Armagh v Derry - Ulster Final, 14th May, 2023 @ 4pm

[seafoid]

Enjoy the buzz in Clones and may the best team win. It's the clash of the 1 all Ireland titans.

[tonto1888]

Or better still, nicola gallaghers interview

There is obviously a strategy in place.

And what strategy is that?

[seafoid]

1. Facebook post  Tuesday,  5 days before the Ulster Final   https://twitter.com/thegaacorner/status/1656322909395202049
The post triggered a large social media response focusing on football and Domestic Abuse.
2 Media interview  Sunday , the morning of the Ulster Final https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/if-my-story-helps-one-woman-or-man-then-it-will-have-been-worth-it-nicola-gallagher-on-domestic-abuse-claims/a1936363625.html
3 There will probably be more
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMe8ltiH2IQ

What makes it strategic is the timing and the linking with the Ulster Final. Also the cross border media angle.
Then you have very focused messaging in both the Facebook post and the Indo interview. Eg "if my story helps one woman"

Fogra : RG is innocent until proven guilty

[Itchy]

Coercive control may be why she stayed or married him, not sure it's a case of why did her dad 'let her get married to him'

To the outside world when the good times are good, they appear to be the perfect couple.

Maybe she had become isolated and was not really in touch with her family and friends.



Women will marry men and stay with men yet every single day, be afraid to be in the same house as them.

Maggie, this is true and I posted a thread earlier from a social worker which also mentioned this. However, the gentleman you are replying to isn't genuine in his question. He just wants to show doubt about the complaints to protect his beloved Derry. Can only hope nothing like this ever happens to his sisters or daughter s if he has either.

[TwoUpTwoDown]

Anyone able to paste Joe Brollys piece from today's Independent

Joe Brolly: Why Rory Gallagher had to step down
The protection of three vulnerable children in now everyone's priority


Rory Gallagher — © SPORTSFILE


Rory Gallagher — © SPORTSFILE


Rory Gallagher — © SPORTSFILE


Rory Gallagher — © SPORTSFILE

Joe Brolly
Today at 02:30
I am thinking of three small children. Three small children with their Derry kits folded by their bedsides, wondering why they can't go to the Ulster final. Three small children unaware of the public bloodbath that is to come.
Today, the 1998 Derry Ulster championship winning team is being introduced to the crowd at half-time. Earlier in the week, when it looked as though Rory Gallagher was going to be on the sideline today, the group decided that we would not go through with it. How could we have? Smiling, waving, blowing kisses?

The GAA symbolises our community. It is what we are. When Nicola Gallagher put her harrowing, terrifying story online, Rory had to step down. He has custody of three small children and their protection is all of our priority.

The reason family courts anonymise parents is not to protect the parents. It is to protect the children. Children are the innocent victims of acrimonious break-ups and of outrageous abuses. Sometimes, they experience things that will haunt them forever. The court's objective, insofar as is possible, is to allow them to get on with their lives in a way that causes them the least possible damage. To ensure they are in a settled, secure environment.

​I am devastated to hear these allegations. Worse is the fact that these vulnerable children are now going to hear and see this tragedy being played out so publicly.

I make no judgment on the private lives of the parents. But once this moved from the privacy of the family courts and a confidential PSNI investigation into the public domain, the GAA had no choice but to act.


Rory Gallagher — © SPORTSFILE

In the coming days, the Gallagher family will be a spectator sport. The three children will be frightened and confused by what they hear and see. They will feel all eyes on them and sense that unmistakeable atmosphere of sympathy that usually accompanies a death in the family. There will be no protecting them now.

Nicola, a vulnerable young woman who has obviously suffered terribly, must be given space and support. Most of all, she must be listened to. Those public howls of distress and pain shook us all to the core.

Rory, who has parental responsibility for three vulnerable children, must also be given space and support. In a few weeks, the public will have lost interest. They will be left to pick up the pieces.

