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The Dominance of Dublin GAA Mod warning post#1

seligehgit

Discussion of all matters relating to this contentious subject is welcome and the potential implications of same.This thread is solely for this purpose.

There appears to be a perception that the moderators are attempting to shut down discussion of this topic and direct same off to a low traffic stickied thread.Nothing could be further from the truth.Our sole motive was to confine discussion to a single thread and prevent cross thread posting which was adversely affecting the enjoyment of fellow posters.

Can we please keep posts civil and constructive in nature.

The Changes in the GAA-super thread is now for discussion of all other suggested reforms not relating to Dublin GAA.

Extra Mod Warning:
Right, a separate warning to both sides in this debate:
Firstly, any more mentioning of "financial doping" or any intimation that rules have been broken by Dublin or that Dublin have cheated are banned from now on. You can debate the issue of the funding that Dublin have received without resorting to that. There is zero evidence of it and posting about it will be considered trolling from here on in.

Secondly, this topic is, like it or not, a big talking point in gaelic football at the moment. You are more than welcome to argue your point, but posting in this thread to simply mock those on the other side or complaining about the topic is known as thread spoiling and is specifically banned in the charter (see point 8 here). No one is forcing you to click on this thread and no one is forcing you to post in it. If you don't like the topic, then don't post. It's as simple as that.

This thread is here so that all the discussion is in one place and it won't filter into other threads. This makes it easier to ignore for posters who don't really want to be involved in it. As a result, we haven't really been moderating it as severely as other threads. However, a number of posts recently from both sides are sailing too close to the wind and getting borderline personal. So please take a minute before you hit submit to ensure that your post won't fall foul of the rules. We'll have no hesitation in issuing cards and/or threadbans to posters who fail to heed this warning.

Please report any posts that you feel break the rules.

Any questions, please feel free to PM the mods.

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[Deleted User]

TrueGael wrote: »

.....Cork is the greatest county with the greatest tradition, heritage,culture and history in Gaelic Games.....

.....according to Cork people :pac: and people think the Dubs are arrogant :eek:

Never mind the fact that the football team are routinely and regularly abandoned by the Good People of Cork(TM) because they've been playing second fiddle to Kerry for practically a century, and the natives declare hurling as the only true Irish sport.

Someone on here recently raged about the mythical rivalry between Cork and Kerry because that's all it is.....a myth. There is no rivalry. Kerry have as many All-Irelands in football as Cork have Munster titles.

RedDevil55

omega man wrote: »

Everyone is doing their nut over 18m (over 10 years) but they can throw 100m on one county stadium and that’s a strawman argument!

We don’t have a free stadium in Croker and in fact our fans through gate receipts over the years probably funded the rebuild of the National stadium.

You do realise that cork are probably looking at €50k monthly repayments for the next 30 years in order to pay back the stadium debt?

Of course this isn't something Dublin have to deal with.

Tombo2001

bruschi wrote: »

ah true. To be honest, success is keeping a huge amount of kids in what was traditionally a tough neighbourhood playing games and keeping out of trouble. The fact they got success with trophies in football is a bonus.

I havent a clue what they are at with hurling!

Just on a previous point of yours, anything I'd equate to would be in dual status too. Pretty much every club in Wexford is dual and even single code clubs like Oulart the Ballagh just won a county U13 football championship this week. Probably to our detriment, but Wexford is very much dual with every club.

100% agree, and I think that's far more important than a county winning something.

Tombo2001

bruschi wrote: »

ah true. To be honest, success is keeping a huge amount of kids in what was traditionally a tough neighbourhood playing games and keeping out of trouble. The fact they got success with trophies in football is a bonus.

I havent a clue what they are at with hurling!

Just on a previous point of yours, anything I'd equate to would be in dual status too. Pretty much every club in Wexford is dual and even single code clubs like Oulart the Ballagh just won a county U13 football championship this week. Probably to our detriment, but Wexford is very much dual with every club.

