GAA and FAI

[gspain]

The GAA received ~€160 million of public money for Croke Park. Most of it was back in the mid 90's when it went a bit further and would buy a hell of a lot more property.

[kingdom hoop]

Amid all this discussion, everyone - including the GAA of course - is forgetting that the GAA have a prime site in every village and town in Ireland - many of which they now want to flog off for enormous profit - merely because the unholy trinity of the GAA, the Catholic church and the politicians ensured that the GAA got these sites, essentially for free, over the decades - while the "foreign" sports were banned to the wilderness.

Funny how the GAA always forgets where the ludicrous imbalance originally started.

Funny too how the gaa is referred to as some sort of dr.evil figure holed away in a transylvanian castle stroking his cat..

if we are getting into some sort of historical rambling session all sports are foreign to ireland except the gaa.. outrageous comments by and large, i presume you're just trying to stoke a bit of nationalistic debate, lets see who'll be jumping for that ball

are you suggesting influence was exerted over the british government by the catholic church to secure valuable plots of land previously the preserve of viscounts and such? i'll bow to some evidence of this but i'm still in shock at the moment to be doing any such bowing

and to be fair the plots that are being sold are county grounds that are old fashioned and need renovating, which is easiest done by moving out of congested towns to the outskirts where infrastructure is more suitable and the net result will be nicer more comfortable stands for the populous, with money left over to plough back into the grassroots.

begrudgery, but i guess denouncing the opposition is better than trying to improve one's own lot? oh, but its the governments fault sur

[geysir]

The GAA received ~€160 million of public money for Croke Park. Most of it was back in the mid 90's when it went a bit further and would buy a hell of a lot more property.

Ah the soccer bigots are coming out of their lairs in droves.
Your figures are way off.
No wonder the GAA can play cat and mouse with the Irish soccer. What a bunch of victims.
For developing Croke Park, from circa '98 onwards the GAA have received on ave. €12.5m. p/a for 5 years
then Croke Pk got €15m to develop the Hogan stand for the special olympics
Then came the much hyped strings attached €60m in recent years.

Then add to that whatever since for Hill 16, lights.

FAI and IRFU have been promised €180m?

[reder]

croke park, one stadium 100m

landsdowne road, one stadium 170m

i think that was the point being made

The lack of accuracy in some of your statements is insane. Luckily I actually know the facts. I love the spin you have put on the figures above, credit where credit is due you make it look good. You should look for a job in the PR dept of the GAA (if you dont have one already).

On 1st January 2002, Ireland started using the Euro. The GAA grants, which were never in doubt, (and I can categorically tell you the money was put aside well before any work started or permission was granted), summed to a little over £100m punts which is €128m. Now if you wish I can factor in the rise in inflation from the 90's to 2006 to give a modern day reflection on that loan and if you really are a stickler, I can give you the figures detailing the surplus form which the loan sums are taken to convey the point that the loan given by the government to the GAA (an amateur organisation) far far surpasses that given to the FAI and IRFU combined.

thta sounds like a mutually exclusive-collectively exhaustive statement, that is so wrong ye dope. some was paid for by the government.....we have been through this before.

Finally bar friendlies the FAI ( per game that is ) will make more money.

Paul O' Shea I dont know where to start with this!! Croke Park was built by government and tax payers money. Thats just a solid fact. Without that money, the stadium would never have happened. As I said previously the money was put aside well before anyone knew about the idea. It was a done deal. There is nothing more I can say about this, I can just tell you its 100000% fact.

On the money per game, perhaps you have seen the figures and I stand corrected if someone who has can tell me otherwise but I have been told that they will not make more money.

Also, I never asked him whether he brings a union jack or not to all games, I only sat beside him once. Its his right to bring whatever flag he wants to a game. Given the GAA's anti-garrison stance, I can totally understand him doing so. That clause in their constitution is an insult and slur to thats mans heritage. I will be VERY interested to see the policy on banners for our games. Hopefully the rovers and EL fans will bring loads of nice banners to hang for the GAA if the rovers issue is not resolved.

Finally I must say, I hope to god that rovers get the green light and all clear for their home in Tallaght.

[pete]

Conclusive proof of the money for GAA, IRFU & FAI

John O'Donoghue TD, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, today (Thursday 30th September, 2004) announced that the Government has agreed to provide a further and final grant of €40 million to the GAA over the next two years towards the cost of the redevelopment of Croke Park. €20 million will be paid this year with a further €20 million being paid in 2005. This additional grant will bring the level of Exchequer contribution to €110 million towards the €265 million cost of the whole project.