​Yesterday morning I was in a quandary about whether to write anything at all for today. Then I got a call from Rodney Edwards, from this paper. He said: "Joe, would you like to comment on the fact that the Derry County Board were notified about these allegations a year ago and yet did nothing?" Rodney, a decent and straightforward journalist, proceeded to read the email that had been sent to the board by Nicola Gallagher's father. I said, "Jesus Christ" and put the phone down.

This was never disclosed to the county board members. I never thought this would happen with us. Why? To win some football matches? To get a f**king promotion?

I think of how the GAA is flourishing like never before because of the massive rise in involvement by our girls and women. How it has created such a vibrant community of equals. And then to hear that such serious allegations were reported to us and nothing was done?

I am a Derry GAA man to the core. It is humiliating to know that this has happened in my name. I spoke to several board members yesterday morning who are equally enraged. They had no idea this had been done. They were unaware of the allegations until they read Nicola's anguished Facebook posts last week.

I am one of the lawyers in the Stardust Inquest, a story of secrets and cover-ups and hoping it would all go away. That disaster occurred on Valentine's Day, 1981, a symphony of sorrowful songs that some hoped would be buried with the dead. But secrets have a habit of coming back to haunt us. Now, they have come back to haunt Derry GAA.

[Throw ball]

1. Facebook post  Tuesday,  5 days before the Ulster Final   https://twitter.com/thegaacorner/status/1656322909395202049
The post triggered a large social media response focusing on football and Domestic Abuse.
2 Media interview  Sunday , the morning of the Ulster Final https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/if-my-story-helps-one-woman-or-man-then-it-will-have-been-worth-it-nicola-gallagher-on-domestic-abuse-claims/a1936363625.html
3 There will probably be more
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMe8ltiH2IQ

What makes it strategic is the timing and the linking with the Ulster Final. Also the cross border media angle.
Then you have very focused messaging in both the Facebook post and the Indo interview. Eg "if my story helps one woman"

Fogra : RG is innocent until proven guilty

In cases like this I would say he is legally innocent until he is proven guilty. If in real times he is guilty he deserves all the grief he gets - and much more.

[Throw ball]

Anyone able to paste Joe Brollys piece from today's Independent

Joe Brolly: Why Rory Gallagher had to step down
The protection of three vulnerable children in now everyone's priority


Rory Gallagher — © SPORTSFILE


Rory Gallagher — © SPORTSFILE


Rory Gallagher — © SPORTSFILE


Rory Gallagher — © SPORTSFILE

Joe Brolly
Today at 02:30
I am thinking of three small children. Three small children with their Derry kits folded by their bedsides, wondering why they can't go to the Ulster final. Three small children unaware of the public bloodbath that is to come.
Today, the 1998 Derry Ulster championship winning team is being introduced to the crowd at half-time. Earlier in the week, when it looked as though Rory Gallagher was going to be on the sideline today, the group decided that we would not go through with it. How could we have? Smiling, waving, blowing kisses?

The GAA symbolises our community. It is what we are. When Nicola Gallagher put her harrowing, terrifying story online, Rory had to step down. He has custody of three small children and their protection is all of our priority.

The reason family courts anonymise parents is not to protect the parents. It is to protect the children. Children are the innocent victims of acrimonious break-ups and of outrageous abuses. Sometimes, they experience things that will haunt them forever. The court's objective, insofar as is possible, is to allow them to get on with their lives in a way that causes them the least possible damage. To ensure they are in a settled, secure environment.

​I am devastated to hear these allegations. Worse is the fact that these vulnerable children are now going to hear and see this tragedy being played out so publicly.

I make no judgment on the private lives of the parents. But once this moved from the privacy of the family courts and a confidential PSNI investigation into the public domain, the GAA had no choice but to act.


Rory Gallagher — © SPORTSFILE

In the coming days, the Gallagher family will be a spectator sport. The three children will be frightened and confused by what they hear and see. They will feel all eyes on them and sense that unmistakeable atmosphere of sympathy that usually accompanies a death in the family. There will be no protecting them now.