The hurling club in Ballymun is Setanta, its one of the few very small clubs in Dublin - its hurling only and seems to have a very dedicated membership. But nothing like the same resources of other clubs.

RedDevil55

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Again, why split Dublin to level the playing field? Why not amalgamate counties together? I mean, If you split Dublin in four, do they all then play in Leinster? That would mean there'd be 15 counties versus 6 in Munster. Why isn't that seen as an unfair advantage?
.

If you read my previous posts, I said I didn't want Dublin split but if we continue down the current road it's inevitable.

Removing the Croke Park advantage and increasing funding to other counties is what I'm in favour of.

omega man

TrueGael wrote: »

1) Cork County Board aren't getting it for free - they are funding a very significant chunk which has/is/will hamper their capacity to fund GDOs and their IC Setups until such time it is fully paid for

2)the old stadium was a death trap, I know you don't know about anything other than almighty Croker but it was a death trap

3) Its the 2nd biggest city and Cork is the greatest county with the greatest tradition, heritage,culture and history in Gaelic Games and the idea that they wouldn't be able to host major games is mind-numbing

4) If the DCB had to pay a huge chunk of Croke Parks redevelopment and upkeep costs they wouldn't be able to pay all the professionals in their backroom team and utilise altitude chambers and cryotherapy and all the other enhancers (i.e players wouldn't be fresh as a daisy after 75 mins)

The way you talk about Cork there is in such contrast to the way you portray Dublin GAA. It’s actually disheartening considering the great things that have happened here over the last decade or so with regard to the sports rise from its knees.
Other posters here have raised their genuine concerns about the GAA funding strategy but you just dislike Dublin for some reason.

bruschi

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Depends on your definition of success....How is their hurling team getting on?

ah true. To be honest, success is keeping a huge amount of kids in what was traditionally a tough neighbourhood playing games and keeping out of trouble. The fact they got success with trophies in football is a bonus.

I havent a clue what they are at with hurling!

Just on a previous point of yours, anything I'd equate to would be in dual status too. Pretty much every club in Wexford is dual and even single code clubs like Oulart the Ballagh just won a county U13 football championship this week. Probably to our detriment, but Wexford is very much dual with every club.

Tombo2001

bruschi wrote: »

cant remember if Shane Ross was involved. Probably was, garnering some votes out of it sure. They were the government sports capital grants. It just looked very much at odds to the rest of the country.

the reason I brought it back up, was just to highlight the Ballymun Kickhams tweet that other clubs have access to the same grants, but the history shows that clubs outside of Dublin dont get the same amount or volume. A minor point really as in fairness to the club, they have done some really good work over the past 20 or more years, particularly in comparison of some of the clubs who would be around their general area who have not been as productive or successful.

Depends on your definition of success....How is their hurling team getting on?

blanch152

TrueGael wrote: »

Because playing against kids in empty Croker is the same as against an athletic Juggernaut like the Golden Child. Good lord the ridiculous things ye will say to divert from the doping.......

And to bring up the COE for Kerry is beyond laughable, it had to be FUNDRAISED for like the other COEs around the country to be which involved HARD WORK over many years

I know ye are used to getting everything handed to ye but that isn't the reality for ordinary gaels outside the

The Kerry CoE was fundraised????

https://www.sportsnewsireland.com/gaa/gaa-kerry-gaa-closing-in-on-e5-8-million-funding-target-for-centre-of-excellence/

As far as I can see, if you consider handouts from central GAA, the Munster Council, the National Lottery and the county sponsor totalling around €4m, as equating to fundraising, then what's your problem with Dublin?

bruschi

odyssey06 wrote: »

iirc the news article at the time it mentioned minister Shane Ross? The funding was per capita per county. Dublin sent in fewer applications but those that did got their full requested amount. This probably reflects concentration of fewer but larger clubs in Dublin.
If you are talking about GAA rather than government grants ignore the above.

cant remember if Shane Ross was involved. Probably was, garnering some votes out of it sure. They were the government sports capital grants. It just looked very much at odds to the rest of the country.

the reason I brought it back up, was just to highlight the Ballymun Kickhams tweet that other clubs have access to the same grants, but the history shows that clubs outside of Dublin dont get the same amount or volume. A minor point really as in fairness to the club, they have done some really good work over the past 20 or more years, particularly in comparison of some of the clubs who would be around their general area who have not been as productive or successful.

