View Full Version : Why so anti GAA?
Mad Moose
19/05/2006, 8:53 AM
GAA members were banned from playing or attending foreign sports. Christ, they even expelled Douglas Hyde for daring to attend an international football match when he was president.
This thread should be locked, as it's clear this WUM is either 12 or doesn't know enough about the organisation he's trying to defend to back his arguement.
Christ Macy go easy. I've noticed from the thread a complete discrediting of this guys opinion. Its his opinion, he has expressed it and he's entitled to do so. I noticed dcfc steve linked this thread to my thread on my views of the Eircom League.
As much as Clash I was entitled to my opinions. I choose not to fund the Eircom League any further. Few clubs in LOI can afford to have backs turned on them. Are we not entitled to our opinion. Christ its not like the guy has posted a shock revelation.We know how GAA is regarded. I've heard the same response to GAA results announced at EL games. I9 dont follow GAA but if I did I'm pretty certain I wouldn't see a steward assaulted, a bottle thrown at an opposing player, spitting, racist chanting, drumstick throwing as I have done at Finn Harps. I dont have a problem naming the club critisised as I will be for doing it. If these things are happening then might it be more appropriate to address the problems of the game as a whole than shoot the messenger who is well in his rights to bring to public attention such incidents. I think if you read Clash's original post he has begged a question and opened it to debate. I dont think he did nor would I have done so posted the thread to be bullied.
B
I think if you read Clash's original post he has begged a question and opened it to debate. I dont think he did nor would I have done so posted the thread to be bullied.
The only thing I pulled him up on was his ignorance to the ban, which is a matter of fact not opinion. GAA people might not be proud of that part of their not too distant past - it only ceased being official in the 70's ffs - but to deny there was ever a ban at all? :confused:
Christ Macy go easy. I've noticed from the thread a complete discrediting of this guys opinion. Its his opinion, he has expressed it and he's entitled to do so.
Nothing wrong with having an opinion, but trying to argue and back-up that opinion based on what seems to be very uninformed ground deserves to be discredited. (appearing to not know anything about Tallaght, the ban, glass spreading etc.)
There's 6 pages outlining why a lot are Anti-GAA (he seems to have only outlined one event at an unidentified ground) yet he still doesn't seem to see it. No wonder a few are losing their patience.
A couple of other incidents where the GAA showed themselves to be true cnuts...
1) Back when Rovers where in the RDS they had arranged a charity double header. Their game with Bohs was to be preceeded by Dublin v Down in GAAball. (Down may have been world series champions at this stage). 3 days before it was due to go ahead, GAA hq stopped it and threatened bans to any players who took part. Remember, this was for charity...
2) Galway tried to use their local GAA ground for a european ground and everything was OK locally. GAA hq stopped it. Fair play to the rugby crowd for stepping up.
NY Hoop
19/05/2006, 10:09 AM
A couple of other incidents where the GAA showed themselves to be true cnuts...
1) Back when Rovers where in the RDS they had arranged a charity double header. Their game with Bohs was to be preceeded by Dublin v Down in GAAball. (Down may have been world series champions at this stage). 3 days before it was due to go ahead, GAA hq stopped it and threatened bans to any players who took part. Remember, this was for charity...
2) Galway tried to use their local GAA ground for a european ground and everything was OK locally. GAA hq stopped it. Fair play to the rugby crowd for stepping up.
1. That was an absolute disgrace.
2. Actually for their game against Odense it was played on a GAA ground. I know I was at it. One was played in Carraroe, presumably on a GAA ground, and one was played at the Sportsgrounds a rugby pitch. I'm sure a Galway fan can confirm same.
KOH
Dodge
19/05/2006, 10:12 AM
2) might've been resolved in the end. Fairly sure they tried to put a kibosh on it at one stage. Apologies to eveyone in Galway GAA circles...
if I did I'm pretty certain I wouldn't see a steward assaulted, a bottle thrown at an opposing player, spitting, racist chanting, drumstick throwing as I have done at Finn Harps.
How many of these things did you actually SEE though? You left Harps before most of this ever happened- then when the incidents took place used them as stick to beat the club with. As far as I can tell you finished supporting Harps because nobody gave your crusade against our financial controller the time of day.
