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GAA Discussion => Local GAA Discussion => Antrim => Topic started by: Belfast GAA man on February 17, 2017, 09:44:25 PM

Title: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Belfast GAA man on February 17, 2017, 09:44:25 PM
Anyone worried at the state of the GAA Belfast?

- Colin Gaels field no boys team in hurling and football
- McDermotts has folded 3 or4 years ago
- Dwyers has no teams
- St Agnes/Eire Og/ Lisburn are amalgamated at juvenile level to field
- St Teresas & Davitts aren't fielding at u16 and minor

Many clubs are also struggling with only one pitch unlike many south west clubs who have 2 pitches....
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Belfast GAA man on February 17, 2017, 10:24:57 PM
The point is that the overall player numbers/clubs is down over the last decade and no new clubs are emerging - Colin Gaels is in a highly populated area and it's disappointing not to see a new strong club emerge
St Enda's, a North Belfast club, moved to North Antrim for hurling and South West Antrim for football some years ago due to a lack of games in Belfast
My own take is that we as an organisation are spending, and I know this is heresy to say, too much money & time on coaching and not enough time on proper fixturing. Teams are training for 7/8 months and only getting 10 or 12 games and hence players walk away....

Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: BrendanAntrim on February 17, 2017, 10:39:18 PM
Well when we provide U16s footballers with an 8 game league - 8 games - that's just not good enough Soccer by contrast is able to provide 20 games in a row, without fail, every Saturday am.

If we can't get more than 5 teams to enter Div 1 U16 football in south Antrim, then its time to move to all county.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: delgany on February 17, 2017, 10:48:34 PM
Agree with brendan ....some serious big clubs opting out of div 1 u16 ..can't deal with competition.
This has a negative impact on junior clubs underage teams. They are trying to compete in an uneven playing field. Players drift away due to one side nature of games in S A . (Or they move to super clubs ! )    this is wrong .
In SW your league position is determined by how your  team did two years previously.
I think a 3 grade u16 all county league is the way to improve..player sustainability .
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Galer on February 17, 2017, 11:00:02 PM
Did anyone ever try to copy the dublin clubs model?south west teams have 2 pitches because they put massive amounts of work in. Are ckubs in belfast doin enough?i dont think it.playing the blame game?leaving it to schools to do the work? I understand facilities are a big factor and room for expansion isnt really feasible but generally when enough people put there shoulder to the wheel through hard work and positivity things improve.if your club is in bother why not approach a dublin club to view there model and how they got the players back.i read that burren went to dublin to see how one club operated.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Galer on February 17, 2017, 11:13:14 PM
Well hs i know portglenone had a draw that raised over 3 now i dont know abt u but at 20 a pop thats some door knockin.all the clubs in the south west,derry and tyrone fundraise in this manner maybe we wouldnt b as slick as the sars lads
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: paddyjohn on February 17, 2017, 11:34:18 PM
Quote from: hardstation on February 17, 2017, 11:18:26 PM
I know all about it. I had Trillick at my door the other night.
They'd be doing well to buy a pitch in Belfast mind you.

Anyway, is money the reason for difficulties in Belfast GAA?
Also, is Antrim a quare spot for GAA with Belfast lagging behind?

Trillick selling tickets in the city?

Has this subject not been discussed before on here?
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Milltown Row2 on February 18, 2017, 12:18:17 AM
Quote from: Galer on February 17, 2017, 11:00:02 PM
Did anyone ever try to copy the dublin clubs model?south west teams have 2 pitches because they put massive amounts of work in. Are ckubs in belfast doin enough?i dont think it.playing the blame game?leaving it to schools to do the work? I understand facilities are a big factor and room for expansion isnt really feasible but generally when enough people put there shoulder to the wheel through hard work and positivity things improve.if your club is in bother why not approach a dublin club to view there model and how they got the players back.i read that burren went to dublin to see how one club operated.

Jesus lad, facilities are great but if you've no team to use them then what's the point?? We've had 2 pitches for donkeys years, it's how you develop your kids that makes a difference... for a lot of teams to build facilities in Belfast will cost a hell of a lot more than it does up the country...

St Theresa's have two pitches but struggle Sarsfields have great facilities too and they ain't setting things on fire
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: JimStynes on February 18, 2017, 10:20:08 AM
More coaching is needed in the schools. All over the county. Starting at foundation and KS1. The county coaches like Paul Doc are flat out and need more help!
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Dreen on February 18, 2017, 11:34:30 AM
I think schools coaching is a minimal part of it. You can get kids playing the game but it's all about clubs developing them.
IMO clubs need more volunteers to run them correctly thus providing the platform for they players they have. The top clubs are well structured and have plenty of help in coaching/administration/ fundraising/ facilities. Some clubs have the same people doing everything and no matter how good the person is, if you spread yourself too thin you lose the taste.
Getting coaches into schools will not sort this and this is a problem in the whole of Antrim not just Belfast.

Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Belfast GAA man on February 18, 2017, 01:54:31 PM
Since a started this debate last night there have been a number of quality contributions

- A 5 team Div 1 league in SA giving only 8 matches is shocking! The SA board can't control who enters the competition but when they saw the entrants surely they must have thought we better do something here ...hook up with SW, All county etc - anyone know if they tried to find a solution?
- Belfast clubs lack off facilities - St Johns,St Pauls, Sarsfields, Rossa are all land locked with no room to expand and with no land its harder to get a plan together. Having another pitch at another venue isn't ideal but that is the road these clubs have to go down unless at county level some council pitches can be acquired for solely GAA use thinking of Boucher / Falls Park / Woodlands but these type of proposal need county board involvement and leadership

There is no one solution for the worrying signs in Belfast / SA (SW won the minor, u21, junior, intermediate, senior football championship last year) but the county board seem to be focused on Casement and the count Hurling scene in all public statements....
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Dreen on February 18, 2017, 04:09:09 PM
Clubs in Belfast have to address that themselves when it comes to not winning any championships last year. It's not as if the county board is promoting football in the south west and that success was not all about pitches and development. City teams having as much access to gym/4g as country clubs.

As for all county underage leagues, it's difficult. I know from our experience our minors had a couple of seasons with very few games with some clubs not travelling out of the city on a Tuesday night. I can totally understand why, it's hard to get long distance games in midweek for teams in the county.

Start with the club structures and the rest will come and in my opinion either revamp the development squads or get rid of them completely. 
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Galer on February 19, 2017, 12:13:56 AM
My arguement is not about having to prices it is about ur club members pushing on and working hard to be as successful as they can.sw clubs who have a far smaller pick work very hard to sustain and grow there clubs(not saying indivuals dont do it in belfast) but its seems that sw put more into there coaching.yes there is the parish side but in belfast if ur da plays and his da is that not tradition enough to get the young boy out.seems such people in belfast would rather be seen on county boards rather than go and coach an 8 year old(eg ccc)
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: StGallsGAA on February 19, 2017, 10:50:07 AM
Quote from: Belfast GAA man on February 17, 2017, 09:44:25 PM
Anyone worried at the state of the GAA Belfast?

- Colin Gaels field no boys team in hurling and football
- McDermotts has folded 3 or4 years ago
- Dwyers has no teams
- St Agnes/Eire Og/ Lisburn are amalgamated at juvenile level to field
- St Teresas & Davitts aren't fielding at u16 and minor

Many clubs are also struggling with only one pitch unlike many south west clubs who have 2 pitches....

While the teams you mention are struggling for their own reasons others are doing very well.  Outside of the big clubs St Paul's, Sarsfields, St John's, Lamh Dearg are all on the up in the West while Southside St Brigids has sideshow-Joe as its unelected president/ recruiting eejit agent and  Bredagh is prospering.  The North of the City is a problem tho with Ardoyne making no headway at all. 
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Milltown Row2 on February 19, 2017, 11:33:22 AM
Too many clubs in Belfast with no great structure to fix it.... that's been happening for years but they've managed to produce a greater amount of championship than the SW ever has and not just within Antrim! So in a season or two were the SW manage to win things it's now a crisis for Belfast GAA??

When Belfast clubs were winning did it become a crisis for SW clubs?? No, it's just their turn to produce winning teams, in a few years it will be someone else's turn..it will be a crisis when the numbers drop cause in my view based on teams from late 70's early 80's the numbers weren't great compared to now
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: outinfront on February 19, 2017, 11:36:09 AM
With Ardoyne gaining promotion to Div2 (all be it they will struggle) and the new facilities at the cricky there's some progress no?
I also know some young fellas who are involved in the youth coaching.
Not sure about their numbers but I would see the above as positives no?

I assume this thread is more aimed towards antrim but on our club the senior footballers are now senior championship so I would hope we can push on and get more youth through to keep us at that level.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: paddyjohn on February 19, 2017, 02:29:51 PM
Was it not suggested on the football thread before Christmas that south antrim kill off all "small" clubs that don't put our team and let players move to big clubs like Rossa, St Johns & St Galls?

I know my own club suffered with teams not travelling from the city during the week for minor football so all county leagues don't work.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Milltown Row2 on February 19, 2017, 02:47:56 PM
Quote from: paddyjohn on February 19, 2017, 02:29:51 PM
Was it not suggested on the football thread before Christmas that south antrim kill off all "small" clubs that don't put our team and let players move to big clubs like Rossa, St Johns & St Galls?

I know my own club suffered with teams not travelling from the city during the week for minor football so all county leagues don't work.

They do work, I've refereed enough games to see games being called off in both directions or teams playing with very understrength sides and getting a mauling...

There are too many clubs in Belfast, is completely different to killing off smaller clubs, but sure you go ahead and make things up
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: paddyjohn on February 19, 2017, 04:43:45 PM
Quote from: hardstation on February 19, 2017, 02:53:35 PM
SW have a clean sweep of football trophies for 1 year and Belfast GAA is on its knees. Some of you boys are clean mad.

My first part was sarcasm lol
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Milltown Row2 on February 19, 2017, 05:03:56 PM
Quote from: paddyjohn on February 19, 2017, 04:43:45 PM
Quote from: hardstation on February 19, 2017, 02:53:35 PM
SW have a clean sweep of football trophies for 1 year and Belfast GAA is on its knees. Some of you boys are clean mad.

My first part was sarcasm lol

You'd need to put some smiley face on end of it, that way we'd know you're not being a dick  :o
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: paddyjohn on February 19, 2017, 06:19:54 PM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on February 19, 2017, 05:03:56 PM
Quote from: paddyjohn on February 19, 2017, 04:43:45 PM
Quote from: hardstation on February 19, 2017, 02:53:35 PM
SW have a clean sweep of football trophies for 1 year and Belfast GAA is on its knees. Some of you boys are clean mad.

My first part was sarcasm lol

You'd need to put some smiley face on end of it, that way we'd know you're not being a dick  :o

You'd need to f**k aff..
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Milltown Row2 on February 19, 2017, 06:29:07 PM
Quote from: paddyjohn on February 19, 2017, 06:19:54 PM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on February 19, 2017, 05:03:56 PM
Quote from: paddyjohn on February 19, 2017, 04:43:45 PM
Quote from: hardstation on February 19, 2017, 02:53:35 PM
SW have a clean sweep of football trophies for 1 year and Belfast GAA is on its knees. Some of you boys are clean mad.

