Could Ireland be better at world sports if it wasn't for GAA?

NIMAN · 08-08-2012 11:21PM #1

I am not trying to slag off the GAA or anything here, but I got to thinking about our performance in the Olympics and how we struggle to get a handful of medals each Olympic Games.

Ireland has been so obsessed with the GAA, do you think it has hindered our success elsewhere in the sporting world? After all, we are great at it, but no-one else plays it!;)

How many of those supremely gifted athletes who perform week-in, week-out for their local football and hurling teams/counties would have made it at a high level in other sports such as soccer?

Genghis Khan. · 08-08-2012 11:28PM

The GAA is not about sport but about expressing and forcing a culture upon the Irish people. It is a nationalistic organisation and nothing else. Irish kids should take up proper sports which they can earn a living from.

Ms.M · 08-08-2012 11:30PM

How many of those supremely gifted athletes who perform week-in, week-out for any team in any field could have used their dedication to help solve the environmental crisis or develop the cure for cancer had they not been so obsessed with sport?

Mario Balotelli should have stayed in school. He could have invented footballer-friendly bibs years ago.

There's a bigger question here.

mrwhimwham · 08-08-2012 11:32PM

The real question isn't how much better would we be at sport without the GAA. It's how much more could we have done without the invention of alcohol!

brummytom · 08-08-2012 11:33PM

Genghis Khan. wrote: »

The GAA is not about sport but about expressing and forcing a culture upon the Irish people. It is a nationalistic organisation and nothing else. Irish kids should take up proper sports which they can earn a living from.

Except for a sport association.

Diego Maradona · 08-08-2012 11:37PM

What?

As a country we punch above our weight at a lot of sports. Our rugby team are in the top 5 or 6 in the world, our soccer team qualified for the euro's i.e we are in the top 16 teams in europe, our boxers are amongst the best in the world (amateur and pro), our golfers (Harrington, Clarke, McDowell?? Rory McIlroy??) win majors on a regular basis, our horse's, jockeys and trainers are world renowned, our cricket team surprised the world at the last WC by beating England.

Sorry OP but you're wrong we compete pretty well for a very small island.

starbelgrade · 08-08-2012 11:40PM

Diego Maradona wrote: »

Our rugby team are in the top 5 or 6 in the world,

That's because there's only 6 teams in the world who play international rugby.

Dyr · 08-08-2012 11:44PM

Most of the events (not sports) in the olympics are makey uppy recreated bollix that were reinvented for the reinvented olympics itself, javelin, hammer, wrestling, marathon etc. All romantic 19th century recreations of the original greek contests

Seriously who gives a fook about "events" like running around a track and jumping over stuff

Kidchameleon · 08-08-2012 11:44PM

I wonder if the GAA football league was actually a soccer league. It would be one of the best in the world.

ProudDUB · 08-08-2012 11:44PM

Genghis Khan. wrote: »

The GAA is not about sport but about expressing and forcing a culture upon the Irish people. It is a nationalistic organisation and nothing else. Irish kids should take up proper sports which they can earn a living from.

I watch GAA games on telly, and I go them at Croke Park too. Just as I go to soccer & rugby games. I do this because I want to. Nothing is or ever has been "forced" upon me. What a load of nonsense.

I seriously doubt if Annalise Murphy earns a living sailing a boat. Yet she did the country proud this week. I doubt if any of our medal winning boxers could afford to do what they do without hefty grants and IOC subsidies, yet they are the only ones to bring home the medal bacon year after year.

Are you seriously going to tell Annalise, the boxers and any other promising young athletes out there that should only take up a sport that they can earn a living at? Whatever happened to doing something purely for the love of it?

NIMAN · 08-08-2012 11:45PM

Diego Maradona wrote: »

What?

As a country we punch above our weight at a lot of sports. Our rugby team are in the top 5 or 6 in the world, our soccer team qualified for the euro's i.e we are in the top 16 teams in europe, our boxers are amongst the best in the world (amateur and pro), our golfers (Harrington, Clarke, McDowell?? Rory McIlroy??) win majors on a regular basis, our horse's, jockeys and trainers are world renowned, our cricket team surprised the world at the last WC by beating England.