I used to follow Donegal GAA all over the country, and while behaviour was generally good (as at eL games) I did see some unpleasant stuff including fights between rival fans, quite insanely dangerous spectator conditions and occasionally mindless thuggery on the pitch. Did those few incidents mean that this is the norm at GAA matches or that no one should go- No, of course not. Worth noting though that while action was taken against those involved in the incidents at Harps, nothing was ever done about anything I saw at a GAA match.
As far as I know a local Galway GAA club owned their own ground and allowed the European game to be played there- it wasn't a GAA decision, but one local club being a good neighbour, and fair play to them.
WeAreRovers
19/05/2006, 10:18 AM
Sam Savic and others have outlined my views on this but just to add a wee story to illustrate the GAA mentality - a mate of mine did a sponsored walk for the Central Remedial Clinic a few years. The walk was to culminate in Croke Park. When the walkers got to Croke Park, the celebrity leader of the walk was refused entry. The walker's crime? He played "soccer." His name? Nobby Stiles.
As Sam has said the GAA have NOT gotten rid of Section 42, they've merely suspended it so they can cash in while Lansdowne is redeveloped. The GAA are double winners on this - 1) they make €10m clear profit to prop up their tax-payer funded white elephant of a stadium and 2) the gullible amongst us think that the GAA are doing it out of the goodness of their heart. They're not.
KOH
Patrick Dunne
19/05/2006, 10:25 AM
GUFC have played European games at community-owned pitches where GAA
games were also played.
But not at the same time !
As far as I know a local Galway GAA club owned their own ground and allowed the European game to be played there- it wasn't a GAA decision, but one local club being a good neighbour, and fair play to them.
Again, a Galway fan can confirm no doubt, but if I recall correctly it was a community owned ground, not a GAA ground. Hence there was nothing the GAA could do to stop it except put pressure on the community that controlled it.
harpskid
19/05/2006, 10:36 AM
racist chanting...as I have done at Finn Harps.
What a load of bull! There was never any racist chanting at Finn Park ffs. Again, your facts are wrong.
Anyhow, I'm not going to take this thread off-topic. As a GAA-man myself and someone who follows the Green and Gold all over the place, I would class myself as an equal fan of both.
Sickens me to see bigots on both sides, but you're always going to get that. Someone earlier in the thread mentioned how they weren't allowed play soccer at primary school - that practice was in place only seven years ago when I was at primary school.
Mad Moose
19/05/2006, 10:48 AM
How many of these things did you actually SEE though? You left Harps before most of this ever happened- then when the incidents took place used them as stick to beat the club with. As far as I can tell you finished supporting Harps because nobody gave your crusade against our financial controller the time of day.
Galway Harps dont try to force me into 'hijacking' this thread as you'll know doubt claim i have or will your fellow Harps support. Whether I was there or not is absolutely irrelevant. What is relevant that this happened.If I were to attend a GAA club I wouldn't have to witness such incidents. My 'crusade' as you call it is not individual centred. Surely you've realised by now I'm highlighting the faults of the club and not those of an individual. As it happens I was there the night the head steward was thumped at Finn Park. A steward thumped. Not regular behaviour at all.
Brendan
A face
19/05/2006, 10:54 AM
Galway Harps dont try to force me into 'hijacking' this thread
That will not be happening at all .... i have sent you a pm.
GroundFootball
19/05/2006, 2:03 PM
Clash I've read through this post and while I can understand your point of view, and I agree that it is unfortunate that these things happen, it is clear to any student of the social history of this island that this attitude is usually a cultural reaction amongst soccer fans to political favouritism towards the GAA at every level in this society and the attitude of most people involved at an administrative level in the GAA locally and nationally.
While I admit that there is merit in preserving any national game as part of our culture, political realism forces me to note that this does not happen here "for the good of the game". Irish politicians don't really car about any sporting organisation. It is based on habits in our mostly rural culture such as people voting for a particular party out of tradition etc. and our politicians either taking advantage of it or have been forced to realise that the GAA do have the power to influence voters locally and nationally. It is somewhat similar to the church in this country som years ago or the bible belt in the USA. It can influence people negatively or positively because of it's position. This influence has been on the wain in the last number of years along with the rural nature of our society, and with the improvments in the educational standard and recent scandals people would much rather make up their own minds than tow the party line but it's not gone yet (unfortunately).
