Madam, - The spectacle that unfolded in Croke Park last Sunday, before a record-breaking attendance and a very substantial television audience, was probably the most offensive display of thuggery that I have seen.
The players that participated in this Australian team were not an anonymous, nomadic bunch of wandering Ned Kellys. They were representing their country. But they disgraced themselves. They debased their sport. They embarrassed their hosts. They shamed their nation. They betrayed the sponsors. They defiled the esteemed memory of the late Cormac McAnallen in whose honour the International Rules Test Trophy is named and whose family must be gutted by the spectacle presented.
The incompetence of the refereeing was appalling.
They saw nothing. They said nothing. They did nothing. As hosts, the GAA have a case to answer.
I never want to see another Australian International Rules team in this country, or indeed, in this hemisphere. - Yours, etc,
MYLES DUFFY,
Bellevue Avenue,
Glenageary,
Co Dublin
****
Madam, - Is the annual display of Aussie thuggery an honourable and moral way to commemorate the memory of the late Cormac McAnallen?
His trophy continues to be ceremoniously placed in the hands of Australian thugs, into those same hands which have committed acts of public violence on a football field in front of thousands of horrified viewers, including frightened children and adults.
Is there nobody in authority with the moral courage to prevent this annual horror movie getting into our private TV screens under the pretence of football? - Yours, etc,
RAY RYAN,
Dunlavin,
Co Wicklow.
****
Madam, - I brought my family to Croke Park on Sunday last to fulfil a promise to my sports-mad son. I have never seen so many children there. We didn't go hoping to see violence as some commentators suggested but to support the Irish teams in both the shinty and football compromise rules. The shinty was entertaining and enjoyable even though Ireland were well beaten.
What happened next in the football was the worst spectacle I ever witnessed on a sports field. Blatant premeditated intimidation by the Australians resulted in the uncontrolled violence. That is not sport and showed up the Australians as the thugs they are, not sportsmen.
End this farce now. We don't need it, the GAA doesn't need it and our children certainly don't need it as an example of sport. I certainly will never bring my family again. - Yours, etc,
ROIBEARD DE PAOR,
Arda Coille,
Carraig na Siuire.
****
Madam, - Both Seán Boylan and the GAA got what was coming to them in Croke Park on Sunday. In the International Rules game the logical conclusion to a philosophy of Gaelic football that has been notably practised by the former, among many others, and tolerated by the latter over many years, was played out by the Australians in what Mary Hannigan called "a thug-fest" (SportsMonday, Nov 6th). Unless and until the GAA cleans up its own game it hasn't a leg to stand on. Seán Boylan, of all people, complaining about the Australians "targeting in such a way as to hurt" is so much hypocritical whingeing. - Yours, etc,
A LEAVY,
Shielmartin Drive,
Sutton,
Dublin 13.
****
Madam, - If the disgraceful scenes of violence and thuggery that broke out during Sunday's spurious "International Rules" football game were typical of that strange code, one shudders to think what would have happened were there no rules at all. - Is mise, le meas,
ANTHONY MUNNELLY,
Shelmartin Avenue,
Marino,
Dublin 3.
****
Madam, - RTÉ's advertising prior to the series was images of the "bit hits" and fouls from last year's tests.
What we saw at Croke Park yesterday was as advertised. No complaints - they got what they wanted! - Yours, etc,
CATHAL O'DONNELL,
Deerpark Road,
Mount Merrion,
Co Dublin.
****
Madam, - I think the most noteworthy incident to have occurred at Croke Park on Sunday last and which highlights the gulf between professional and amateur was that the bars behind the Cusack Stand ran out of beer after the first quarter.
That surely would never have happened in Melbourne. - Yours, etc,
PAUL RYAN,
Rowanbyrn,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.