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Couldn't find a thread on this so just wanted to gauge opinions on it.

I see Derry have announced they're heading off to the sun and we know Kerry/Cork/Dublin are all heading off for a while and Donegal were in Tenerife in December, are there any more doing it?

Seems to be something the top teams are doing for the last while but there's definitely a few eyebrows raised in Derry as to whether the money could be better spent throughout the county.

Personally I think that's what the top teams are doing and having 24hours across a few days with the team gives an opportunity to get a huge amount of tactical work done especially the way the game is now.

Who is paying for it is what it comes down to really I suppose.

Think it's a toss up at this stage. A lot will depend on Galway injuries and any suspensions that might come their way!

Just thought we needed a thread to keep up with who's been cancelled now... I've only been following closely the last 2 weeks

At the minute I have:

Jk Rowling
Joe Rogan

Is there anyone else I'm missing?

Has there been one???

What the f**k do all the suits in Croke Park get paid for if not for moments like this??!!

Listened to that absolute clampit horrible excuse for a journalist Ben Lowry talk about how QUB ... named after the Queen with a British War memorial and a hall named after a UUP politician and a Tory... is now a supposed cold house for Unionists because them bloody Catholics are wearing their GAA jerseys.

It would be laughable if it wasn't true!! f**k me!!

Maybe... and I mean MAYBE the 1916 commemoration jersey could be an issue but seriously they need to wise the f**k up.

Obvs Nolan is stirring this particular pot as per usual!!

If you're born in the North you're a Brit... deal with it!!

People born in Northern Ireland remain British citizens according to the law, even if they identify as Irish, tribunal judges have determined.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-50041729

Anybody at it?? From comments on twitter and a brief video there looked to be a very nasty fight in the middle of it but supposedly a crazy entertaining game!!

Pretty major storyline in the UK with Cambridge Analytica being caught out offering dirty tricks to poltical campaigns as well as the fact they've harvested 50m odd Facebook accounts House of Cards style to offer a "hopes and fears" PR service to persuade voters to elect wannabe tyrants.

Facebook have lost 7% of their value today ($36bn) with potentially more losses to come with an ICO investigation of both companies...

Interesting times!

Oh and of course Cambridge Analytica we're heavily involved with both Trump and Brexit campaigns!

Just listened to the audio of Sopel and Humphrys discussing Carrie Gracie's resignation and the fact they should both have their salaries reduced so that there can be parity between genders in the BBC.

Also Ewan MacKenna saying that in a capitalist society sportswomen can't demand to be paid the same as men because male sports bring in more money and that's life.

I know we haven't many women on the board but just wanted to gauge opinion on it.

Personally I have no issue with women getting paid the same as men for the same position or more if they're performing better than their male counterparts. It's not quite as simple as that though unfortunately but would be interesting to hear an alternative view or even employers who have had to face the issue?

It could descend into madness but hopefully not!

http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/wild-celebrations-involving-strippers-after-11408110

We missed a hell of a night lads!!!

Astounding!!!

Many people have said this type of thing would never happen but this is just the start!! Really can't believe lads are withdrawing from their club for a match a week away. Crazy crazy situation!!

http://www.the42.ie/dublin-u21-football-2-3348651-Apr2017/

I've been doing a bit of reading up about this recently but with the Ashley Maddison details being made public on the far web I thought I would put up a discussion for it.

Does anyone here use it?? I presume it can be used for good rather than the underhand things you hear about such as the terrorism/paedophilia/drugs/guns/assasinations.

I always thought that there was some kind of forum for such things on the internet but the whole dark web thing is an intriguing concept.

Has anyone any insight into it or do they use it for anything at all??

Galway favourites for this one which surprises me. I'd be confident enough against them though as we've put 2 decent performances back to back and I think the fact we will be away will provide the necessary motivation for the lads. Am I right in saying we play the winners of Tipperary v Tyrone?

Anyway I'd love to head down to it but have a wedding on Saturday which means I'll miss it on TV as well!! I think it should be a decent game though and I'd have us slight favourites if we're at ourselves and have a decent attacking plan with pace and purpose!!

Sounds promising:

http://ulster.gaa.ie/2014/11/ulster-gaa-announces-unique-healthcare-partnership-with-3fivetwo/

Ulster GAA today announced a historic healthcare partnership which will see top Northern Ireland private medical group 3fivetwo provide a range of health services for 90,000 players and 250,000 members across nine counties.

It's the first deal between a healthcare provider and a governing body like the GAA, which is the largest sports organisation in the province, and ensures that players and members are appropriately supported both on and off the pitch.

3fivetwo will offer private casualty, scans, physiotherapy, surgery, dental and physiotherapy services through Kingsbridge Private Hospital – just 1.5 miles from Casement Park in Belfast – attended by sports injury specialists.

"This is a very good agreement" said Danny Murphy, Ulster GAA CEO. "Our medical costs are significant and this partnership gives players the best possible healthcare package for spend with the added bonus of supporting a local business.

"On a practical basis, it means an injured player can click onwww.gaahealthhub.com for the options available to them or go straight to casualty at Kingsbridge for diagnosis by a top specialist, speedily followed up by whatever treatment or surgery is required.

"This is not an exclusive deal – Clubs and Counties can still go to whoever they wish- however, this is a competitive option with fixed costs for all procedures from a company which supports the GAA with an exclusive reduction on their services list, sponsorship for Ulster GAA's health and Players Academy programmes, and a set rate first aid and defibrillation courses."

Mark Regan, Development Director of 3fivetwo Group, said: "Having been the home of the National Sports Clinic in Ireland for the last 18 months, this deal offers us the opportunity to align the ethos of the GAA welfare with medical rehabilitation services.

