Flags Taken down again last night

I got two of my flags up last night in the upper Cusack the 2 stewards were fine about it and they were ctually in the stand not over the Hoardings. 20 mins later they took them down and apologised to me but the head GAA Steward had radioed them to take them down they said taht all the Stewards were GAA and were under the command of the head Gaa Steward and the FAI had nothing to do with them.

Ive posted here about last saturday and that this was the only ground bar Giants Stadium that i couldnt hang the flags in over 35 years of going to Ireland Games. The other annoying thing was your man doing the safety announcements why not let the FAI Mike Man do it.

Great Game Great Atmosphere but the attiodude of some within Croke Park have not changed and left a sour taste in the mouth.

Final Note arent I glad i booked my Flights & Accomodation in Bratislava & Prague over 9 months ago oh yee of little faith! Roll on September I cant wait.

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Originally Posted by gufct

The other annoying thing was your man doing the safety announcements why not let the FAI Mike Man do it.

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:rolleyes:

people still find whatever they can to have a dig at the GAA.:rolleyes:

Do you not think i have a point about the flags? or are we just supposed to be on bended knee to the GAA.

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Originally Posted by gufct

Do you not think i have a point about the flags? or are we just supposed to be on bended knee to the GAA.

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It's absolutely a valid point but giving out about the guy who does the security announcements (when most people hate the FAI PA "goy" anyway :) ) doesn't help the arguement.

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Originally Posted by G-Man

people still find whatever they can to have a dig at the GAA.:rolleyes:

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And so we should, don't forget who paid for most of the gaa stadium The Lottery and The Irish Tax Payer.

Whats the big problem with hanging flags around stadium. If you go to a GAA match there is flags stuck in you're face for the whole game.

Flags with sticks which were being taken off flags by stewards last night are the norm for GAA Games.I wonder if my flags had Galway rather than Galway United on them would they have been taken down.

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Originally Posted by gufct

Flags with sticks which were being taken off flags by stewards last night are the norm for GAA Games.I wonder if my flags had Galway rather than Galway United on them would they have been taken down.

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You bet they wouldn't!!!

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Originally Posted by casso36

And so we should, don't forget who paid for most of the gaa stadium The Lottery and The Irish Tax Payer.

Whats the big problem with hanging flags around stadium. If you go to a GAA match there is flags stuck in you're face for the whole game.

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**** that. We were paying a million in rent for the evening. I think that justifies letting the trivial stuff like flags be decided by the FAI, not the landlords.

Was talking to a guy before the game who's banner (EL btw) was taken down before the game on sat and when he questioned it, he was told that no "soccer style banners" were allowed according to the GAA big-wigs also.

He then questioned the Chelsea flag and was told that it was allowed as the decision only applied to Level 3 and 7.

Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me but was the away section on sat and last night not full of "soccer style banners".

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Originally Posted by reder

Was talking to a guy before the game who's banner (EL btw) was taken down before the game on sat and when he questioned it, he was told that no "soccer style banners" were allowed according to the GAA big-wigs also.

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So banners with 'Up Ireland' or Confederate USA flags would be OK?

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Originally Posted by reder

Was talking to a guy before the game who's banner (EL btw) was taken down before the game on sat and when he questioned it, he was told that no "soccer style banners" were allowed according to the GAA big-wigs also.

He then questioned the Chelsea flag and was told that it was allowed as the decision only applied to Level 3 and 7.

Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me but was the away section on sat and last night not full of "soccer style banners".

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Unfortunately all true. The guy who hangs my flag was in the hogan upper and no flags were allowed there. That other piece of sh1t was allowed cos it was at the premium level.

BTW Gufct I've hung my flag at the Meadowlands for the 3 Ireland games there no problems........

KOH

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Originally Posted by casso36

And so we should, don't forget who paid for most of the gaa stadium The Lottery and The Irish Tax Payer.

Whats the big problem with hanging flags around stadium. If you go to a GAA match there is flags stuck in you're face for the whole game.

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Only €19m came directly from the tax payer to get Croke park finished in time for the Special Olympics. The rest was National Lottery and GAA loans . I'm sure if you study the inner workings of National Lottry sport grants you will find its not coming from your own pocket (unless you buy lottery tickerts). Dont let the facts get in the way of a good arguement eh..

And what about the millions in VAT that the tax recouping government got from the construction of Croker. If you like I could say that the xtra tax credits you recieved this year came from an economic surplus that the construction industry (Croke Park being part of that) has contributed to. So therefore you are slightly better off thanks to the Construction of Croke Park!!!

The constant pops at the GAA are ridiculous. We are now at the level of having a go over the safety announcements and flags FFS.

"Hello, I'm Irish, I'm never happy etc etc " :rolleyes:


As for not getting to hang up flags..yes that is crap but totally understandable if the likes of Guinness and Allianz etc are kicking up a fuss over their hoardings being blocked for 70,000 and more on TV which I'd say is the real reason and not some bitter old GAA head doing it to upset the lovers of the foreign game.