Sorry OP but you're wrong we compete pretty well for a very small island.

I agree that we do punch above our weight, but of all those successes you mention I'd say that few of them played GAA sports. Imagine if the hundred of thousands of kids that concentrate on GAA each and every year put their sporting attention into other sports, how much better we'd compete.

Thats my point.

Diego Maradona · 08-08-2012 11:46PM

starbelgrade wrote: »

That's because there's only 6 teams in the world who play international rugby.

Really?

IRB World rankings

1(1) NEW ZEALAND 91.43
2(2) AUSTRALIA 87.05
3(3) SOUTH AFRICA 84.87
4(4) ENGLAND 83.09
5(5) FRANCE 83.03
6(6) WALES 82.26
7(7) IRELAND 79.85
8(8) ARGENTINA 79.25
9(9) SCOTLAND 77.97
10(10) SAMOA 76.23
11(11) ITALY 76.03
12(12) TONGA 74.79
13(13) CANADA 72.30
14(14) FIJI 70.60
15(15) GEORGIA 67.95
16(16) JAPAN 67.93
17(17) USA 66.61
18(18) ROMANIA 64.54
19(19) RUSSIA 62.05
20(20) SPAIN 61.63
21(21) URUGUAY 61.13
22(22) NAMIBIA 59.24
23(23) BELGIUM 59.17
24(24) CHILE 58.32
25(25) KOREA 56.72
26(26) PORTUGAL 56.58
27(27) HONG KONG 55.49
28(28) POLAND 55.19
29(29) ZIMBABWE 54.70
30(30) UKRAINE 53.95
31(31) GERMANY 53.33
32(32) MOROCCO 52.35
33(33) BRAZIL 51.57
34(34) MOLDOVA 51.28
35(35) KAZAKHSTAN 51.28
36(36) LITHUANIA 50.90
37(37) SWEDEN 50.41
38(38) KENYA 50.28
39(39) CZECH REPUBLIC 50.16
40(40) PARAGUAY 48.84
41(41) UGANDA 48.76
42(42) MADAGASCAR 48.19
43(43) TUNISIA 48.18
44(44) CROATIA 48.06
45(45) MALTA 47.97
46(46) IVORY COAST 47.67
47(47) NETHERLANDS 47.66
48(48) SRI LANKA 47.60
49(49) BERMUDA 47.17
50(50) SENEGAL 47.14
51(51) PAPUA NEW GUINEA 46.55
52(52) SWITZERLAND 45.88
53(53) VENEZUELA 45.36
54(54) TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 44.68
55(55) COOK ISLANDS 44.61
56(56) PHILIPPINES 44.34
57(57) ISRAEL 43.90
58(58) GUYANA 43.56
59(59) THAILAND 43.44
60(60) CHINESE TAIPEI 43.19
61(61) DENMARK 42.28
62(62) ANDORRA 42.21
63(63) PERU 41.64
64(64) MALAYSIA 41.37
65(65) CAYMAN 41.27
66(66) SINGAPORE 41.19
67(67) BARBADOS 41.01
68(68) INDIA 40.81
69(69) CHINA 40.73
70(70) SOLOMON ISLANDS 40.70
71(71) NIUE ISLANDS 40.45
72(72) LATVIA 40.16
73(73) SERBIA 40.14
74(74) COLOMBIA 39.59
75(75) MEXICO 39.38
76(76) ZAMBIA 38.87
77(77) BOTSWANA 38.65
78(78) PAKISTAN 38.38
79(79) BULGARIA 38.34
80(80) CAMEROON 38.33
81(81) SLOVENIA 37.76
82(82) JAMAICA 37.08
83(83) ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES 36.84
84(84) AUSTRIA 36.84
85(85) HUNGARY 36.81
86(86) TAHITI 36.25
87(87) BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA 36.18
88(88) GUAM 35.70
89(89) BAHAMAS 35.68
90(90) SWAZILAND 35.63
91(91) NIGERIA 35.29
92(92) MONACO 35.17
93(93) NORWAY 34.55
94(94) VANUATU 33.45
95(95) LUXEMBOURG 32.62
96(96) FINLAND 27.03

Rhys Essien · 08-08-2012 11:47PM

The Saudi Arabians pumped 40 million quid into their Equestrian team alone.Not sure if the horses were eating gold flaked feed or what.