The anti-everything mentally in the GAA has been on the wain as well but considerably more slowly.
I'm from one of the most rural GAA dominated areas of the country (no soccer team within 20 miles for nearly 30 years until recently... v. funny story also relevant) and I enjoy the GAA but the anti GAA mentality you speak of is almost certainly amongst the supporters as a reaction to perceived (actual) injustice. Every club or league that I have been involved with (and I've been involved with many, both in the League of Ireland and in local football) the administrators always actively encouraged participation in other sports up to the point where contracts were signed and sometimes even beyond this. I've been involved with a few GAA clubs (and one county team) and I can tell you that it is not reciprocated.
And to second a point made earlier which absolutely sums up the differnce in attitude between the administrators of GAA organisations and Football ones.
"The result was announced"
If you think that you have ever heard a soccer result announced at a GAA match I would be extremely surprised.
I finish by issuing a challenge to anyone here who wishes to take it up.
Go to your local GAA comittee members and suggest to them that research has shown that it would be advantageous to their young players to play other sports for developmental purposes especially field games (this is a scientifically proven fact by the way) and they should encourage lads to play other sports like soccer etc.
Then do the same at a soccer club tell me what the different reactions are.
observer
19/05/2006, 2:48 PM
Having played and been involved in both games over quite a few years I am disappointed that so few of you have any real knowledge of what the position is today. Most of the quotes relate to the ban and attitudes and issues which existed over 30 years ago.
I can tell you that for many years now Longford National schools are proud to have soccer, GAA and basketball teams represent them. In most cases it is the same teachers/parents who look after the different teams. It is well recognised that without the support of GAA fans Longford Town would not be able to exist. At any high profile games at Pearse Park Longford representatives of longford Town are guests in the VIP area. At Longford Town matches it is not unusual to see the GAA County chairman and other senior board members in attendance.
Longford GAA clubs were to the forefront of the fight to remove the ban in the early seventies and Longford was one of the counties who proposed and actively fought for the opening of Croke Park.
While I would not have any great regard for the authorities at the head of either the GAA or the EL, I am delighted to be in a county where, for the most part, supporters of both codes are more broadminded and forward thinking then those who have been posting to this topic on this forum.
Get a life fellows.;)
Observer, if you read the thread properly, you'll see most are looking for a situation to arise like the one you describe, but it is the xception that proves the rule. Good On Longford GAA...
Excellent post GroundFootball
John83
19/05/2006, 3:56 PM
Having played and been involved in both games over quite a few years I am disappointed that so few of you have any real knowledge of what the position is today. Most of the quotes relate to the ban and attitudes and issues which existed over 30 years ago... Get a life fellows.;)
Having actually read the thread, I'm disappointed that you've mistaken people's recent experiences of attitudes that still persist in some circes for 30 your old irrelevancies.
wanderette
19/05/2006, 3:56 PM
Just to add a perspective from another club...
I've been playing with the GAA club in bray since i was 8 or 9, and a wanderers fan since the same age. the gaa club have progressed hugely in that time not because of any massive funding or anything, but because there are enthusiastic people who care about the game and the club. in contrast, wanderers have been (relatively) stagnant because the same people have alwasys been in charge with few new ideas.
i have problems wiht what goes on at the higher levels of both the GAA and the FAI, but i dont think we can blame the problems of one on the other, or vice versa. if your El club isn't getting much support, its not because people are being told by their GAA club not to go down. its because there's nothing attracting them to the EL. ditto if kids aren't playing GAA its not because soccer is 'stealing' them, its because they kids are watching the premiership and the local gaa club isnt making itself known.
and the two can co-exist: a couple of years ago our ladies GAA team won a cahmpiosnhip-league double, we were invited down to the next wanderers game and presented with an award on the pitch at half-time, this was then acknowledged in the gaa pages of the local paper. you see plenty of people from the gaa club down at the carlisle every week.
its not about the organistations - its about the clubs.