Nicola, a vulnerable young woman who has obviously suffered terribly, must be given space and support. Most of all, she must be listened to. Those public howls of distress and pain shook us all to the core.

Rory, who has parental responsibility for three vulnerable children, must also be given space and support. In a few weeks, the public will have lost interest. They will be left to pick up the pieces.

​Yesterday morning I was in a quandary about whether to write anything at all for today. Then I got a call from Rodney Edwards, from this paper. He said: "Joe, would you like to comment on the fact that the Derry County Board were notified about these allegations a year ago and yet did nothing?" Rodney, a decent and straightforward journalist, proceeded to read the email that had been sent to the board by Nicola Gallagher's father. I said, "Jesus Christ" and put the phone down.

This was never disclosed to the county board members. I never thought this would happen with us. Why? To win some football matches? To get a f**king promotion?

I think of how the GAA is flourishing like never before because of the massive rise in involvement by our girls and women. How it has created such a vibrant community of equals. And then to hear that such serious allegations were reported to us and nothing was done?

I am a Derry GAA man to the core. It is humiliating to know that this has happened in my name. I spoke to several board members yesterday morning who are equally enraged. They had no idea this had been done. They were unaware of the allegations until they read Nicola's anguished Facebook posts last week.

I am one of the lawyers in the Stardust Inquest, a story of secrets and cover-ups and hoping it would all go away. That disaster occurred on Valentine's Day, 1981, a symphony of sorrowful songs that some hoped would be buried with the dead. But secrets have a habit of coming back to haunt us. Now, they have come back to haunt Derry GAA.

A well written considered piece from Brolly.

[smelmoth]

Brolly's piece is very good in what it does say but it opens up other very big questions.

Earlier in the week many were asking "what" did Derry know. That question is partially answered. We know that they had been alerted to this issue. What else that were told we don't know. But Brolly claims that some officials were informed but elected not to tell others.

This opens up the massive questions of "who" within Derry knew and "why" they did not share this information. After that we can get into how they satisfied themselves that this man should remain in post.

To those officials now impacted by this I would advise them that there is zero chance of this information not coming out. Their best hope is to come forward with it. If it has to be dragged out it will only look worse.

[seafoid]

Just on the match. Derry are extremely disciplined and they like to dictate terms. But they struggle when they lose control. I think this has to be a focus for Armagh who played in D1 during the league. Derry were very comfortable beating Meath and Kildare in D2.

Derry were very dominant in the first half of the all Ireland semi final last year but once Galway started scoring they didn't know what to do. I don't know if Derry have fixed this in the meantime.

I think Armagh have a great chance today if they play to their potential.  Goals are required.

[J70]

Yawn. Is this not the GAA discussion board?

Head on over to the non GAA discussion like a crowd of old biddies and talk sh*te there on it on another thread.

Even an armagh man stirring the pot there above ffs. Hopefully the orangemen are tanked tomorrow and I'm not even a derry man. The players will come out and do their talking on the field. Armagh are chokers, geezer is going to get the road eventually after another trophyless season, the man has been hanging on forever at this stage, any other county would have got rid.

How about you head over to Discord or wherever the other immature teenagers hang out?

[Saffrongael]

I'm not sure the Nicola Gallaghers article will do much for her kids

[seafoid]

Anyone able to paste Joe Brollys piece from today's Independent

Joe Brolly: Why Rory Gallagher had to step down
The protection of three vulnerable children in now everyone's priority


Rory Gallagher — © SPORTSFILE


Rory Gallagher — © SPORTSFILE


Rory Gallagher — © SPORTSFILE


Rory Gallagher — © SPORTSFILE

Joe Brolly
Today at 02:30
I am thinking of three small children. Three small children with their Derry kits folded by their bedsides, wondering why they can't go to the Ulster final. Three small children unaware of the public bloodbath that is to come.
Today, the 1998 Derry Ulster championship winning team is being introduced to the crowd at half-time. Earlier in the week, when it looked as though Rory Gallagher was going to be on the sideline today, the group decided that we would not go through with it. How could we have? Smiling, waving, blowing kisses?