Croke Park redevelopment: 113.65m (includes 3.65 for floodlights recently)
Lansdowne Road: 191m

I would be surprised if the Croke Park figure included the 15m for the special Olympics.

It should also be highlighted that for their 191m the government will retain a stake in the Lansdowne Road stadium which obviously they don't have in Croke Park. This whole spin that the GAA built Croke Park themselves is clearly bull.

[Wolfie]

The Soccer versus Gaelic debate will endure for decades to come and beyond.

The stated animosity between the two organisations is all relative to the previous levels of bigotry that existed in the past.

Liam Brady and David O'Leary wote about their experiences of "The Ban" while they attended Christian Brothers Schools. I remember Liam Brady writing that he had to defy a Christian Brother and not turn up for a Gaelic Football game for the school because he had the honour of representing Ireland Schoolboys on the same day. He was suspended. An isolated incident - but symptomatic of the lunatics that were at large at the time.

The expedient and practical necessity is that Croke park has been secured for the Euro Qualifiers and hopefully beyond. Playing in Britain would have been a sad state of affairs.

It makes sound business sense for the GAA and they will derive some positive PR from opening up the ground the the other "codes" - in addition to the obvious monetary gains.

I still have positive vibes for the Croker games - hopefully the lunatic fringes on both sides don't jeopardise that with practically weeks to go to the Welsh game.

[kingdom hoop]

The lack of accuracy in some of your statements is insane. Luckily I actually know the facts. I love the spin you have put on the figures above, credit where credit is due you make it look good. You should look for a job in the PR dept of the GAA (if you dont have one already).

Whoa, whats that about??

i quoted a few figures that were in previous posts because pete's post was implying that the fai and irfu should individually get what the gaa got when its only one stadium being built. i apologise for using figures that others bandied about, but as my signature says i'm more of an opinions man. it is lucky you are here, well until someone else comes along with new facts at least.

what other inaccurate statements are insane by the way, this is of grave concern to me as even though i live quite near the dundrum mental hospital i've never fancied having a look over those walls..please inform so i can see to this worry.

i dont see the point of the kerfuffle over who gets what anyway. i never question our taoiseach's integrity!!

i am a fair man, a sports fan, and as such i dont think i should be villified for having a balanced few of things. if this was a gaelic forum i'd defend the fai where there were bigots and the same is true here. dont get me wrong though i love a bit of banter, keep it coming

[khoop]

are you suggesting influence was exerted over the british government by the catholic church to secure valuable plots of land previously the preserve of viscounts and such?

As usual, you are just waffling. The vast majority of the GAA grounds were of course attained after the brits had left. In the 20s and 30s (and later) the Catholic church totally controlled every village in Ireland. Like the GAA, a shower of bigots - and they ensured by coercion that the GAA got whatever they damn wanted.

It would be VERY interesting if all the county boards who are now presenting themselves as some sort of shrewd property speculators were to publicly state how much the properties cost in the first place. Most likely, nothing. At best, a couple of shillings.

[Calcio Jack]

__________________

i fail to see why the gaa could be held responsible for the reprehensible behaviour of a minority few in its voluntary organisation.

__________________________________________________ __-

Classic excuse.... if what they are doing is so reprehensible to the majority of GAA members then why don't the majority of GAA members issue a public statement condeming them.Also why aren't they expelled as well ????

[pete]

Moderator Warning: To All - Please refrain from insults if you want to continue this debate.

[paul_oshea]

Paul O' Shea I dont know where to start with this!! Croke Park was built by government and tax payers money. Thats just a solid fact. Without that money, the stadium would never have happened. As I said previously the money was put aside well before anyone knew about the idea. It was a done deal. There is nothing more I can say about this, I can just tell you its 100000% fact.

do you what know mutually exclusive collectively exhaustive means, if not dont respond, if you do, then respond correctly. I say that because I know you dont. It was IN PART funded by the government, and those supporters of gaelic who go to matches, buy all things gaa and sponsors etc and funnily enough quite a few ( or all but .001% )of these would also be taxpayers. SO dont come out with a sweeping statement that is not mutually exclusive collectively exhaustive unless you can back it up.

[Donal81]

As usual, you are just waffling. The vast majority of the GAA grounds were of course attained after the brits had left. In the 20s and 30s (and later) the Catholic church totally controlled every village in Ireland. Like the GAA, a shower of bigots - and they ensured by coercion that the GAA got whatever they damn wanted.