Tombo2001

bruschi wrote: »

Absolutely agree about the club size, the bigger clubs will have the resources to be able to pay back their loans/funding and have structures in place to sustain it, unlike smaller rural clubs. They also will have more demand for more pitches etc. But, it still shows the difference in mentality of what some clubs have, and some dont, but yet these are the clubs that feed into county teams where it is supposed to be at a level playing field.

being honest, I think the "mega club" structure in some Dublin clubs is a hindrance to itself and the county. A discussion for another place, but a club having multiple teams in age grades is hard to keep sustainable and retain numbers. A lot of them are doing really well and make it work, but if you are on a third or 4th string minor team, it must be very hard to keep going, whereas you could be on a first or second if there was other clubs in the locality. Much like the Dublin county split, the super club split wont happen either. And not just Dublin either the likes of Portlaoise with one club in the town and more like it that easily would sustain more clubs and give more opportunities for expansion of facilities and opportunities for more players to be able to play.

I'd agree with you.

Also, the streaming at underage in my view leads to a lot of problems and a lot of frustrated children. Its fairly subjective as to who should be on an A, B, C or D team when we are talking about 9 year olds.

But it is what it is. Its not possible to set up a new club in Marino or Clontarf or Stillorgan. The space isn't there. The only new club in recent years is Ranelagh, and they don't have a pitch.

Indeed a big part of the success of GAA in Dublin is that clubs invested in the 1970s/80s or whenever, have the pitch, have the clubhouse at the centre of community - whereas you can have as many soccer clubs as you like, but they will be in the same public parks.

In other words - they are the only sports clubs that can scale up as the population expands.

bruschi

Tombo2001 wrote: »

They are all very good points.

What must be important, and part of any discussion, is club size.

A lot of Dublin clubs are mega clubs. That's not necessarily by design, but because of space constraints.

Nonetheless, a lot of Dublin clubs have more than 1000 members, whereas the largest clubs in Donegal or Mayo would not have 1000 members.

If you look at Meath for example, Donaghmore Ashbourne has as far as I know the most members in the county, but 30 years ago it would have been tiny. Its facilities are fantastic and as good as any Dublin club. Likewise Ratoath. Whereas in Navan, there is a 'tradition' with 3 or 4 clubs, and they wouldn't hit the same numbers.

Absolutely agree about the club size, the bigger clubs will have the resources to be able to pay back their loans/funding and have structures in place to sustain it, unlike smaller rural clubs. They also will have more demand for more pitches etc. But, it still shows the difference in mentality of what some clubs have, and some dont, but yet these are the clubs that feed into county teams where it is supposed to be at a level playing field.

being honest, I think the "mega club" structure in some Dublin clubs is a hindrance to itself and the county. A discussion for another place, but a club having multiple teams in age grades is hard to keep sustainable and retain numbers. A lot of them are doing really well and make it work, but if you are on a third or 4th string minor team, it must be very hard to keep going, whereas you could be on a first or second if there was other clubs in the locality. Much like the Dublin county split, the super club split wont happen either. And not just Dublin either the likes of Portlaoise with one club in the town and more like it that easily would sustain more clubs and give more opportunities for expansion of facilities and opportunities for more players to be able to play.

tritium

TrueGael wrote: »

AIG deal is a million a year, but shur if Carlow were smarter they'd be able to get AIG millions as well