The GAA symbolises our community. It is what we are. When Nicola Gallagher put her harrowing, terrifying story online, Rory had to step down. He has custody of three small children and their protection is all of our priority.

The reason family courts anonymise parents is not to protect the parents. It is to protect the children. Children are the innocent victims of acrimonious break-ups and of outrageous abuses. Sometimes, they experience things that will haunt them forever. The court's objective, insofar as is possible, is to allow them to get on with their lives in a way that causes them the least possible damage. To ensure they are in a settled, secure environment.

​I am devastated to hear these allegations. Worse is the fact that these vulnerable children are now going to hear and see this tragedy being played out so publicly.

I make no judgment on the private lives of the parents. But once this moved from the privacy of the family courts and a confidential PSNI investigation into the public domain, the GAA had no choice but to act.


Rory Gallagher — © SPORTSFILE

In the coming days, the Gallagher family will be a spectator sport. The three children will be frightened and confused by what they hear and see. They will feel all eyes on them and sense that unmistakeable atmosphere of sympathy that usually accompanies a death in the family. There will be no protecting them now.

Nicola, a vulnerable young woman who has obviously suffered terribly, must be given space and support. Most of all, she must be listened to. Those public howls of distress and pain shook us all to the core.

Rory, who has parental responsibility for three vulnerable children, must also be given space and support. In a few weeks, the public will have lost interest. They will be left to pick up the pieces.

​Yesterday morning I was in a quandary about whether to write anything at all for today. Then I got a call from Rodney Edwards, from this paper. He said: "Joe, would you like to comment on the fact that the Derry County Board were notified about these allegations a year ago and yet did nothing?" Rodney, a decent and straightforward journalist, proceeded to read the email that had been sent to the board by Nicola Gallagher's father. I said, "Jesus Christ" and put the phone down.

This was never disclosed to the county board members. I never thought this would happen with us. Why? To win some football matches? To get a f**king promotion?

I think of how the GAA is flourishing like never before because of the massive rise in involvement by our girls and women. How it has created such a vibrant community of equals. And then to hear that such serious allegations were reported to us and nothing was done?

I am a Derry GAA man to the core. It is humiliating to know that this has happened in my name. I spoke to several board members yesterday morning who are equally enraged. They had no idea this had been done. They were unaware of the allegations until they read Nicola's anguished Facebook posts last week.

I am one of the lawyers in the Stardust Inquest, a story of secrets and cover-ups and hoping it would all go away. That disaster occurred on Valentine's Day, 1981, a symphony of sorrowful songs that some hoped would be buried with the dead. But secrets have a habit of coming back to haunt us. Now, they have come back to haunt Derry GAA.

You could say poor risk management but it's not fair that Derry get the rap when Fermanagh and Donegal also had knowledge that was not acted on. The whole thing is poisonous.

[Will it ever end]

Brolly alluding to the fact County Board members were unaware of the email is staggering & better still now seething about this not being addressed - serious questions for Derry County Board

[J70]

Or better still, nicola gallaghers interview

'If my story helps one woman or man then it will have been worth it' – Nicola Gallagher on domestic abuse claims

Estranged wife of GAA manager Rory Gallagher says she thought about ending her life
'The GAA knew about all of this because we told them... but they did nothing'
'I loved him ... when you are living like that, all those difficult moments become normal'

Rodney Edwards
May 13 2023 9:30 PM

Nicola Gallagher sat in front of her computer in her home in Co Fermanagh last Tuesday, looking again at the 478 words she had written on her Facebook page, and knowing that if she hit the "post" button her life would change — for better or for worse, she didn't know.


The post contained serious domestic abuse allegations against her former husband Rory Gallagher, the well-known GAA manager and ex-player.

The accusations relate to a period of more than two decades. Her heart, says the mother-of-three, was racing. She felt it was now or never.