It would be VERY interesting if all the county boards who are now presenting themselves as some sort of shrewd property speculators were to publicly state how much the properties cost in the first place. Most likely, nothing. At best, a couple of shillings.

[Donal81]

Classic excuse.... if what they are doing is so reprehensible to the majority of GAA members then why don't the majority of GAA members issue a public statement condeming them.Also why aren't they expelled as well ????

Some of the clubs are very, very powerful. I'd like to think that most senior GAA people are way too smart for this squalid little dispute but whether they support it or not, they're in a difficult situation. Much more so than the FAI, the GAA is all about its grassroots and I'd imagine they're treading very carefully with this one. It's not right, of course, but that's politics for you. My own take on it is that these clubs will eventually shoot themselves in the foot and the dispute will be revealed for what it is. The GAA is playing it cute, I think, and leaving the clubs dangle by themselves. There has not been one word from the GAA on this whole thing although the Dublin GAA board issued its support. Very quietly, though...

If Shels, Bohs, Rovers, St. Pats and UCD were trying this on at a GAA ground somewhere, would the Dublin FAI immediately come out and castigate them for it? I doubt it.

[gspain]

The Soccer versus Gaelic debate will endure for decades to come and beyond.

The stated animosity between the two organisations is all relative to the previous levels of bigotry that existed in the past.

Liam Brady and David O'Leary wote about their experiences of "The Ban" while they attended Christian Brothers Schools. I remember Liam Brady writing that he had to defy a Christian Brother and not turn up for a Gaelic Football game for the school because he had the honour of representing Ireland Schoolboys on the same day. He was suspended. An isolated incident - but symptomatic of the lunatics that were at large at the time.

The expedient and practical necessity is that Croke park has been secured for the Euro Qualifiers and hopefully beyond. Playing in Britain would have been a sad state of affairs.

It makes sound business sense for the GAA and they will derive some positive PR from opening up the ground the the other "codes" - in addition to the obvious monetary gains.

I still have positive vibes for the Croker games - hopefully the lunatic fringes on both sides don't jeopardise that with practically weeks to go to the Welsh game.

Liam Brady was expelled form school because he captained the Irish schoolboy team. Why was it an isolated incident? Con Martin was banned from GAA after playing in the Leinster final. He got caught playing football before the All Ireland, got banned for life and didn't get his Leinster winners medal for over 30 years until the ban wa slifted.

It is more than a lunatic fringe. Over 25% of the GAA congress voted against opening Croke Park. This is still a significant number.

Now perhaps you can give examples of bigotry the other way?

Can you also give examples of the FAI comments that have caused such offence. i know there are numerous GAA writers complaining about the FAI attitude etc

[paul_oshea]

Over 25% of the GAA congress

are you getting mixed up with congres or central council?!?! 2 countys (clubs) out of 32 voted against opening it up. that is not 25%. where did you go to school? or were you expelled as well because of playing association football?

[Dodge]

are you getting mixed up with congres or central council?!?! 2 clubs out of 32 voted against opening it up. that is not 25%. where did you go to school? or were you expelled as well because of playing association football?

Clubs? You might want to get your facts right before you start lecturing others...

[WeAreRovers]

the soccer community, whatever that is.

There it is in a nutshell - the ridiculous belief that the GAA are a vital part of the fabric of Irish society and yet scoffing at the very notion that there might even be a "soccer community".

The "soccer community" is the largest sporting community in the state and on the island. Unfortunately we've had decades of neglect from our ruling body but don't let that fool you into thinking that the work of the 1000s of coaches and volunteers every week doesn't actually happen.

The only thing I respect about the GAA is their PR machine. it's very impressive, still doesn't change any of the fundamental truths about the organisiation.

KOH

[gspain]

are you getting mixed up with congres or central council?!?! 2 countys (clubs) out of 32 voted against opening it up. that is not 25%. where did you go to school? or were you expelled as well because of playing association football?

The 6 NI counties voted against as did Cork and Monaghan.

There was also virtually all the past presidents and warwickshire I believe.

It has been a long time since I sat in Maths class but 8 out of 32 is approx 25% isn't it?

[paul_oshea]

The 6 NI counties voted against as did Cork and Monaghan.

No they did not. everyone expected it but they didnt.

congress requires 227 votes for a change, 324 being the total, the problem is some northern counties have more votes than others ( in the north ).....but i see where you are coming from.

[Dodge]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/nort...es/4452449.stm

Congress voted it in by 227 votes to 97

"Cavan and Donegal were the only Ulster counties to vote in favour of allowing football and rugby to play at HQ, while all six of the northern counties were against any change"