"Our doctors at Kingsbridge are able to assess and diagnose a wide variety of sports related injuries and, in conjunction with our state-of-the-art diagnostics network, offer appropriate solutions onsite or at the home club, providing seamless integration of medical expertise from acute care through to surgery and rehabilitation.

"Should surgical intervention be required, we can also refer them to the relevant consultant at our own five star hospital here in Belfast, where they can be operated on very quickly in one of our fully equipped theatres and, if required, stay overnight in one of our 16 contemporary ensuite rooms with TV's and Wifi access.

"Alternatively, if it is a day procedure, they will be treated in the state of the art day procedure suite, which is furnished with the latest in C-arm x-ray technology allowing guided injection of analgesics (pain killers) into troublesome joints such as the knee shoulder or spine."

Regional trauma dental coverage through the Group's Dental Excellence arm is also available in Down, Derry, Armagh and Antrim, along with bespoke mouth guards which can be branded in county or club colours.

3fivetwo also offer CPR and Automated External Defibrillation (AED) and Sports Specific First Aid training on site or at a specialist training facility.

Players and members can go to www.gaahealthhub.com to find out exactly what offerings this new medical partnership with Ulster GAA and 3fivetwo Group has to offer.

It's a bit sketchy with the important information. . . how much will regular GAA medical conditions cost and can they offer a significant saving compared to what's already out there? I know our club has paid out a lot of money for cruciate ligament injuries given that the GAA scheme doesn't cover all expenses associated with it.

Big controversy in Derry over the County Final on Sunday which has thrown up a bit of ambiguity in the playing rules (Hard to believe I know).

Just thought I'd open it out to the whole board to gauge opinion on it. It caused quite a stir at the time and Social Media has been going a bit mad around here since.

What do we reckon??

Huge blow for Donegal... Where do they go from here??

Hard to see themselves or Mayo in the mix next year now with their spiritual leaders gone!!

Well??

Not something I normally do but I've a mate in need!! He's entered a competition for him and the Missus to get a free weekend away and it's coming down to the wire and it's now a 2 horse race.It only takes 30 seconds and has to be done from Facebook:

http://bit.ly/1lAFVgR

VOTE FOR PAUL

You can vote once every 24 hours and voting closes on Friday noon . . .

Thanks folks!!

I have to say after our performance against the All Black's I'm really looking forward to this 6 Nations. A creative coach who wants to play an fast expansive game should help us I think and given Wales' injury woes and the fact England are looking solid but not spectacular and the French being piss poor this last few years should give us a decent chance.

Slightly worried about the Leinster bias in the squad for the first 2 games though... Surely Gilroy and Zebo were worth a shout even at the expense of Trimble!

Leinster: 18
Ulster: 8
Munster: 5
Connacht: 1
Racing Metro: 1
Cardiff Blues: 1


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/25912352

Ireland's 34-man squad to play Scotland and Wales: Forwards: Rory Best (Ulster), Robin Copeland (Cardiff Blues)*, Sean Cronin (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Chris Henry (Ulster), Mike McCarthy (Leinster), Jack McGrath (Leinster), Martin Moore (Leinster)*, Jordi Murphy (Leinster)*, Paul O'Connell (Munster), Tommy O'Donnell (Munster), Peter O'Mahony (Munster), Mike Ross (Leinster), Rhys Ruddock (Leinster), Devin Toner (Leinster), Dan Tuohy (Ulster).

Backs: Darren Cave (Ulster), Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster), Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Connacht), Paddy Jackson (Ulster), Felix Jones (Munster), Rob Kearney (Leinster), David Kearney (Leinster), Ian Madigan (Leinster), Luke Marshall (Ulster), Fergus McFadden (Leinster), Conor Murray (Munster), Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92), Andrew Trimble (Ulster).

* denotes uncapped player

Censorship alive and well in Newtownabbey . . . The DUP not exactly covering themselves in glory the last few weeks/months!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-25860816

Newtownabbey theatre: Bible play cancelled after council row

A play that was due to open in the Theatre at the Mill in Newtownabbey, County Antrim, has been cancelled, following claims it was blasphemous.

The Bible: The Complete Word of God (Abridged) was due to open on Wednesday, 29 January, for two nights.

Some councillors had called for the show, presented by the Reduced Shakespeare Company, to be stopped.

A notice on the theatre's website said the show had been cancelled and apologised for any inconvenience.

There was heated discussion at Newtownabbey Council's policy and governance committee on Monday.
'Great regret'

It had been due for discussion at the council's monthly meeting next Monday when opponents were to make a final attempt to have the play pulled.

However, in a statement on Thursday, Newtownabbey Borough Council said: "The council's artistic board held an away day on Wednesday 22 January 2014, to plan and develop a strategy for the council's future arts programme.

"During the day, next week's performance of The Bible: The Complete Word of God (Abridged) was discussed by the board.

"Subsequently, the chair of the council's artistic board, Councillor Billy Webb, has written to the council's chief executive, to confirm that with great regret, the board has taken the decision to cancel next week's production.

"In taking this decision, the board wishes to confirm its commitment to deliver on the agreed council's artistic policy to deliver the highest quality performing arts programme, offering a diverse, socially relevant and enriching experience to as many citizens as possible."

Sinn Féin councillor Gerry O'Reilly described the decision to cancel the play as the "worse type of censorship".

"This is clearly an example of certain councillors forcing their religious views onto everyone else in the constituency," he said.

"What the councillors are basically saying is that they can dictate what type of dramas people can view."

NI21 leader Basil McCrea said: "This is a very regrettable decision - there are certain basic rights which modern western democracies guarantee for their citizens.

"One is freedom of religion and another is freedom of speech."