"I sat for ages looking at it on my computer. I kept thinking, 'Will I do it or will I not?' What impact will this have on my children? I had a tightness in my chest, I got really afraid... and then I hit 'post'."

Within minutes her phone started to light up with messages from friends, family, and strangers; almost a week later the post has been "liked" more than 17,000 times.

"The first person to ring me was my aunt who said, 'I am so proud of you, you did the right thing. We have been waiting for that for years'. I was mentally broken, but hearing that settled me," she says.

Nicola says she has been left feeling "humbled" by the response to her post, which has sparked conversations in almost every home, workplace, and sports ground on the island.

"The reaction has been totally overwhelming — I never expected it. I feel so heartened by the response because I'm not the type of person who likes any kind of attention. I'm naturally quite a shy person, I don't use social media. The last time I used Facebook was three or four years ago.

"But the number of messages I have been getting from other women who say my speaking out has helped them means it was worth it. Some say it has helped them to break their own silence."

On Friday night, Rory Gallagher said he was stepping away from his role as Derry GAA's senior football manager, saying the decision was "borne out of a desire to protect my children from the ongoing turmoil. They will always be my priority."​

Sitting on a sofa, Nicola speaks softly but clearly. Her parents, Gerry and Yvonne Rooney, two well-respected business people who own shops on both sides of the Border, look on. Occasionally, her mother is reduced to tears.

"If you hadn't written that Facebook post, what would have happened?" I ask.

"I would be dead, 100pc. I needed to do it — it was my last resort."

Her parents agree: "This has been a long time coming," Gerry says.

"This is your time now, Nicola," Yvonne says.

Nicola is open about her use of alcohol due to what she says was the toxicity of a marriage which ended in September 2019.

Her husband was recently given custody of their three children.

"I have been extremely traumatised," she says. "But you just keep going, you keep going, you keep going, you try to block it out, you tell yourself that it never happened. Then you hit a wall. I turned to alcohol to block it all out.

"I am in recovery now, but it hasn't been easy. This last year has been the toughest of my life. I will not shy away from the fact I have had issues with alcohol, but I have done something about it. I am thankful for the support network I have in my family and in Fermanagh Women's Aid."

Does she think her issues with alcohol, I ask, has resulted in unfair criticism in some quarters over the past few days?

"Yes," she says. "I think it is being used against me. 'Sure, who would believe her?' But the response has been overwhelmingly positive."

One of the more cynical judgments has been over the timing of the post, ahead of today's Ulster final between Derry and Armagh. It has been whispered that she did it to cause disruption.

"No," she says, "I didn't do this out of revenge, or for Rory to lose his job. I did it to share my experience and to help other women and men. I never did it to punish him, I did it to get it off my chest and if it helps one woman or man, then it will have been worth it."

How did she feel when she heard Rory had stepped back from his responsibilities with the team?

"I don't think he had much choice."

She describes a very unhappy, unpleasant marriage and recalls distressing moments, including claims of emotional abuse. She says those memories will "stay with me forever".

But she admits she never felt she could end their marriage.

"I loved him, I try to see the good in everybody. I always wanted for our children what I had as a child. I had a happy, secure childhood; I wanted the same for them. But when you are living like that, all those difficult moments become normal. You get up and get on with it."

In her darker moments, though, she thought about ending her life.

"Yeah, yeah, I did. They were fleeting thoughts — I didn't make plans. But there were times when I felt like going to the pier in Killybegs and jumping off it. The only reason why I wouldn't do anything was because of my children."

The only time in our two-hour conversation that Nicola gets emotional is when she talks about the love she has for her children.

"The children mean everything to me. Sometimes I feel like they are not mine any more, that I have been cut out of their lives. I reared those children when he was off being a superstar with the GAA. For them to be taken away from me really hurts. Every day without them breaks me. They are the first thing I think about in the morning, they are the last thing I think about at night."

In her Facebook post, Nicola cited several incidents she says took place over a 24-year period.