My first part was sarcasm lol

You'd need to put some smiley face on end of it, that way we'd know you're not being a dick  :o

You'd need to f**k aff..

Are you being sarcastic??
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Usain on February 19, 2017, 10:10:17 PM
Quote from: BrendanAntrim on February 17, 2017, 10:39:18 PM
Well when we provide U16s footballers with an 8 game league - 8 games - that's just not good enough Soccer by contrast is able to provide 20 games in a row, without fail, every Saturday am.

If we can't get more than 5 teams to enter Div 1 U16 football in south Antrim, then its time to move to all county.

I think this is one of the most important points here. All underage boys/girls want is to play games. We (Antrim GAA) need to be smarter here and ensure all our children are getting as many games as a young boy/girl from a soccer/rugby background. Do whatever it takes to make this happen. There must be a simple solution to this.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Na Glinntí Glasa on February 20, 2017, 09:12:41 AM
having facilitates is great but without the youth there to take the benefit then theres  no point in having it all there.

The country clubs have the benefit of being the only main focus in an area.We have soccer etc in Dunloy but it has no sway whatsoever compared to the GAA. The pitch is the focal point of the village, much the same as all other places like Lgiel, Cargin, etc so most parents will send thier kids there. All their mates from school etc are all there so 90% of kids in each primary school class will all be there at some poiint to play all of the codes.

Its kind of unfair to compare country and city clubs in this sense for that reason as theres so much more for kids to be involved in within Belfast. we dont compete with anything else for all the kids to come along.

That being said it isn't taken for granted that they will automatically just turn up. we have a mass of vols who want to coach the kids at each level, development committees for all 3 codes set up to try and continually improve the kids and look to ways of fund raising etc. Mobilisation of vols who want to help the kids is the key. If you can get that in place each year then your on to a good start and also keeping them their each year.

Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: btdtgtt on February 20, 2017, 09:57:33 AM
Just seeing and catching up on this.
Huge area but here goes wrapping around a few points that have been made:

1) Clubs folding
Whilst I don't take any pleasure in this, I've yet to meet anyone who doesn't agree we have too many Clubs in Belfast. Call it Darwinian, but some have got to go.

2) Hard work
The point about some clubs having worse facilities because they didn't put work in was as comical as it is insular. Not even worthy of discussion.

3) Facilities
Yes we lack behind - with land area the main reason. On the other side there's no shortage of facilities for hire, but boy do they know how to charge!

4) Community
Rural clubs are a fantastic community focus in more ways than city clubs unfortunately. But there's no point crying about it. As incredible as it sounds the ceasefire took away some emphasis for parents to throw kids into the GAA as an expression of Irishness - soccer rugby and some outlandish activities are even more of a distraction now.

5) Divisional Boards
If there's meaningful games happening at a certain level or code great, but the county must step in if this is not the case - and prioritise an all county set-up to provide this.

So what do we do about it?

Jeez lads I wish I knew!

Certainly no shortage of hard-workers across clubs.
Easy to say get into the primary schools, and that's true, but there's so much more problems to overcome there than merely GAA promotion.

I suppose the one thing we all agree on in that our youngsters need to be playing meaningful well run games week in week out. That's the building block - and it's not always happening at present.
Maybe then we can tackle the on going massive drop off from U16/minor to senior level.

Justa bit of a rant off my head from memorising some of points on the thread there!
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: NAG1 on February 20, 2017, 10:02:41 AM
Some one correct me if I am wrong.

Did we not have a specific strategy for Belfast?
Did 'we' not employ some one to implement said strategy?

Did anything ever come of this?
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Na Glinntí Glasa on February 20, 2017, 10:16:17 AM
i know from being involved in the camogie that its also really bad as well. theres not a single belfast club competes in the county minor championship and only 1 in div 1 at U16 level as well.

For some reason the girls football is doing really well in belfast so something is being done right on that end.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: City Dweller on February 20, 2017, 10:22:13 AM
I wouldn't say Belfast GAA is dying at all. Yeap there are some clubs not fielding at all levels, but there are some other clubs where at underage level they are flying.. St Pauls, Sarsfields, St Brigids, Bredagh, Rossa +Davitts (Hurling), St Galls. There are more clubs hurling in the SA leagues than in recent years.

However there is a problem at the teenage years and BrendanAntrim and Usain call it correctly, the lack of games or lack meaningfully games from at U14 and U16 in SA is worrying.

8 league games for U16 Div 1  (a fair chunk of them over GCSE exams) is not going to develop senior players of the future.

At U14 all the clubs are lumped into one "grading" league, this results in a lot of one sided games, and FTFs.

Surely the County officials/and coaching need to be urgently looking at the structure at these levels? As SA clubs seem to be more concerned with U12 teams not having numbers shirts.

Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: btdtgtt on February 20, 2017, 12:23:58 PM
Quote from: Dunloy realist on February 20, 2017, 10:16:17 AM
i know from being involved in the camogie that its also really bad as well. theres not a single belfast club competes in the county minor championship and only 1 in div 1 at U16 level as well.

For some reason the girls football is doing really well in belfast so something is being done right on that end.

It's the girls football that's killing the camogie.
Nature of the sports is it's easier to teach and learn.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: btdtgtt on February 20, 2017, 12:25:52 PM
Quote from: City Dweller on February 20, 2017, 10:22:13 AM
I wouldn't say Belfast GAA is dying at all. Yeap there are some clubs not fielding at all levels, but there are some other clubs where at underage level they are flying.. St Pauls, Sarsfields, St Brigids, Bredagh, Rossa +Davitts (Hurling), St Galls. There are more clubs hurling in the SA leagues than in recent years.

However there is a problem at the teenage years and BrendanAntrim and Usain call it correctly, the lack of games or lack meaningfully games from at U14 and U16 in SA is worrying.

8 league games for U16 Div 1  (a fair chunk of them over GCSE exams) is not going to develop senior players of the future.

At U14 all the clubs are lumped into one "grading" league, this results in a lot of one sided games, and FTFs.

Surely the County officials/and coaching need to be urgently looking at the structure at these levels? As SA clubs seem to be more concerned with U12 teams not having numbers shirts.

Valid points indeed.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Na Glinntí Glasa on February 20, 2017, 01:53:31 PM
Quote from: btdtgtt on February 20, 2017, 12:23:58 PM
Quote from: Dunloy realist on February 20, 2017, 10:16:17 AM
i know from being involved in the camogie that its also really bad as well. theres not a single belfast club competes in the county minor championship and only 1 in div 1 at U16 level as well.

For some reason the girls football is doing really well in belfast so something is being done right on that end.

It's the girls football that's killing the camogie.
Nature of the sports is it's easier to teach and learn.

makes sense. I know ladies football was talked about a few years ago around ours but was shot down due to the camogie struggling at that point.

They do seem to have a good structure in place and i notice that they play a speed league at the moment which seems popular, so the football is doing something right.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Hectic on February 20, 2017, 02:04:03 PM
Yeah fff knows, for the size of the population in the city is it certainly not being anywhere near maximized for Gaelic games.  I still feel the primary schools need to be the bedrock but the clubs then play a massive part in taking this forward but there are so many competing priorities across the board these days that parents are putting a limit on the activities that they will take their children to and this is not just in the city. My kids go to swimming, martial arts, football and hurling before trying to fit in the other things we have to do week to week.  I would like them to try soccer and other sports also but something has to give.  I also know other parents are less enthused about running at all in the evenings.  For this reason I think the primary schools are of vital importance as that way every child gets the opportunity to learn and develop and hopefully put pressure on their parents to take them to a local club even if it is not something the parents care too much for.  Further to that within the school you have good numbers rather than training sessions with a handful of kids where even playing a training game cannot be much fun if it is 4 a side let alone competing in blitzes etc.  How do we kick this on - funding - if it is good enough for Dublin then it should be good enough for Belfast/Antrim with clubs then working closely with schools.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: NAG1 on February 20, 2017, 02:40:10 PM
Quote from: Hectic on February 20, 2017, 02:04:03 PM
Yeah fff knows, for the size of the population in the city is it certainly not being anywhere near maximized for Gaelic games.  I still feel the primary schools need to be the bedrock but the clubs then play a massive part in taking this forward but there are so many competing priorities across the board these days that parents are putting a limit on the activities that they will take their children to and this is not just in the city. My kids go to swimming, martial arts, football and hurling before trying to fit in the other things we have to do week to week.  I would like them to try soccer and other sports also but something has to give.  I also know other parents are less enthused about running at all in the evenings.  For this reason I think the primary schools are of vital importance as that way every child gets the opportunity to learn and develop and hopefully put pressure on their parents to take them to a local club even if it is not something the parents care too much for.  Further to that within the school you have good numbers rather than training sessions with a handful of kids where even playing a training game cannot be much fun if it is 4 a side let alone competing in blitzes etc.  How do we kick this on - funding - if it is good enough for Dublin then it should be good enough for Belfast/Antrim with clubs then working closely with schools.

So what do you do with the kids then after they have had their couple of hours of football and hurling per week? Where do they go?

How do you make it sustainable? How do you stop it from just replacing the schools PE for a few weeks?

This has been a myth for a long time now, it is not as simple as just going into schools and running coaching sessions.

Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Hectic on February 20, 2017, 03:04:41 PM
That is where the clubs have to then be stepping in and working at engaging the kids and crucially their parents but from my experience unless the parents have a real interest in Gaelic games a lot of them are not overly motivated to bring their children along.  The schools is where you have them all in one place and can sew the seeds.  Good proper coaching in schools and many blitzes to reinforce learning gives you a better chance of the kids getting educated in the games than waiting for them to rock up at their local club.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Last Man on February 20, 2017, 04:18:34 PM
Quote from: Hectic on February 20, 2017, 03:04:41 PM
That is where the clubs have to then be stepping in and working at engaging the kids and crucially their parents but from my experience unless the parents have a real interest in Gaelic games a lot of them are not overly motivated to bring their children along.  The schools is where you have them all in one place and can sew the seeds.  Good proper coaching in schools and many blitzes to reinforce learning gives you a better chance of the kids getting educated in the games than waiting for them to rock up at their local club.

