GAA issues letter to county secretaries urging neutral stance on abortion referendum
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GAA issues letter to county secretaries urging neutral stance on abortion referendum

THE GAA has sent a letter to county boards reminding them of their need for neutrality following a number of players voicing their support for either side.

The letter requests that county clubs distance the association as a whole from any discussion surrounding the Eighth Amendment debate.

The letter was sent to all 32 county secretaries this morning informing them of the importance of maintaining an unbiased position.

The organisation has made it clear that it wants to be excluded from the referendum debate’s rhetoric.

The letter comes after a number of leading GAA figures, such as camogie star Aoife Cassidy and Tyrone manager Mickey Harte, launched a group to campaign for a no vote in the forthcoming referendum.

Over the weekend, a new group by the name of ‘GAA Athletes for a No Vote’ was launched in Dublin.

The launch was held at Ballyfermot GAA Club, however, the club distanced themselves from the event with a tweet.

The group said that a vote to repeal the eighth would “exclude one group of people – the unborn – from society”.

It said its members “respect and cherish women” saying it believes “that as a society we have much more, so much more to offer women than the death of our children”.

The GAA has made clear that players are not impeded from political canvassing but are not permitted to make use of club facilities to do so. They are also forbidden from sharing their personal views at GAA events.