Celtic Cup thread

[pineapple stu]

Are these actually covered under the block booking? (As in, do I have to go as a block booker?)

Will probably go anyway, but just checking.

[Schumi]

Are these actually covered under the block booking? (As in, do I have to go as a block booker?)

Will probably go anyway, but just checking.

I assume so, haven't heard anything though.

[Junior]

I wonder what crowd and at what average ticket price is required to cover the operating costs of hosting a game at the Aviva?

I mean, what sort of crowd is a Wednesday night fixture of Wales vs Scotland going to attract in terms of local neutrals or travelling support? Id be surprised if they got close to 10k for such a game, probably nearer 5k.

Anyone have any insight in terms of the running costs or indeed the TV income etc... coming from the tournament?

[EalingGreen]

I think you'll find that a united Ireland team already exists and rightly so.

I don't want to go any further down that road, if you don't mind, but Ardee Bhoy was not referring to that team (ROI), but rather one selected by a single Irish Association at some stage in the future.

Anyone born in this single island of ours can play for the team called Republic of Ireland. Hence we have a team which has representatives from all of the island.

Whilst geographically-speaking the ROI may have "representatives from all of the island", the FAI still only chooses players from 80% of the population of the island.
By contrast, the IFA seeks to select players from 100% of the population of Northern Ireland.
And we are the ones who get labelled "bigots"...

Ha ha id be more worried about the state of your own little government supported economy if I were you. Things wont be so rosy for the UK banks/government when they have to go to the market in late 2011.

Thanks for your concern, but I'll take my chances where I am.

[ifk101]

Whilst geographically-speaking the ROI may have "representatives from all of the island", the FAI still only chooses players from 80% of the population of the island.
By contrast, the IFA seeks to select players from 100% of the population of Northern Ireland.
And we are the ones who get labelled "bigots"...

The FAI doesn't chose players born in NI. NI born players chose the FAI - there is a difference. I can assure you that anyone born in NI willing and good enough to play for the FAI will be welcomed with open arms - there's nothing to suggest otherwise. However it's up to the individual player to make his desire to play for the FAI known.

[osarusan]

Sweet Christ, can we not go down this road again?

[elroy]

I don't want to go any further down that road, if you don't mind, but Ardee Bhoy was not referring to that team (ROI), but rather one selected by a single Irish Association at some stage in the future.

Fine, but I was making reference to the fact that a United Ireland does exist, if not in actual name yet.


"Whilst geographically-speaking the ROI may have "representatives from all of the island", the FAI still only chooses players from 80% of the population of the island.
By contrast, the IFA seeks to select players from 100% of the population of Northern Ireland.
And we are the ones who get labelled "bigots"..."

Whatever about your labels, the FAI can certainly not be labelled bigots, anyone born in Ireland can play for the FAI team. The FAI does not only choose eligible players from certain communities. They would be more than happy to select players from the full pool available in the six counties. We are all Irish at the end of the day.

[The Fly]

Actually, I feel the FAI actions to be "unfair, seedy and predatory", as somebody-or-other once admitted.
As for this threatening our existence, I do not believe that to be so as such. However, I do feel that it greatly jeopardises our ability to go on putting out a team which equally represents both traditions in NI, since the FAI now offers an outlet for those footballers from a Nationalist background who may allow their nationality etc to inform their choice of international team.

Fixed.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Sweet Christ, can we not go down this road again?

Said the blasphemer to the bishop.....

Actually Dublin hotel prices are amongst the best value in Europe these days. Other aspects of our economy are not as competitive.


I wouldn't be surprised if they were dearer than the 3 non RoI games in this tournament. 20 euro would be very cheap and probably aimed at getting local neutrals to go. Haven't even heards a rumour though as to what our prices will be.

Originally all games were to be a minimum of €40, which is the price factored into the 'season ticket' for Irish fans.
Block-bookers would be expected to show up, but unsure of the hit they're expected to take. Hopefully less than the €40.

Nothing to do with the FAI's money-grabbing, just that a nonsensical tournament during an economic depression should be €10-20 max. And then we might see a crowd?

