Rule 42 Discussion

[gspain]

Yes, but on the basis of the counties that have declared their intention to support the motion, is there enough delegates for the 2/3rds?

Based on declarations there are enough votes but only just.

However

1) Delegates may break mandate

2) Delegates may only vote in favour of one of the 7 motions and vote against the other 6 - tactical voting by delegates madated to vote for but personally against could scupper it here if they pick different motions to support. This may be scuppered by withdrawing 6 of the 7 motions but then delegates could claim their mandated motion was withdrawn and now they have a free vote to go against.

3) Delegates may find an urgent need to visit the toilet as they did in 2001 and not be able to vote.

The problem is that the opening up of Croke Park is a minor issue for those in favour and they are probably more concerned with getting teams out, price of hurleys etc (fair enough obviously - when Shels gave Tolka for Rugby League I doubt if their fans gave it a 2nd thought ) but it is a life or death matter for many of the diehards opposed to it - 1916, black and tans, foreign games, union jacks.......

Paddy Power now has it 4/6 to open up and 11/10 against so that is a big swing from 3/1 a year or so ago.

[pete]

I think the undemocratic attempts by the GAA powers that be to ensure rule 42 stays put is pathetic. If they going to stop it then why not do so democractically. There will probably some situation where multiple issues to vote on to split vote & ensure is delayed for another year.

€20m to upgrade what the GAA claim is one best stadiums in Europe is also pathetic. Lansdowne has feck all segregation i.e. no fences or similar. IMO floodlights is also a non-issue as the FAI for example can arrange to play most home games at weekends when early start is possible.

[Cowboy]

€20m to upgrade what the GAA claim is one best stadiums in Europe is also pathetic. Lansdowne has feck all segregation i.e. no fences or similar. IMO floodlights is also a non-issue as the FAI for example can arrange to play most home games at weekends when early start is possible.

Diversionary tactics I feel, these guys are in a corner and know it

[Dawn_Run]

What the Cork county board have done here is a disgrace. What are the grass roots going to do about this fiasco? In this day and age, democracy should rule. Anyone that doesnt think along these lines has no business making decisions that are of public importance. I have no problem with the county voting no, but please, let the people decide. These bigots should not be supported.

[Dawn_Run]

Armagh - NO
Westmeath - YES

[Kingdom]

One of the problems GAA people had with Croker being opened was the potential of a Union Jack being flown. I'm nearly sure anyway.

Surely though, when Australia play in the International Rules matches, the Union Jack is on display as part of the Australian flag.

Just a thought, albeit slightly off current topic.

KOL

[Ash]

I was in Melbourne at the Comprimised Rules thingy and there was
a gang of Aussies beside us who covered the union jack part of their
flags with black gaffer tape.

Another crowd had a tri-colour sewn in over the union jack

[Dawn_Run]

If thats true, its pathetic. Surely there were a few Union Jacks present during the special olympics?

Does anyone know if there was as much hulabaloo when it was suggested that Croke Park be open for Compromised Rules, Concerts, Special Olympics?

[tetsujin1979]

If (big if) Croke Park is opened, at least one England team is going to play one game there in the 6 nations, if we draw England in the next set of qualifiers for Euro 2008, then that'll be 2 England teams playing here. Will they allow the Union Jack / St George's cross to be flown and GSTQ to be played?

[Peadar]

One of the problems GAA people had with Croker being opened was the potential of a Union Jack being flown.

What sport would that be then and indeed, what team?
The England rugby team?
The England football team?

[Peadar]

Here's a article to stirr the debate a bit more and here's some information on the British votes.

[Eire06]

Here's a article to stirr the debate a bit more and here's some information on the British votes.

Them Cork and British ones are all the same.....
We should banish the lot of them

[Peadar]

We should banish the lot of them

No, please no, don't send us to Connaught!
I'd rather go to hell!

[Dotsy]

I can't beleive that these overseas delegates going to vote no . Somebody correct me if I am wrong but don't many of their teams play their games on pitches that belong to rugby and soccer clubs.

Didn't the GAA play an All Ireland football final in the 40's or 50's in the New York Polo grounds ( a baseball ground if I'm not mistaken).

Hypocrites the lot of them

[Cowboy]

No, please no, don't send us to Connaught!
I'd rather go to hell!

well you get to vote in Connaught, dont think hell has any votes in Congress unless the no camp invent a new delegate

[blobbyblob]

Rule 42 - The GAA will not be bullied! by Rebel14
http://www.rebelgaa.com/rebelview/article.asp?AID=192

I could well be mistaken, but I was under the impression that if somebody bought and paid for something, then it was theirs to do with what they pleased. The way some people are talking these days - I often do think that I may well be very seriously mistaken.

We knows this. This is not being debated.

In 1908 Frank Dineen purchased a 14-acre site from Maurice Butterly for the sum of £3,250. When the GAA subsequently bought the site from Dineen in 1913, Croke Park was born. Now, unless I've been so inane as to miss something along the way, I would be of the opinion that Croke Park is the property of the GAA. Yet, once again I may well be mistaken, as so many people insist that those outside the GAA have a right to the use of Croke Park. Many of these people hail from the FAI and IRFU, two organisations who had no hand in the purchasing of the 14-acre site in 1913. The development of the humble 14-acre site to one of Europe's finest stadiums was also done without the aid of the FAI or IRFU - or so fact and history would lead us to believe.

Neither the IRFU or FAI have ask for or bullied anyone. Croke Park is belonged to the GAA and the people of Ireland who have made it what it is.