The only schools engagement that has a chance of working is on a few fronts. Representation by local club members on the board of govenors.(Sadly gaa members from rival clubs involved with the school quite often have little positive effect)
Local clubs must engage directly with the schools to forge the link back to the club. This is far from easy and involves a massive sacrifice from the club coaches who give so much of their time already. County coaches going into the schools every now and again, well lets just say I am not convinced. Worth a cost/benefit analysis perhaps? Could the CB support club coaches in this role??
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Hectic on February 20, 2017, 04:44:51 PM
Agree with all of what you are saying and funding for me is the crucial link. Whether that is attainable I do not know.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Belfast GAA man on February 20, 2017, 07:29:48 PM
It's clear there are a lot of people with Antrim GAA at heart and loads of good suggestions for making steps forward. The one issue that stands out for me that could be improved fairly quickly is that of fixtures at u14 and u16 as that seems to be the problem age group. The divisional boards all seem to work independently i.e SA / SW / NA. Surely the County board could bring them together in Jan/Feb and ask them to co-operate in ages/codes that one of them is struggling in and they could share best practices? That way we would have a better chance of every juvenile getting a good amount of games. Maybe the county should set a mandatory number of games for each team at juvenile level and when a divisional board can't make that number of games they have to approach the County for support?
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: JimStynes on February 20, 2017, 10:27:30 PM
320 children in the school I teach in. Before I started over a year ago, two played for a club. It's not a traditional GAA stronghold to be fair but good potential there. I have 40 odd going to training now and some starting to go to the local club. The local club to be fair have sent a coach to help me with an after schools club and are giving me as much backing as I need. But we badly need more coaches in the school, especially at foundation and KS1 age groups. The county coaches are completely snowed under and are very hard to get hold of. I managed to get 6 weeks coaching for KS2 PE lesson times. That's it for the year for those classes. I will take my own class for football but I know the other teachers won't be bothered with it. The soccer coaches on the other hand, can come in as much as you want them for the school's particular area (deprived area). They have arranged a league for us and arranged buses to take them to the tournaments. If we want a league/blitz organised then the teachers have to organise it. More can be done!!
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Hectic on February 21, 2017, 08:12:51 AM
Quote from: JimStynes on February 20, 2017, 10:27:30 PM
320 children in the school I teach in. Before I started over a year ago, two played for a club. It's not a traditional GAA stronghold to be fair but good potential there. I have 40 odd going to training now and some starting to go to the local club. The local club to be fair have sent a coach to help me with an after schools club and are giving me as much backing as I need. But we badly need more coaches in the school, especially at foundation and KS1 age groups. The county coaches are completely snowed under and are very hard to get hold of. I managed to get 6 weeks coaching for KS2 PE lesson times. That's it for the year for those classes. I will take my own class for football but I know the other teachers won't be bothered with it. The soccer coaches on the other hand, can come in as much as you want them for the school's particular area (deprived area). They have arranged a league for us and arranged buses to take them to the tournaments. If we want a league/blitz organised then the teachers have to organise it. More can be done!!

That is exactly the situation I am witnessing and why I believe that all efforts should be made to get as much funding out of headquarters as we possible can to try and provide all the help schools need.  A lot of money was spent/ is being spent in Dublin and a lot of the justification for it would be similar to what we have in Antrim, particularly in Belfast.  Good for the goose, good for the gander.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: johnneycool on February 21, 2017, 08:56:31 AM
Quote from: Hectic on February 21, 2017, 08:12:51 AM
Quote from: JimStynes on February 20, 2017, 10:27:30 PM
320 children in the school I teach in. Before I started over a year ago, two played for a club. It's not a traditional GAA stronghold to be fair but good potential there. I have 40 odd going to training now and some starting to go to the local club. The local club to be fair have sent a coach to help me with an after schools club and are giving me as much backing as I need. But we badly need more coaches in the school, especially at foundation and KS1 age groups. The county coaches are completely snowed under and are very hard to get hold of. I managed to get 6 weeks coaching for KS2 PE lesson times. That's it for the year for those classes. I will take my own class for football but I know the other teachers won't be bothered with it. The soccer coaches on the other hand, can come in as much as you want them for the school's particular area (deprived area). They have arranged a league for us and arranged buses to take them to the tournaments. If we want a league/blitz organised then the teachers have to organise it. More can be done!!

That is exactly the situation I am witnessing and why I believe that all efforts should be made to get as much funding out of headquarters as we possible can to try and provide all the help schools need.  A lot of money was spent/ is being spent in Dublin and a lot of the justification for it would be similar to what we have in Antrim, particularly in Belfast.  Good for the goose, good for the gander.

Dublin went to Croke Park with a coherent plan and the ability to fund these coaches to the tune of %50 of their income.
Until Antrim and the Ulster Council who are responsible for funding the current coaches do that with buy in from clubs you're on a hiding to nothing.
The fact that there's quite a few Antrim/Belfast lads already involved in full time coaching roles for the Ulster council should have made this easier but that doesn't seem to have been the case.
Their piecemeal approach isn't showing any dividend that I can see and we're pulled into the Belfast region in this regard. It says it all when during a hurling development meeting in Down the full time RDO was asked by the secretary of a hurling club exactly what does he do as he didn't know.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Hectic on February 21, 2017, 09:41:16 AM
Quote from: johnneycool on February 21, 2017, 08:56:31 AM
Quote from: Hectic on February 21, 2017, 08:12:51 AM
Quote from: JimStynes on February 20, 2017, 10:27:30 PM
320 children in the school I teach in. Before I started over a year ago, two played for a club. It's not a traditional GAA stronghold to be fair but good potential there. I have 40 odd going to training now and some starting to go to the local club. The local club to be fair have sent a coach to help me with an after schools club and are giving me as much backing as I need. But we badly need more coaches in the school, especially at foundation and KS1 age groups. The county coaches are completely snowed under and are very hard to get hold of. I managed to get 6 weeks coaching for KS2 PE lesson times. That's it for the year for those classes. I will take my own class for football but I know the other teachers won't be bothered with it. The soccer coaches on the other hand, can come in as much as you want them for the school's particular area (deprived area). They have arranged a league for us and arranged buses to take them to the tournaments. If we want a league/blitz organised then the teachers have to organise it. More can be done!!

That is exactly the situation I am witnessing and why I believe that all efforts should be made to get as much funding out of headquarters as we possible can to try and provide all the help schools need.  A lot of money was spent/ is being spent in Dublin and a lot of the justification for it would be similar to what we have in Antrim, particularly in Belfast.  Good for the goose, good for the gander.

Dublin went to Croke Park with a coherent plan and the ability to fund these coaches to the tune of %50 of their income.
Until Antrim and the Ulster Council who are responsible for funding the current coaches do that with buy in from clubs you're on a hiding to nothing.
The fact that there's quite a few Antrim/Belfast lads already involved in full time coaching roles for the Ulster council should have made this easier but that doesn't seem to have been the case.
Their piecemeal approach isn't showing any dividend that I can see and we're pulled into the Belfast region in this regard. It says it all when during a hurling development meeting in Down the full time RDO was asked by the secretary of a hurling club exactly what does he do as he didn't know.

Yeah and again why good governance is vital.  I do not know enough about the 'Vision' here in Antrim and they have been getting mixed views on the other thread but where I do feel that they deserve time and in my view are taking the correct approach is in that they appear to be hitting the administration side of things first.  Even at club level if you can show good governance you are much more likely to be able to attain grant aid from a number of different sources so it makes sense to get the house in order first in order to try and get the further funding that can be focused on the sporting side of things.  Logical steps and all that.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Na Glinntí Glasa on February 21, 2017, 09:54:16 AM
your spot on there hectic. We have applied sucessfully for a number of grants, recently there we gained £20k to have our changing rooms renovated. This will start shortly to have the place painted and cleaned up again back to a new state.

As you say, having good governance in place at the club has enabled us to avail of this and other types of funding.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: bogieman on February 27, 2017, 08:06:35 PM
Amalgamation is the way forward, it's needs to be embraced. It will certainly help with the single pitch issue in Belfast...

Some cry they're not getting money/funding and/or help from ulster/Croke, davitt's aren't short of a euro or two, but can't field what should be the most enthusiastic age group of players, the medium-term future of the GAA.
If you think your club needs county board involvement and leadership, this maybe where your club is going wrong...


Money will not correct the poor attitudes that have developed of the past 15 years, or more maybe.

Most of the divisional boards are doing very well.

You seriously want u16's to travel the county, been done with minor and clubs can't field during important exam times, they are all children, and parents have got their priorities, and it's what's best for their wanes, it's not on a pitch playing or training.

Children want to play games, not train to exhaustion, because coaches think they need fitness and defensive players to win games, and not have study time - less training and more games in all age groups - simple.

Are there no parishes in Belfast ?

Sounds like someone in stgalls is worried where stbrigits will be in a few years, they must be doing some good work there, as are ardoyne.


I putting a smiley here to cover all of the above, so I don't get shouted at....  :)


Ps. HS, I would like to read the Ardu Bheal Feirste, can you post a link to it if you know one please. I wonder if you caught as many crabs beside that bridge as me...
Pss. DR, there seems to be interest in you starting a girls football thread...
Psss. Hectic, you could start a funding and leadership thread....
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Milltown Row2 on February 27, 2017, 08:14:36 PM
Quote from: bogieman on February 27, 2017, 08:06:35 PM
Amalgamation is the way forward, it's needs to be embraced. It will certainly help with the single pitch issue in Belfast...

Some cry they're not getting money/funding and/or help from ulster/Croke, davitt's aren't short of a euro or two, but can't field what should be the most enthusiastic age group of players, the medium-term future of the GAA.
If you think your club needs county board involvement and leadership, this maybe where your club is going wrong...


Money will not correct the poor attitudes that have developed of the past 15 years, or more maybe.

Most of the divisional boards are doing very well.

You seriously want u16's to travel the county, been done with minor and clubs can't field during important exam times, they are all children, and parents have got their priorities, and it's what's best for their wanes, it's not on a pitch playing or training.

Children want to play games, not train to exhaustion, because coaches think they need fitness and defensive players to win games, and not have study time - less training and more games in all age groups - simple.

Are there no parishes in Belfast ?

Sounds like someone in stgalls is worried where stbrigits will be in a few years, they must be doing some good work there, as are ardoyne.


I putting a smiley here to cover all of the above, so I don't get shouted at....  :)


Ps. HS, I would like to read the Ardu Bheal Feirste, can you post a link to it if you know one please. I wonder if you caught as many crabs beside that bridge as me...
Pss. DR, there seems to be interest in you starting a girls football thread...
Psss. Hectic, you could start a funding and leadership thread....

Apparently St Brigits were to do that 6/7 years ago!
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Belfast GAA man on February 27, 2017, 10:17:07 PM
What a great plan that was to revive the GAA in Belfast ! Not many of the actions appear to have been completed which makes me think it has been put in the bin. When a new county board takes over perhaps they want their own plan but that's a real shame given the work that clearly went into this.

I wonder if the Antrim Vision county board have a plan to revive the GAA in Belfast?

Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: bogieman on February 28, 2017, 08:40:04 AM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on February 27, 2017, 08:14:36 PM

Apparently St Brigits were to do that 6/7 years ago!


They must be on a 10 year plan then.  ;)
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Belfast GAA man on March 09, 2017, 09:44:26 PM
There has been a lot of deserved PR for a u14 girls winter football league recently with 29 teams competing over 10 weeks at the 3-G in North Belfast. This was run by a group called the Belfast Community Network

Wouldn't it be great to have this type of innovation for the boys hurling and football?

