Elections

**bohsRap** · 04/05/2007, 3:26 PM

Haven't seen this anywhere else but I feel it's an important issue.

As I mull over my vote for the upcoming election, one factor that could decide my vote is a political party's support for the Eircom League of Ireland and domestic football generally.

Which political party, that you have encountered or heard of, has shown support for the national league? I'm not talking about fans who are politicians, I'm talking about party policies that will help domestic football the most.

Do you think Fianna F�il/PDs have done enough in terms of grants etc over the last 10 years? Also take into consideration that whilst they mightn't have helped that much, many other parties may have helped less if they were in charge.

Personally I'm undecided on the matter. The LOI won't be mentioned in my constituency but I will try press politicians on it. Also, it doesn't bode well with me when we have a Taoiseach that never acknowledges the league in the country from which he was elected.

**bigmac** · 04/05/2007, 3:32 PM

I'm not sure about party lines but I think John O'Donoghue deserves credit for sticking to his guns on the Tallaght issue. I doubt that any party will have a coherrent policy on it though - they probably reckon there are more votes to be gained by wearing a Sunderland shirt

**pete** · 04/05/2007, 3:37 PM

Sport is rarely used as a political issue.

I would not vote for FF based on eL grants as I don't think would be any different to other parties.

O'Donoghue has been giving Kerry disproportionate amount of Sports Grants for years so I don't know if he worthy of a vote. Remember he is also going to give the GAA money to pay amateur players wages.

**WeAreRovers** · 04/05/2007, 3:39 PM

Originally Posted by bigmac

I'm not sure about party lines but I think John O'Donoghue deserves credit for sticking to his guns on the Tallaght issue. I doubt that any party will have a coherrent policy on it though - they probably reckon there are more votes to be gained by wearing a Sunderland shirt

It's a big deal for us as you can imagine. Our members forum has a list of candidates and their respective positions on Tallaght.

KOH

**bohsRap** · 04/05/2007, 3:42 PM

Originally Posted by bigmac

I'm not sure about party lines but I think John O'Donoghue deserves credit for sticking to his guns on the Tallaght issue. I doubt that any party will have a coherrent policy on it though

He definitely deserves credit, coming up to an election, when he challenges a GAA team knowing he is from the Gaelic football stronghold that is Kerry.

Originally Posted by bigmac

they probably reckon there are more votes to be gained by wearing a Sunderland shirt

That's the problem, that's why we should all press them on the issue to remind them there is a league in this country, and that their support for the league, or lack thereof, could cost them votes.

reder · 04/05/2007, 3:53 PM

Originally Posted by pete

Remember he is also going to give the GAA money to pay amateur players wages.

Are you sure he is going to do this?

If he does this every other sports person in the land who has represented the country at international level and was not funded and has taken 1 min or more from their working life for training etc should be banging on his door looking for money.

I honest cant see his coughing up money for this.

The GAA should pay their own players.

**pete** · 04/05/2007, 4:29 PM

Originally Posted by reder

Are you sure he is going to do this?

If he does this every other sports person in the land who has represented the country at international level and was not funded and has taken 1 min or more from their working life for training etc should be banging on his door looking for money.

Yes. The current government will say give the GAA 5m every year for youth programme. The GAA will then divert 5m every year to pay their own players. That way the government will be able to say they not directly paying the players.

**Galwayutdcelt** · 04/05/2007, 4:35 PM

Michael D Higgins never misses a Galway United home game

**gustavo** · 04/05/2007, 6:27 PM

Originally Posted by Galwayutdcelt

Michael D Higgins never misses a Galway United home game

read the original post again!

**Dodge** · 04/05/2007, 6:37 PM

Political parties don't have anyposition regarding the league. As long as people like Bertie send congratulations to Roy Keane and Denis Iriwn "on behalf of the people of Ireland" we know where most priorities lie.

Mary Upton (Lab) and Catherine Byrne(FG) are both Pats fans.

**superfrank** · 04/05/2007, 7:36 PM

Originally Posted by pete

Sport is rarely used as a political issue.

Unless you're Franco or Mussolini.

**rebelarmyexile** · 04/05/2007, 7:58 PM

i have been askin candidates their views on the tallaght stadium so far iv asked FGer, FFer and Shinner.

my local shinner candidate said he was in favour of the Gahs stance, suggesting we should prioritise "Irish" sports.

So a republican bigot supporting bigot-ball then.

my local FGer and FFer in favour of Rovers. still no sign of the Lefties or the Greens here canvassin yet.

**CuanaD** · 05/05/2007, 12:45 PM

I was canvased by my local FF TD - Pat Carey - yesterday & obviously had to talk to him about sport; he is supporting Rovers against the gaa anyway.

so he gets MY no.1 vote.

**Da Real Rover** · 05/05/2007, 12:55 PM

Interesting post, i will now have an excuse to enterrogate the canvassers.

**fergalr** · 05/05/2007, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by bohsRap

As I mull over my vote for the upcoming election, one factor that could decide my vote is a political party's support for the Eircom League of Ireland and domestic football generally.

The most straightforward way to answer the question is to ask the candidate about their stance on Tallaght. Their answer will determine whether they are a friend or foe of domestic football.

**superbohs** · 05/05/2007, 4:35 PM

when we were going to castleknock labour and fine gael were doing alot to stop it. Can't remember the fine gael guy but joan burton didn't want us in castleknock and joe costello didn't want us to leave dalymount.
I can remember both sinn fein and fianna fail sponsoring us in the last few years though.
Ill definately be bringing tallagh up with whoever calls to my door too

**bohsRap** · 05/05/2007, 5:50 PM

Originally Posted by superbohs

when we were going to castleknock labour and fine gael were doing alot to stop it. Can't remember the fine gael guy but joan burton didn't want us in castleknock and joe costello didn't want us to leave dalymount.

I remember hearing that alright. It would definitely put me off a Labour vote because they are restricting club progress. Joe Costello has the right intentions but that Joan Burton one seems to be a constant moan.

**d13bohs** · 06/05/2007, 6:01 PM

Originally Posted by superbohs

when we were going to castleknock labour and fine gael were doing alot to stop it. Can't remember the fine gael guy but joan burton didn't want us in castleknock and joe costello didn't want us to leave dalymount.
I can remember both sinn fein and fianna fail sponsoring us in the last few years though.
Ill definately be bringing tallagh up with whoever calls to my door too

I can also recall John O'Donoghue telling us that we wouldn't get any grant money for redeveloping Dalyer unless we gave half of the ground to shels for less than 1/7 of its value and that the only grants available to EL clubs for stadium development would be for grounds which two teams are sharing. His attempts to bully us into the shels deal will not be forgotten. So that's FF, FG and Labour who won't be getting my vote (not that the first two or the PDs ever stood a chance of getting my vote anyway!)

**BohsFans** · 06/05/2007, 7:22 PM

Originally Posted by d13bohs

I can also recall John O'Donoghue telling us that we wouldn't get any grant money for redeveloping Dalyer unless we gave half of the ground to shels for less than 1/7 of its value and that the only grants available to EL clubs for stadium development would be for grounds which two teams are sharing. His attempts to bully us into the shels deal will not be forgotten. So that's FF, FG and Labour who won't be getting my vote (not that the first two or the PDs ever stood a chance of getting my vote anyway!)

I won't be forgetting it either when I go to vote.