wanderette
19/05/2006, 3:57 PM
and just to reply to bald student's point about invitations to play ladies gaa in landsdowne road - i've never heard about this but it couldnt happen anyway, we play on exactly the same sized pitch as the men
salthill/knocknacarra paraded there trophy a few weeks back in terryland at half time and got a fantastic response, although it was mainly due to the fact the players with the trophy were all ex-GUFC players
used to play alot off gaa when i was younger and was very successful with local club. we won lots of counties at underage level. when we used to play soccer we won alot at that too. i took over as manager of local under 18 soccer team when i was 19 and the tricks gaa club used to pull on us were unreal. we were playing cup final one sunday morning at home. gaa fixed training session for an hour before game and ran the lads into ground this was after we changed our games kick off times for them during the year to accomodate them and generally done everything to keep them happy. they used bully soccer club into giving walkovers then if games clashed even though all players wanted to play soccer but gaa men would just keep on to them and there families around the parish plugging gaa. the lads just wanted to play both. eventually a lot of plaers stopped playing gaa and local gaa club went from being premier minor and u21 county champs to barely fielding teams and no one showing up training
Sam Savic
19/05/2006, 7:07 PM
harpsbear: "I don't follow gaa but if I did I'm pretty certain I wouldn't see a steward assaulted......racist chanting......."
Stop talking absolute sh.ite.
You say you don't follow gaa, well that's obvious. Because if you did you would know that last weekend a linesman was attacked and a player had his jaw broken and received a serious eye injury at the same club match in Laois. It's also a well known fact that referees have, on more than one occasion, been beaten up and locked in car boots.
I have been attending League of Ireland ( Eircom League ) for decades and racist chanting is non existant. I have heard racist shouts from an individual on a couple of occasions but it would always be stopped by the people surrounding the idiot. By far the worst racist chanting ( chanting meaning coming from a group ) that I have heard at a sporting occasion in this country was the racist chanting against Jason Sherlock.
Let's just get the straight- the 'racist chanting' he refers to was in fact one individual, who was immediately challenged and was removed from the ground after taking exception to this.
You get idiots everywhere you go in every sport- including in junior and underage football, GAA, Rugby and every other sport that draws a passionate crowd.
harpskid
19/05/2006, 9:09 PM
And the fellow he refers to made a racist comment - not a chant (irrelevant, I know, but anyhow...) - and was heard by a director.
The chap has received a life-time ban
anto eile
20/05/2006, 5:11 PM
I can tell you that for many years now Longford National schools are proud to have soccer, GAA and basketball teams represent them. In most cases it is the same teachers/parents who look after the different teams. It is well recognised that without the support of GAA fans Longford Town would not be able to exist. At any high profile games at Pearse Park Longford representatives of longford Town are guests in the VIP area. At Longford Town matches it is not unusual to see the GAA County chairman and other senior board members in attendance.
and thats the way it should be
unfortunately longford would be a minority in that respect
BohDiddley
20/05/2006, 7:15 PM
Sam Savic and others have outlined my views on this but just to add a wee story to illustrate the GAA mentality - a mate of mine did a sponsored walk for the Central Remedial Clinic a few years. The walk was to culminate in Croke Park. When the walkers got to Croke Park, the celebrity leader of the walk was refused entry. The walker's crime? He played "soccer." His name? Nobby Stiles.
KOH
Says it all.
It's a constant refrain of the GAA lobby that this sort of thing has gone away. I think most people on the ground understand that, while the PR might have gotten a little more sophisticated, at root this is still a very common attitude, especially at grass roots level.
Mad Moose
22/05/2006, 8:27 AM
And the fellow he refers to made a racist comment - not a chant (irrelevant, I know, but anyhow...) - and was heard by a director.
The chap has received a life-time ban
My apologies, a racist comment toward Eloka Asokuh I believe. How many life-time bans is that from Finn Park in the last couple of seasons. Did Mr Holmes get one.
In relation to Clash I felt it was only fair to allow him/her post his/her opinion. They may have been born after the ban or for whatever reason they didnt understand the position of the GAA in relation to football. Because the guy follows GAA and has an opinion on the relationship to football, league of Ireland or otherwise he shouldn't have to answer for the GAA's position in relation to the sport. Nor is it necessary from him/her to fully understand that position before posting.
