QuoteHaving read the aims of the Association I can't see why any one sport would be more"in conflict with the Aims & Objects of the Association" than another?
Don't forget the stickfighters.
Having read the aims of the Association I can't see why any one sport would be more"in conflict with the Aims & Objects of the Association" than another?
It's all about maximising market share. You'd hardly expect the Sony shop to start stocking X-Boxes in the morning.
HonestlyOriginally Posted by jebus
You don't think things are better now - Ireland vs. Brazil in Croke Park in 17 days time - than in the time of the ban when there were 'spotters' at soccer games to see if any GAA members were in attendance? Obviously there's plenty of idiots still involved (as in all sports) but I can't see how things are getting worse.
Football is a gentleman's game played by ruffians,
Rugby is a ruffian's game played by gentlemen,
Gaelic is a ruffian's game played by ruffians
But Hurling is a gentleman's game played by gentlemen.
SIGNATURESCOPE
Are there many rugby clubs out around Finglas, Ballyfermott, Ballymun, Phibsboro, Cabra etc.? Soccer does not compete significantly with rugby for players as the playing pools are drawn from completely different demographics and geographical areas. This is particularly true in urban centres. Rugby isn't even played in a huge number of secondary schools (outside the fee-paying system) whereas soccer and GAA are omnipresent.
Agreed thats common sense but again, the association rules don't actually state this.
Its also ridiculously narrow minded and protectionist to assume another sport is contrary to the aims of your own sport simply by dint of it drawing from the same player pool.
Protectionist - yes, narrow minded - I'd say pragmatic.
If its so pragmatic why are they the only sports organisation in the world I can think off (ever since rugby union went professional and improved allowed free transfer between league and union codes) that adopt such an attitude?
Clearly because they are probably the only sporting organisation in the world that are, quite explicitly in their manifesto, used for patriotic and political reasons.
Interestingly enough the Italian fascists had similar thinking once upon a time.
The difference there being that fascism died out relatively quickly as an embracing ideal but Irish nationalism has proved more malleable.
In other words, you can't lose sight of the indelible (and unparalleled I'd imagine) imprint history has had on Ireland's sporting fabric.
I'd re-state that slightly... I can, but they clearly can't.
I'd re-state that slightly... I can, but they clearly can't.
English rugby union wouldn't let soccer play in Twickenham and forced them to play their showpiece games in a different country for years.
SIGNATURESCOPE
Depends how one views reality, eg from a national or global perspective.
I try and keep my sporting interests completely detached from politics and other such baggage, otherwise I'm not sure I could reconcile being a fan of a number of different sports, at the same time.
I thought that was a planning permission issue re the local residents? Twickenham also doesn't hold concerts for that reason, despite the RFU being in bucketloads of debt when the stadium was built.
That's your approach; you choose to ignore it. Others, they choose to leverage it. Neither is a good foundation for arguments in my view.
Name another sports organisation that is in a similar position.
thanks for posting these.
Can anybody explain why Football and rugby would be counter to these aims and american football and boxing would not be.
Should Neil Diamond and Michael Jackson be allowed to use GAA grounds to promote foreign music/dance and thus turn the youth of ireland away from our traditional music and dance.
I actually beleive central council could have allowed football and rugby into Croke Park without amending Rule 42 based o nthe rulebook. It would have been political suicide though not to have the vote.
As for the GAA there is no doubt that the GAA has come a huge way since the early 70's in the Republic. You could maybe count out Cork here. People like tommy Kenoy and Sean Kelly did their organisation a huge service as did the Mr. woulfe who battled the ban for many years before eventually succeeding. The likes of Kennedy and Costelloe are now the exception rather than the rule.
I just think it's sad that we all can't get along in this modern age. I follow all 3 codes and this bickering and sniggering back and forth mystifies me greatly. Bogball, you D4 posh c*** etc etc. Hilarious.
"If God had meant football to be played in the air, he'd have put grass in the sky." Brian Clough.
You'll NEVER beat the Irish.......you'll just draw with us instead!!!
Well, just take off your soccer hat for a second and look at it dispassionately. You are quite correct that boxing and american football on paper have as much or as little to do with Irish culture (depending on your viewpoint) as soccer and rugby. So it can't simply be cultural snobbery then can it? The competition issue seems to be too simplistic for some people, but I firmly believe that it is the prime reasoning for the restriction of the playing of other sports on GAA property.
One of the GAA's major selling points is the quality of its facilities around the country. Now I'm not talking about rickety provincial stadiums I'm talking about club grounds, centres of excellence etc. which have been built by communities nationwide who did their own fundraising and availed of government and GAA grant aid. I don't see what is stopping soccer clubs doing the same. It is very easy to say "Well let everyone use the facilities." Why? Give me one good reason. And something a bit better thought out than "with rising childhood obesity etc. we need to get kids active." I agree that this is desirable however the facilities are there for the kids to use. They just have to play hurling or football to do so. Soccer in this country is very popular. If the FAI downed tools tomorrow and headed off to Bermuda for a couple of months would that change? The point being that the major promotional tool soccer in Ireland has, is (ironically enough) soccer in England. Kids don't want to play for Bohs, or Shels or Shams when they grow up. They want to play for Man U, Arsenal, Liverpool. They are bombarded with images of the premiership night and day. THAT is what they aspire to and that is what the GAA is competing with. If the promotion of soccer in Ireland was the sole responsibility of the FAI it would be in an even worse state than it is now.
To be honest I take my hat off to most of you. You support your local team through thick and thin and ultimately I think there is far more satisfaction derived from that rather than fostering some tenuous link with a premiership club and convincing yourself it matters whether they win or lose. I didn't see Man Utd. taking an open top bus tour through Dublin when they won the title last year. Be that as it may, the GAA can't compete with the premiership on the basis of wages, TV money, sponsorship etc. So it competes on its own terms. Quality facilities in the community for the promotion of gaelic games (except rounders!). It is a pretty unique situation.
When people refer to other countries and how no other sporting organisations seem to have such rules, the simple fact of the matter is that a lot of sports couldn't share facilities with rival codes even if they wanted to. Could a hockey team ever use a soccer pitch? Could an NFL team play on a baseball field? Could basketball be played on a tennis court? It's not an issue with most other sports. In addition, it just so happens that soccer and rugby fields are too small to accommodate gaelic games. So basically, he who builds the biggest house gets the most requests from people wanting to sleep in his various, comfy bedrooms. Refuse the requests and you are deemed mean-spirited. Build a one bedroom flat and no one will ask.
Sean Kelly was a GAA visionary.
I know these rules made a long time along but still funny.Irish paper shall be used for all official documents and
correspondence. Documents not complying shall be ruled out of order.
I believe teams now wear Adidas jerseys?
Those rock 'n roll concerts have really turned the youngsters away from the glorious Irish music.
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