County Board secretaries can expect to receive correspondence from Croke Park in the coming days reminding them that any involvement in the upcoming Eighth Amendment referendum is a breach of the rulebook. 

Rule 1.11 of the GAA's Official Guide states: 'The Association shall be non-party political. Party political questions shall not be discussed at its meetings, and no Committee, Club, Council or representative thereof shall take part, as such, in any party political movement. A penalty of up to twenty four weeks suspension may be imposed for infringement'.

RTÉ's This Week programme reported that the GAA intends to write to all county secretaries on the subject in the wake of recent events involving GAA personalities. They will stress that no club facilities or intellectual property rights should be used to endorse either a yes or no side in next month's vote.

Donegal All-Ireland winner Eamon McGee helped to launch a Yes campaign in his native county on Friday while Tyrone manager Mickey Harte and former Meath footballer Joe Sheridan were involved in 'GAA Athletes for a NO Vote' event in Dublin yesterday along with Patrick Gallagher (Antrim), Aoife Cassidy (Derry All-Ireland Camogie winning captain) and Anne-Marie McDonagh (Galway ladies footballer).

That launch took place in the Ballyfermot Sports and Fitness Centre and prompted the local Ballyfermot De La Salle GAA club to issue a statement distancing itself from the event.

'Ballyfermot De La Salle GAA Club is aware that a launch is taking place in Ballyfermot today by a group of high-profile GAA members who are campaigning in relation to the forthcoming referendum on the eighth amendment to the Constitution.

'The Club understands that, as part of the launch, the high-profile GAA personalities involved are to hold a football/hurling skills coaching session for local children.

'As the local GAA Club in the community where this launch is to take place, and in response to queries raised by our own members, the Club wishes to make the following clear:

'The Club is in no way associated with today's launch. It received no communication in advance from anyone involved with the launch and, in fact, the Club only became aware of the launch from press reports this morning.

'It would be wholly inappropriate for the Club to be associated with the launch as the GAA and its clubs do not become involved in political matters.

'No GAA and/or Club facilities are being used for today's launch. A decision on whether or not to participate in the football/hurling skills coaching session that is being held as part of this launch is a personal matter for each parent/guardian to decide for their own child.

'Ballyfermot De La Salle GAA Club felt it was important to clarify the above matters. As the Club has no involvement whatsoever with today's launch, it will not be making any further comment.'

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