Jarlath Burns says anti-Allianz protesters crossed a line by forcing entry to Croke Park and bringing GAA Congress to a temporary halt on Saturday afternoon.
Chaotic scenes erupted just before 1pm after several demonstrators, who were involved in a wider planned demonstration outside the stadium against the GAA’s decision to continue sponsorship arrangements with Allianz, managed to gain access to the venue.
The GAA say two stewards were injured and required medical treatment after some protesters moved from the street to inside the stadium, eventually making their way to level five of the Hogan Stand where Congress was in session.
GAA Congress is disrupted by protesters against Allianz sponsorship of GAA. Video: Gordon Manning
Two protesters initially entered through the back doors of the room before more spilled through at the front. Banners were held behind and in front of the top table where GAA president Burns, incoming president Derek Kent and director general Tom Ryan were seated, while shouts of “Allianz Out” filled the room.
One large banner declaring “Fermanagh Gaels Against Genocide” remained as a backdrop behind the top table for several minutes.
Burns eventually asked the protesters to leave, remarking that they had ‘made their point.’ Some did but others remained and ultimately the GAA president was forced to adjourn for lunch.
Allianz is among companies found in a report by the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, to be financially complicit in Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
In December, the GAA decided to retain its Allianz sponsorship despite calls from several county boards to terminate commercial agreements.
The GAA said “Allianz plc has no involvement with the IDF or corporate entities involved in the war in Gaza. Any such relationship is with a ‘sibling or cousin company’.”
Allianz said they have “no holdings in the government bonds referenced in a report by the current UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, has no relationship with Elbit Systems and does not engage in any investment or underwriting activity connected to the Middle East”.
Congress eventually resumed just before 2.20pm. Before returning to debating motions – Burns reopened the meeting by delivering a speech from the top table.
Protesters confront GAA president Jarlath Burns. Photograph: Nick Elliott/Inpho
The Silverbridge native stated: “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, and the 19th of December in my area is a very big date.
“It was in 1975, Glenanne Gang came into Donnelly’s Bar and murdered three people, one of whom was a good friend of mine, Michael Donnelly.
“And I went into my car on the 19th of December 2025 and drove to the front of Donnelly’s house, shop, 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 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. Because that was my lived experience when I was young.”
Speaking after Congress had concluded on Saturday evening, Burns elaborated on his thoughts of events earlier in the day.
“We’ve always facilitated peaceful protests, we’ve even facilitated it in some fields at half-time in some of our matches this year, even though it’s against our regulations,” said Burns.
“But there is almost unwritten rules of engagement between peaceful protests and the allowance of peaceful protests. And I think that there was a line crossed today. Coming into our property and disrupting our Congress is unacceptable.
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“We have members of our security team and volunteers injured today as a result of injuries sustained from people who are trying to get in, that is totally unacceptable.
“And I would urge people who might have been connected with the GAA, who are involved in that protest, to speak about it and to condemn it, because we have a right to carry out our Congress unfettered. We are a democratic organisation.
“[I would ask them to] reflect on the terrified people who were in that room, who were not used to that, who didn’t come to Congress to think that they were going to be roared at and shouted at and intimidated.
“And I would praise the restraint that was shown by our delegates. A lot of them put themselves in harm’s way today to try and keep the protests out and to try and just facilitate it and maintain it. And I’m very proud of everybody who was at Congress today.”
A GAA spokesperson said there is video footage of the incident where protesters gained entry through the main doors of the stadium on the Hogan Stand side of the ground. Security measures are to be reviewed.
“I have nothing but praise for our entire security team, people who I see every day when I come in here. And the security that Croke Park has will only keep what they call a decent person out,” added Burns.
“Unfortunately, there weren’t decent people who came in here today and started roaring and shouting and trying to intimidate us into changing a democratically taken decision by the GAA.
“And we will review it, because we have a duty of care to all of the delegates who come, and to all of our staff and to the security team. So of course, whenever there’s a breach in security, we will review our procedures.”
The demonstration in protest at the GAA’s decision to maintain sponsorship arrangements with Allianz, following the recommendation of the GAA’s Ethics and Integrity Commission’s report, had been widely publicised in advance.
“It’s ridiculous that you should even have to reiterate our support for the people of Gaza and their plight and the genocide that’s gone on in Gaza,” said Burns.
“But that’s a completely separate thing from what our association is about. We cannot be the moral guardians of what’s going on around the world.”