Former Armagh midfielder Jarlath Burns would be in favour of the GAA getting rid of the tricolour at its grounds to reach out to the unionist community.

Burns would also support no further playing of the National Anthem if this helped bring more Protestants into the sport.

Regarded as one of the most progressive voices in gaelic games, the former Armagh senior football captain is current chairman of the Rules Committee.

Speaking on 'Eamonn Mallie Meets' on Irish TV, he said that the GAA needs to reach out to the unionist community. He added that symbols usually associated with the GAA meant less to him than they once did - and losing them could help build bridges with unionism.

When asked if he would back taking down the tricolour from a GAA pitch, the Silverbridge Harps man - a fluent Irish speaker - replied:

"Yeah, it wouldn't cost me a thought - and you know this - flags are divisive - do we need to say that any louder? If somebody was to propose in the morning that they were going to get rid of them all, it wouldn't bother me at all. It's not one of the core values that I have.

"It's an overtly political thing, it's something which is specific to national borders, it's nothing to do with cultural - if I thought for a moment that suddenly [Ulster Unionist MLA] Tom Elliott would become our greatest fan I would get rid of them surely."

He added that: "You could do all of those things and there would still be a section of unionism that would still feel repelled by the GAA because of our love of the Irish language, for example."

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