These groups, or external onlookers as I like to call them, that are calling for the GAA to open the doors to its largest asset seem to have forgotten that Croke Park is not owned by the state. No, and I am fairly certain, that the GAA's headquarters belongs solely to, wait for it - the GAA! Now, as I said before, I may be mistaken - but the fact that the GAA owns Croke Park would lead me to believe that the GAA can do what they like with Croke Park.

What the GAA will do with Croke Park is another matter, and in my view a very drawn out one at this stage, but why they do it is very important indeed. The sooner the external onlookers who have no association with the GAA learn that Ireland's greatest sporting body will not be bullied the better. Indeed, the GAA and its members will not be bullied by those who have never picked up a sliotar in their life. Now I don't mean supporters of the FAI or IRFU who or also members of the GAA, I am specifically referring to those amongst us who have no time for the GAA unless the matter at hand is that of the debate over Rule 42.

The opening of Croke Park is a matter for the members of the GAA. Why? Let me tell you why - and I'll try not to be mistaken.

These externals are the people who play GAA and have voted (when allowed to vote) unanimously for the opening of Croke Park.

Croke Park was not built by taxpayer's money - but once again certain groups may not accept fact and history as legitimate grounds to base a point on. National lottery funding, revenue created by the Association itself, funds that the GAA were entitled to from the Government, and a huge reduction in expenditure due to amateurism are what paid for the development of Croke Park. The external onlookers are now wondering what I meant when I said funds that the GAA are entitled to from the Government. Without getting into the samey figures, the GAA is in my opinion entitled to Government grants on the grounds that they oblige the Irish Sports Council, are the stronghold of Irish identity and culture, and that they do not squander funding on ?golden handshakes? that only enrich those within their own administrative circles. Besides, the money that the Government granted the GAA to develop Croke Park flinches in the face of the ?292,000,000 that they are granting for the re-development of L

The GAA are entitled to Government funding the same as any organisation. The fact remains that Government funding comes from the taxpayers pocket. The ground has also being funded by the people of Ireland who pay at the gates of every GAA ground in the country year in year out. These are the same people who are calling for the opening of Croke Park

So, I think it's fair to say, unless I am inoperably mistaken, that Croke does actually belong to the GAA. The question that remains is - who are the members of the GAA, and who are the external onlookers that seem determined to bully the owners of Croke Park? Those of us who have GAA membership cards are obviously members of the GAA, as are those of us who go to nine matches a week, train four days under fading floodlights, work tirelessly to ensure that the club's Fé13 team shows up for their match, spends thousands of euro to support and keep our children playing Gaelic games, and, finally, those of us who know the difference between being a part of the Association and living for the Association. Those amongst us who go to the odd high profile Championship game, play when the lads need a fifteenth man, or buy a jersey because you like the colour are not members of the GAA.

Once again - Nobody is bullying. The GAA have an oppurtunity to make money to help make the GAA clubs of Ireland lives a little easier albeit helping out 'foreign' sports along the way. In this time of peace and reconcilliation, the GAA can push out the hand of friendship. It is no coincidence that most of Ulster is against the notion of soccer and/or rugby being displayed on the foreign turf.

All the GAA can do at this point is to ignore those who think they can bully it into making a decision that suits the external onlookers. Whether we should or shouldn't change Rule 42 is a matter for the GAA to decide - and no one from outside the Association will influence our decision on that.

God help us all. Some people cant see the wood from the trees. When all is said and done, i doubt if the FAI and IRFU will be marching on the GAA congress this weekend to bully anyone. The doors will be shut and the GAA will have the option to show how patriotic they really are.

[Metrostars]

I can't beleive that these overseas delegates going to vote no . Somebody correct me if I am wrong but don't many of their teams play their games on pitches that belong to rugby and soccer clubs.

Didn't the GAA play an All Ireland football final in the 40's or 50's in the New York Polo grounds ( a baseball ground if I'm not mistaken).

Hypocrites the lot of them

New York, who will be voting against the motions play at Gaelic Park in the Bronx which is owned by Manhattan College. Ironically the NY board is supposed to be developing a new facility at Randall's Island and they will also accomodate rugby (and probably soccer) on some of their fields there:

The design of the Sports Comples includes a covered stadium, seating for 10,000 spectators, regulation Gaelic foorball, hurling and rugby fields

http://rzaps.com/projects/gaelic_complex.htm?fp=4
So, I'm baffled by these guys down in New York. You're right, a bunch of f-king hypocrites.

[pete]

The GAA tend to only have 1 club per parish so all interest & funds get plowed into just 1 facility.

Football (FIFA variety) has probably too many clubs so facilities spread across much wider net. Football is had got probably 50 years to catch up.

Its interesting that the county that the GAA has the best stadium - Dublin & Croke Park is one - of the weaker playing counties which may suggest that the GAA need to reserve their facility for their own games to retain their own followers.

Would be interesting to see if the sight of irish international rugby & football teams playing home games in the UK would have any lasting backlash against the GAA from the average man/woman on the street. I for one will balme the current FF/PD government.

[gspain]

I think the undemocratic attempts by the GAA powers that be to ensure rule 42 stays put is pathetic. If they going to stop it then why not do so democractically. There will probably some situation where multiple issues to vote on to split vote & ensure is delayed for another year.

€20m to upgrade what the GAA claim is one best stadiums in Europe is also pathetic. Lansdowne has feck all segregation i.e. no fences or similar. IMO floodlights is also a non-issue as the FAI for example can arrange to play most home games at weekends when early start is possible.

I think it is very clear now why the past presidents tried to block the vote. They would be more in touch with the organisation and could clearly forsee there would be the current groundswell of support to open it up. Ditto for the Cork county board as they faced the prospect of losing the vote.

These people will justify their actions by knowing in their hearts what is best for the GAA

[dublinred]

Its looking like its going to need government intervention to get it through.