Pretty sure you’re overstating that, I understood it was 4m over 5 years for all dublin GAA. Still, a million quid huh? That’s sounds like the amount Kerry Group wrote a cheque for to support the COE. That’s before you get into what the pump into regular sponsorship, which estimates seem to put at about 3/4 million a year. And that’s a relationship that’s been going on for decades.Maybe Carlow should have copied that? Or indeed any of the Munster teams who’ve been served up to the financially doped Kerry juggernaut for the last century or so

But of course it was all equal before dublin came along...

odyssey06

bruschi wrote: »

those grants mentioned there were sports capital grants and they were all fully published. I do recall a discussion at the time about the disparity between so many Dublin clubs getting the maximum allocation and virtually no where else. As Happyilylost said, it is very hard to get grants in rural clubs. I'm not sure why, or I'm not sure what reasons are given or not, but there does seem to be a big absence of what is going on outside of Dublin as if the likes of paid GPOs or having fully functional bars in big clubhouses are the norm.

iirc the news article at the time it mentioned minister Shane Ross? The funding was per capita per county. Dublin sent in fewer applications but those that did got their full requested amount. This probably reflects concentration of fewer but larger clubs in Dublin.
If you are talking about GAA rather than government grants ignore the above.

Tombo2001

bruschi wrote: »

Well I disagree with this and also the previous posters assertion about Mayo/Kerry/Meath. I'm not from either county. In football terms, my county is ranked pretty much dead last.

All I want is my county to have the access to the same resources being provided to Dublin by the GAA for more than 15 years. If the knock on effect is we improve, well and good.

But the main objective should be increased club participation, particularly in urban areas outside of Dublin, and better facilities and coaching structures for kids to play in their clubs.

That's fair - but if your local club has 200 members - then which Dublin club are you comparing it to?

Because there is an economy of scale with these things.

You need X to build a new Astro pitch or whatever; there needs to be a certain amount of activity to justify this. All things being equal, a larger club with more members can (I) raise independent financing more easily and (ii) make a stronger case for a grant on the basis of how many it will impact.

The other thing - the issue of football or hurling doesn't come into it when we are talking about grants in Dublin as nearly every club is a dual club. People talk about 'financial doping' and the football success but half the investment goes into Hurling.

Tombo2001

elefant wrote: »

The playing field will never, ever be level; there are inherent advantages to being the county team based in the capital that nobody can change. These advantages will continue to grow due to urbanisation.

I'm not concerned that Galway won't win anything next year. I don't think any amount of funding would change that for now. But I am concerned that we will have Dublin winning 7+ championships every decade forever from now on. That's terrible for the sport, and it's a problem for the GAA.

I think this is undeniable - once the sheen wears off the five in a row, Dublin fans will have to acknowledge this also.

The question is how to restructure it without destroying it.

GAA has responded to player pressure/ fan pressure in the past, and it hasn't always improved things.

bruschi

Deleted User wrote: »

Bingo, people don't want a level playing field at all, they want to see their county win more, which is impossible at the moment.

Well I disagree with this and also the previous posters assertion about Mayo/Kerry/Meath. I'm not from either county. In football terms, my county is ranked pretty much dead last.

All I want is my county to have the access to the same resources being provided to Dublin by the GAA for more than 15 years. If the knock on effect is we improve, well and good.

But the main objective should be increased club participation, particularly in urban areas outside of Dublin, and better facilities and coaching structures for kids to play in their clubs.

Tombo2001

bruschi wrote: »

those grants mentioned there were sports capital grants and they were all fully published. I do recall a discussion at the time about the disparity between so many Dublin clubs getting the maximum allocation and virtually no where else. As Happyilylost said, it is very hard to get grants in rural clubs. I'm not sure why, or I'm not sure what reasons are given or not, but there does seem to be a big absence of what is going on outside of Dublin as if the likes of paid GPOs or having fully functional bars in big clubhouses are the norm.

