The Antrim County Board has said it has no objection to the holding of a Hunger Strike rally at Casement Park. The National Hunger Strike Committee yesterday (Thursday) announced a major rally at the GAA's Antrim county headquarters for August 13.
It has been speculated that up to 20,000 supporters will attend the event in the Belfast stadium to mark the 25th anniversary of 10 republicans who died on hunger strike.
The GAA's Rule 7 states the organisation should be non-party political.
Earlier this month it distanced itself from a new O'Neill's jersey to commemorate the hunger strikers.
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and several Antrim county players unveiled the jersey but a Croke Park spokesman distanced the GAA from the launch, saying that "as an organisation we remain apolitical".
GAA spokesman Fergal Magill said the association "had no plans to commemorate the hunger strikes".
Yesterday, Antrim County Board secretary Jim Murray said the rally being held in Casement Park was not an issue.
"As far as we're concerned the event is being organised by the families of the hunger strikers," he said.
Mr Adams will be the main speaker and the event will be jointly compered by Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald and Mayor of Kerry Teresa Ferris.
Entertainment will be provided by Frances Black.
At the event's launch at the Roddy McCorley Club on the Glen Road yesterday, former leader of the prisoners at Long Kesh, Brendan McFarlane said: "We will be inviting people from across Ireland and beyond to come to Belfast for the rally and given the massive turn outs all year at local events I expect a large crowd on the day.
"The August rally will be the biggest of the commemorative events to have taken place this year and will provide an opportunity for republicans to come together to remember the sacrifices of 1981."
Mr McFarlane paid tribute to the 10 men who died in the H Blocks in 1981 and the suffering their families went through.
"They will never be forgotten. The debt of gratitude we owe them is immeasurable," he said.
Organiser Dodie McGuinness said she was hoping for a massive crowd to participate in the commemoration.
Those wishing to attend the event are requested to meet at Dunville Gardens at 11am before the main march, which begins at 3pm.
