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I know there is a GPA scam thread but this is something different in fairness.

They are talking about all the pressures 3rd level players face and how it stops them with work and puts them under the kosh for study...

Now, one thing jumped out - 62% say county managers cause most pressure during college.

But, when you hear the GPA talking on this and since the beginning they will have a go at the Croke Park dinosaurs and all the admin lads, but rarely have a go at the biggest issue in GAA - highly paid county managers.

Jarlath Burns isn't ringing lads around the country to get them up at 6am for pre-work sessions! I'd argue that the split season has more to do with county managers than anything.

In Kildare Geezer got the boot from the clubs because he would never release players. There would be lads rotting on a bench and they still wouldn't be let go to play a match.

It really bothers me that they won't square the blame on the people who demand the most of the players, while also helping themselves to a fair few quid. It's all a big dance around it.

May as well start a thread on this...also to look at what we are doing overall...

Donal Óg seems to be on his soap box every year. Last year it was a plea for more oxygen for hurling. Saying it was dying out and not getting enough covereage. Meanwhile Westmeath hurlers were getting mobbed by kids on the field after big games and barely getting a minute on TV.

He only seems to have an issue if the Munter Games are not for all to see and celebrate.

This is decent on it - https://www.irishnews.com/sport/gaafootball/2023/05/08/news/cahair_o_kane_we_re_not_ready_for_gaago_and_it_isn_t_ready_for_us-3263329/

The notion that it was all going to roll out as one in the first full year was not thought through.

I think it all feeds into a lot of the things we discuss here in terms of promoting the game. Kildare's championship draws were made on Friday and there was not even a tweet or an update...so many county managers don't allow players to even speak to the media and then kids have millions of resources and cool clips about other sports stars.

The split season won't lose their interest as they don't have anything to be interested in. Anyway you would argue that keeping them fit and healthy, having fun playing is more important.

Sure we may get the ball rolling. The Dubs will want to steamroll everyone so it'll be a right scrap for the 2nd spot.

Derry will be favourtes to get it. A lot will depend on how Meath and Cork can build. From a Kildare perspective I'd worry about where we are at. No clue of how we are fixed...

What are the feelings in the other counties?

Apologies if there is a La Liga thread from back in the day...but how in the name of Jaysus do Barca think what they are doing is OK? And their fans are attacking anyone writing or talking about the shitshow.

I'll nail my colours to the mast here and say I always hatred them, even when they were at their peak. Messi raking it in and not paying tax, Mes Que Un Club BS too!

What is the worst is how they are allowing certain players become open targets for fans and their fanatic media. Lads who are owed money and taken wage cuts getting dogs abuse.

If anyone has anyone at home into Minecraft this is something of interest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=468&v=vE2X0PgoeAA

First I will admit I am not a LOI head but I do watch games when they are on telly and am thinking of jumping on the Shels and Duffer bandwagon next year.

But, I have an unnatural dislike of Bohs...like it's all window dressing and how amazing they are.

Like all the club poet, walking tour and biodiversity officer stuff and then they claim that the few idiots attacking Pats fans were nothing to do with them. Likewise some of the chanting they disowned during the year but no-one seems to have been dealt with.

They are an Instagram club to me. Like all the talk of the amazing club and all the community work but they seem to ignore the football side of things.

Are there Bohs fans on here? I should like them as I do indulge in aul hipster shite myself from time to time but I just can't take them..

Overall will Rovers do it again? Shels must have a few quid promised for players to Duff too...

If anyone wants to share this around within the clubs it's a decent bit of fun for any kids who are GAA mad.

https://www.rte.ie/learn/2021/0701/1232523-win-with-rtejr-and-the-gaelic-players-association/

Hi all,

not directly connected to this but I know some helped make this new doc series on RTÉ Player.

Really good stuff to share in any clubs. Features Ray Connellan from Westmeath and Lorcán McMullan who was in with Dub hurlers.

I just hope it's not geoblocked as it's really good stuff for young lads especially.

https://www.rte.ie/learn/senior-cycle/2021/0506/1214217-im-fine-rte-player-mental-health/

Just to let people know and again I hope it's not geoblocked.

Hi lads.

Apologies if this is a bit left field, but a kids GAA TV show is looking for girls around U12/13/ 14 who have dropped out of sport to get them back into it.
They are looking for 5 girls as the main characters who would have dropped out. They will need to be in or around Dublin to cut down on travel.

It's not a full on sports sports show, as the main thing is for the kids to have fun. It's through Ladies Football, but the kids can have never played it before or have stopped in sport full stop.

So, if there any daughters, nieces or whatever that spring to mind email: keepitupgaa@gmail.com

Lads not sure if you had seen Pearse Doherty taking apart the insurance firms this week, but he really showed them up with their false claims.
Then you have an article saying that the High Court awarded 19% less in 2018 compared to 2017 in personal claims.
ALL the while the premiums are through the roof.

I am lving in Dublin a good while, no need for a car, but one is on offer but I got quoted nearly 3K as a 'new driver'...thought it was harsh as I haven't had my own policy in years but chatting people it seems plenty coming home from Oz and the likes are getting screwed.