AFAIK the total budget for ALL of Team Ireland was €11 million.

It wasn't me! · 08-08-2012 11:48PM

Bambi wrote: »

Most of the events (not sports) in the olympics are makey uppy recreated bollix that were reinvented for the reinvented olympics itself, javelin, hammer, wrestling, marathon etc. All romantic 19th century recreations of the original greek contests

Seriously who gives a fook about "events" like running around a track and jumping over stuff

Hundreds of millions of people?

As to the original question, I don't think the GAA is necessarily to blame, but certainly it's a massive sink for funding in Irish sport, while most other sport is very poorly funded. The sports council has an entirely misguided view of what's required, financially, to perform at world level in most sports, and until we see substantially more investment, we're not going to get the returns we should.

Dyr · 08-08-2012 11:48PM

Genghis Khan. wrote: »

The GAA is not about sport but about expressing and forcing culture upon the Irish people. It is a nationalistic organisation and nothing else. Irish kids should take up proper sports which they can earn a living from.

It is a nationalistic organisation thank god, but its about expressing and forcing an Irish culture on irish people, as it should be. And not only thatm it's about taking that glorious irish masterculture and rubbing it good, hard and proper in the faces of people like you

Pherekydes · 08-08-2012 11:49PM

Jasus, there's some drivel being spouted tonight.

The GAA forces NOTHING on anybody. You play if you want.

What is it about the desire to disband the GAA and force every kid into boxing or show jumping?

Joekers · 08-08-2012 11:49PM

starbelgrade wrote: »

Diego Maradona wrote: »

Our rugby team are in the top 5 or 6 in the world,

That's because there's only 6 teams in the world who play international rugby.

And we are one so what does that tell ya?

starbelgrade · 08-08-2012 11:50PM

Diego Maradona wrote: »

Really?

No. I was taking the piss.

byhookorbycrook · 08-08-2012 11:51PM

If you examine the horses who took top places in most of the equestrian sports, you will see how many top horses are sold out of Ireland. We would do better at some sports if we actually had the training facilities and funding.

Have you seen the state of most primary school "facilities?"
Some yards are so small, running has to be banned due to accidents.Not exactly a help either.
Nothing to do with the GAA whatsoever.In fact the GAA and the IRFU seem to be the only groups consistently willing to send coaches into primary schools,free of charge.

dan1895 · 08-08-2012 11:52PM

I think the OP has a point. At international level we're very poor and constantly underachieve. Rugby is only taken seriously in a handful of countries and our football team is poor compared to similar sized countries, Denmark, Uruguay, Netherlands etc. There are potentially top class athletes who end up playing GAA but that's their choice and good luck to them.

BaZmO* · 08-08-2012 11:54PM

Rhys Essien wrote: »

The Saudi Arabians pumped 40 million quid into their Equestrian team alone.Not sure if the horses were eating gold flaked feed or what.

AFAIK the total budget for ALL of Team Ireland was €11 million.

That's because the the Saudi Arabian King's nephew was competing in it. He won a bronze in the team event too. So from a Saudi Arabian point of view it was money well spent.

Ms.M · 08-08-2012 11:55PM

NIMAN wrote: »

I agree that we do punch above our weight, but of all those successes you mention I'd say that few of them played GAA sports. Imagine if the hundred of thousands of kids that concentrate on GAA each and every year put their sporting attention into other sports, how much better we'd compete.

Thats my point.

Katie Taylor played GAA and still plays soccer for the Irish team (though she hasn't for two years to focus on these Olympics). Roy Keane played GAA in his time too. So there can be a healthy overlap with a lot of sports. It's a pity there are social/cultural divisions that make some combinations that could compliment each-other unlikely. I'd be more worried about the untapped talent of the poor lil pudgesters who's parents have them doing f all however.

