Tesco Outrage

El Ninotorres

Would like to know what people think of this. Absolute disgrace IMO.

News that a Tesco store in Antrim town ordered bag packers from the local St. Comgall's GAA club to remove their jerseys has caused outrage in GAA circles in the county and beyond.

The children were taking part in a charity bag pack on Sunday when they were told to remove their shirts after customers had complained that the jerseys were offensive. One of the complaints was made by local Ulster Unionist councillor Adrian Watson.



A parent of one of the children involved said the shirts did not feature "anything contentious".

A spokesman for Tesco admitted that the store had been forced to change its policy regarding the wearing of club shirts following the complaints

He said: "It is our policy to ask that the groups wear their uniforms so customers will know the organisation for which they are collecting. This gives the customer the option to go to another checkout if they do not wish to support this particular organisation.

"On Sunday, we had a number of very vociferous complaints both in person and on the phone, including one from a political representative regarding the wearing of the GAA shirts while the group were collecting.

"It is understandable that our duty manager then deviated from Tesco policy and asked that those packing should do so in plain T-shirts."

Speaking on Radio Ulster, St. Comgall's club member Declan Callan said he and his nine-year-old twin daughters arrived at the store only to be told they would have to go home and get changed.

"One of the club members came out and said 'I'm sorry you'll have to go home and get the girls changed because the manager has received a complaint and has asked us to take off our team regalia'.

"The girls were a bit upset and couldn't understand the whole concept of somebody having an issue with the GAA.

"Nearly every weekend there's a club bag-packing there - scouts, basketball, football and rugby teams... and they're always in their club regalia.

"The club T-shirts are plain green with black sleeves, and the club badge is just the round tower of Antrim. So there's nothing contentious and most of the ones bag-packing would have been under the age of 12.

"When the store closed nobody came near us and said 'Look we're awful sorry about that or anything." They never came back near us."

The Tesco spokesman said that the complaints continued after the weekend.

"Subsequently we have had several complaints to the store both from those opposed to the GAA shirts being worn and those opposed to the duty manager asking for the shirts to be removed," he added.

"We are re-issuing our bag packing procedures today and would be disappointed if we had to discontinue this practice as many charities and sporting organisations depend on this facility to raise funds.

"It is never our intention to cause offence so we rely on the co-operation and tolerance of our customers as we know that we can never please everyone."

frag420

I can see their point to be honest. Im sure there would have been complaints if there were for example kids from the Orange Lodge packing bags with sashes and bowler hats. The GAA jersey represents the nationalist/catholic side of Northern Ireland. They could just have worn a plain t-shirt with the clubs name on it. I do however think this should have been discussed when they agreed to let the kids into the store to do the packing.

I would take no offence to someone wearing a sash, Gaa jersey, Rangers jersey or burka but there are mainy out there who would take offence to any of these as there is still somewhat of a divide in Northern Ireland.

topper75

The GAA is a sporting organisation. It happens to administer itself on an all-Ireland basis, as does the IRFU. The Orange Order is a religious organisation aimed at preserving hegemony. Do you guys want to go back and think again before glibly equating the two organisations?

Tesco were between a rock and hard place on this I feel but the correct approach was to invite the complainers to specify how exactly the were being offended by young kids from a sporting organisation. If it is good enough for the rugby club, it is surely good enough for the GAA. If you question that - you are questioning the parity of esteem underpinning the widely-supported Good Friday agreement and NI assembly.

GAAman

Disgusted, outraged, furious and several other words of this nature would not come close to how i feel. These kids were collecting for charity in what i believe was for the club itself so they had every right to wear the jerseys(though i am open to correction on what they were collecting for) and before anyone says it if this had of been a protestant team who were wearing THEIR jersey ie not rangers or england it would be the same thing. Whenever there are charity collections of this nature the bag packers are NOT at every till, therefore anyone who might be offended could easily have gone to another till not manned by one of these children.

Yet again it is unionists who will in one breath claim they want peace and harmony across the north and are looking to "bridge the gap" between peoples, and the same ones in another breath will find any slight thing to be "outraged and appalled" at. The same ones i might add who march to celebrate the killing of catholics and rattle their swords while walking through catholic areas of course

frag420 wrote: »

I can see their point to be honest. Im sure there would have been complaints if there were for example kids from the Orange Lodge packing bags with sashes and bowler hats.

