Riot squad to be at Croker on Saturday

IvaBigWun · 20-02-2007 12:40AM #1

Now Im not going to bring up all the bullsh!t again about the English national anthem and all thats already been discussed. This is a new development today as far as I know that the riot squad will be at Croke Park and I have an awful feeling something is going to seriously kick off if Ireland lose.

Anyone else going to avoid the city centre like the plague on Saturday?

Rb · 20-02-2007 12:44AM

Won't be in during the day but will be heading in during the evening.

Unpossible · 20-02-2007 12:49AM

I have an awful feeling something is going to seriously kick off if Ireland lose.

Me too, actually I have a feeling it would happen regardless

I really hope nothing happens

biko · 20-02-2007 12:52AM

I'll be settled in with a bag of crips in front of the news.

Trojan · 20-02-2007 12:55AM

Load of rubbish. If we lose we'll take it well.

The trouble, if any, will be from the soccer hooligans before the match coming down to protest against the lack of respect for their culture.

I think a lot of people commenting in the media have never been to a rugby match. This is not Man City vs Millwall.

Dirk Gently · 20-02-2007 12:56AM

I have an awful feeling something is going to seriously kick off if Ireland lose.

If there is going to be a riot the result of the match wont cause it. Rugby supporters generally don't riot when they don't win a game. I reckon if there is any trouble it will come from a small band of non-rugby heads who turn up to the game, possibly their first time ever at a rugby match and are intent on causing trouble regardless of what happens on the pitch.

I'm still optimistic that I will get to see a great match on saturday and I hope whatever little ra heads are there to cause trouble get quietly battered by the gardai away from the cameras so they don't get a chance to embarrass us with their backwards antics.

connundrum · 20-02-2007 12:58AM

I've been hoping for such a response from the Guards, at least it shows that they are prepared. If I'd the choice, I'd ban that Republican Sinn Fein protest too - there is having a meaningful protest, and then there is attempting to incite violence.

Again, I do hope nothing happens.

Rb · 20-02-2007 01:00AM

I really hope nothing happens. Last years riots were unbelievably embarrassing, as was the Gardaí's handling of it (I mean, how many actually got punished for their behaviour in the end?).

Though, given the sheer volume of retarded little shams in this country, it is a frightening possibility. I just hope that, should anything happen, the Gardaí handle it appropriately.

I'd actually go so far as to say I'd be happy to see the Gardaí take off their ID numbers and start kicking lumps out of each and every little sham involved.

Rb · 20-02-2007 01:03AM

Trojan wrote:

Load of rubbish. If we lose we'll take it well.

The trouble, if any, will be from the soccer hooligans before the match coming down to protest against the lack of respect for their culture.

I think a lot of people commenting in the media have never been to a rugby match. This is not Man City vs Millwall.

Whilst I fully agree that rugby fans are generally a more passive bunch, and generally a lot better behaved than football fans, I just think that this presents an opportunity to the "Eire32"/IRA-wannabe/etc retards like no other event in the past few years (bar the Orange march last year...and look what happened there).

Judt · 20-02-2007 01:18AM

If the Guards have the riot squads out, keep them discreet (nothing to set off a scumbag like a cop he can throw stuff at), and then know who is where causing what trouble, they can solve most problems before they kick off. I hope there isn't a riot, just so as we don't have to listen to Charlie Bird complaining about whatever people were calling him on the 6.1. Yes Charlie, we know you're RTE's chief correspondent. Well done.

Seriously, this is what should nip the damn thing in the bud. Although who isn't hoping for that one luck shot from some scumbag (or Irish player in disguise) to take out a certain England kicker....

techguy · 20-02-2007 01:19AM

Any trouble that may be caused will probably be caused outside by people who dont' even understand why and probably won't even have tickets to the match..

marco murphy · 20-02-2007 01:25AM

I'd ban that Republican Sinn Fein protest too - there is having a meaningful protest, and then there is attempting to incite violence.

I would'nt go that far now. It's a peaceful protest simple as that.

I just hope the BNP/Nazis dont come over as they did before.

Haven't a Clue · 20-02-2007 01:27AM

There won't be any riots. The GAA saying that playing god save the queen is grand was a big boost in stopping potential violence.

The English have been going to Lansdowne with no real problem. And, despite what was a shameful event 85 years ago, there should be no reason why there'll be any hassle in Croker. Or outside for that matter.

InFront · 20-02-2007 01:32AM

"What's the easiest way to define 'Irish'"? Fintan O'Toole asked the other day in the paper. "Not English." he answered himself. And for some people, he's sadly correct.
So that is why people get so upset about the idea of the Englishmen playing rugby, and their national anthem being sang by English fans in that stadium, a bastion of (non-English) Irishness which allegedly belongs only to a hurling and Gaelic Football identity.