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Originally Posted by Countyman

Only €19m came directly from the tax payer to get Croke park finished in time for the Special Olympics. The rest was National Lottery and GAA loans . I'm sure if you study the inner workings of National Lottry sport grants you will find its not coming from your own pocket. Dont let the facts get in the way of a good arguement eh..

And sure we wont mention the millions in VAT that the tax recouping government got from the construction of Croker.

The constant pops at the GAA are ridiculous. We are now at the level of having a go over the safety announcements and flags FFS.

"Hello, I'm Irish, I'm never happy etc etc " :rolleyes:

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Never heard as much boll ox in my life!!! 42% of that stadium was funded by the National Lottery and The Government.

The GAA should never have receeived money from the lottery when there were better places to put the moneY, the GAA were well able to fund that build on their own and well you know it!!:mad:

Don't come on here pretending that the GAA aren't biggots towards the FAI and irish soccer. That stadium was funded by my (Tax) money and i should have a say about what is played in it.


The constant pops at the GAA,

Well if they weren't so far up there own hole's maybe people would give them a break!"!!!

Your missing the point Countyman . I have being attending Ireland games for well over 30 years first game was the all ireland side versus Brazil in 1972 and i have never been refused by any steward anywhere as long as the flag doesnt cover an advertising hoarding which i made sure they werent doing on both Saturday and Wednesday.

The FAI are paying over €1.5 Million per game for the use of Croke Park which I was led to believe gave them a "Clean Stadium" for their use for matchdays exactly the same as Landsdowne Road but this definitely does not seem the case with the GAA calling all the shots. Im sure Garth Brooks or Robbie Williams gets a clean stadium then why are there some many restrictions put on the FAI.

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Originally Posted by casso36

The GAA should never have receeived money from the lottery when there were better places to put the moneY, the GAA were well able to fund that build on their own and well you know it!!:mad:

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The National Lottery was set up to fund sporting organisations of which I think the GAA is one.

The FAI were well able to fund and build Eircom Park but we know what happened there.

How much of your tax is going into the redevelopment of Lansdowne again:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by gufct

Your missing the point Countyman . I have being attending Ireland games for well over 30 years first game was the all ireland side versus Brazil in 1972 and i have never been refused by any steward anywhere as long as the flag doesnt cover an advertising hoarding which i made sure they werent doing on both Saturday and Wednesday.

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Look, I agree with you on the flag thing. I love seeing grounds covered in tricolours but I honestly dont believe its some bitter vendetta by the GAA.

Any flag over six feet tall will block the view of those in lower tiers anyway.

The flags at concerts doesn't come into it as why would you bring a flag to a gig anyway:confused:

has all this not been discussed to death already?

Do people have a problem with the new Landsdowne road getting nearly double the funding Croke Park got? And much more of that in tax money? Do you think those in the GAA or other sports deserve to have a say in what goes on? ~Why should they? If a sporting organisation gets funding, why should others with no involvement say they should have it?

The same old tired cliched GAA re bigots argument comes out again then. To be honest with you, and I was talking to a friend yesterday in the big tree about it, the soccer only people of this country have far more hatred to GAA than they do to soccer. I play both equally, I support both equally. There were many FAI stwerds at the game last night, it was a condition the FAI had with Croke Park.

Like I said earlier, people will have a go at the GAA regardless. I heard the big wigs wouldnt allow it. Peoples opinions wont change no matter what they do.

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Originally Posted by reder

the decision only applied to Level 3 and 7.

Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me but was the away section on sat and last night not full of "soccer style banners".

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So from that comment it seems the Hill and Premium sections are allowed to hang banners but Upper and Lower Tier aren't because it interferes with the advertisements?

I can certainly see why the FAI would have a vested interest in allowing a banner-ban to be upheld - whoever came up with the idea - judging by their crackdown on negative thoughts. If they were offended by criticism during an Ireland game would they fine themselves:confused:

Could we cut the pro/anti GAA ****e please? We've heard it all before, and it's off topic.

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Originally Posted by casso36

That stadium was funded by my (Tax) money and i should have a say about what is played in it.

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My god what absolute shi**e, if thats your reckoning then why dont you tell government buildings what carpet you want, tell FÁS what courses to teach, tell sonia o'sullivan what runners to wear!!!!!!

All of them are spending "my" money!!!!

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Originally Posted by Countyman

The National Lottery was set up to fund sporting organisations of which I think the GAA is one. 1) Ametuer organisation that will have an expected €80,000,000 profit over 10 year period will they pay back the lottery so it can fund better sporting facilities? No didn't think so.

The FAI were well able to fund and build Eircom Park but we know what happened there. 2) Soccer is the second sport in this country, so the GAA people keep telling us. you wouldn't here us moaning about GAA been played at stadium.

How much of your tax is going into the redevelopment of Lansdowne again:rolleyes:

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3) As much as they like because as a country we need a proper soccer stadium, so we don't have to kneel to the GAA everytime we need to use their facilities.


I have nothing against the GAA, and go to see all Dublin games. It's there attitude towards soccer i have the problem with and there supporters reaction to us using Croke Park.

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Originally Posted by Loadedscream

My god what absolute shi**e, if thats your reckoning then why dont you tell government buildings what carpet you want, tell FÁS what courses to teach, tell sonia o'sullivan what runners to wear!!!!!!