As i said above if they had been collecting for the orange lodge (though i dont think they can for that) it would be different for blindingly obvious reasons, however if they were a bog standard protestant team then it would be no different, as for the gaa is a symbol of catholic nationalism well that depends on the person viewing it's perspective there are protestant gaelic players what does that tell you?

IIMII

More here:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055551596

I suggested:

IIMII wrote: »

Email Tescos directly. Don't think I'll be shopping there again for a long time:

customer.services@tesco.ie

And CC it to the Councillor of the hour:

adrian.watson@uup.org

El Ninotorres

I don't see why they should have to change their tops if they are collecting for their own club. They should be allowed wear what they want. Tesco have shot themselves in the foot with this one now. They will have to ban all bag packing after this. All because some old bigot's who want to live in the dark ages have made complaints. The kids were as young as 9 years of age FFS.

Fighting Irish

lol i hate bag packers, so fook em

smashey

Eh, this isn't the first time this has happened up North. While we would all like to see Gaelic Games played by all, the fact remains that there are a lot of people in Ireland that have no love for the organisation based on cultural differences. I don't see the problem with Tesco doing what they did when you consider they serve both sides of the Northern population. In fact, I'm pretty sure that if the bag packers had shown up wearing Rangers soccer jerseys, the outcome would have been the same.

Bigotry is a two way thing so let's not get into that here please.

future_plans

smashey wrote: »

In fact, I'm pretty sure that if the bag packers had shown up wearing Rangers soccer jerseys, the outcome would have been the same.

That's not the same thing at all. We're talking about kids wearing jerseys from the sports club they are members of....not people wearing jerseys from soccer clubs across the water!!

This kind of nonsense does more damage than good. More nationalist kids up north grow up feeling oppressed....

Perhaps Tesco's should remove all GAA gear and equipment from all stores in the north? Makes sense if they are afraid of offending a small few bigots who are the absolute minority of the protestant community. And why not go a step further, no Republic gear, no England gear, no Celtic gear, Rangers, etc. etc. etc. As soon as you start listening to these morons is when you start losing perspective.

smashey

future_plans wrote: »

That's not the same thing at all. We're talking about kids wearing jerseys from the sports club they are members of....not people wearing jerseys from soccer clubs across the water!!

This kind of nonsense does more damage than good. More nationalist kids up north grow up feeling oppressed....

Perhaps Tesco's should remove all GAA gear and equipment from all stores in the north? Makes sense if they are afraid of offending a small few bigots who are the absolute minority of the protestant community. And why not go a step further, no Republic gear, no England gear, no Celtic gear, Rangers, etc. etc. etc. As soon as you start listening to these morons is when you start losing perspective.

Just a wee pointer here. I grew up on the border in Donegal and now live in the North and I'm calling it as I see it. While the kids are innocent victims in all this, like it or lump it, that is the way things work in the North. We are still a long way from total inclusion.

IIMII

I thought it was great to see a southern GAA team (Cuchulainn Gaels from Omeath) bagging in Sainsbury Newry a few weeks ago. No complaints there, jerseys and all on them

Browney7

Easy offend him isn't it.

Seriously, nine year old kids wearing jersies offending a grown man and a public figure. He really needs to get a life to be honest.

Most of those kids packing never had to experience the height of the troubles but with fools like Watson around he seems to be doing his best to incite hatred once again. Bravo good man!!:rolleyes:

Power-surge

Thats really bad what Tesco done. For them doing that, I'll do my shopping in Superquinn from now on :L

Daysha

Sometimes, things happen in the North where people just need to look past the clash in cultural backgrounds or bigoted presentiments and just take things for what they are. And kids wearing the jersey of the club they play for while packing bags in the local supermarket is one of them.

This is absolutely despicable behaviour.

homerjay2005

not tescos fault ffs. its pathetic how people jump on a bandwagon and point blame without knowing the facts. there maybe piece in the north, but theres still tension there and not all people up there take too kindly to the gaa. certain areas have issues and this is what happened. its not a disgrace, not a scendle, its an unfortunate way of life up there.