Seems the South Antrim board are just going through the motions rather than moving with the times and innovating.......
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: City Dweller on March 10, 2017, 08:36:59 AM
Excellent point, would suggest there is a big gap in Belfast for some sort of football competition involving the North Down Belfast Clubs.

Perhaps at U16, where there is a limited number of games for the U16 Div 1 sides.

Early season Cup competition played over 2 or 3 weekends?
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Belfast GAA man on March 11, 2017, 02:07:33 PM
That sounds like a innovative and practical solution to the lack of fixtures at that age group . The natural inclination is to think of all county leagues but the travel involved in that would be much more than playing County Down Belfast teams - Carryduff & Bredagh spring to mind. I suppose the issue would be getting the 2 boards to work togther and one of them to take the lead

Perhaps its time for a Belfast Board?
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: johnneycool on March 12, 2017, 10:49:12 PM
Quote from: Belfast GAA man on March 11, 2017, 02:07:33 PM
That sounds like a innovative and practical solution to the lack of fixtures at that age group . The natural inclination is to think of all county leagues but the travel involved in that would be much more than playing County Down Belfast teams - Carryduff & Bredagh spring to mind. I suppose the issue would be getting the 2 boards to work togther and one of them to take the lead

Perhaps its time for a Belfast Board?

The current Ulster council coach for the area covers great Belfast, north down and the Ards. He's hardy seen down our way, so he must be beavering away in the big smoke....
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Belfast GAA man on March 15, 2017, 08:44:47 PM
I didn't know there was an Ulster council coach for Belfast? do you know their remit?
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: johnneycool on March 15, 2017, 10:09:41 PM
Quote from: Belfast GAA man on March 15, 2017, 08:44:47 PM
I didn't know there was an Ulster council coach for Belfast? do you know their remit?

I don't think anyone does
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Tony Baloney on March 15, 2017, 10:13:50 PM
Quote from: johnneycool on March 15, 2017, 10:09:41 PM
Quote from: Belfast GAA man on March 15, 2017, 08:44:47 PM
I didn't know there was an Ulster council coach for Belfast? do you know their remit?

I don't think anyone does
Meow.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: johnneycool on March 16, 2017, 08:48:32 AM
Quote from: Tony Baloney on March 15, 2017, 10:13:50 PM
Quote from: johnneycool on March 15, 2017, 10:09:41 PM
Quote from: Belfast GAA man on March 15, 2017, 08:44:47 PM
I didn't know there was an Ulster council coach for Belfast? do you know their remit?

I don't think anyone does
Meow.

Well a "Belfast GAA man" didn't know of his existence and the man himself had to be asked by the secretary of an Ards hurling club what exactly he does at a recent Down hurling development meeting.

Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Belfast GAA man on March 20, 2017, 09:26:54 PM
Here's a thought:
Belfast GAA had Casement as a jewel in the crown for over 50 years. Due to an Ulster Council run project we have not had Casement for 5 years and likely to be out of commission for another 3 to5 years. Antrim/Belfast GAA doesn't have many things going for it but the honour of playing in Casement was one of them - Should the Ulster Council be paying Antrim GAA for the loss of our historic and iconic venue for a 8 to10 year period? Money we could use to make a new Belfast GAA home in Woodlands or Boucher Road pitches...
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Gall the way on June 28, 2017, 08:28:13 AM
Johnnycool,
I think it's pretty clear what hurling officer  you're referring too and to say he does nothing on a public forum is just wrong. As a coach for my own club the official in question is our point of contact for any go games fixtures we have. He arranges the venues, fixtures etc on a weekly basis. He's in schools coaching and as far as I see on fbook, he plays a big part in the schools competitions structures. Just because a club secretary never knew what this man did, doesn't define any work he does/doesn't do. Remember any f**kwit can be voted in at club positions. I think to publicly criticise (wrongly may I add) on his job is petty. Hes a family and house to cater for etc. Try to remember that.
As for the Belfast plan, I read very recently in the Irish news that it's near completed and will commence soon?
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: johnneycool on June 28, 2017, 08:52:41 AM
Quote from: Gall the way on June 28, 2017, 08:28:13 AM
Johnnycool,
I think it's pretty clear what hurling officer  you're referring too and to say he does nothing on a public forum is just wrong. As a coach for my own club the official in question is our point of contact for any go games fixtures we have. He arranges the venues, fixtures etc on a weekly basis. He's in schools coaching and as far as I see on fbook, he plays a big part in the schools competitions structures. Just because a club secretary never knew what this man did, doesn't define any work he does/doesn't do. Remember any f**kwit can be voted in at club positions. I think to publicly criticise (wrongly may I add) on his job is petty. Hes a family and house to cater for etc. Try to remember that.
As for the Belfast plan, I read very recently in the Irish news that it's near completed and will commence soon?

Where is this all done?

Remember he's also responsible for hurling development in the Ards.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Gall the way on June 28, 2017, 09:10:35 AM
There are 4/5 venues every Saturday in Belfast where I'm pretty sure carryduff and Bredagh attend.
Do the ards teams not have blitzes in Eddie Irvine centre? Be silly to hold something on top of that. To be fair though, if you're asked to cover the whole of Belfast, and the 3 clubs in ards, realistically most of your work would be done within Belfast given the size and amount of schools/clubs to get to. Why can't the ards clubs travel to Belfast for the blitzes? You hardly want him to head up and run a blitz between the 3 clubs where youse are likely doing that anyway?
Also, why don't you try contacting him and asking for the help in whatever aspect of development you're looking for? I'm sure he'd be happy to help rather than have you blast it all over a public forum (which you still haven't acknowledged is bang out of order?!)
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: NAG1 on June 28, 2017, 09:17:46 AM
Think you boys could take this to PM's and get this sorted out.
;)
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: johnneycool on June 28, 2017, 10:03:57 AM
Quote from: Gall the way on June 28, 2017, 09:10:35 AM
There are 4/5 venues every Saturday in Belfast where I'm pretty sure carryduff and Bredagh attend.
Do the ards teams not have blitzes in Eddie Irvine centre? Be silly to hold something on top of that. To be fair though, if you're asked to cover the whole of Belfast, and the 3 clubs in ards, realistically most of your work would be done within Belfast given the size and amount of schools/clubs to get to. Why can't the ards clubs travel to Belfast for the blitzes? You hardly want him to head up and run a blitz between the 3 clubs where youse are likely doing that anyway?
Also, why don't you try contacting him and asking for the help in whatever aspect of development you're looking for? I'm sure he'd be happy to help rather than have you blast it all over a public forum (which you still haven't acknowledged is bang out of order?!)

Fair enough on the public forum bit, but if said individual was to frequent here there is nothing on it that he hasn't been made aware of to his face in another public forum he attended.

Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Gall the way on August 07, 2017, 10:16:39 AM
Club Chairperson was at the meeting on Thurs regarding this "belfast plan." Big focus on schools and belfast city council facilities, when asked about support offered to clubs it was basically "we will address that later" by a T.R county board member. Now I know schools should have loads of support from the GAA but surely we could send them to our clubs rather than to a belfast city council facility on which we have to pay money for??
There was a fella called Pat OHagan there, nearly as though he was one of the heads of this plan, to be honest, Ive never heard of this guy? Nothing against him but Does he have experience in sports development or the structures of whats going on in Belfast GAA? I talk to any of our juvenile coaches, as well as some lads from our club that work in the GAA on the ground and none of them were asked their opinion? Should our clubs and current county staff not be consulted rather than TOLD whats happening by those with little experience?
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: MoChara on August 07, 2017, 03:28:11 PM
Quote from: Gall the way on August 07, 2017, 10:16:39 AM
Club Chairperson was at the meeting on Thurs regarding this "belfast plan." Big focus on schools and belfast city council facilities, when asked about support offered to clubs it was basically "we will address that later" by a T.R county board member. Now I know schools should have loads of support from the GAA but surely we could send them to our clubs rather than to a belfast city council facility on which we have to pay money for??
There was a fella called Pat OHagan there, nearly as though he was one of the heads of this plan, to be honest, Ive never heard of this guy? Nothing against him but Does he have experience in sports development or the structures of whats going on in Belfast GAA? I talk to any of our juvenile coaches, as well as some lads from our club that work in the GAA on the ground and none of them were asked their opinion? Should our clubs and current county staff not be consulted rather than TOLD whats happening by those with little experience?

Would it be the same fella as the County Hearing Committee Chairperson,

http://antrimgaa.mmcsolutions.biz/committees/county-hearings-committee
give him a ring there and find out sure lol
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: BrendanAntrim on August 11, 2017, 11:22:17 PM
I don't concur with the subject heading on this thread - the GAA in Belfast isn't 'dying' but we aren't in great shape. here's u16 league 'results' from Div 2 of the league since resumption last week.

Not a game played.


F u16 football 2   3 Aug 2017   Rossa           c/g   v   w/o   Gael an tSleibhe Dhuibh         
F u16 football 2   3 Aug 2017   St Johns           c/g   v   w/o   Pearses         
F u16 football 2   10 Aug 2017   St Johns           c/g   v   w/o   St Brigids B         
F u16 football 2   10 Aug 2017   Pearses           ftf   v   w/o   Gael an tSleibhe Dhuibh         
F u16 football 2   17 Aug 2017   St Brigids B   w/o   v   ftf   Pearses         
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Tony Baloney on August 11, 2017, 11:36:55 PM
Quote from: BrendanAntrim on August 11, 2017, 11:22:17 PM
I don't concur with the subject heading on this thread - the GAA in Belfast isn't 'dying' but we aren't in great shape. here's u16 league 'results' from Div 2 of the league since resumption last week.

Not a game played.


F u16 football 2   3 Aug 2017   Rossa           c/g   v   w/o   Gael an tSleibhe Dhuibh         
F u16 football 2   3 Aug 2017   St Johns           c/g   v   w/o   Pearses         
F u16 football 2   10 Aug 2017   St Johns           c/g   v   w/o   St Brigids B         
F u16 football 2   10 Aug 2017   Pearses           ftf   v   w/o   Gael an tSleibhe Dhuibh         
F u16 football 2   17 Aug 2017   St Brigids B   w/o   v   ftf   Pearses
Disgraceful. Can't imagine it happening in Tyrone, Derry etc.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: jdyok on August 11, 2017, 11:55:07 PM
I think it's 'conceded the game'...
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: BrendanAntrim on August 12, 2017, 07:29:51 AM
Clubs unable to field teams. Lack of numbers of boys playing football. Summer is a factor but still, it's not healthy.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: delgany on August 12, 2017, 11:35:39 AM
Under age fixtures  need a radical rethink.
U16 &18 Fixtures completely fall apart from may to end of August. Exams and holidays - A big factor...at this age ...they go abroad in their droves.
The administrators need to reflect on this.
Start season earlier ....play matches on 4g pitches at later times on Fri /sat .
Copy grading system in Down where teams play 15 /13 /11  and even 9 a side for smallest club's.
It needs to reflect the needs of the players and not what the administration think they need
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Belfast GAA man on August 19, 2017, 10:12:03 AM
That list of matches not happening at u16 is really bad given what a crucial age group that is.
Does the county board pay an oversight role in monitoring these issues does anyone know or is it just left to congress every year for the south antrim chairperson to tell everyone that everything in the garden is rosy?
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: City Dweller on August 28, 2017, 09:37:47 AM
Crazy set up in U16 B Championship, where St John who haven't fielded in second half of league are through to final with out having played a game, as Ardoyne and Pearses have pulled out.