Just a thought.
B
gspain
22/05/2006, 12:41 PM
clash you may not bhe the same person but a wum using this monikor appeared on OWC - the Northern Ireland site.
Now if you are genuine why not name the specific games and dates and town.
Ther eis a good chance somebody here was at the game. Indeed given most EL games are played at night and GAA is still played opn sunday afternoons it must be rare that a GAA game was played before a football match in the same town/county.
Well just thought I would add a little something here. To say football fans are all saints is silly but .....
Last friday, I decided to take my mate who came over from Liverpool to Shels V Bohs. I dont follow any particular team in the EL but attend games due to the fact that I grew up in Liverpool and that is my local team.
We ended up going into the Bohs section. The game was quite dull and WET. There was a decent gang of bohs fans 99.9% of whom were good fans, who supported their team. However one guy in the row behind me kept shouting anti scouse comments towards one of the shels centre backs during the first half. One other maybe 2 people in the crowd passed comments of the same nature. We looked back and asked him to give it a rest and he did. (He also apologised to us and never shut up chatting to us for the rest of the game (in a nice way)!).
Just a little story to add.
(Still reckon Clash is a wind-up merchant)
BohDiddley
22/05/2006, 3:03 PM
I love Scousers, honest! (Except for Dave Rogers of course.)
I think this illustrates something of the difference between GAA and football culture. While (by all accounts) you get all sorts of disgusting behaviour and commentary at GAA matches, there's still an attempt to have the fans mix in an all-good-Gaels-together fantasy.
In football, the support is much more formalised, and abusing a player because he comes from somewhere different is a kind of ritual, just like some of the hair-raising chants. It's a different type of fantasy, in which the opposition, fan and player alike, is your mortal enemy for 90 minutes. Certainly not for the faint-hearted, especially if you play on the outside.
The fact that they stopped, out of respect for a real live scouser (as opposed to the player) says something.
Different cultures, to be judged differently.
sullanefc
22/05/2006, 6:16 PM
We ended up going into the Bohs section. The game was quite dull and WET. There was a decent gang of bohs fans 99.9% of whom were good fans, who supported their team. However one guy in the row behind me kept shouting anti scouse comments towards one of the shels centre backs during the first half. One other maybe 2 people in the crowd passed comments of the same nature. We looked back and asked him to give it a rest and he did. (He also apologised to us and never shut up chatting to us for the rest of the game (in a nice way)!).
Just a little story to add.
(Still reckon Clash is a wind-up merchant)
I'd imagine his comments were merely a way to wind up Dave Rogers given his reaction to you when he heard your accent. By the sounds of it, this guy was not anti-scouse, but more so anti-rogers.
I wasn't there, but thats the way it seems.
Why so anti-GAA...?:
Rovers had applied a fortnight ago to be joined as a 'notice party' and this was to be heard by the Court today. Todays hearing was adjourned to next Monday. The adjournment was requested by the GAA to allow them file their opposition to SRFC being joined to the proceedings. They had sought a two week adjournment but settled for one week.
"Anti GAA" is personally becoming an understatement.
Thunderblaster
25/05/2006, 1:14 AM
used to play alot off gaa when i was younger and was very successful with local club. we won lots of counties at underage level. when we used to play soccer we won alot at that too. i took over as manager of local under 18 soccer team when i was 19 and the tricks gaa club used to pull on us were unreal. we were playing cup final one sunday morning at home. gaa fixed training session for an hour before game and ran the lads into ground this was after we changed our games kick off times for them during the year to accomodate them and generally done everything to keep them happy. they used bully soccer club into giving walkovers then if games clashed even though all players wanted to play soccer but gaa men would just keep on to them and there families around the parish plugging gaa. the lads just wanted to play both. eventually a lot of plaers stopped playing gaa and local gaa club went from being premier minor and u21 county champs to barely fielding teams and no one showing up training
And I'm glad that the GAA Club got the punishment it deserved!!
Bloody scousers, always the victim.
Following on from this weeks shocking revelation that an opposition player was getting picked on, someone swears at the football.
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