Just to respond to your other point about the GPO/GDA, one coach will not coach all those kids. But that is not their role. Its about improving the clubs structures, about improving the coaching practices and providing the amateur coaches with templates and plans about how to develop kids for the future. Being able to contribute to strategic plans and go to schools and coach there or help out with school plans and have a direct club/school link. Its a huge resource to have, albeit dependant on the coach being capable and the club having their own resources to compliment the role.

They are all very good points.

What must be important, and part of any discussion, is club size.

A lot of Dublin clubs are mega clubs. That's not necessarily by design, but because of space constraints.

Nonetheless, a lot of Dublin clubs have more than 1000 members, whereas the largest clubs in Donegal or Mayo would not have 1000 members.

If you look at Meath for example, Donaghmore Ashbourne has as far as I know the most members in the county, but 30 years ago it would have been tiny. Its facilities are fantastic and as good as any Dublin club. Likewise Ratoath. Whereas in Navan, there is a 'tradition' with 3 or 4 clubs, and they wouldn't hit the same numbers.

elefant

Deleted User wrote: »

Bingo, people don't want a level playing field at all, they want to see their county win more, which is impossible at the moment.

The playing field will never, ever be level; there are inherent advantages to being the county team based in the capital that nobody can change. These advantages will continue to grow due to urbanisation.

I'm not concerned that Galway won't win anything next year. I don't think any amount of funding would change that for now. But I am concerned that we will have Dublin winning 7+ championships every decade forever from now on. That's terrible for the sport, and it's a problem for the GAA.

TrueGael

omega man wrote: »

While some of you are on to the GAA querying our games development funding feel free to also ask about the 100m spent on pairc ui chaoimh.

1) Cork County Board aren't getting it for free - they are funding a very significant chunk which has/is/will hamper their capacity to fund GDOs and their IC Setups until such time it is fully paid for

2)the old stadium was a death trap, I know you don't know about anything other than almighty Croker but it was a death trap

3) Its the 2nd biggest city and Cork is the greatest county with the greatest tradition, heritage,culture and history in Gaelic Games and the idea that they wouldn't be able to host major games is mind-numbing

4) If the DCB had to pay a huge chunk of Croke Parks redevelopment and upkeep costs they wouldn't be able to pay all the professionals in their backroom team and utilise altitude chambers and cryotherapy and all the other enhancers (i.e players wouldn't be fresh as a daisy after 75 mins)

bruschi

Tombo2001 wrote: »

That's interesting - I suppose ultimately the difficulty with the conversation around financials is that we have a lot of imperfect information.

By comparison for example the national lottery publishes each and every grant it hands out, its obvious then if something is not right or looks out of place.

That doesn't happen at least on this discussion on boards, because simply of absence of information to draw any real conclusions.

those grants mentioned there were sports capital grants and they were all fully published. I do recall a discussion at the time about the disparity between so many Dublin clubs getting the maximum allocation and virtually no where else. As Happyilylost said, it is very hard to get grants in rural clubs. I'm not sure why, or I'm not sure what reasons are given or not, but there does seem to be a big absence of what is going on outside of Dublin as if the likes of paid GPOs or having fully functional bars in big clubhouses are the norm.

Just to respond to your other point about the GPO/GDA, one coach will not coach all those kids. But that is not their role. Its about improving the clubs structures, about improving the coaching practices and providing the amateur coaches with templates and plans about how to develop kids for the future. Being able to contribute to strategic plans and go to schools and coach there or help out with school plans and have a direct club/school link. Its a huge resource to have, albeit dependant on the coach being capable and the club having their own resources to compliment the role.

edit: Tombo, this was the discussion previously. Obviously it started some links to the same tiresome debate, but did raise eyebrows at the time:
https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057701711

omega man

Happyilylost wrote: »

