How the fook did Ciara Mageean run Commonwealth Ireland Or Britain?

I appreciated the intelligent and knowledgeable discussion on this topic. I expected far more posts off-topic and was pleasantly surprised.

Not really.

If Barbados is anything to go by, these countries may become Republics but they won't leave the Commonwealth.

Ciara Mageean lives in County Down which is part of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Per the good Friday agreement she is entitled to Irish Citizenship (Republic of Ireland) This is the reason she can run for Republic of Ireland. Athletics Ireland is the official member of World Athletics and CAN ONLY represent the Republic of Ireland as the political boundary rule introduced in 1937 and is still in effect today. This rule limits members to their political boundaries. So Ciara is actually running for a foreign country when she represents the Republic of Ireland with Athletics Ireland in World Championship and European Championship events. It would appear the Commonwealth Games have their own federation and constitution and do not have to abide by World Athletic Rules.

The political boundary rule is not in effect for the Olympic Games. The Olympic Games recognized the Irish team for the entire Island of Ireland and Team GB for Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England.

Close to 99% of athletes in Northern Ireland declare to run for a foreign country, the Republic of Ireland for World Championship events as they can claim Republic of Ireland citizenship with the GFA.

Rugby, Cycling, even Cricket and the vast majority of sports are based on the entire Island of Ireland when competing internationally. It is only Athletics, football and a few other sports that separate between north and south. Even athletics is even more complicated as for the schools international Ireland is based on the entire Island of Ireland.

Agree with most of your post but when you say Ireland you really should say .....
"The same person can run for Ireland in IAAF competition just by virtue of having an Irish passport." you really should say "Republic of Ireland" as this is what World Athletics...formally IAAF enforces and what Athletics Ireland represents. Having citizenship per GFA is the reason Ciara can run for the Republic of Ireland.

Athletics Ireland the member for the Republic of Ireland operates in a GREY AREA. This may help some understand the complications of Irish athletic.

See full article in Ireland's national newspaper "The Irish Times"

at

irishtimes.com

Athletics Ireland defends decision to reject ‘all Ireland’ motion

“This was a genuine motion, from genuine athletics people,” says Larry Larkin of Galway City Harriers

Link:www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/...

"The rule is very simple in that we are governed by the IAAF," said Hennessy. "Now, there is a grey area, in that we have unbelievable cooperation on the island of Ireland in the way athletics is worked, all based on mutual agreement.
“But our basic jurisdiction is the political boundary as recognised by the IAAF. We have to recognise those rules, but still our primary objective is to maximise every athletics resource on the island of Ireland.”