Browney7

But Homer, it is a disgrace that in this day and age that nine year old kids wearing GAA jersies while trying to make money for their club can offend a public figure and councillor just because it is a symbol of nationalist culture.

What the complainants basically saw was "oh look a GAA jersey, nationalists like GAA, therefore I don't like GAA, this sort of thing offends me".

If such a small thing like that can upset some people well, I'm speechless to be honest.

smashey

Browney7 wrote: »

If such a small thing like that can upset some people well, I'm speechless to be honest.

Welcome to NI.

Orizio

A shrug and 'oh well, its the North' simply does not excuse this moral cowardice.

Hitman Actual

BBC wrote:

His [UUP] party colleague Drew Ritchie said Tesco needs to review its policy to assure charity collections do not cause offence.
"The public don't mind giving to local charities but sometimes they do get confused when sports clubs are involved. Obviously offence has been caused to some customers," he added

What a strange comment. How do people get confused when sports clubs are involved? And surely the fact that they're wearing their club jerseys makes it easier for these bigots to identify and avoid them. Sad pathetic idiots.

I do like the irony, though, that should Tesco ban jerseys from all clubs, then some of these bigots will end up inadvertently donating to the GAA club, seeing as their confusion is so rife.

Shan75

It's all terribly sad that people can get offended by little things like sports jerseys.As far as I'm concerned most people(Not just in N.I) allow themselves to get offended by minor things all the time.In fact some people go out of their way to find offensive things.

Joey the lips

I will make it simple next year when the orange men are marching in dublin I dont want them wearing sashes or hats causse it effects me.....


Funny how it looks different from this side!

Boycot tesco and post back your clubcard! I did!

Nalced_irl

Hitman Actual wrote: »

I do like the irony, though, that should Tesco ban jerseys from all clubs, then some of these bigots will end up inadvertently donating to the GAA club, seeing as their confusion is so rife.

Haha, i like the way you think! It is an outrage. The counsillor in question was not offended in the least imo. He saw a chance to take a shot and made use of it. I say whenever a soccer, cricket or rugby team is bag packing we should send the tesco lines wild with complaints because they are english games and we find them offensive. Not really of course as im glad to know we are more mature and dignified than that tool of a councillor.

LeoB

This is stupid. I will make a complaint to Tescos about this.

This type of stuff from Mr. Watson does not suprise me in the least. Some of these unionists are the pits. SOME.

There are some good points made here but at the end of the day we have 9year old kids going home to change their kit and this is outrageous. People have a choice whether they put money in or not. The sports minister Mr. McGimpsey has been guest at Ulster Championship games in Casement Park and the club Joe Brolley is in have launched a big development in Belfast and Unionists were present at opening.
This is not just confined to G.A.A. A friend of mine was playing hockey in North recently and was called a Papist, Teague, Irish scum among other things until he answered back in his Deep English voice. He said he never witnessed such hatred or heard anything like the abuse from his very elite opponents.
Its a fact for many years the G.A.A have encouraged participation from all sides of the community and I think without the G.A.A things in the 6 counties would have been a lot worse as they gave a lot of people a good positive focus. But there is still a small few in the G.A.A who have a negative agenda. This does not excuse Mr.Watson and his pathetic sick complaint. We should all email him and complain or ask him to clarify how these 9year old kids caused complaint.

As for tesco. It is a cheap shop.They exploit their workers and try to railroad them regularly. They have put a good few Irish companies to the wall and if anyone is going in there to buy stuff they should ensure its a product of the republic of Ireland.
Heard the other day they will be responsible for about 400 job loses in farming sector within the next few months as they drop prices and bring in inferior produce from all over europe.

Grudaire

Joey the lips wrote: »

I will make it simple next year when the orange men are marching in dublin I dont want them wearing sashes or hats causse it effects me.....

Whats this?! [Begins to plan peaceful protest]

LeoB

Cliste wrote: »

Whats this?! [Begins to plan peaceful protest]

If thats how JOEY THE LIPS feels why not?

Would be interesting to see how Mr. Watson copes with this!!!
We would then hear the real bigots on this Island speak. However the way this Country has gone it may not be politically correct. Like it was when people objected to non-nationals being trained for jobs which were then taken from them.
I better unsubscribe from this or I will be banned.