BaZmO* · 08-08-2012 11:56PM

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

If you examine the horses who took top places in most of the equestrian sports, you will see how many top horses are sold out of Ireland. We would do better at some sports if we actually had the training facilities and funding.

Have you seen the state of most primary school "facilities?"
Some yards are so small, running has to be banned due to accidents.Not exactly a help either.

Yeah, the Kenyans have terrible facilities too and look at them......oh wait

Sauve · 08-08-2012 11:58PM

Pherekydes wrote: »

What is it about the desire to disband the GAA and force every kid into boxing or show jumping?

Hating on the sheer skill and talent that goes into GAA sports, esp hurling.
Hating on the tight sense of belonging and community that is given to so many players.
Hating on the sense of achievement and downright pride that comes with a county medal.
Not understanding the sheer joy and atmosphere that's experienced by sitting in the stands in Croke Park on a sunny September Sunday.

They're afraid of the fact that they're missing out on the good stuff.

galwayrush · 08-08-2012 11:59PM

NIMAN wrote: »

I agree that we do punch above our weight, but of all those successes you mention I'd say that few of them played GAA sports. Imagine if the hundred of thousands of kids that concentrate on GAA each and every year put their sporting attention into other sports, how much better we'd compete.

Thats my point.

We could never afford it, we do remarkably well considering the small amount of money we spend on sport.

Orizio · 08-08-2012 11:59PM

Ms.M wrote: »

Katie Taylor played GAA and still plays soccer for the Irish team (though she hasn't for two years to focus on these Olympics). Roy Keane played GAA in his time too. So there can be a healthy overlap with a lot of sports. It's a pity there are social/cultural divisions that make some combinations that could compliment each-other unlikely. I'd be more worried about the untapped talent of the poor lil pudgesters who's parents have them doing f all however.

For example.

byhookorbycrook · 09-08-2012 12:00AM

BaZmO* wrote: »

Yeah, the Kenyans have terrible facilities too and look at them......oh wait

Not comparing like with like, Irish children no longer walk/run miles to school every day and you'll find most of Ireland doesn't qualify as "high altitude" as Br. O' Connell's place does.
Plus, as he always points out, it's a chance for those children to escape poverty and support their families,not really like with like either.

Cookie_Monster · 09-08-2012 12:00AM

Diego Maradona wrote: »

Sorry OP but you're wrong we compete pretty well for a very small island.

we don't really, compare to NZ. Similar population and all that. They've got 100 Olympic medals, a rake of them this games and in more varied sports than Ireland usually manage. best rugby team in the world, and generally punch far above their weight on the world stage in many varied sports.

Far more success than Ireland have or will ever have.

Pherekydes · 09-08-2012 12:01AM

dan1895 wrote: »

I think the OP has a point. At international level we're very poor and constantly underachieve. Rugby is only taken seriously in a handful of countries and our football team is poor compared to similar sized countries, Denmark, Uruguay, Netherlands etc. There are potentially top class athletes who end up playing GAA but that's their choice and good luck to them.

At the Olympics we overachieve. Based on the size of our population we should win one medal or less at each Olympics. We've won more medals than India! We've more medals than Chile and Uruguay combined. Saudi Arabia, for all their wealth, have two medals in all Olympics. We have more than Pakistan and Philipines, despite their huge populations. And that's not counting medals won by Irishmen before the creation of the state.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer · 09-08-2012 12:01AM

dan1895 wrote: »

I think the OP has a point. At international level we're very poor and constantly underachieve. Rugby is only taken seriously in a handful of countries and our football team is poor compared to similar sized countries, Denmark, Uruguay, Netherlands etc. There are potentially top class athletes who end up playing GAA but that's their choice and good luck to them.

There are 16 million people in the Netherlands. Whatever about the other two, that isn't a good example.

BaZmO* · 09-08-2012 12:01AM

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

Not comparing like with like, Irish children no longer walk/run miles to school every day and you'll find most of Ireland doesn't qualify as "high altitude" as Br. O' Connell's place does.
Plus, as he always points out, it's a chance for those children to escape poverty and support their families,not really like with like either.

So it's nothing to do with facilities then, like you've already alluded to?

Could Ireland be better at world sports if it wasn't for GAA?

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