Down GAA breaks with tradition on Rule 21

County Down is the first Northern Ireland Gaelic Athletic Association board to vote to scrap Rule 21, which prevents members of the security forces joining.

The county’s GAA board made the decision at a meeting on Thursday November 16.

However, also on Thursday night the County Antrim and County Tyrone GAA boards voted to keep the controversial ban in place.

The latest result means that to date five of the nine Ulster counties - Derry, Fermanagh and Armagh, Antrim, and Tyrone - have voted to keep the rule and four – Donegal, Cavan, Down and Monaghan have voted to scrap it.

All of the county boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association are voting on the rule before they send delegates to a special congress in Dublin on Saturday 17 November, at which a final vote will be taken.

The recent decision by the Down GAA committee to break ranks with its fellow Ulster neighbours has strengthened the growing feeling that GAA president Sean McCague will succeed in getting the rule deleted.

When the final vote is taken at the special congress, a two-thirds majority is required to enact the change.

In all there are 34 votes - the 32 counties in Ireland, plus London and New York.

It has been confirmed that the special congress will be held behind closed-doors with the media not being allowed to view the proceedings. (AMcE)