Well it doesn't belong to only a hurling and gaelic football identity, because it has been rented by the GAA to the the IRFU for a hefty fee, and rugby will be played there. "Non-English" is not the definition of Irishness, because that sells your definition of your nationality back to a foreign country.

So if someone is aggrieved by the match, or where it is, perhaps they should ask themselves why this is a threat to their national identity. And if their identity can be so easily corrupted, or is battered by a sports team singing a song, maybe it isn't a very valid identity at all.

sceptre · 20-02-2007 01:51AM

I'd rather have the riot squad lined up outside Croke Park even if there turns out to be no riot than have a riot outside Croke Park and no riot squad lined up anywhere.

whiskeyman · 20-02-2007 01:54AM

I've a bad feeling the Sunday papers will be splashed with photos of English fans with cut / bruised faces after skirmishes with thugs just using the event as an excuse for a fight, similar to the mindset around the time of the 'Love Ulster' Parade.
It really won't take much to start things off, and an evening kickoff will make things harder for the Gardai to patrol. It'll only take a few golf balls / bottles etc.. to be hurled into an English crowd for panic to start, and the media will be waiting for it.

Haven't a Clue wrote:

There won't be any riots. The GAA saying that playing god save the queen is grand was a big boost in stopping potential violence.

These thugs won't give a damn. The event itself is all the excuse they need to hijack.

Haven't a Clue · 20-02-2007 01:56AM

Wait, wait. Since when did GAA fans become hooligans? Eh?

marco murphy · 20-02-2007 01:57AM

As someone pointed out earlier, rugby fans are'nt as.. hooliganish (dont want to offend anyone) and soccer fans.

whiskeyman · 20-02-2007 02:00AM

Poblachtach wrote:

As someone pointed out earlier, rugby fans are'nt as.. hooliganish (dont want to offend anyone) and soccer fans.

I think it's pretty clear that most people don't expect trouble at the match itself inside the ground, or among the true rugby fans.

Haven't a Clue wrote:

Wait, wait. Since when did GAA fans become hooligans? Eh?

Huh? What about some of the players!

dregin · 20-02-2007 02:01AM

What was intended as a peaceful protest at the love ulster crap in Dublin last year sadly provided a rally point for mindless scumbags to start rioting/looting/rascist attacks. They'd do well to cancel it of their own accord.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 20-02-2007 02:04AM

Poblachtach wrote:

As someone pointed out earlier, rugby fans are'nt as.. hooliganish (dont want to offend anyone) and soccer fans.

Haven't a clue wrote:

Wait, wait. Since when did GAA fans become hooligans? Eh?

Trojan (and this one's a doozy!) wrote:

The trouble, if any, will be from the soccer hooligans before the match coming down to protest against the lack of respect for their culture.

Dear Jesus I can't believe some people are ACTUALLY thick enough to think that people are going to riot based on their sporting preferences!!!

Futureman · 20-02-2007 02:05AM

Sorry to sound ignorant, but I don't follow sports at all - can someone sum up what's going on? I presume Ireland are playing England in Rugby in Croke Park this Saturday - whats the fuss? Who would riot & why?

PeakOutput · 20-02-2007 02:12AM

Futureman wrote:

Sorry to sound ignorant, but I don't follow sports at all - can someone sum up what's going on? I presume Ireland are playing England in Rugby in Croke Park this Saturday - whats the fuss? Who would riot & why?

well im guessing the reason is because the last time the english were in croke park they brought tanks and killed gaa fans and players

for me it is in the past i think it would do alot if the english did make some sort of tribute to the people they killed that day but if its not going to happen its not worth a riot lol

for the record this will NOT be the first time the english national anthem is to be played in croke park

by the way a sports journalist wrote in the english times last week "ireland may not have the strong backbone in the scrum that the english have but the english wont have the tanks and guns they had the last time they were in croke park" quote of the century for pure neck

dregin · 20-02-2007 02:12AM

Futureman wrote:

Sorry to sound ignorant, but I don't follow sports at all - can someone sum up what's going on? I presume Ireland are playing England in Rugby in Croke Park this Saturday - whats the fuss? Who would riot & why?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_Sunday_(1920)

The English national anthem being sung in Croker is a sore point dew to the events of Bloody Sunday, 1920.... That's right. 87 years ago. I'm not saying what happened was right, but there's a point where ya have to realize that the past is in the past. Some people will, more than likely, use the horrors of the past to have a go at running amok and causing chaos...

PeakOutput · 20-02-2007 02:16AM

dregin wrote:

The English national anthem being sung in Croker is a sore point dew to the events of Bloody Sunday

the english national anthem was played/sung in croke park at least once during the special olympics and if it stops there being trouble at the weekend i think the media should be making more of a point about that

marco murphy · 20-02-2007 02:17AM

dregin wrote:

What was intended as a peaceful protest at the love ulster crap in Dublin last year sadly provided a rally point for mindless scumbags to start rioting/looting/rascist attacks. They'd do well to cancel it of their own accord.