Actually, I feel the FAI actions to be "unfair, seedy and predatory", as somebody-or-other once admitted.
As for this threatening our existence, I do not believe that to be so as such. However, I do feel that it greatly jeopardises our ability to go on putting out a team which equally represents both traditions in NI, since the FAI now offers an outlet for those footballers from a Nationalist background who may allow their politics etc to inform their choice of international team.
Thus it is this increasing de facto sectarianising of football in Ireland, whereby the ROI may come to be seen as the "Catholic team" and NI as the "Prod" team, which I consider to be the most "threatening" and utterly abhorrent aspect of this whole shabby episode.

Ardee Bhoy has suggested we meet at the first game of a United Ireland team.
I can certainly wait* that long, even if he can't...

* - Don't expect to live that long, mind, unless things turn out so bad in Da Republic that they are forced to beg for readmission to the UK.

Other posters have more eloquently answered the initial points!!!

As for the other tongue-in-cheek comment, collective amnesia aside, don't forget the North gets the size of the entire Irish bailout every 15 years or so, at current levels.
At the rate of just under £10k per head annually, for this particular colonial theme park!

one selected by a single Irish Association at some stage in the future.

Whilst geographically-speaking the ROI may have "representatives from all of the island", the FAI still only chooses players from 80% of the population of the island.
By contrast, the IFA seeks to select players from 100% of the population of Northern Ireland.

The point is EG, unless Ireland are very good & the North very bad, only around 20-30% of those eligible will probably ever declare for a full Irish team. Though one day a nominal 'unionist' or of 'hard-line ' Prod heritage will, which is when it becomes interesting....

Thanks for your concern, but I'l take my chances where I am.

Be fair, the Brits are never likely to exclude Ealing in any subsidy?? Unless there's a breakaway state led by Southall....

[Wolfie]

Sweet Christ, can we not go down this road again?

Amen to that - all "debates" on this site with NI fans are just elaborate games of Tic-Tac-Toe - a futile excercise and a waste of time and energy (for both sides of the "debate" I hasten to add).

This tournament may not exactly set the pulse racing, but it would be a welcome departure if football related issues could take centre stage on a football forum.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Given the history of the island and its cultural associations, to wish or expect sport, as with other social aspects, to be detached from that history is Utopian in the extreme.

[pineapple stu]

But to not have every single thread which comes within an arse's roar of the topic go down the tube because of the same old arguments is tedious in the extreme.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Hey, history is tedious now??
Was ever thus and ever will be.

Maybe come back in two hundred years when we're all dead....

If you don't like the thread, then hey, don't read it!!!

[pineapple stu]

If you don't like the thread, then hey, don't read it!!!

It'd be a lot quicker just to get rid of those who keep dragging every thread down. We want to read about the Celtic Cup competition, not about religious divides.

[ArdeeBhoy]

But the whole point is part of the reason the competition exists, is because of an, er, religious and political divide!!!

Like I said, History.

[pineapple stu]

Who cares why it exists? People want to discuss the football without the tiny minority dragging the thread off into religion.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Hmm, people don't care why their country, or adjoining areas exist??
And then just play sports against them without any regard to that???

Local rivalries will always exist. The heightened historical influence just spices it up a bit.

[BonnieShels]

We could give AB and EG their own thread...

[Wolfie]

Given the history of the island and its cultural associations, to wish or expect sport, as with other social aspects, to be detached from that history is Utopian in the extreme.

You're missing the point.

Hey, history is tedious now??
Was ever thus and ever will be.

Maybe come back in two hundred years when we're all dead....

If you don't like the thread, then hey, don't read it!!!

You're missing the point.

But the whole point is part of the reason the competition exists, is because of an, er, religious and political divide!!!

Like I said, History.

You're missing the point.

Hmm, people don't care why their country, or adjoining areas exist??
And then just play sports against them without any regard to that???

Local rivalries will always exist. The heightened historical influence just spices it up a bit.

You're missing the point.

[ArdeeBhoy]

And your point??