The Role of the G.A.A. in Creating, Maintaining and Reinforcing Senses of Place and Identity

What we have here is a tentative attempt to investigate the role the G. A. A. plays in creating, reinforcing and maintaining senses of place in Borrisoleigh, Co. Tipperary. The G.A.A. itself is an organisation of over one million members, its strength comes from the two opposite notions of rivalry and comradery. It is this rivalry that is the core of identity and sense ofplace in areas where hurling and the G.A.A. are strong. The study indicates that hurling and the hurling club reinforces the boundaries geographers place around places, creating an inside and an outside - a "them " and "us". Senses of place if anything are stronger for players involved now than for those of the past in these times o f time-space compression, the links with home are strengthening. Even the space in which games are played takes on a symbolic importance as a focal point for the community. Contrast this to the urban clubs, where no parish rule exists and essentially no sense of place. Thus the role the local G.A.A. club plays in creating, maintaining and reinforcing senses of place becomes more obvious