3 teams in the "other side" of draw to battle it out to meet them.

Surely a redraw with 2 semi finals a better option??? - At least reward the teams who are turning out.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: theskull1 on August 28, 2017, 01:25:01 PM
A poor and sorry state of affairs
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Belfast GAA man on August 28, 2017, 05:31:27 PM
the u16 situation oultined above needs to be widely publicised to get some attenton/support for the clubs, new fixtures plans etc. No doubt in each of those teams that are not fielding there are 9/10 lads who want to play and now won't be playing for the forseeable and may be lost altogether. Its a shame that the press won't spend time highlighting this and chose to get excited about who the next Antrim manager will be when the reality is that the Antrim manager needs u16 / minor to be developing well if Antrim are ever to progress
Any word of this regeneration plan? 
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Dave like the tv channel on March 16, 2018, 05:03:14 AM
Maybe Croke Park will give you some of Dublin's financial doping money. GAA is dying all over the country, due to poor structures and to modern lifestyles, where it's just not important to kids anymore.

The GAA would want to wake up pronto.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Belfast GAA man on March 16, 2018, 10:43:00 PM
Here's a simple solution to the financial inequality that he is damaging the GAA so badly:
Create rankings for each code, based on League positions and championship results, from 1 to 32
The 1st county, i.e. the best team, get the least central funds for their county to pay for coaches, pitches etc
The 32nd county, i.e. the worst team, get the biggest portion of the central funds to pay for coaches, pitches etc
Review every 3 years and do the rankings again and re-allocate accordingly
Why couldn't this be implemented?
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: thewobbler on March 17, 2018, 01:55:10 AM
Quote from: Belfast GAA man on March 16, 2018, 10:43:00 PM
Here's a simple solution to the financial inequality that he is damaging the GAA so badly:
Create rankings for each code, based on League positions and championship results, from 1 to 32
The 1st county, i.e. the best team, get the least central funds for their county to pay for coaches, pitches etc
The 32nd county, i.e. the worst team, get the biggest portion of the central funds to pay for coaches, pitches etc
Review every 3 years and do the rankings again and re-allocate accordingly
Why couldn't this be implemented?

If I'm getting this right, you're advocating that Leitrim, population 31,000, should get more money from central funds than Dublin, population 1.8m.

Sorry fella, but this is complete madness.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Na Glinntí Glasa on March 17, 2018, 09:39:28 AM
i see what hes saying there, its much the same as the way American football works where the worst team at the end of the season gets the first pick of the new college players into their squads.

One team never always remains at the top all the time.

The way the GAA is set up now is becoming an elitist championship where all they care about is the super 8 set up now and the show case games. they dont care about the teams outside of that as they wont make them any money. the big counties will remain at the top all the time and the game will slowly die off outside of it.

A young fella would seriously question why they would train 4 times a week to get 2 games and your season be over before it really even starts for the bigger counties.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: thewobbler on March 17, 2018, 10:39:14 AM
Listen. Leitrim is the size of Newry. You can pump all the money you want into coaching but you can't change that fact. Comparisons with the NFL are groundless as there are no geographical boundaries.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Belfast GAA man on March 17, 2018, 12:30:59 PM
My suggestion is aimed at making all counties competitive. As regards the Leitrim example I'm not advocating a blank cheque to each county. The counties still have to put forward properly costed plan to raise standards in their county and so their cut of the central funds is available to be drawn by each county but is not a hand out without conditions.

Surely no-one is happy with the current position in which the the strong get stronger and the weak are getting weaker?
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Na Glinntí Glasa on March 17, 2018, 01:16:33 PM
Quote from: thewobbler on March 17, 2018, 10:39:14 AM
Listen. Leitrim is the size of Newry. You can pump all the money you want into coaching but you can't change that fact. Comparisons with the NFL are groundless as there are no geographical boundaries.

it was only an example as to explain the rational behind the posters thinking. Im not comparing the GAA to the NFL.

At the current rate the way the GAA is going the bigger counties will remain out of reach for years to come. the amount of funding thats provided to certain counties is by far disproportionate regardless of how many people their are. Every one should be getting the same amount

Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Christmas Lights on October 25, 2021, 10:07:51 AM
Time to bump the thread!
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 25, 2021, 10:39:34 AM
Biggest bluff ever
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Square Ball on October 25, 2021, 01:10:37 PM
Did Galefast not sort Belfast out?
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 25, 2021, 06:03:02 PM
Bugger all wrong with Belfast. It has 14 hurling clubs, we have 1 in Derry city with quarter population. But Ulster Council haven't looked at the Derry city programme whilst Gaelfast was passed.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 25, 2021, 08:57:31 PM
Very little, strategic thinking would not be their forte
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: imtommygunn on October 25, 2021, 09:38:57 PM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 25, 2021, 06:03:02 PM
Bugger all wrong with Belfast. It has 14 hurling clubs, we have 1 in Derry city with quarter population. But Ulster Council haven't looked at the Derry city programme whilst Gaelfast was passed.

Many would argue it has too many clubs though.

Derry county board pay little heed to hurling and very little heed to Derry city.

At least we're consistent and pay the same attention to everyome ;D :(
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: ck on October 25, 2021, 11:49:00 PM
Carryduff and Bredagh both have progressed in the Down senior championship in recent years and based on underage this looks set to continue. Neighbours St.Brigids are also making strides and have pushed on massively at senior mens this year. St.Endas have now a huge population to pick from and are doing superb work at underage. East Belfast have just set up also which is great to see. GAA in Belfast is thriving as far as I can see.

The issue is the traditional strongholds of Pauls, Sarsfields, Jonnies and Galls etc. They all seem to be in decline.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Never Give Up on October 26, 2021, 01:10:29 AM
The problem with metropolitan GAA has there is no real affiliation to one club or parish which is the cornerstone of rural gaa rivalry. For the greater part Dublin or Belfast talented players would kick ball for whichever club GAA or otherwise met their needs at that time
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Ciall on October 26, 2021, 08:24:17 AM
Quote from: ck on October 25, 2021, 11:49:00 PM
Carryduff and Bredagh both have progressed in the Down senior championship in recent years and based on underage this looks set to continue. Neighbours St.Brigids are also making strides and have pushed on massively at senior mens this year. St.Endas have now a huge population to pick from and are doing superb work at underage. East Belfast have just set up also which is great to see. GAA in Belfast is thriving as far as I can see.

The issue is the traditional strongholds of Pauls, Sarsfields, Jonnies and Galls etc. They all seem to be in decline.

I think this, and the other comments on other pages about Belfast "dying" are completely short sighted, as is with the thoughts that Gaelfast can change the whole scene in 3 years- amidst a pandemic and with people on furlough. New man in there now and I'm keen to see what he can do.
What we see now at senior level is a lack of effort from many of these clubs 5-15 years ago. Clubs recognised that and moved to change that! St Paul's have a set of good minors due to come through and there is a steady flow of players thereafter, with even some success below. Sarsfields have massive numbers at the young age. Davitts reconnected with their schools about 6/7 years ago and continue that now, the senior teams will see these benefits in a number of years. To me, A club state of play isn't how their senior team is performing it's that their financially secure, have a thriving membership base and facilities to boot. Worry about winning championships after that.
You don't necessarily need parishes in Belfast but you can't expect school children to just join a club either. Forge links with local schools and build that pipeline. I saw Gaelfast was offering funding to fund club personnel to go into local schools, forge a link and recruit, that's the right idea in my opinion.
Dublin clubs have full time coaches that recruit solely for them, unless a huge amount of cash turns up, that won't be the case here. That is a problem in the initial funding application for Gaelfast, should've asked for the whole hog and see what we got after that.
I do think it's time for Gaelfast and the county to step up and let us know the plan! But I'm confident in the people there working on it, much more so than some of the halfwits that post on this board
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Milltown Row2 on October 26, 2021, 08:45:34 AM
Quote from: Never Give Up on October 26, 2021, 01:10:29 AM
The problem with metropolitan GAA has there is no real affiliation to one club or parish which is the cornerstone of rural gaa rivalry. For the greater part Dublin or Belfast talented players would kick ball for whichever club GAA or otherwise met their needs at that time

You really think that? You really think that clubs in Belfast don't have a bond with their members? A sense of family? Would all be happy to move on to another club? And of course that club will bring them on board like one of their own?

Interesting view, it's surprising then that the Belfast clubs have won anything in the past
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: general_lee on October 26, 2021, 09:07:05 AM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on October 26, 2021, 08:45:34 AM
Quote from: Never Give Up on October 26, 2021, 01:10:29 AM
The problem with metropolitan GAA has there is no real affiliation to one club or parish which is the cornerstone of rural gaa rivalry. For the greater part Dublin or Belfast talented players would kick ball for whichever club GAA or otherwise met their needs at that time

You really think that? You really think that clubs in Belfast don't have a bond with their members? A sense of family? Would all be happy to move on to another club? And of course that club will bring them on board like one of their own?
Interesting view, it's surprising then that the Belfast clubs have won anything in the past
I work with a fella from Belfast. His family have ties to about 3/4 clubs. His niece plays for St. Paul's and the nephew St. John's. Both might have played underage at St Agnes... it happens in Lurgan to a certain extent too to be fair, outside of traditional families players just follow their mates at school.

Probably not so much a problem at St Gall's  anymore but how did they welcome new players, especially at senior level?
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Saffsof82 on October 26, 2021, 09:44:24 AM
Some Belfast clubs have taken their eye off the ball in recent years. Dependent on traditional families to supply players. But the economic boom years of the mid 2000s alot of west belfast gaels took the opportunity to sell up and move the the burbs or beyond. Clubs need to take a look at how they are recruiting. Seeing clubs like ODS, gorts, Davitts, eire og, st agnes doing lots of great juvenile work, sending their own coaches into schools, recruiting from the primary schools then.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Jeepers Creepers on October 26, 2021, 09:55:49 AM
Quote from: Saffsof82 on October 26, 2021, 09:44:24 AM
Some Belfast clubs have taken their eye off the ball in recent years. Dependent on traditional families to supply players. But the economic boom years of the mid 2000s alot of west belfast gaels took the opportunity to sell up and move the the burbs or beyond. Clubs need to take a look at how they are recruiting. Seeing clubs like ODS, gorts, Davitts, eire og, st agnes doing lots of great juvenile work, sending their own coaches into schools, recruiting from the primary schools then.

add in the 1,000 other activities available to kids now that people wouldn't have dream't of sending their kids to years ago. More disposable income maybe answers that Q?
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Saffsof82 on October 26, 2021, 10:04:18 AM
very true, remember playing a minor game one night against a st bs, chatting to a couple of their supporters asking if we were full strenghth, we werent because it was a beautiful summer evening and a few lads had gone to the silage, they said that they were down a few too as lads had gone surfing!!
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: bannside on October 26, 2021, 11:16:45 AM
Belfast GAA is not dying, there does seem to be a movement of sorts to get proper development structures in place at juvenile level. Most clubs in Belfast have acknowledged this and have stepped up their focus in this critical area. That needs to be acknowledged.

