The story of the GAA is largely one of success, there is however one area in which it has monumentally failed. The stated aims of our founders, which are still contained within our constitution, include a committment to promote the ancient game of Rounders. I am not aware of any current Rounders competitions, i do not know anyone who plays the game, apart from children inthe school-yard, have never heard this sport mentioned in any GAA forum, so why do we persist with this patently absurd pretention. What led the founding fathers to consider it a national sport worth preserving, was there just too much strong drink taken in Hayes Hotel.
I think there is a move somewhere to promote rounders again. As long as it doesn't end up going round in circles?
It's regrettable that the GAA doesn't seem to bat an eyelid where the promotion of rounders is concerned.
NKAB are we going to start this again??? ;D
No Charlie you're out with this one.
Got this from gaa.ie:
Rounders is one of the four official GAA sports. Along with Gaelic Football, Hurling and Handball, Rounders was included in the original GAA charter back in 1884. Rounders is a bat and ball game and is not that dis-similar to baseball. Indeed it is now generally accepted that Baseball is derived from Rounders in some form or other, as it has been played in this islands for a couple of hundred years now and was probably brought over to America by the early settlers.Rounders can and is played by all age groups, from National school children all the way up to and including senior level. There are also mixed teams, and both boys and girls, men and women can play on the same team. As Rounders is a limited contact sport it is perfect for both recreational and competitive play. It also draws on a different set of skills than the conventional GAA games and is very good for developing hand eye coordination.
Rounders is played all over the country and is strongest in counties Carlow, Cavan, Derry, Dublin, Laois, Limerick, Mayo, Monaghan and Wexford. It is played extensively in Nationals Schools and is also one of the sports promoted by The Community Games.
The Rounders Council of Ireland (Comhairle Cluiche Corr na hEireann), are based in Croke Park, and further information called be found at rounders.gaa.ie
I'd be more concerned about the shoddy promotion of handball, especially the bullying tactics used by Croke park over the building at the back of the Cusack Stand
QuoteAs Rounders is a limited contact sport it is perfect for both recreational and competitive play
Hold on maybe we could take on the aussies at this? Any thoughts?
QuoteThere are also mixed teams, ........ men and women can play on the same team
This is getting interesting. Pity it's a limited contact sport though :(
Rounders strong in Monaghan???
Dunno about that. As a Monaghan native I can't say I'm aware of anywhere it's played there.
I'm sure it's like touch rugby NKAB. I played on a mixed touch team and heaven forbid a stray hand went somewhere it shouldn't. ;)
QuoteIndeed it is now generally accepted that Baseball is derived from Rounders in some form or other, as it has been played in this islands for a couple of hundred years now and was probably brought over to America by the early settlers
Don't you just love that. We started baseball. Wonder what Babe Ruth thought of that. Maybe that cricket theory was right after all. Please accept my apologies for all the puns.
QuoteAll Star Banquet
06/11/2006
The 2006 group of Rounders All Stars will receive their awards at a dinner in Longford Slashers Gaelic Athletic Club, in Longford town, on Saturday 18/11/2006. There are still some tickets available, and these can be purchased at 35 Euroes each
There you go Pan. probably stuffed with people from Carlow, Cavan, Derry, Dublin, Laois, Limerick, Mayo, Monaghan??? and Wexford. I knew it was on the horizon somewhere and I think there will be grants soon to promote it soon. Anybody out there who was at this banquet/ What was it like etc?
Quote2008 season to be a memorable year in the GAA Calender. Rounders units are expected to celebrate the Golden Jubilee year, fifty years from the first official modern GAA Rounders match. Ideas for commorative events to be sent to Rúnaí, Comhairle Cluiche Corr, Páirc an Chrócaigh.
In for a busy year in 2007 preparing for the golden Jubilee.
I always thought rounders was originally an English game?
I played it in England as a kid, never seen or heard of it here though (Ireland)...
ah sure i played it in college for a while, ( well there was some very tasty ladies attending at the time) its abit of fun anyway.
I always thought baseball was originally an American game Lynchboy?
Quote from: never kickt a ball on December 01, 2006, 02:37:00 AM
QuoteIndeed it is now generally accepted that Baseball is derived from Rounders in some form or other, as it has been played in this islands for a couple of hundred years now and was probably brought over to America by the early settlers
Don't you just love that. We started baseball. Wonder what Babe Ruth thought of that. Maybe that cricket theory was right after all. Please accept my apologies for all the puns.
In fairness lots of irish lads went over and made a name for themselves in baseball.
Mickey "The Mick" Mantel was 1st generation irish.
lost a County Final in Rounders for Ballyhaise/Castletara when i was in 6th class in St Marys National School Ballyhaise.... Under 12's...
The Girls under 12's and Under`14's won their county finals though and got to compete in Ulster...
Its something id have probably played on if the competitions had been in place...Theres only senior mens and womens after those lower age groups.
Cheers Bally that puts it in perspective. Do you think this new drive by the GAA will help or has anyone heard any talk about it?
Quote from: Mayo4Sam on December 01, 2006, 09:46:26 AM
Quote from: never kickt a ball on December 01, 2006, 02:37:00 AM
QuoteIndeed it is now generally accepted that Baseball is derived from Rounders in some form or other, as it has been played in this islands for a couple of hundred years now and was probably brought over to America by the early settlers
Don't you just love that. We started baseball. Wonder what Babe Ruth thought of that. Maybe that cricket theory was right after all. Please accept my apologies for all the puns.
In fairness lots of irish lads went over and made a name for themselves in baseball.
Mickey "The Mick" Mantel was 1st generation irish.
Mickey Mantle had no Irish connections. He was from Oklahoma. Very few Irish born players ever played pro baseball, those that did were in the 19th century and moved to the States as children. Softball is almost the exact same as the Irish version of rounders. The only real difference is in Irish rounders the ball used is a sliothar. English rounders and our version of the game are very different indeed although international games have been played.
Americans were led to believe that a guy called Abner Doubleday, from Cooperstown NY, where the baseball hall of fame is located, was the inventor of baseball. It was Americas pasttime and therefore had to have been an American invention. However, games like baseball have been played in Europe for centuries. The earliest know reference to the game is in some German manuscript from the middle ages. In fact the game was called Baseball in England even before the English had colonies in North America. As far as I know there are variations of the game played in Romania, Finland, Ireland and England.
Even though there are very little differences between rounders and softball, the American game is now more popular in Ireland than our own version.
Nice one cool. A bit more balanced and detailed than the GAA's general acceptance that baseball
Quoteis derived from Rounders in some form or other, as it has been played in this islands for a couple of hundred years now and was probably brought over to America by the early settlers
Quote from: never kickt a ball on December 01, 2006, 04:28:39 PM
Cheers Bally that puts it in perspective. Do you think this new drive by the GAA will help or has anyone heard any talk about it?
Im sure it will help,Teams from under 14(16,18 and minor) up to senior need to be set up,there were only ever 3 or 4 clubs in the county that played it,but those clubs more or often not won the Ulster Title and went on to compete and win the All-Irelands...wouldnt mind going back to play it at all..if a senior mens team was set up in Ballyhaise in future....