So, after much dithering and dodging … late at night … and with hardly anyone else present in the Dáil chamber… De Man Dey Call Ahern has finally unleashed the General Election upon us, notes An Fear Rua …

Whatever about camogie, football or hurling, in their heart of hearts many people feel politics is the most Gaelic game of them all. Uncertainty … favourites losing out… dark horses romping home … blood … sweat … tears … rumours … rows with the selectors … last-minute comebacks … back-biting … splits among the team … solo runs … canvassing for votes … making promises you have no intention of keeping … Sounds familiar? Sure. It’s just like a year-in-the-life of your average GAA club or ‘unit’ of Dis Great Asssooosheeayshun Of Ours. But it’s also part of the game of politics. No wonder some people regard it as the greatest spectator sport going. And, of course, there’s no admission charge for watching. As an added bonus for Irish political watchers, we share the most interesting, enjoyable and complex voting system in the world with only one other country – Malta.

The connection between on-field success in the GAA and later success in politics is too well documented to dwell on here for too long. Great names spring immediately to mind – Lynch, Wilson, Flanagan, Browne, McQuillan, Corish, Donnellan, O’Connell and so on. The latest pilgrim on this well-trodden path is none other than the Dublin County Board Chairman, John Bailey, who has togged off in a Fine Gael (blue?) shirt in the constituency of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. Presumably, John doesn’t expect to pick up too many votes from the extended family and friends of former Dublin manager, Tommy Carr! So close has been the connection between political activism and GAA office, that some wag once commented that most GAA officers were people who knew they wouldn’t make the grade in Fianna Fáil.

However, apart from the nitty-gritty of canvassing and tallying, the Irish contribution to the development of modern democracy and democratic politics in the English-speaking world is quite considerable. The Great Emancipator himself, Daniel O’Connell, in the nineteenth century, is regarded as the creator of the idea of a mass political movement of ordinary people. Until then, politics was largely handed down to the masses by their ‘betters’. Later in the same century, the Irish National Party at Westminster, led by Charles Stewart Parnell, developed the concept of the party ‘Whip’ to strengthen their vote in the lobbies. And, in the end, it is arguable that is was not the armed rising of 1916 or its Proclamation, but rather the democratic outcome of the Imperial General Election of 1918 that gave impetus and legitimacy to Anglo-Irish War of Independence. As the Irish over the decades were forced to emigrate to the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, they brought with them their experience of, and commitment to, mass democratic politics at home. So today, parties like the Democrats in the United States and Labour in Australia stand as monuments to the Irish capacity to create and sustain effective instruments of political power and patronage.

So, recognising the great interest and involvement of many GAA people in politics – and responding to requests from readers – An Fear Rua has set up a special General Election Discussion Forum, where you can air your views on the issues of the day. In addition, we’re offering great prizes for predicting percentage votes, poll toppers and the number of seats won by the parties. You can also indicate your voting preference in our ‘Vote On It!’ Poll.

In the meantime, for the next three weeks, most of the lads and lassies from Gowlnacalley-John Redmonds, Knockmult-St Guthries, Stumpstown Gaels and Ballinamaor-Shamrocks will be until all hours out knocking on doors and plastering up posters to ensure Andy Dowd TD – a GAA man through and through! – is returned to the top of the poll and his rightful place in Dáil Éireann. Whatever their differences on the field of play, and they are multitudinous, at a time like this, politics is thicker than either blood or water …

Catch up on AFR's General Election Discussion Forum here

Who Will You Vote For in the General Election? - Poll #1