It will take time to see the benefits, Gaelfast can expedite this as well of course. I'm confident that Antrim football as a whole will be in a much better place in a decade than it is now, with city and country clubs all upping the ante.

That does not take away from the fact that for a decade at least there was something badly off in the city. SW clubs have developed their facilities and their players in a way that largely speaking city clubs haven't.  That's evident in schools as well except SW schools are no better in this regard.

There are plenty of green shoots around the city, and Antrim need that if we are going to be any kind of a force in the next generation.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 26, 2021, 11:32:21 AM
The facilities and support from local nationalist parties is very good in Belfast. Unfortunately for us in Derry id say Mark H Durkan is the only lad with any interest or background in GAA. The rest in SF and SDLP are all soccer, boxing and cricket heads. No interest in supporting GAA initiatives. All the community hubs are SF and soccer controlled bar the recent one in Top of the Hill.
Our club are training at Claudy at the minute to get GAA nets and lights

Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Belfast GAA man on October 27, 2021, 10:19:46 PM
Casement being shut has affected kids wanting to play GAA in belfast for the last 10 years - it USed to be a dream to play there instead of an eyesore. Fair play to the SW boys who have dug deep and  kicked on. Building works starting at Casement even and Gaelfast cranking up would fairly lift morale in Belfast GAA
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 27, 2021, 11:28:35 PM
Quote from: Belfast GAA man on October 27, 2021, 10:19:46 PM
Casement being shut has affected kids wanting to play GAA in belfast for the last 10 years - it USed to be a dream to play there instead of an eyesore. Fair play to the SW boys who have dug deep and  kicked on. Building works starting at Casement even and Gaelfast cranking up would fairly lift morale in Belfast GAA

A lot of Gaels outside Belfast don't want to go to Casement, its a nightmare location
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Never Give Up on October 27, 2021, 11:32:45 PM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 27, 2021, 11:28:35 PM
Quote from: Belfast GAA man on October 27, 2021, 10:19:46 PM
Casement being shut has affected kids wanting to play GAA in belfast for the last 10 years - it USed to be a dream to play there instead of an eyesore. Fair play to the SW boys who have dug deep and  kicked on. Building works starting at Casement even and Gaelfast cranking up would fairly lift morale in Belfast GAA

A lot of Gaels outside Belfast don't want to go to Casement, its a nightmare location

While Croker is in a dream location? Perhaps Casement should be moved to the m2 at Randalstown to make it a bit handier?
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 28, 2021, 07:26:32 AM
Quote from: Never Give Up on October 27, 2021, 11:32:45 PM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 27, 2021, 11:28:35 PM
Quote from: Belfast GAA man on October 27, 2021, 10:19:46 PM
Casement being shut has affected kids wanting to play GAA in belfast for the last 10 years - it USed to be a dream to play there instead of an eyesore. Fair play to the SW boys who have dug deep and  kicked on. Building works starting at Casement even and Gaelfast cranking up would fairly lift morale in Belfast GAA

A lot of Gaels outside Belfast don't want to go to Casement, its a nightmare location

While Croker is in a dream location? Perhaps Casement should be moved to the m2 at Randalstown to make it a bit handier?

Mid Ulster possibly. It's supposed to be Ulster's stadium not Belfast's
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: An Watcher on October 28, 2021, 07:56:43 AM
Clones will always be the spot
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Ciall on October 28, 2021, 08:50:54 AM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 28, 2021, 07:26:32 AM
Quote from: Never Give Up on October 27, 2021, 11:32:45 PM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 27, 2021, 11:28:35 PM
Quote from: Belfast GAA man on October 27, 2021, 10:19:46 PM
Casement being shut has affected kids wanting to play GAA in belfast for the last 10 years - it USed to be a dream to play there instead of an eyesore. Fair play to the SW boys who have dug deep and  kicked on. Building works starting at Casement even and Gaelfast cranking up would fairly lift morale in Belfast GAA

A lot of Gaels outside Belfast don't want to go to Casement, its a nightmare location

While Croker is in a dream location? Perhaps Casement should be moved to the m2 at Randalstown to make it a bit handier?

Mid Ulster possibly. It's supposed to be Ulster's stadium not Belfast's

Correction- It's supposed to be Ulsters stadium... in Belfast. Thats what the huge investment from DfC has been assigned for. Three stadia in Belfast- one soccer, one rugby and one GAA.
On a more related topic, I hope it helps drive the GAA activity in Belfast. I hear the residents are putting a case in today? Must be near the 90 days?
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 28, 2021, 09:12:27 AM
Quote from: Ciall on October 28, 2021, 08:50:54 AM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 28, 2021, 07:26:32 AM
Quote from: Never Give Up on October 27, 2021, 11:32:45 PM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 27, 2021, 11:28:35 PM
Quote from: Belfast GAA man on October 27, 2021, 10:19:46 PM
Casement being shut has affected kids wanting to play GAA in belfast for the last 10 years - it USed to be a dream to play there instead of an eyesore. Fair play to the SW boys who have dug deep and  kicked on. Building works starting at Casement even and Gaelfast cranking up would fairly lift morale in Belfast GAA

A lot of Gaels outside Belfast don't want to go to Casement, its a nightmare location

While Croker is in a dream location? Perhaps Casement should be moved to the m2 at Randalstown to make it a bit handier?

Mid Ulster possibly. It's supposed to be Ulster's stadium not Belfast's

Correction- It's supposed to be Ulsters stadium... in Belfast. Thats what the huge investment from DfC has been assigned for. Three stadia in Belfast- one soccer, one rugby and one GAA.
On a more related topic, I hope it helps drive the GAA activity in Belfast. I hear the residents are putting a case in today? Must be near the 90 days?

Sorry it wasnt, it was a stadium for the 3 associations, nothing to do with location in scope. Ulster Council proposed Belfast themselves(but they have proved to be a joke of a set up since) https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2018/08/28/news/casement-park-timeline-1417514/

Rugby and soccer heartlands are in Belfast and the premier stadia were always in Belfast anyhow. GAA heartlands are not in Belfast and Clones shared  provincial ground status for years with Casement. It was a car crash project from start to finish. I know it comes as a surprise to people but there actually is a country called Rest Of Ireland outside Dublin and Belfast.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: johnnycool on October 28, 2021, 09:12:36 AM
Quote from: An Watcher on October 28, 2021, 07:56:43 AM
Clones will always be the spot

No it won't.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: NAG1 on October 28, 2021, 03:54:11 PM
Quote from: johnnycool on October 28, 2021, 09:12:36 AM
Quote from: An Watcher on October 28, 2021, 07:56:43 AM
Clones will always be the spot

No it won't.

What a horrible place. Casement is not perfect by any stretch but it is by a far distant way a better option than Clones.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 28, 2021, 05:59:42 PM
Quote from: NAG1 on October 28, 2021, 03:54:11 PM
Quote from: johnnycool on October 28, 2021, 09:12:36 AM
Quote from: An Watcher on October 28, 2021, 07:56:43 AM
Clones will always be the spot

No it won't.

What a horrible place. Casement is not perfect by any stretch but it is by a far distant way a better option than Clones.

Yeah Dungannon or Cookstown would have been much better.  Jesus that road from Westlink to casement on match day aaaaah
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: general_lee on October 28, 2021, 08:58:46 PM
I've never heard worse. Belfast is a city and you clowns want a stadium in f**king cookstown 🤣
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 28, 2021, 09:31:31 PM
Quote from: general_lee on October 28, 2021, 08:58:46 PM
I've never heard worse. Belfast is a city and you clowns want a stadium in f**king cookstown 🤣

Ok we will take it in Derry , or maybe Armagh .is Lisburn not a city now .Btw rude
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Eamonnca1 on October 28, 2021, 11:47:18 PM
Quote from: An Watcher on October 28, 2021, 07:56:43 AM
Clones will always be the spot

It will if we get the railway reopened into Clones. But the Portadown-Armagh bit has to get done first, so it's a long way off.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: general_lee on October 29, 2021, 10:10:26 AM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 28, 2021, 09:31:31 PM
Quote from: general_lee on October 28, 2021, 08:58:46 PM
I've never heard worse. Belfast is a city and you clowns want a stadium in f**king cookstown 🤣

Ok we will take it in Derry , or maybe Armagh .is Lisburn not a city now .Btw rude
Why would you bypass Belfast in favour of anywhere else???
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: GiveItToTheShooters on October 29, 2021, 11:00:18 AM
Quote from: general_lee on October 29, 2021, 10:10:26 AM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 28, 2021, 09:31:31 PM
Quote from: general_lee on October 28, 2021, 08:58:46 PM
I've never heard worse. Belfast is a city and you clowns want a stadium in f**king cookstown 🤣

Ok we will take it in Derry , or maybe Armagh .is Lisburn not a city now .Btw rude
Why would you bypass Belfast in favour of anywhere else???
Exactly bizarre comment to make. Derry and Armagh both have GAA stadiums as well. Has to be in Antrim. God forbid he meets a bit of traffic up round Belfast
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: JimStynes on October 29, 2021, 11:28:05 AM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 28, 2021, 05:59:42 PM
Quote from: NAG1 on October 28, 2021, 03:54:11 PM
Quote from: johnnycool on October 28, 2021, 09:12:36 AM
Quote from: An Watcher on October 28, 2021, 07:56:43 AM
Clones will always be the spot

No it won't.

What a horrible place. Casement is not perfect by any stretch but it is by a far distant way a better option than Clones.

Yeah Dungannon or Cookstown would have been much better.  Jesus that road from Westlink to casement on match day aaaaah

But the road into Dugannon or Cookstown would be good on match day?
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 29, 2021, 11:58:18 AM
Quote from: GiveItToTheShooters on October 29, 2021, 11:00:18 AM
Quote from: general_lee on October 29, 2021, 10:10:26 AM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 28, 2021, 09:31:31 PM
Quote from: general_lee on October 28, 2021, 08:58:46 PM
I've never heard worse. Belfast is a city and you clowns want a stadium in f**king cookstown 🤣

Ok we will take it in Derry , or maybe Armagh .is Lisburn not a city now .Btw rude
Why would you bypass Belfast in favour of anywhere else???
Exactly bizarre comment to make. Derry and Armagh both have GAA stadiums as well. Has to be in Antrim. God forbid he meets a bit of traffic up round Belfast

It was designed to be bizarre to match your senseless comment that it had to be a city- you do get tongue in cheek don't you
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 29, 2021, 11:59:32 AM
Quote from: JimStynes on October 29, 2021, 11:28:05 AM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 28, 2021, 05:59:42 PM
Quote from: NAG1 on October 28, 2021, 03:54:11 PM
Quote from: johnnycool on October 28, 2021, 09:12:36 AM
Quote from: An Watcher on October 28, 2021, 07:56:43 AM
Clones will always be the spot

No it won't.