I wouldnt say the protest itself was a rally point, the location more than anything else.

edit - being right at the GPO.

dregin · 20-02-2007 02:18AM

PeakOutput wrote:

the english national anthem was played/sung in croke park at least once during the special olympics and if it stops there being trouble at the weekend i think the media should be making more of a point about that

I hadn't even considered that fact. But hilighting the fact wouldn't make for very sensationalist reporting would it???? The tabloids want this to happen so they can spew their usual ****e to the shed loads of morons who eat it up on a daily basis.

Resolving conflict = BORING... sad state of the life of a tabloid.

PeakOutput · 20-02-2007 02:26AM

dregin wrote:

sad state of the life of a tabloid.

dosnt have to be the tabloids but i know what you mean

i was on oconnel st last year during the riots as i worked their and im young and dumb so went out to get photos, anyone who says the gardai dealt with it badly wasnt there and has not got a clue and as far as i know the first guy prosecuted for the riots was done last week

a little ot but jsut thought id throw it in their

marco murphy · 20-02-2007 02:30AM

I'm sure orders from the top(to the gardai) will be ''Do not let the thugs take over again''.

K-9 · 20-02-2007 02:58AM

InFront wrote:

"What's the easiest way to define 'Irish'"? Fintan O'Toole asked the other day in the paper. "Not English." he answered himself. And for some people, he's sadly correct.
So that is why people get so upset about the idea of the Englishmen playing rugby, and their national anthem being sang by English fans in that stadium, a bastion of (non-English) Irishness which allegedly belongs only to a hurling and Gaelic Football identity.

Well it doesn't belong to only a hurling and gaelic football identity, because it has been rented by the GAA to the the IRFU for a hefty fee, and rugby will be played there. "Non-English" is not the definition of Irishness, because that sells your definition of your nationality back to a foreign country.

So if someone is aggrieved by the match, or where it is, perhaps they should ask themselves why this is a threat to their national identity. And if their identity can be so easily corrupted, or is battered by a sports team singing a song, maybe it isn't a very valid identity at all.

It is still the GAA's ground. The GAA are the landlords, the IRFU and for that matter the FAI are the tenants. How ironic, Michael Cusack one of the founders of the GAA and hence the Cusack stand, was also a member of the Land League! I suppose that shows you how Ireland and indeed the GAA has changed. Not so narrow minded as people would like to think! The GAA owns the ground that the "foreign and opresive sports" are renting! Anyway I have said that in a tongue in cheek way! but there is some truth there.

O'Toole also said the week before, whether we like it or not Sport and religion, culture etc. are linked. The majority (by far) of GAA followers are very pround of the distinctly Irish identity that the GAA represents. That is not an anti-British sentiment, just pro-Irish culture. We should be confident enough to respect our own people's culture in this modern Ireland. The GAA is confident enough to say that GSTQ is a matter for the RFU. That is a statement of the new GAA. "Proud and confident enough of our own games and stadia to not interfere in other cultures and games". Unlike what some tried to do 5 years ago when the democratic vote was against Croker being opened. The GAA can't win!

Most of the protestors on Sat will not be wearing GAA jerseys! They will be wearing the jersey of the club who's supporters sing the National Anthem in English!

Conor O'Shea will be talking to the English team about the significance of the venue. I read in Gaelic Life magazine, an Ulster GAA magazine, that John Inverdale, the BBC Rugby presenter met with Jarlath Burns about 5 years ago.(former Armagh Gaelic player, TG4 regular, Irish speaker and the man who introduced Rugby to his Catholic school!) He attended several club games in the North and has been to All Ireland hurling and Football finals. He had taken time to understand and indeed have immense respect for the GAA before Croker was an issue. Maybe some Irish people can learn from him! He can see what the GAA is, and what it represents, but some Irish people can't. They get wrapped up in their own prejudices!

These 2 men are what represents the now not the past. Understand and respect different identities and be very proud of your own.

There will be no riot squad needed for these people and indeed the majority of people, GAA, Rugby or Soccer members who are interested in Saturday's match. Why do the Republican SF people remind me of the football hooligans from Lansdowne Road and indeed any city/ground u care to mention from around Europe that have been visited by those great nationalistic National Front members in the past?

Quote: Whiskeyman
Originally Posted by Haven't a Clue
Wait, wait. Since when did GAA fans become hooligans? Eh?
Huh? What about some of the players!

Them Rugby players are saints too! Gentlemen! Lol! At least there will be no diving or theatricals in Croker on Sat. Leave that to the Luvie brigade next month! Lol!

Dirk Gently · 20-02-2007 03:02AM

Seanies32 wrote:

It is still the GAA's ground.

built with rugby supporters tax money.

Riot squad to be at Croker on Saturday

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