Episode 1969: The GAA’s Vigilance Committee – Who They Were, How They Operated, And How They Got Away With It For So Long

When we spoke to Neil O’Donoghue, the last Irishman to play in the NFL, earlier this month, he told us a great story about his Dad, a former Irish international hockey player, who was hauled up in front of a GAA disciplinary panel for playing foreign games.

That committee was called the Vigilance Committee, and many of you got in touch anxious to find out more about just what it was the committee in question did. Mark Duncan, one of the men behind the peerless “The GAA: A People’s History” tells us more – who they were, how they operated, why they were considered necessary, and who was targeted.

We get some feedback on Murph’s anti-Scottish rugby stance and get more correspondence from the UK as our listeners continue to add to our conversations on James McClean over the last few days.

©INPHO/James Crombie

©INPHO/Tommy Dickson

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Mbappe Mbarrasses Barca

FOOTBALL SHOW OUT NOWhttps://t.co/fw3V35kBSF pic.twitter.com/JWtDKIZetY

— Second Captains (@SecondCaptains) February 17, 2021

The continuing abuse of James McClean and differing answers to the question of how to be Irish in England

Tuesday’s football show is out now https://t.co/XCsH8svMJg pic.twitter.com/w9TxhSz3Tk

— Second Captains (@SecondCaptains) February 16, 2021

There’s been an almost instant return on Ireland’s investment in Paul O’Connell as forwards coach.

But has Ireland’s attack progressed at all under Mike Catt?https://t.co/Lb5RVX69eU pic.twitter.com/gj1ojlJbZn

— Second Captains (@SecondCaptains) February 15, 2021