All of them are spending "my" money!!!!

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Exagerating to make a point!!! ever here of it?

My point being they didn't need the funds from national lottery when they
were cappable to fund it themselves. And then they maon about soccer people using Croke park.

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Originally Posted by gufct

they said taht all the Stewards were GAA and were under the command of the head Gaa Steward and the FAI had nothing to do with them.

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That's bull**** what they told you. Their was hired security stewards, FAI stewards and gah stewards. I must say, the gah stewards were the biggest waste of space.

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Originally Posted by casso36

3) As much as they like because as a country we need a proper soccer stadium, so we don't have to kneel to the GAA everytime we need to use their facilities.


I have nothing against the GAA, and go to see all Dublin games. It's there attitude towards soccer i have the problem with and there supporters reaction to us using Croke Park.

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I dont understand your logic. You are complaining because government money (€19m ) was used to build Croke Park and yet you have no beef with the amount of government money being used to build Lansdowne which is far greater????

Please refer to my point about Eircom Park.

Anyway the point of this was about flags being taken down at Croker and I think its paranoia in the extreme to think its because the GAA dont want soccer banners hanging around the place.

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Originally Posted by sligoman

That's bull**** what they told you. Their was hired security stewards, FAI stewards and gah stewards. I must say, the gah stewards were the biggest waste of space.

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In our section of the Cusack upper it was all GAA Stewards and they were sound it was the Head Steward who radioed them I think they said his name was Sean Aylward. Ive been a steward at Landsowne for the last 5 years and I am also the event controller for Galway United so dont you worry i had checked out everything when they took them down.

The Fai should have organised that all the flags could be hung in a certain area or do like most civlised countries do and place them on the non playing areas like the German Police did in Stuttgart.

I was in the upper cusack and my flag was taken down. Stewards warned me that they would probably get a call to take it down - Which is what happened about 10 minutes later. They said it was part of the agreement when renting croke park (the same for rugby matches).
I believe it is also the same for GAA matches, but there is not a strong tradition of overhanging banners in the GAA
It is not an anti soccer thing on the part of the GAA - More a corporate issue - which is a universal problem in all sports - We wan't their money, but don't like the conditions attached

I think we can all agree that it was a directive handed down by the powers that be in the GAA that for whatever reason fans on Level 3 and 7 would not be allowed to hang banners. Ok some got away with it on both nights but most didnt. Just wondering why the announcer didnt say it on the day of the games in amongst all his other announcement.

I have no real complaints about the stewards, they didnt get in my way so I wasnt bothered. Outside the ground I thought the policing was poor on the way into the davin stand. Firstly the baracade on the walk up to the ground from that entrance was pointless, no-one got searched and it just created a bottle-neck. As one man said to mean, it was just a ploy to get overtime for 8 peelers. Also the entrance to the davin stand just before the turnstiles (that feckin gate) is a complete joke and it was managed by the smallest female peeler ever on wednesday (she was really cute but tiny).

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Originally Posted by Countyman

I dont understand your logic. You are complaining because government money (€19m ) was used to build Croke Park and yet you have no beef with the amount of government money being used to build Lansdowne which is far greater????

Please refer to my point about Eircom Park.

Anyway the point of this was about flags being taken down at Croker and I think its paranoia in the extreme to think its because the GAA dont want soccer banners hanging around the place.

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I am complaining about the people moaning about the FAI using Croke Park, and their reaction to people slagging off The GAA for not allowing flags to be placed aroound the ground. This was a part of the agreement on letting the FAI/IRFU Use the stadium. Now how childish is that? what harm are they doing, thats all i'm trying to get across.

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they maon about soccer people using Croke park.

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Who exactly are 'they' ? The overwhelming majority of GAA people have no problem whatsoever with soccer in Croker. Granted there is always going to be some reactionary old idiot given time on the airwaves to vent his spleen, but they are totally unrepresentative of GAA people.

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Originally Posted by gufct

In our section of the Cusack upper it was all GAA Stewards and they were sound it was the Head Steward who radioed them I think they said his name was Sean Aylward. Ive been a steward at Landsowne for the last 5 years and I am also the event controller for Galway United so dont you worry i had checked out everything when they took them down.

The Fai should have organised that all the flags could be hung in a certain area or do like most civlised countries do and place them on the non playing areas like the German Police did in Stuttgart.

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They may well end up doing that, hopefully they will discuss that possibility with the GAA. it would look a lot better than all the space between the back of the goal and the canal end/hill.

I suppose from the GAAs point of view, they'll feel they have to maximise their advertising revenue whilst they have a large global TV audience and stadium photos appearing in foreign newspapers during the loan of the ground.

I was sitting in Cussack lower for both games, down near the Hill. I didn't bring my flag saturday as didn't know where I could hang it.
On Wednesday night I asked a steward if I could hang it off the small wall infront of row A. He called over his supervisor who asked what was on it. Told him it just said Dalkey, and up it went. Had to take it down 5 minutes from the end though, so they could hold up that stupid plastic mesh.
Wonder if it had said Dalkey United would it have been allowed?