Comparison of Irish clubs in Europe versus Scottish clubs in Europe

**Lim till i die** · 24/08/2011, 4:53 PM

Not trawling through ALL of that but a few random points:

The GAA, despite its failings, is far, far, better ran than football in this country.
Hurling is a much tougher and more skillful sport than football.
To suggest the GAA is "middle class" is laughable nonsense and just displays a lack of knowledge.

I could go on but meh, that's enough for now.

**born2bwild** · 24/08/2011, 5:17 PM

Originally Posted by Lim till i die

Not trawling through ALL of that but a few random points:

The GAA, despite its failings, is far, far, better ran than football in this country.
Hurling is a much tougher and more skillful sport than football.
To suggest the GAA is "middle class" is laughable nonsense and just displays a lack of knowledge.

I could go on but meh, that's enough for now.

It depends on what you understand to be middle class. GAA is typically played by Gardai, teachers, civil servants, people from a farming background, the odd lad with a trade.

Since these people work for a living then you could say it's a working class sport.

But most people would describe these people as lower middle class.

Compare this to people living in council estates in the towns and cities - certainly working class, even if many of them are 'not' working these days - but certainly not middle class. GAA is far less popular than soccer. In other words, the lower down the social scale in Ireland you go, the more soccer is played and the less GAA has roots.

Quote of the thread: "I could go on but meh, that's enough for now."

**Lim till i die** · 24/08/2011, 5:26 PM

Originally Posted by born2bwild

Compare this to people living in council estates in the towns and cities - certainly working class, even if many of them are 'not' working these days - but certainly not middle class. GAA is far less popular than soccer. In other words, the lower down the social scale in Ireland you go, the more soccer is played and the less GAA has roots.

Are we talking about participation rates or fanbase??

(When the team are doing well) Hurling is THE sport of the urban working class in Limerick city, they follow the team in their absolute thousands. Go on the Town End Terrace in Thurles on Munster championship day when Limerick are playing and you'll find literally thousands of people from Weston, Southill, Moyross, the Island Field etc.

Even League games and when the team is doing poorly you have a big hardcore of working class supporters.

I go to Championship games myself in a group of about a dozen and we're all from council estates.

Hurling isn't really played much in the city but that's for a myriad of reasons, class being one which would barely register on the scale.

Hurling is also massively popular (both supported and participated in) in council areas in Cork. I don't know about Galway.

**Charlie Darwin** · 24/08/2011, 7:06 PM

The SPL doesn't really have anything to do with it. Right now Peterborough are winning games in the Championship and doing it in style. Absolutely nothing to suggest League One is their level.

**Lim till i die** · 24/08/2011, 7:12 PM

There game against Ipswich was mad stuff altogether.

Also, brilliantly, they have the fattest team I've ever seen.

Pity Darren Ferguson is such a ******* **** ******* ****.

**freewheel30** · 24/08/2011, 10:45 PM

The LOI used to enjoy great attendances until about the mid-1960s, despite a far more militant GAA to contend with back then. Attendance levels began to drop due to things like the televised 1966 World Cup, Match of the Day, poor European performances by LOI clubs, and wretched facilities at our League of Ireland grounds. The GAA's role in the LOI's poor fortunes is miniscule.

**bennocelt** · 25/08/2011, 7:02 PM

Originally Posted by born2bwild

Yeah...Look, I can't stand GAA but don't give me that 'big fish small pond' rubbish.

Are you arguing that the top GAA players could not make top football players?

?

Tsk sweet jesus - doh, yeah of course

have you never seen gah heads play "soccer" - total lack of skill, hoofball more like

**born2bwild** · 25/08/2011, 7:15 PM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

Tsk sweet jesus - doh, yeah of course

have you never seen gah heads play "soccer" - total lack of skill, hoofball more like

I meant that someone capable of reaching the top in GAA would be more likely, because of in-built sporting ability, to reach the top in 'soccer' if they were shepherded into soccer at an early age.
Of course, a fully developed GAA player would be next to useless (except maybe as a keeper) if they tried to cross over.