@omega man. And I guess herein lies the crux of the issue. My club applied for a grant from Croke Park for the development of facilities three years in a row. We got the grant year three. (ironically we got two other grants the same year!) No proper explanation as to why it was refused other than we didn't meet the criteria please apply again next year. This delay in funding stopped us from adding B Teams at certain underage groups as we had no space to cater for them. I fully believe our development as a club was hugely impacted by this delay in grans. Since we got our funding we have gone out of our way to help other clubs in Galway apply for same. Refusal after refusal. It is soul destroying. (Before anyone says about looking for handouts when you put in your costing proposal the GAA will only pay a certain percentage of the cost the rest is done through fundraising.) My dealings with clubs in Dublin is they do not seem to have the same amount of problems being granted this money as clubs in Galway. I won't speak for the rest of country because I have no idea. But in Galway it is an issue. And as is national news our county board is no help.

I will state again this isn't a Dublin problem nor am I putting blame on Dublin. Simply trying to highlight issues that other counties may be facing.

I completely accept your point at face value. Again as others have rightly said on here that this is a GAA issue. Transparency is required now more then ever with regard to the continuation, granting or refusal of funding.

[Deleted User]

RedDevil55 wrote: »

When you can't argue for Dublin keeping all their advantages you may as well start attacking the poster. Good luck to you.

Again, why split Dublin to level the playing field? Why not amalgamate counties together? I mean, If you split Dublin in four, do they all then play in Leinster? That would mean there'd be 15 counties versus 6 in Munster. Why isn't that seen as an unfair advantage?

RoyalCelt wrote: »

He's obviously talking about home league games. Just another advantage Dublin have.

Hmm, Dublin play their home league games in Dublin.....how is that an advantage again?

Tombo2001 wrote: »

In a lot of ways it makes a lot more sense to bring weaker counties together than to split Dublin.

For example, Longford/ Westmeath or Tipp / Limerick.

Splitting Dublin doesn't make it any easier for Leitrim or Longford to compete.

Its just makes it a bit easier for Tyrone or Donegal to compete.

Bridge93 wrote: »

Yeah is it equity for all people want, or equity for the few at the top. The general tone here seems to be people still dont give a **** about carlow or Leitrim so long as Kerry and Mayo can win the odd all ireland. Why level the playing field between Cork/Galway and Leitrim when all most are interested in is pulling Dublin down to Kerry/Mayo/Donegal

Bingo, people don't want a level playing field at all, they want to see their county win more, which is impossible at the moment.

Tombo2001

bruschi wrote: »

Dublin clubs and fans are taking a lot of this personal. I can accept that when people call it manufactured or financial doping, it is not giving credit to the hard work done by clubs.

However, even with their own tweet, they are wrong. Shane Treanor is the most recent listed GPO for Ballymun, a role he has that is not available to every other club. That in itself is a major contributory factor to improved coaching both to players and to volunteer coaches to have a full time employee at the clubs disposal.

Also, with regards to grants, and something I recall spoken about on here at the time, in 2017, 26 Dublin clubs got the maximum application of €150,000 grant. From recollection, only one other club in the rest of the country got the maximum grant allocation.

So yes, the grant applications are absolutely available to all other clubs, but receiving them is not on the same par as Dublin clubs.

That's interesting - I suppose ultimately the difficulty with the conversation around financials is that we have a lot of imperfect information.

By comparison for example the national lottery publishes each and every grant it hands out, its obvious then if something is not right or looks out of place.

That doesn't happen at least on this discussion on boards, because simply of absence of information to draw any real conclusions.

Tombo2001

beggars_bush wrote: »

nobody disputes the development of club facilities. Dublin clubs are a credit for doing that
they also leverage their local politicians very well

what club in Longford or group of clubs were offered matching funding to hire a full time underage coach though?

In response -

(I) Do many clubs in Longford have over a 1000 kids as playing members. A lot of Dublin clubs would have this.

(II) When you have that many underage, as well as all the senior teams, rest assured that one single coach does it really make a huge difference?

