FrancieBrady wrote: » What? The 'IRFU' downcow...think about the name for a wee second. Rory Best is proud to play for Ireland. I know it kills you and you are bitter about it but northern players and supporters have been peacefully accommodated and the vast majority of rugby players and supporters have no issue with it. Of course we know belligerents would love to throw a bigotted spanner into those works, but this is not soccer, you have no power to do that.
munsterlegend wrote: » So you want the Irish rugby team to get their ‘asses kicked’ but the 6 county men on the Irish Olympic team to win? It’s a puzzler.
FrancieBrady wrote: » More inconsistency from downcow - 'he is working for inclusivity in soccer, but is taking bitter little swipes at participants of a sport that has long ago found a way to be inclusive and accommodating'.
jm08 wrote: » So tell me, how much did the Northern Ireland taxpayer contribute to the building of the Aviva Stadium? How much funding does Stormont Assembly/British Government contribute financially to the IRFU? Do you realise I hope that without the proceeds of international games being played in the Aviva (or as in the past, Croke Park), that there would be no professional Ulster rugby team.
jm08 wrote: » In fairness, DC, the catholic church played a big part in founding and promoting the GAA (which initially included athletics and other sports as well). Croke Park is named after the Archbishop of Cashel & Emily, Thomas Croke who was a founding member of the GAA in Thurles and its first Patron. You might find his background interesting, as his mother was of a wealthy protestant family who disowned her when she married a catholic. While you might find it strange, catholic priests have always been actively involved in promoting the GAA, with priests up to recently even coaching or being selectors for County Teams. The Catholic Church saw playing sports as a good way of keeping young men and women away from the demon drink! Edit: and that article just displays that the person who wrote it is clueless as he thinks the reason the Bishop of Cashel & Emily is there to represent the catholic church. He is there because he is a successor of one of the founding members and first patron of the GAA.
downcow wrote: » As I have said before, and few of you guys have not been reached square one. If you honestly believe that Northern Ireland Unionists are happy to play under the Irish tricolour and the soldier's Song then you are much more out of touch than I thought you were. But I think you know rightly
downcow wrote: » You know rightly again that what I am calling for is more inclusivity and accommodation by IRFU. To simply reorganise things a little so that all the players feel proud when the anthems are playing etc
Yeah_Right wrote: » The Lions would never have the Union flag, GSTQ or the Queen being presented to them because they don't play any home games. They are a touring side only. The Irish rugby team only have the ROI anthem played at their home games which happen to be in the republic. All their away games have Ireland's Call only. I really don't get the issue of players not singing the national anthem. There are players from all countries who don't sing their natianal anthem before matches and no one gives a ****. I never sang or sing the NZ anthem. .
FrancieBrady wrote: » Know what rightly? I go to Ulster Rugby games and Ireland games...there is little to no problem whatsoever among northern support. You need to come out of the belligerent bubble you seem to live in.
Yeah_Right wrote: » The Lions would never have the Union flag, GSTQ or the Queen being presented to them because they don't play any home games. They are a touring side only. The Irish rugby team only have the ROI anthem played at their home games which happen to be in the republic. All their away games have Ireland's Call only. I really don't get the issue of players not singing the national anthem. There are players from all countries who don't sing their natianal anthem before matches and no one gives a ****. I never sang or sing the NZ anthem. Maybe they don't schedule soccer matches on a Sunday in NI because thats what the fans and players want. If playing on a Sunday affected numbers participating and watching, why would they do it? The Ulster rugby team play a lot of their home matches on Friday nights. I presume that is because they have determined thats when they get the best viewing numbers. Its money not religion that determines scheduling.
downcow wrote: » ..... And there is no problem whatsoever among Protestant support at GAA games, or for that matter among Catholics support when the anthem is being played at Northern Ireland games You really have to learn how to have some empathy for those around you who do not believe exactly the same as you or have the same belongings
downcow wrote: » I think your comments have integrity so let me try to explain how the issue feels for someone from Northern Ireland. You say you are from New Zealand. Can I ask you to imagine a scenario that is probably quite difficult. Can you imagine that the two islands of New Zealand have two different flags, different anthems, and that there has been a fair degree of conflict and animosity about who owns what island, and you don't like the anthem or flag of the other as it raises too many issues for you. Now if you are from the northern island and you accepted that the two islands should join together with one rugby team, and that an agreement is drawn up that the games would be played time about on each island, and when on that island, will use that islands flag and anthem. Let's say the southern island is the bigger and has more votes in this new united rugby team. They decide, let's scrap the agreement, let's just play all the games on our island, and use our flag and our anthem at every game. Tell me honestly how you would feel, and indeed how you would feel when you were told that you were being belligerent by raising the issue. Oh, I almost forgot. They give you the huge concession of writing a piece of music for both islands which they will play instead of the southern island anthem at away games. Unfortunately for those who love rugby on the northern island, their only route to international rugby is through this joint team
FrancieBrady wrote: » People who have an issue with the anthem are not 'around me' or anyone else. The 'problem' is most likely from non supporters, a hardcore of belligerents who cannot see the accommodation made and who are bitter that those playing and supporting are happy with it. I'm sure Jim McAlister who made the biggest noise about playing on a Sunday is not the first in the queue to actually go to a game...soccer in northern Ireland lets the belligerents have a say, that is their problem.