What a horrible place. Casement is not perfect by any stretch but it is by a far distant way a better option than Clones.

Yeah Dungannon or Cookstown would have been much better.  Jesus that road from Westlink to casement on match day aaaaah

But the road into Dugannon or Cookstown would be good on match day?

probably , because you would plan it not to be built in the middle of a 2 lane main street I imagine-just a guess
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: GiveItToTheShooters on October 29, 2021, 12:09:16 PM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 29, 2021, 11:58:18 AM
Quote from: GiveItToTheShooters on October 29, 2021, 11:00:18 AM
Quote from: general_lee on October 29, 2021, 10:10:26 AM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 28, 2021, 09:31:31 PM
Quote from: general_lee on October 28, 2021, 08:58:46 PM
I've never heard worse. Belfast is a city and you clowns want a stadium in f**king cookstown 🤣

Ok we will take it in Derry , or maybe Armagh .is Lisburn not a city now .Btw rude
Why would you bypass Belfast in favour of anywhere else???
Exactly bizarre comment to make. Derry and Armagh both have GAA stadiums as well. Has to be in Antrim. God forbid he meets a bit of traffic up round Belfast

It was designed to be bizarre to match your senseless comment that it had to be a city- you do get tongue in cheek don't you
If you read it again I think you'll find I never said anything about it having to be in a city, it was another poster. Senseless he says
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 29, 2021, 12:27:32 PM
Quote from: GiveItToTheShooters on October 29, 2021, 12:09:16 PM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 29, 2021, 11:58:18 AM
Quote from: GiveItToTheShooters on October 29, 2021, 11:00:18 AM
Quote from: general_lee on October 29, 2021, 10:10:26 AM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 28, 2021, 09:31:31 PM
Quote from: general_lee on October 28, 2021, 08:58:46 PM
I've never heard worse. Belfast is a city and you clowns want a stadium in f**king cookstown 🤣

Ok we will take it in Derry , or maybe Armagh .is Lisburn not a city now .Btw rude
Why would you bypass Belfast in favour of anywhere else???
Exactly bizarre comment to make. Derry and Armagh both have GAA stadiums as well. Has to be in Antrim. God forbid he meets a bit of traffic up round Belfast

It was designed to be bizarre to match your senseless comment that it had to be a city- you do get tongue in cheek don't you
If you read it again I think you'll find I never said anything about it having to be in a city, it was another poster. Senseless he says

aye same thing
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: GiveItToTheShooters on October 29, 2021, 12:38:21 PM
 ;D Numb nuts
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: RedHand88 on October 29, 2021, 12:45:04 PM
Stick it in Larne. Good for developing the game and that!  ;D
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Kickham csc on October 29, 2021, 05:38:01 PM
Back in the day, the Ulster final was rotated between Clones, Belfast and Omagh, basically  splitting the province into 3; West, East, South.

Actually very smart.

Clones has become a tradition, but..... out of the way for the majority of fans,
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: JimStynes on October 29, 2021, 07:23:49 PM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 29, 2021, 11:59:32 AM
Quote from: JimStynes on October 29, 2021, 11:28:05 AM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 28, 2021, 05:59:42 PM
Quote from: NAG1 on October 28, 2021, 03:54:11 PM
Quote from: johnnycool on October 28, 2021, 09:12:36 AM
Quote from: An Watcher on October 28, 2021, 07:56:43 AM
Clones will always be the spot

No it won't.

What a horrible place. Casement is not perfect by any stretch but it is by a far distant way a better option than Clones.

Yeah Dungannon or Cookstown would have been much better.  Jesus that road from Westlink to casement on match day aaaaah

But the road into Dugannon or Cookstown would be good on match day?

probably , because you would plan it not to be built in the middle of a 2 lane main street I imagine-just a guess

But what do all these cities all over Europe and further afield do during match day in their sports. We are so used to driving down the road and parking on a grass verge and dandering up to the match. I'm sure it would be fine if it was built in Belfast.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 29, 2021, 09:00:28 PM
Quote from: Kickham csc on October 29, 2021, 05:38:01 PM
Back in the day, the Ulster final was rotated between Clones, Belfast and Omagh, basically  splitting the province into 3; West, East, South.

Actually very smart.

Clones has become a tradition, but..... out of the way for the majority of fans,

It wasn't out of the way at all for Tyrone, Monaghan, Fermanagh, Cavan, soiuth Donegal or Down
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 29, 2021, 09:01:33 PM
Quote from: JimStynes on October 29, 2021, 07:23:49 PM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 29, 2021, 11:59:32 AM
Quote from: JimStynes on October 29, 2021, 11:28:05 AM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 28, 2021, 05:59:42 PM
Quote from: NAG1 on October 28, 2021, 03:54:11 PM
Quote from: johnnycool on October 28, 2021, 09:12:36 AM
Quote from: An Watcher on October 28, 2021, 07:56:43 AM
Clones will always be the spot

No it won't.

What a horrible place. Casement is not perfect by any stretch but it is by a far distant way a better option than Clones.

Yeah Dungannon or Cookstown would have been much better.  Jesus that road from Westlink to casement on match day aaaaah

But the road into Dugannon or Cookstown would be good on match day?

probably , because you would plan it not to be built in the middle of a 2 lane main street I imagine-just a guess

But what do all these cities all over Europe and further afield do during match day in their sports. We are so used to driving down the road and parking on a grass verge and dandering up to the match. I'm sure it would be fine if it was built in Belfast.

It would be. But not up a pokey wee congested road with shitty public transport
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: JimStynes on October 30, 2021, 07:45:24 PM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 29, 2021, 09:01:33 PM
Quote from: JimStynes on October 29, 2021, 07:23:49 PM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 29, 2021, 11:59:32 AM
Quote from: JimStynes on October 29, 2021, 11:28:05 AM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 28, 2021, 05:59:42 PM
Quote from: NAG1 on October 28, 2021, 03:54:11 PM
Quote from: johnnycool on October 28, 2021, 09:12:36 AM
Quote from: An Watcher on October 28, 2021, 07:56:43 AM
Clones will always be the spot

No it won't.

What a horrible place. Casement is not perfect by any stretch but it is by a far distant way a better option than Clones.

Yeah Dungannon or Cookstown would have been much better.  Jesus that road from Westlink to casement on match day aaaaah

But the road into Dugannon or Cookstown would be good on match day?

probably , because you would plan it not to be built in the middle of a 2 lane main street I imagine-just a guess

But what do all these cities all over Europe and further afield do during match day in their sports. We are so used to driving down the road and parking on a grass verge and dandering up to the match. I'm sure it would be fine if it was built in Belfast.

It would be. But not up a pokey wee congested road with shitty public transport

Balmoral station and Finaghy are both 15/20mins walk away from Casement.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: JimStynes on October 30, 2021, 08:24:49 PM
Quote from: Duine Inteacht Eile on October 30, 2021, 08:19:14 PM
???
The public transport access to the Andersonstown Road is up there with best in the city.
Buses, black taxis and the Glider all service it and as mentioned, there are train stations nearby.

It's also a 4 laner the whole way from the city centre with lanes specifically for public transport.

People are just so used to driving up to a game and parking her up on the curb and dandering into the game. If it was a soccer match in England they wouldn't think anything of it having to sit in traffic or get on a train and dander 15mins to the match.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 30, 2021, 09:20:49 PM
Quote from: Duine Inteacht Eile on October 30, 2021, 08:19:14 PM
???
The public transport access to the Andersonstown Road is up there with best in the city.
Buses, black taxis and the Glider all service it and as mentioned, there are train stations nearby.

It's also a 4 laner the whole way from the city centre with lanes specifically for public transport.

It's a nightmare is what it is anytime i went
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 30, 2021, 09:21:57 PM
Quote from: Duine Inteacht Eile on October 30, 2021, 08:27:55 PM
I'm not sure what they are getting used to. Any time I've been to an Ulster final in Clones, it's been a fuckin hike to the ground from where I park the car.

And if the public transport is poor around Casement, I'd love to know what it's like in Cookstown!!

In case you haven't noticed there is no stadium in Cookstown which is my point , build it to suit access
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Milltown Row2 on October 30, 2021, 09:22:41 PM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 30, 2021, 09:20:49 PM
Quote from: Duine Inteacht Eile on October 30, 2021, 08:19:14 PM
???
The public transport access to the Andersonstown Road is up there with best in the city.
Buses, black taxis and the Glider all service it and as mentioned, there are train stations nearby.

It's also a 4 laner the whole way from the city centre with lanes specifically for public transport.

It's a nightmare is what it is anytime i went

Train from Derry takes you in hassle free to within a 20 minute walk, pub at the station too
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 30, 2021, 09:27:01 PM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on October 30, 2021, 09:22:41 PM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 30, 2021, 09:20:49 PM
Quote from: Duine Inteacht Eile on October 30, 2021, 08:19:14 PM
???
The public transport access to the Andersonstown Road is up there with best in the city.
Buses, black taxis and the Glider all service it and as mentioned, there are train stations nearby.

It's also a 4 laner the whole way from the city centre with lanes specifically for public transport.

It's a nightmare is what it is anytime i went

Train from Derry takes you in hassle free to within a 20 minute walk, pub at the station too

It's 2 hours 15 mins to Belfast by train and nearly ALWAYS delayed, I'm not  being funny coz I don't know , where do I get off and transfer ,
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 30, 2021, 09:34:08 PM
Quote from: Duine Inteacht Eile on October 30, 2021, 09:32:24 PM
Why do you keep driving to the westlink?

There are alternative routes that would avoid it. In the same way that I can never understand why every fan coming from the west needs to take the Kennedy Way exit on the M1. I wouldn't be on the M1 past Moira.

I know of no other way of getting to casement from Derry , i lived up there 3 years.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 30, 2021, 09:42:38 PM
Quote from: Duine Inteacht Eile on October 30, 2021, 09:38:14 PM
Come off at Mallusk, Antrim, Templepatrick.

Drop into Andytown over the mountain.

There are as many routes as you want...

Must give it a go  sometime ,
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Never Give Up on October 31, 2021, 12:20:37 AM
Quote from: Duine Inteacht Eile on October 30, 2021, 09:32:24 PM
Why do you keep driving to the westlink?

There are alternative routes that would avoid it. In the same way that I can never understand why every fan coming from the west needs to take the Kennedy Way exit on the M1. I wouldn't be on the M1 past Moira.

Cos the Brits told him to go that way...
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: armaghniac on October 31, 2021, 01:25:26 AM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on October 30, 2021, 09:42:38 PM
Quote from: Duine Inteacht Eile on October 30, 2021, 09:38:14 PM
Come off at Mallusk, Antrim, Templepatrick.

