The G.A.A. - A Good or Bad thing?

Stojkovic

robbiezero wrote: »

Whatever you do, don't tell them Wolfe Tone was a Protestant.

Oh I did and Robert Emmet.

Aongus Von Bismarck

I will fly home regularly during the summer to watch Galway play in the hurling championship. I'm hoping there will be a more positive outcome when I fly home this September to watch them in the All-Ireland final.

My workload means I'm no longer actively involved in the GAA club here in Frankfurt. I do know it's a wonderful way of meeting people, socialising and - if you want - playing some sport. Recent expats find it a tremendous comfort during those difficult opening months. It's also very popular with people who aren't Irish. The overseas GAA structure is a credit to the organisation.

Say Your Number

So they were all dirty prods

That's it, all my GAA stuff is going into the fire :mad:

Duckworth_Luas

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

I will fly home regularly during the summer to watch Galway play in the hurling championship. I'm hoping there will be a more positive outcome when I fly home this September to watch them in the All-Ireland final.

My workload means I'm no longer actively involved in the GAA club here in Frankfurt. I do know it's a wonderful way of meeting people, socialising and - if you want - playing some sport. Recent expats find it a tremendous comfort during those difficult opening months. It's also very popular with people who aren't Irish. The overseas GAA structure is a credit to the organisation.

I was going to thank this post but von Bismarck has a whiff of Lutheranism about it!

Bulbous Salutation

Say Your Number wrote: »

So they were all dirty prods

That's it, all my GAA stuff is going into the fire :mad:

Sam Maguire as well.

Jack Boothman was a CoI man and the president of the GAA during the 90's.

Thankfully the GAA don't ask about religious affiliation, but there is at least one CoI man with an All-Ireland medal that I know of. I suspect if people could be bothered to ask, then they'd find many more amongst the Kilkenny All-Ireland winners. That isn't the point though.

It's about the sport.

pgj2015

ClovenHoof wrote: »

It has been a very powerful pathological manipulation tool for politics in that it destroys a sense of national identity and replaces it with a county colours mindset. This is one of the reasons we are doomed as a nation as we are a collection of 32 little ****hole rivalries and not a nation of Irish people. Every culchie puts his parish ahead of his nation. Jackeens tend to be the only group in Ireland who are actually aware of what nation they are citizens of.

yes they do, Britain, as they are west brits who care more about man united than dublin gaa.

beach_walker

Bulbous Salutation wrote: »

I suspect if people could be bothered to ask, then they'd find many more

Exactly, it's not a big deal. Offhand I know of one Down and one Tipp AI winners. Nobody cares!

Up North of course it's more sensitive but the GAA (in association with other sporting bodies) is doing great work up north to integrate the communities. Some interesting reading.

teddykrueger

So much hate...for a sporting organisation? I know the GAA haven't endeared themselves in the past, but let it go. Times have changed.

I've absolutely no interest in hoofball or hurling (the latter which I actually respect) and come from a big soccer background, but how could such an entity be a bad thing? Gets kids involved in sport and brings people together.

It's like people can't like one thing without hating something else.

PressRun

I don't know what generation all these people who think the GAA is anti-other sports are, but I have a niece and a nephew from different ends of the country both involved in gaelic games who have never been discouraged from picking up other sports. The young girl is playing underage for the Dublin ladies (albeit under the LGFA) and also represents her school in basketball. The little lad has just started playing gaelic football at school last year, but still plays soccer too. He's as mad about Messi as he is about Aiden O'Shea. I've not heard of either of them being told that they can't play other sports or anything of the sort. Granted, I would say my niece will lean more towards the football long-term and the LGFA really look after the girls, but I don't think either of them are being told what to do. It's more a case that gaelic games in general are (understandably) quite well-organised at a grassroots level than most other sports in the country, and the whole set-up is more conducive to building successful underage structures and getting young people involved.

The GAA has its problems, most definitely, but I don't see why it should be faulted for doing its absolute best to promote its games and encouraging young people to participate. Why shouldn't they? Perhaps there are other sporting organisations within the country that could learn a thing or two from how the GAA does things on a grassroots level.

DEFTLEFTHAND

Stojkovic wrote: »

Oh I did and Robert Emmet.

Why would anyone care? You might hate them up north but down here we don't. The CC and COI are very close in our country.

signostic

There are alot of sports played in GAA facilities such as basketball, squash, racquetball, badminton, roller hockey etc but the GAA seem to have just 2 sports in their sights that cannot be tolerated i.e soccer and to a lesser extent rugby. I suppose they see these two sports as their main competition.

I remember starting a soccer club with a few other lads in a rural town in Co Galway in the early 80`s. We acquired permission from the local farmers to use the town commonage for a pitch and all except one agreed. The individual who objected was big in the local GAA club would regularly drive his livestock into the pitch a day or two before our matches making sure that the ground was well fertilised. After that I was never actively involved in GAA again.

Thankfully the club I helped to start is thriving and now has more teams and juvenile players than the GAA club. Soccer clubs too can be the focal point in a community as well.

Stojkovic

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

Why would anyone care? You might hate them up north but down here we don't. The CC and COI are very close in our country.

Who said Im from up North ?

togaselected

Worst thing about being in a heavily influenced GAA area is that you are seen as "weird" or "unusual" if you don`t play it, I don`t have a problem with it but I don`t see why it matters if one plays it or not.

CrabRevolution

I don't think anyone aware of any GAA history doesn't know that Sam Maguire was a protestant. Even then you've lots of clubs and grounds named after Thomas Davis, Parnell, Emmet, Wolfe Tone, Douglas Hyde etc.