Are there any decent operators out there? Is there any hope for reasonable prices.
I know this forum has a lot of Ulster men, so what kind of prices are ye looking at?

Hi all.
This is an unusual one, but would anyone have any ideas where I could buy ten pairs of kids football boots.
They won't ever be worn as they are just needed as props.

Any decent quality second hand pairs even...

Just wondering has anyone seen or, more to the point read this?

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/columnists/the-founding-principle-of-the-gaa-has-been-increasingly-neglected-899984.html

I know we see on Twitter the talk of Croke Park 'suits' and those same suits tend to be heavily involved locally, or have given years of volunteer service to the GAA as they will often point out...BUT then how can they stand over some of the moves like the ticket increase.
Saying it is for the benefit of the grounds and so on, when clubs face levies anyway for projects. Let the extra few quid stay in the membership's pockets and they will be the ones looking after the clubs a lot of the time anyway.
In every club the same few are tapped up all the time, so I don't see the need to raise any prices, in fact there should have been a freeze. The accounts are in rude health centrally after all.

This just released...
Ryan Tubridy - €495,000
Ray D'Arcy - €450,000
Joe Duffy - €398,000
Sean O'Rourke - €308,964
Marian Finucane - €300,167
Miriam O'Callaghan - €299,000
Claire Byrne - €216,000
Bryan Dobson - €198,600
George Hamilton - €186,195
Mary Wilson - €185,679

I am all for talent getting rewarded but can I ask who is going to try to poach anyone there? Marian coughs her way through two chats a week.
Even more amazed that George Hamilton, who I like, is on that. What does he actually do??

There needs to be a clear-out and a new generation on 50% less brought in.

Lads,

just wondering what the situation is with grants in terms of solar or any other smaller renewables in terms of a club.
In a connected one, is it possible for a club to have a herd no?

Just wondering have any clubs gone down the solar/ wind route...

https://twitter.com/Lime_Light_Comm/status/1037358833407066112

https://give.everydayhero.com/ie/the-bucket-list-project

If anyone had a tenner to spare on this could you share and support this.

Five OAPs are getting personal tattoos this Sunday in aid of the charity Alone.

I see Michael Foley and Christy O'Connor have updated their study from a few years ago.
Money isn't as high but there are still lots paying nice chunks of change to lads from outside.

http://www.offtheball.com/podcasts/GAA_on_Off_The_Ball/GAA_on_Off_The_Ball/59006/The_Price_of_GAA_Club_Success

Just looking in Kildare there seems to be a trend for more homegrown and when you see a 32-year-old in-house man in the form of Ross Glavin win a Leinster Club with Moorefield it might focus the minds a bit.
We have a good spread of counties on here and, it is that time of year, so how is it with your club. Are there lads being brought in or are funds being watched more than Celtic Tiger times?

Surprised there isn't something on this, but here is a link to the GAA sleepout on December 16th.
Fair play to the core group who seem to have started it mostly off their own bat.

https://www.gaelicvoicesforchange.com/

If anyone is interested in going to the RTE quiz show Know the Score on Wednesday 25th October please email ann@loosehorse.ie .

Show records at 2.30 and 6.30pm. John O'Shea on the 2.30 show.

Just on the back of yet another homeless summit I was just wondering what are the thoughts here. There are so many layers to all this.
First up from my point of view as someone who is early 30s and always rented in Dublin myself and my mates can't get mortgages in general, despite many working in decent jobs.
They are also all getting rent increases with one mate in particular told her tenancy was up due to a brother coming back from Oz only to see her place up on Daft a month later with an increase of €350. This all causes a trickle down effect as the people with jobs end up moving into crappier places for the same price.
Then those who lived there downgrade and in the end those who were struggling in bed sits (studios) end up being totally priced out.

I know it all gets lumped in as one but the roygh sleepers often need real support to get their lives back on track but those who are being squeezed just need rent certainty and more units to come online. For the life of me I don't understand this aversion of going up in areas like the docklands that have no heritage buildings and a blank canvass. Any time people on radio or TV mention high rise the Ballymun flats get brought up. In this case let developers build and cater for the higher-end professionals who are happy to buy or pa decent rent.
Build up and provide places for all the Google and Facebook heads for example. This might help to stop that trickle down.

Obviously there also needs to be a Govt will and there really doesn't seem to be. They need to be pushing through emergency measures and getting a major building scheme going, or at least cut the red tape to allow social housing to be built.
Co-ops are one way to help and would be a really great addition in the housing sector, but there doesn't seem to be many.

Excuse my ignorance but what is the situation like in the north of the island?

I know there is a hurling forum but this is more of an observation. This year the Camogie final seems to be getting lost in terms of exposure or build-up.
Being nestled between the hurling and men's football meant it always had only a small window but this year Galway v Waterford were a new pairing and either winner's celebrations would eat a lot more into their build-up.
Then Mayo v Dublin are going head to head in both football finals. Cora Staunton helped topple the best ladies team ever in Cork plus the Dubs actually have a film crew with them all year and are very media savvy.
It just struck me, as I said, that the Camogie seems utterly lost this year.