Most kids will never be coached one to one by this individual.

Happyilylost

omega man wrote: »

Balymuns great response to RTE primetime.

Ballymun Kickhams
@BallymunGAA
We've 6 players in this magnificent Dubs team! We developed facilities using fundraising events, and grant facilities that are open to all clubs, all around the country. Our super 6 had all natural talent that was nurtured by our volunteer coaches and you say money is the cause?

@omega man. And I guess herein lies the crux of the issue. My club applied for a grant from Croke Park for the development of facilities three years in a row. We got the grant year three. (ironically we got two other grants the same year!) No proper explanation as to why it was refused other than we didn't meet the criteria please apply again next year. This delay in funding stopped us from adding B Teams at certain underage groups as we had no space to cater for them. I fully believe our development as a club was hugely impacted by this delay in grans. Since we got our funding we have gone out of our way to help other clubs in Galway apply for same. Refusal after refusal. It is soul destroying. (Before anyone says about looking for handouts when you put in your costing proposal the GAA will only pay a certain percentage of the cost the rest is done through fundraising.) My dealings with clubs in Dublin is they do not seem to have the same amount of problems being granted this money as clubs in Galway. I won't speak for the rest of country because I have no idea. But in Galway it is an issue. And as is national news our county board is no help.

I will state again this isn't a Dublin problem nor am I putting blame on Dublin. Simply trying to highlight issues that other counties may be facing.

bruschi

omega man wrote: »

Balymuns great response to RTE primetime.

Ballymun Kickhams
@BallymunGAA
We've 6 players in this magnificent Dubs team! We developed facilities using fundraising events, and grant facilities that are open to all clubs, all around the country. Our super 6 had all natural talent that was nurtured by our volunteer coaches and you say money is the cause?

Dublin clubs and fans are taking a lot of this personal. I can accept that when people call it manufactured or financial doping, it is not giving credit to the hard work done by clubs.

However, even with their own tweet, they are wrong. Shane Treanor is the most recent listed GPO for Ballymun, a role he has that is not available to every other club. That in itself is a major contributory factor to improved coaching both to players and to volunteer coaches to have a full time employee at the clubs disposal.

Also, with regards to grants, and something I recall spoken about on here at the time, in 2017, 26 Dublin clubs got the maximum application of €150,000 grant. From recollection, only one other club in the rest of the country got the maximum grant allocation.

So yes, the grant applications are absolutely available to all other clubs, but receiving them is not on the same par as Dublin clubs.

beggars_bush

omega man wrote: »

Balymuns great response to RTE primetime.

Ballymun Kickhams
@BallymunGAA
We've 6 players in this magnificent Dubs team! We developed facilities using fundraising events, and grant facilities that are open to all clubs, all around the country. Our super 6 had all natural talent that was nurtured by our volunteer coaches and you say money is the cause?

nobody disputes the development of club facilities. Dublin clubs are a credit for doing that
they also leverage their local politicians very well

what club in Longford or group of clubs were offered matching funding to hire a full time underage coach though?

omega man

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Not really. The Dubs have a free stadium to play in.

PUC was falling down. It needed redevelopment. You can argue about the final cost but it would not be unusual in Ireland for a major project to overshoot it's budget unfortunately.

These are all strawman arguments to be fair.

Everyone is doing their nut over 18m (over 10 years) but they can throw 100m on one county stadium and that’s a strawman argument!

We don’t have a free stadium in Croker and in fact our fans through gate receipts over the years probably funded the rebuild of the National stadium.

Utopia Parkway

omega man wrote: »

Can’t wait to watch the Dubs play there! However in the context of GAA funding and a ‘level playing field’ then it’s worthy of discussion is it not?

Not really. The Dubs have a free stadium to play in.

PUC was falling down. It needed redevelopment. You can argue about the final cost but it would not be unusual in Ireland for a major project to overshoot it's budget unfortunately.

These are all strawman arguments to be fair.