The GAA, established on November 1, 1884, by eight men in Thurles, aimed to preserve native Irish sports. Beyond sports, it evolved into a significant political entity reflecting Irish social and cultural nationalism. Notably, the attack on Bloody Sunday in 1920 marked Croke Park as a site of remembrance for independence seekers. Additionally, the 1930s 'anti-jazz' campaign aligned the GAA with moral regulation, reinforcing its stance against foreign influence and promoting a national identity that favored native customs over external ones.
The GAA was and always has been an inherently political organisation. The deadly RIC attack on Bloody Sunday 1920 turned Croke Park into a reluctant landmark for the lives lost in the fight for independence.
Over a decade later, the GAA would be embroiled in the moral panic of the 'anti-jazz' campaign of the 1930s, which led to the regulation of dance halls - including those owned and run by the GAA.
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