Sources say gardaí are keen to formally investigate the allegations and have attempted to contact Nicola in recent days.

Mr Gallagher was arrested in 2021 but not charged in relation to physical abuse claims against Nicola.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has confirmed it investigated claims of domestic abuse while two files were passed to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) in January and June last year, but it was deemed there was insufficient evidence to proceed.

"When I arrived at Enniskillen police station to make the initial complaint I asked for a female officer and got a male. I was already nervous enough. Then when the PPS rejected my case, I felt hopeless.

"The guards have a dossier of material on this and were trying to get in touch with me again. Previously they asked if I would like to make a statement. I haven't done that before because I was scared."​

Last Thursday, Mr Gallagher issued his first statement in response to what he described as "very serious" allegations, insisting they "have been investigated and dealt with by the relevant authorities".

"Our marriage broke down over four years ago. Those closest to our family are aware of the reasons for the breakdown of our marriage and the continued issues we have faced since that time. My focus over the past four years has been to protect our children from the ongoing turmoil in our family," he said.

How, I ask Nicola, did she feel when she read that?

"Rory's statement was exactly what I had expected. In my view, it was aimed to shame me," she says.

"It was quite cowardly, I thought, but not surprising."

The GAA has made a number of statements about domestic abuse.

Brian McAvoy, the Ulster GAA chief executive, said last week: "While we cannot comment or make judgment on any specific allegation or allegations, Ulster GAA does not condone any form of domestic violence.

"We are proud to have joined with White Ribbon NI in pledging to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women.

"We encourage and support anyone who has been a victim of such abuse not to suffer in silence but to avail of the statutory and voluntary support services that are available in the community."

But for Nicola, "words from the GAA are not enough".

She says the organisation was informed about her allegations against Mr Gallagher "but did nothing".

"They are just words; their actions speak differently. The GAA knew about all of this, 100pc, and the county boards of Fermanagh and Derry knew — because we told them. There were senior members of the GAA who knew what was going on, there are incidents that took place at GAA events. It was a well-known fact.

"I remember seeing their campaign about referees being abused and phoning GAA HQ, the response was, 'What do you want me to do about it?' I feel like they don't want to know. It is a joke. The family also raised their concerns with the Fermanagh County Board and told them too," Nicola says.​

An email, seen by the Sunday Independent, including claims against Mr Gallagher, was sent to the management of Derry GAA on May 25 last year by Nicola's father.

He did not receive a reply.

Derry GAA would not comment yesterday when asked why it did not act once the complaint was received. It referred this newspaper to its previous statement, in which it said it "condemns all forms of domestic violence", and to Mr Gallagher's earlier statement.

Nicola says she has been contacted by "other women who are experiencing the same thing and are too scared to come out in case they are not believed."

"I feel let down by all these institutions — the PSNI, the PPS, the Western Health and Social Care Trust, the GAA. I feel for anyone who is suffering as I have. How are they going to come forward? I had to write a post on Facebook because I was at the end of the line. I didn't want to have to do that."

As she reflects on the past week, she says it has been a "turning point" in her life.

"I have kept all this buried, so to be finally free of it, I feel a lot lighter."

But she also feels, she says, "a little scared".

Of what?

"Of speaking out and what might happen because of that. But I am proud that I have been able to talk about my experiences publicly and the love I have for my children.

"I will not be silent any more."

Women's Aid – freephone 1800 341 900, 24hrs Men's Aid – phone (01) 554 3811, Mon–Fri 9am–5pm Samaritans – freephone 116 123, 24hrs

[Derryman forever]

I never thought this was an easy game .
Was always going yo be close.
But a professional team with all their expertise and back room would struggle to stay focused.  I really can't see my neighbours young sons and brothers being able to play undistracted by it all. And we should never forget yhat this is what ghe GAA is about. I come to this platform to talk GAA, and really all the other unsavoury stuff should  be on another thread.
I have no doubts as to the veracity of Mrs Gallaghers wife..
I think Rory should have been exposed sooner.