Tyrone GAA legend Peter Canavan has accused the GAA of burying its head in the sand over the Allianz sponsorship controversy, after GAA President Jarlath Burns criticised protesters at Croke Park
Peter Canavan has hit out at the GAA for avoiding the issue surrounding its contentious partnership with Allianz, following Jarlath Burns’ remarks about those who participated in Saturday’s demonstration at Croke Park.
The former Tyrone star joined other GAA legends, including Colm O’Rourke, Pat Gilroy and Brendan Devenney, in protesting against the association’s ongoing ties with Allianz, which sponsors the National Leagues and whose German parent firm has connections to Israel.
However, the demonstration descended into disorder when approximately 50 individuals forced their way into Croke Park’s main hall, where GAA Congress was underway.
Whilst figures such as Canavan, O’Rourke and Devenney remained outside the venue, GAA President Jarlath Burns urged the high-profile personalities to separate themselves from those who stormed the hall, particularly given that Croke Park security personnel sustained injuries whilst attempting to prevent the demonstrators from accessing the chamber where discussions were ongoing.
It’s worth highlighting that Canavan, O’Rourke and Devenney were unaware at that point that a Croke Park security officer had been hurt during the disturbance, reports the Irish Mirror.
Burns remarked: “It’s a bit ironic that people who are protesting against illegal occupation will come in and illegally occupy our building.
“And I just want to say this: on the day that we made the decision based on the Ethics and Integrity Commission, it was on the 19th of December. The 19th of December in my area is a very significant date.
“In 1975, the Glenanne Gang came into Donnelly’s bar, which is our local shop, and murdered three people, one of whom was a good friend of mine, Michael Donnelly. On the 19th of December 2025, I went into my car and drove to the front of Donnelly’s house, shop and pub, which is still there, to make a speech.
“Fifty years on, justice still hasn’t been served for the 120 innocent Catholics who were murdered by the Glenanne Gang in a four-year period in my area, in my community.
“I don’t need any lectures about what it’s like to feel the pressure of illegal occupation. I don’t need any lectures or people shouting in my face about what it’s like to go to bed at night fearful that somebody would barge into your bedroom and riddle you with bullets. That was my lived experience when I was young.
“So when this came onto our table in the GAA, we dealt with it the way the GAA does. We put it through our own processes and reached a conclusion, and Tom Ryan dealt with it very well last night. We have facilitated protests by people who disagree with the decision we took.
“But we have security guards down there who work very, very hard. I know them all from being in here every day. They are injured. Somebody is waiting down there for an ambulance to come.
“I would urge people within our own association who might have aligned themselves with some of the people who came in and illegally occupied our building today, and tried to disrupt Congress by assaulting our staff members and those here to protect us, to examine their own consciences and ask themselves whether they are doing the right thing.
“We went through a process. We have our Congress to go through. I will not be bullied or intimidated by anybody who would come in here and try to do so. As I said last night, we are answerable to the people in this room. You are answerable to the members of the GAA.”
On Saturday evening, Canavan was given the chance to address Burns’ comments whilst providing analysis on RTÉ’s broadcast of the Division Two fixture between Kildare and Meath at Newbridge.
When presenter Joanne Cantwell questioned him about Burns’ comparison between the Troubles and the conflict in Gaza, Canavan maintained his stance against the GAA’s ongoing partnership with Allianz.
Canavan remarked: “Yeah, strange comparison, but a lot of what he said I would echo. It does strike a chord when you go back to when we were younger and what we had to endure. Jarlath spoke about what happened in Donnelly’s bar. There were a lot of atrocities that went on, and what kept us going was the GAA.
“We had something to do, something to be part of, and for a lot of us it was the GAA that saved us. Thousands of children aren’t getting that opportunity.
“Jarlath is still sore from something that happened 50 years ago – and rightly so. He mentioned that there were no convictions for those killings. That was 50 years ago. Why? Because so many people buried their heads in the sand and didn’t want to know what was going on.
“The exact same thing is happening now. We have an opportunity as an association to do the right thing, Joanne.”
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