Stories of any GAA heads (especially in he 21st century) being sickened at the idea of a protestant are almost certainly fabricated.

Torricelli

The GAA has it's flaws but overall it's a fantastic organisation. It keeps hundreds of thousands of people fit and healthy, it gives people a purpose and it's a great social outlet.

This crap of GAA heads loathing their players playing soccer is a myth, I've never heard of anyone being told they're not allowed play soccer. I played soccer and football, and never had any issues with juggling the two sports. It's utter bullsh1t from people who haven't a clue what they're talking about.

Our kids are getting fatter, where would we be with the GAA?

osarusan

CrabRevolution wrote: »

Stories of any GAA heads (especially in he 21st century) being sickened at the idea of a protestant are almost certainly fabricated.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/protestant-gaa-star-hounded-out-by-vile-taunts-26308621.html

DavidLyons_

Torricelli wrote: »

The GAA has it's flaws but overall it's a fantastic organisation. It keeps hundreds of thousands of people fit and healthy, it gives people a purpose and it's a great social outlet.

This crap of GAA heads loathing their players playing soccer is a myth, I've never heard of anyone being told they're not allowed play soccer. I played soccer and football, and never had any issues with juggling the two sports. It's utter bullsh1t from people who haven't a clue what they're talking about.

Our kids are getting fatter, where would we be with the GAA?

Maybe some people's experiences are different to yours. I know mine were and are and I plyed both soccer and gaelic football too.

CrabRevolution

osarusan wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/protestant-gaa-star-hounded-out-by-vile-taunts-26308621.html

Alright. I've to give you that. I'll qualify my statement with "down here". Obviously things must be different up north...

PressRun

CrabRevolution wrote: »

Alright. I've to give you that. I'll qualify my statement with "down here". Obviously things must be different up north...

I think the Wiley brothers who play for Monaghan are Protestant. Don't know if they've ever been on the receiving any of any religion-based abuse, but I haven't heard of it if they were.

To be fair though, players get sledged on all sorts of ****e these days. You do hear the "horror stories" from time to time regarding the abuse some players have supposedly gotten, but tbh, I think, for the most part, it's fairly harmless stuff and most people are well able to handle themselves in the face of such nonsense. Sledging can be hard enough for refs to police as well. Players would be cute enough in making sure they aren't heard.

signostic

CrabRevolution wrote: »

Alright. I've to give you that. I'll qualify my statement with "down here". Obviously things must be different up north...

Would Cavan and Monaghan not be "down here" ?

http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/gaa-player-apologises-to-protestant-over-sectarian-abuse-1-6543587

StripedBoxers

I don't play and have never played G.A.A. however I do think its a great thing.

It's fantastic for children to get them out and about, involved in sports, making friends, being physically fit from a young age etc.

Although I don't play sports I do enjoy the atmosphere at games. I've been to a few hurling games and always enjoyed watching them and the atmosphere there, always good fun.

PTH2009

theres a bit of buzz around Ireland (republic and northern) with the euros on this summer and im looking forward to it like many others (cant wait for the Im not watching the euros thread on here lol).

Round 1 of the All Ireland football qualifers are due to take place on Sat 18th June (same day as ROI vs Belgium in the euros) so i wonder will the gaa move all games to sunday 19th June or put the games on at 6/7pm (in which everyone will be tanked going to the games)

Dirty Dingus McGee

osarusan wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/protestant-gaa-star-hounded-out-by-vile-taunts-26308621.html

Things are different in the North as a lot of people in the North don't want to move forward.There are always a few idiots everywhere.

I suppose soccer should be written off completely due to the racist abuse that exists in that sport.

Dirty Dingus McGee

signostic wrote: »

Would Cavan and Monaghan not be "down here" ?

http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/gaa-player-apologises-to-protestant-over-sectarian-abuse-1-6543587

He was banned for that.

The GAA can't control individuals behaviour nor should anyone expect that they can.

armaghlad

osarusan wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/protestant-gaa-star-hounded-out-by-vile-taunts-26308621.html

One instance of sectarianism in the occupied six. From almost ten years ago. I know of Protestants playing away and not a word said. As it should be.

osarusan

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

I suppose soccer should be written off completely due to the racist abuse that exists in that sport.

Racist abuse, you say?

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/gaa-apology-to-racially-abused-player-68353.html

armaghlad

osarusan wrote: »

Racist abuse, you say?

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/gaa-apology-to-racially-abused-player-68353.html

Teenage girls...

Dirty Dingus McGee

osarusan wrote: »

Racist abuse, you say?

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/gaa-apology-to-racially-abused-player-68353.html

Do I need to get links for all the racsim sectarianism etc that occurs in soccer for example.

All societies have a racist element to them and support from most popular sports is made up of people from a broad group of people within society so there are always going to be racist , setarian incidents etc in any sport because there are racist people in the world in general.

andekwarhola

Torricelli wrote: »

Our kids are getting fatter, where would we be with the GAA?

Probably have to invent other participation sports for them to play. It's such a shame there's no other ones in Ireland.

osarusan

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

Do I need to get links for all the racsim sectarianism etc that occurs in soccer for example.

No, not at all, I fully agree that this stuff happens in all sports.

I was making the point in response to another poster saying that (in the case of sectarian stuff, at least) it was a complete fabrication - but it isn't.

There is quite a bit of 'doesn't happen/doesn't happen anymore' being posted, but that stuff does still happen.