FrancieBrady wrote: » GSTQ is England's anthem last time I looked.
downcow wrote: » You are easily puzzled when you want to be. You still have not captured by question on the British and Irish Lions
downcow wrote: » I think you need to go away and do your homework Francie. It is every bit as much my anthem as it is anyone in England. It is the UK anthem - not the English anthem. And I actually feel quite strongly that none of the four nations should be allowed to play it at any sporting events that do not include the whole nation of the UK
downcow wrote: » well common sense would tell anyone that if you break all the agreements made when the teams united by playing all the games in Dublin, then inevitably the big stadium will be in Dublin. Are you suggesting that had all the games being played in Belfast over the years, that the UK taxpayer could not afforded to help with a stadium. There was a clear agreement when the two teams united and none of it has been adhered to - which you will be aware included flying the union flag and the Irish tricolour at alternative games
jm08 wrote: » One of the reasons why the IRFU didn't divide was because the bigger stadium and control was based in Dublin, not Belfast like the football. Guaranteed if Belfast had Lansdowne Road in Belfast and the IRFU HQ, the IRFU would be split. The decision was made in the 1950s that all games would be played in Dublin because of the greater capacity of Lansdowne Road. It was all about where the most money could be generated, not by politics. Its money that held the IRFU together. I am suggesting that if games were continued to be played in Belfast and, the IRFU would never have been in the position to afford a stadium anywhere. The capacity of Lansdowne Road was 3 or 4 times Ravenhill and apart from anything else was unlikely to attract people from place like Cork or Limerick because there was no direct rail access to Belfast and the roads were poor. The reality is that the Irish taxpayer funds the IRFU fairly substantially (with benefit to Ulster/NI rugby from that) and playing the Irish anthem and flying the flag is an acknowlegement of that. What has the Queen or the British taxpayer done for Irish rugby?
RobMc59 wrote: » Remember where rugby and football as we know it originates from.Aviva and its various offshoots are British owned so perhaps Britain has done quite a bit more for sport in Ireland than you are aware of.
downcow wrote: » I actually agree with you. Prod majority sport avoids Sunday’s with no consideration that catholics enjoy Sunday sport And gaa is focused on Sunday’s with no consideration that that prevents a significant number of prods from participating. Crazy country
eire4 wrote: » There is no chance IMHO that Linfield coming out with this away top that just happens to have an orange sash on it and is in the colours of the UVF was a coincidence. Linfield have a long history with a core support base that is racist and this jersey is IMHO very much pandering to that core racist support base of theirs.
downcow wrote: » I don’t think either does it to stop the other. But that’s the impact of the gaa decision. I’m not saying they are wrong. That’s just the impact. Actually I imagine if football was moved to Sunday there would be complaints from gaa about taking their players and supporters
Yeah_Right wrote: » Thats the thing, I can only imagine it. I can't actually really understand it as I didn't live through it. I am observed it on the news and studied it in history dispassionately. I have the view of an outsider (who lives in Dublin) and I don't get the anger/hatred/sectarianism as it is just nonsensical to me. I try to understand and educate myself on it and imagine how I'd feel but it is hard to wrap my head around it.
jm08 wrote: » So, should be we play Swing Low or GSTQ to acknowledge that rugby and football are English sports? Aviva has mixed heritage and is a combination of a lot of companies. Check below for full information, including the bit how they were fined for screwing their Irish customers. The insurance industry's name are mud in Ireland. They had to do something to improve their image.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviva_Group_Ireland
downcow wrote: » That is a very sad comment. I started supporting Chelsea age 6 and I find your implication pathetic. I would not label friends who are connected to my local gaa club racist just because it is has displayed extreme racism. Racism is alive and well in football, gaa, rugby etc. You can burry hour head but that is why gaa is not becoming more inclusive. Most sports accept they have a problem and are working on it. Gaa (and people with your views) think gaa is neither sectarian or racist. The gaa has not even reached square one on issues of diversity
