, where everybody knew their place, and Gaelic Games were played by the 'other side'.
The desperate and forlorn cries from the more extreme elements of political unionism will have nothing to do with Gaelic Games - and they don't like what East Belfast GAA did to their cosy monolith.
The birth of East Belfast GAA was one of the best things that came out of the COVID pandemic.
When Down man David McGreevy, one of the club's founding members, was inundated with expressions of interest after he'd posted on social media in May 2020 that they were planning on starting "a new GAA club for East Belfast", it illustrated the changing face of that part of the city.
So many GAA people from the nine counties of Ulster and further afield have moved to Belfast for work and the creation of East Belfast GAA club enabled them to continue their sporting pursuits, locally.
Today, the club boasts four men's football teams, two ladies' football teams, two camogie teams and two hurling teams.
Their youth structures have also taken root with teams from knee-high up to U12.
They have over 400 members and to bolster their underage teams, their volunteer coaches take sessions in six primary schools around the east of the city, only one of which would be deemed a Catholic school.
The club's coaches have been welcomed with open arms in all the primary schools they visit to teach Gaelic Games, which probably gives a more accurate reflection of the secularised nature of modern life in east Belfast.
Beyond the noisy, casual racism towards the GAA from the fragmented elements of unionism, a great deal of progress has been made in northern society.
Huge swathes of people, of all denominations, have moved on with their lives.
We just don't hear about it often enough because of the platforms generously afforded to the noisy and decidedly thinning anti-GAA constituency by elements of the mainstream media.
It’s a genuine pity that when East Belfast GAA is in the news it’s because of attacks on the club. Last week, the council pitch the club avails of at Henry Jones Playing Fields had its nets cut and goalposts torched.
On Tuesday morning, the local primary school and two nurseries were forced to close for the day due to yet another bomb alert at the pitch, later declared “an elaborate hoax”.
Club members have literally lost count of the bomb alerts, viable devices and acts of vandalism visited on their council facilities since its inception three years ago.
Recently, a kid wearing an east Belfast jersey was threatened by a man in the street. Why? For wearing a jersey with an emblem that promotes togetherness.
Every time there’s an attack on East Belfast GAA, it’s important to remind people that there is so much more to know about the club than bomb alerts and school closures.
East Belfast GAA is an open-armed human co-operative using the medium of field sports to create enjoyment for its members and, probably by accident of birth, is playing a hugely positive role in the reconciliation process.
The club hasn’t the first clue of its religious make-up because nobody’s interested in finding out.
Inspired by the tragic events of 27 migrants perishing off the coast of Calais two years ago, the members of East Belfast decided to do more for the displaced Sudanese, Nigerian and Syrian families that had arrived east of the city.
With the help of Home Plus Charity, the club started running a Saturday morning bus for refugees to bring them to the pitch to play Gaelic Games.
East Belfast member Ciara Boake, who came up with the idea, said: “We also had an Arabic translator for newly arrived Syrian families, but when kids are kicking football about, they don’t need to speak the same language. The most basic way of communicating is through playing.”
Since then, the Syrian and African families have become involved in the Mothers’ and Others football team at the club.
After another bomb alert in May, some of the Syrian families got in touch with the club thinking that they were reason for the attack.
They were told it had nothing to do with them, to keep playing, and that the attack carried more local nuances.
This notion that nobody can stop this constant stream of attacks on the club is a defeatist attitude.
Local politicians and community workers can do so much more to help the members of East Belfast GAA.
While some elected representatives struggle to find their voice to condemn these despicable and sectarian attacks, others need to speak louder. Moreover, actions always speak louder than words.
They should attend the occasional East Belfast match, greet the Mothers' and Others team members, commend the volunteer coaching the club is providing in the local primary schools and the general contribution East Belfast GAA has made to the community over the last three years.
Since its inception, East Belfast GAA has been a wonderful melting pot that beseeches us to ponder just how bright the future can be and to face down the inflammatory commentary from the dwindling number of dinosaurs.
