Guest Voices: Catholics, Protestants and Rugby - On Faith at washingtonpost.com

Catholics, Protestants and Rugby

God was in Croke Park on a blustery day in Dublin earlier this month.

Ireland was playing England at rugby football, an event that has been going on for more than 100 years.

The game always has a special resonance because of the history of the two countries.

This game was different, and it reminded me of a rugby game in South Africa in 1995. That year there was a huge national debate about whether the South African rugby team, then in the World Cup Final against the All Blacks of New Zealand, could or would call themselves “Springboks,” which they had done for over 100 years.

Some argued that the green and gold Springbok jersey epitomized white supremacy, and particularly, Afrikaans domination and apartheid. The new Rainbow Nation demanded change. Articles were written, sides were taken, and the matter became a heated national debate. Twenty minutes before the kickoff of the historic World Cup Final in Johannesburg, a solitary figure emerged from the tunnel onto the field where both sides were lined up. He was wearing a Springbok jersey and cap. It was Nelson Mandela.

In a single moment, and by a single gesture, without a word being spoken, Mandela put the debate beyond further discussion. All South Africans, of all colors, would play as Springboks for all time.

What happened in Dublin earlier this month had a similar aura of history and reconciliation. Until ten years ago, the Gaelic Athletic Association enforced a ban on playing “foreign” games such as rugby and soccer. It was a source of great contention within the organization until the ban was rescinded.

Meanwhile, the association had rebuilt the greatest sporting stadium in Ireland, Croke Park. Behind those great stands I had learned my rugby as a young boy, almost half a century ago. It became the venue for this month’s big rugby match between Ireland and England.

The prelude to any international match requires the singing of both the home and the foreign national anthems – in England’s case, “God Save the Queen.” Few readers will require a history lesson on the struggle between Ireland and England over the centuries.

So the stage was set. The game was being played in Ireland’s most national stadium, and the crowd would be asked to hear the national anthem of England. It was an unpredictable event of particular importance to Ireland before itself and the world.

I cannot convey the feeling of expectancy as the English team took the field. The Irish crowd and their own supporters rose as one to applaud them in the most generous fashion. The Irish team was greeted with equal rapture and then the Army and Garda bands played the national anthem of Great Britain.

I have never been so proud of my country. As supporters of the English team sang their anthem, Irish fans listened with respect and then applauded at the end.

It was a moment I will never forget. It was a moment that defined our nation as coming of age. It was a moment that caused strong men to weep.

It was a day in which God touched everyone on the shoulder, as if to say, “This is a moment you will never forget. This is a moment of forgiveness, tolerance and understanding between your two nations. You have been elevated to a new high altar of expectation and acceptance.” We will not see this moment again in our lifetimes.

Thank you, God.

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Posted by: Nbkvqow | June 18, 2007 11:09 AM
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Posted by: LeOgAhEr | June 1, 2007 7:29 PM
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Mary,

Pointing out the shortcomings and despicible behavior of some in the Catholic Leadership (especially those in the US who like to molest children) and being anti-Catholic or being abusive to all Catholics is not the same.

Posted by: Paul | March 19, 2007 9:37 AM
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"Sir" Anthony's newspaper the "Irish Independent" is neither rather its the "Irish" Daily Telegraph, petty mean spirited and Tory, so much for a unique Irish voice, fumble in your a greasy till and add your half pence to your pence …

Posted by: obrie64 | March 18, 2007 12:29 AM
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Yes, it was a wonderful day. The tearful, emotional belting out of the national anthem by the Irish team, wonderful Rugby and a sweet scoreline at end. Beating England 43-13 in Croke Park was a fitting 'Thank You' to the GAA for allowing a 'foreign' game to be played in it's hallowed grounds.

Posted by: Theresa Ryan | March 17, 2007 7:16 PM
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I recall trips to the other Croke Park in the upper Bronx in Kingsbridge. Small it was in the starkest of contrasts to its big brother in Dublin. Often, the shouts of the crowd would be underscored by the passing of the "Ell", the elevated subway which ended at 242nd St which bordered Croke Park on Broadway.

As a resident of 242nd St., the roar of the crowds could be heard from our kitchen window.

That's a fine story about the rugby match. In thoses days - the 50's- it would have been considered unpatriotic for the Irish to play rugby, the English game.

God bless.

Patrick Malloy

Posted by: Patrick Malloy | March 17, 2007 5:21 PM
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The match at Croke park was an important moment right up there with the time the England team showed up in Dublin during the troubles to play the great game of rugby and received one of the longest standing ovations in rugby memory.

Many readers here will not this but English and Irish fans have been having fun together for decades and they get along better than fans of the different home nations.

Irish rugby is unusual since the team incorporates members from both nations (NI and RI)and as a result they have their own national anthem. The Irish rugby public at Croke Park did a great thing but they have been doing great things for ages in a land where sectarian bullies and bigotry have been rife. It is a testament to the sport and the devotees who play and enjoy matches together.

Posted by: Mr Fox | March 17, 2007 4:44 PM
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cheers from america y'all and happy st patricks day where everyone is irish on this day-

a sober irish american

Posted by: victoria | March 17, 2007 3:48 PM
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Tony,
Good on ya! We're well rid of the bad auld days of the 'fifties when I had to creep from playing a rugby game on a Sunday morning in Limerick to play a hurling game in the afternoon...all the while taking care to avoid detection by the 'Ban' thought police.

Posted by: Eamon | March 17, 2007 12:56 PM
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Well, Tony O'Reilly, Ireland played a grand rugby game today and I'm hoping that we win the Six Nations.

I also hope you didn't--you wouldn't, would you?--read some of the anti-Catholic abuse on the pages of the 'Faith' section of the WaPo. They could have been penned by Paisleyites during the Troubles!

Has Ireland left the worst of its religious discrimination era as America enters a new one?

Posted by: Mary Cunningham | March 17, 2007 11:45 AM
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The comments by 'Billy McMillen' and 'No Fool' are typical of the small-minded bigotry that has held back the people of Ireland, North and South for far too long. Opening up Croke Park to 'foreign games' like football and rugby, and the reaction to the visit of the England rugby team are positive signs of the mentality of the nation moving on from the 'chip-on-the-shoulder' attitudes we've had towards the British. Long may it continue.

Love of one's country is great - bigotry in the name of it is a stain on us all.

Posted by: Brian | March 17, 2007 11:03 AM
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As someone caught in the dilemma of either playing rugby or gaelic football some 50 years ago in Ireland I read O'Reilly with appreciation. The old hard men of the early Irish republic are mainly gone and with them the crippling memories and attitudes that isolated Ireland for so long. Today Ireland is a confident country, proud of its long struggles for freedom, but with its eyes turned toward a future of unity and leadership in the world.
Forgiveness is a grand thing.

Posted by: Shane | March 17, 2007 10:24 AM
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Fantastic news. In my many trips to Ireland I've hoped for a day like that. Wish I had been there.

Jim

Posted by: Jim | March 17, 2007 10:13 AM
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Oh yes, check out 'Sir' Tony ...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_O'Reilly

Posted by: No Fool | March 17, 2007 1:08 AM
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'Sir' Anthony O'Reilly is a west brit and publisher of trashy 'newspapers' like the 'Irish Independent' filled with the scribblings of self-loathers like eoghan harris and co. All he's happy about is seeing people stand for the Queen. Get lost.

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