Drop into Andytown over the mountain.

There are as many routes as you want...

Must give it a go  sometime ,

You'll not be going to Casement for a while yet.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Milltown Row2 on May 18, 2022, 02:08:22 PM
Was talking to a old friend/foe the other night after a game and discussing why are Belfast teams that had so much going on years ago are struggling to get numbers...

I can remember never failing to field at my grade from under 12 up in hurling and football in juvenile, the first sort of problem I recognised was at under21 hurling at my age, we didn't enter a team, having entered a team every year before, this wasn't a players decision but committee calls.


Amalgamations happened elsewhere and there was always a pathway for players to progress to senior or reserve level, what has changed in those years? What's made it so different to now?

Lack of planning by clubs?
Other sporting options, with better set ups and regular weekly games?
No passion for Gaa
Schools not promoting GAA as the main sport?
The same mentors doing all the work as there is a lack of buy in from parents?
Social issues, inner city problems (they can be everywhere, like the ones I've mentioned)

If there was a poll on the number one sport in West Belfast I'd be interested to see what came up
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Ciall on May 18, 2022, 10:09:40 PM
Think soccer wins that hands down.
So much more options for kids now too- iPads, consoles etc. Easier to sit and play indoors, talk with friends in the comfort of their own home online.
I don't think a lot of  GAA coaches and clubs  take that into consideration. Certainly not half the people on this board- "here's a youngster at my session, he should be doing s&c, individual ball work, eating right, and the more I yell at him, the more he'll respond etc etc."
It's not like Loughgeil where the community idolise the senior hurlers/camogs and they strive to be at that level. For every GAA person I know, I probably know 1 other that doesnt play sport now as a young adult, live a relatively healthy lifestyle and enjoy life travelling or nights, out in the pub at the weekend. GAA players don't get that luxury a lot of the time.
As much as we love and live for the GAA, I feel there's a lack of understanding as to why young people are involved in it. Majority are in it due to friends and fun, but our coaches and members are interested in the wins- and how the county do- and what we need to do to get there.
Soccer leagues have 7/8 divisions - others have even more! It allows everyone to find their level and enjoy it depending on how they want to prepare for it. I know loads of fellas meet up on a Saturday, play a game of soccer and head for pints after. That's the height of it... we call that South Antrim and there's a fair amount of stigma attached to that. I'd love to see clubs take a more business like approach to things where sessions are catered to their audience rather than "here's what I did when I was senior and got to a final one year," even though they've not even considered one piece of coaching literature, attended a coaching course and the kids are 12! I think we could do with more of a look at some form of recreational play for teenage participation. Half pace hurling is a great example of people who just love it, regardless of performance. 

Sorry for the rant lol, but to answer your question......
More visibility.....  in schools,  and more GAA focused leaders in schools and communities. Likes of Tyrone have club people with an influence on Board of Governors etc who get a bit of a say in the recruitment of teachers.
Unless clubs are in schools then how do we ever become visible to kids? Would love to see Gaelfast become more Dublin-like in the sense that a staff member works specifically for a club and recruits as much as possible. Really should've been the model suggested by SV initially anyway but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

More visibility... in general... we have Casement looking a sorry state, get that built on the road and kids can drive by in awe of its presence. In the south they have GAA adverts, billboards etc. I believe it all adds to it. Due to obvious reasons I don't think our businesses can advertise using GAA players as much!

More visibility= more kids.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Last Man on May 19, 2022, 04:43:58 PM
Quote from: Ciall on May 18, 2022, 10:09:40 PM
Think soccer wins that hands down.
So much more options for kids now too- iPads, consoles etc. Easier to sit and play indoors, talk with friends in the comfort of their own home online.
I don't think a lot of  GAA coaches and clubs  take that into consideration. Certainly not half the people on this board- "here's a youngster at my session, he should be doing s&c, individual ball work, eating right, and the more I yell at him, the more he'll respond etc etc."
It's not like Loughgeil where the community idolise the senior hurlers/camogs and they strive to be at that level. For every GAA person I know, I probably know 1 other that doesnt play sport now as a young adult, live a relatively healthy lifestyle and enjoy life travelling or nights, out in the pub at the weekend. GAA players don't get that luxury a lot of the time.
As much as we love and live for the GAA, I feel there's a lack of understanding as to why young people are involved in it. Majority are in it due to friends and fun, but our coaches and members are interested in the wins- and how the county do- and what we need to do to get there.
Soccer leagues have 7/8 divisions - others have even more! It allows everyone to find their level and enjoy it depending on how they want to prepare for it. I know loads of fellas meet up on a Saturday, play a game of soccer and head for pints after. That's the height of it... we call that South Antrim and there's a fair amount of stigma attached to that. I'd love to see clubs take a more business like approach to things where sessions are catered to their audience rather than "here's what I did when I was senior and got to a final one year," even though they've not even considered one piece of coaching literature, attended a coaching course and the kids are 12! I think we could do with more of a look at some form of recreational play for teenage participation. Half pace hurling is a great example of people who just love it, regardless of performance. 

Sorry for the rant lol, but to answer your question......
More visibility.....  in schools,  and more GAA focused leaders in schools and communities. Likes of Tyrone have club people with an influence on Board of Governors etc who get a bit of a say in the recruitment of teachers.
Unless clubs are in schools then how do we ever become visible to kids? Would love to see Gaelfast become more Dublin-like in the sense that a staff member works specifically for a club and recruits as much as possible. Really should've been the model suggested by SV initially anyway but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

More visibility... in general... we have Casement looking a sorry state, get that built on the road and kids can drive by in awe of its presence. In the south they have GAA adverts, billboards etc. I believe it all adds to it. Due to obvious reasons I don't think our businesses can advertise using GAA players as much!

More visibility= more kids.
For me one of the big problems is that we all now live in a world of over stimulation and we are falling over ourselves to make sure our kids are indulged with all the available tech so they will give us peace to lose ourselves in our own social media controlled world. In doing so we have handed over parenting to a screen. Houses full of lap tops, ipads, TVs in all the bedrooms, kids eating meals in their bedrooms, zero conversation. Its f**king weird. Its actually ok to be bored, it stimulates the imagination. Bedrooms are for sleeping, not recreation. Meals should be had at the kitchen table.
Rural areas have managed to hold on to a greater sense of community compared to us but the fibre broadband is on its way and another few years will see them not much better off.
Unless parents take responsibility that is.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Upandover on June 02, 2022, 05:45:55 PM
Ive recently started mentoring at a local west belfast club, u8/u9, done a couple of courses with gaelfast, bought a few books, both sons play for the club.
Every weekend we are struggling for numbers, we have great facilities, number one culprit....... Caravan season!
I dread to see what its going to be like when the schools finish for summer.
On a sidenote, anyone recommend any books dual codes?
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Upandover on June 02, 2022, 05:49:17 PM
Davitts have some green shoots appearing, great facilities and with alan rainey doing well with antrim minors it can only benefit the davitts, some great hurlers coming through.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on June 02, 2022, 06:17:24 PM
Quote from: Upandover on June 02, 2022, 05:45:55 PM
Ive recently started mentoring at a local west belfast club, u8/u9, done a couple of courses with gaelfast, bought a few books, both sons play for the club.
Every weekend we are struggling for numbers, we have great facilities, number one culprit....... Caravan season!
I dread to see what its going to be like when the schools finish for summer.
On a sidenote, anyone recommend any books dual codes?

Caravans blight of Derry city gaa
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: charlieTully on June 02, 2022, 09:52:28 PM
Quote from: Ciall on May 18, 2022, 10:09:40 PM
Think soccer wins that hands down.
So much more options for kids now too- iPads, consoles etc. Easier to sit and play indoors, talk with friends in the comfort of their own home online.
I don't think a lot of  GAA coaches and clubs  take that into consideration. Certainly not half the people on this board- "here's a youngster at my session, he should be doing s&c, individual ball work, eating right, and the more I yell at him, the more he'll respond etc etc."
It's not like Loughgeil where the community idolise the senior hurlers/camogs and they strive to be at that level. For every GAA person I know, I probably know 1 other that doesnt play sport now as a young adult, live a relatively healthy lifestyle and enjoy life travelling or nights, out in the pub at the weekend. GAA players don't get that luxury a lot of the time.
As much as we love and live for the GAA, I feel there's a lack of understanding as to why young people are involved in it. Majority are in it due to friends and fun, but our coaches and members are interested in the wins- and how the county do- and what we need to do to get there.
Soccer leagues have 7/8 divisions - others have even more! It allows everyone to find their level and enjoy it depending on how they want to prepare for it. I know loads of fellas meet up on a Saturday, play a game of soccer and head for pints after. That's the height of it... we call that South Antrim and there's a fair amount of stigma attached to that. I'd love to see clubs take a more business like approach to things where sessions are catered to their audience rather than "here's what I did when I was senior and got to a final one year," even though they've not even considered one piece of coaching literature, attended a coaching course and the kids are 12! I think we could do with more of a look at some form of recreational play for teenage participation. Half pace hurling is a great example of people who just love it, regardless of performance. 

Sorry for the rant lol, but to answer your question......
More visibility.....  in schools,  and more GAA focused leaders in schools and communities. Likes of Tyrone have club people with an influence on Board of Governors etc who get a bit of a say in the recruitment of teachers.
Unless clubs are in schools then how do we ever become visible to kids? Would love to see Gaelfast become more Dublin-like in the sense that a staff member works specifically for a club and recruits as much as possible. Really should've been the model suggested by SV initially anyway but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

More visibility... in general... we have Casement looking a sorry state, get that built on the road and kids can drive by in awe of its presence. In the south they have GAA adverts, billboards etc. I believe it all adds to it. Due to obvious reasons I don't think our businesses can advertise using GAA players as much!

More visibility= more kids.

So much in this post rings true. Not just a belfast thing but all over. There is always so much discussion around player drop out. A lot of it I think is disillusionment from parents. They pay memberships, buy county draw tickets lotto etc, help out in various aspects around the club but coaches play the strongest team. Lads sit on the bench, maybe get the last 5 mins etc. The idea of development is lost on a lot of coaches. Go games rules completely ignored for the sake of trying for a win. The old school is certainly not the best school. Coaches are short sighted. A generalisation maybe. A lot don't think about the long term benefits to the club. Wee Jimmy might not be able to win you a match at 14 but he could be running a successful business at 34 and invest in a club where he has been made to feel a part of it  not cart aside at a young age. Who remembers winning an under 12 game. Jesus I can barely mind a single one. Our ethos has got lost somewhere.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: barnish oggie on June 03, 2022, 09:47:02 AM
Quote from: Upandover on June 02, 2022, 05:45:55 PM
Ive recently started mentoring at a local west belfast club, u8/u9, done a couple of courses with gaelfast, bought a few books, both sons play for the club.
Every weekend we are struggling for numbers, we have great facilities, number one culprit....... Caravan season!
I dread to see what its going to be like when the schools finish for summer.
On a sidenote, anyone recommend any books dual codes?

You should get in contact with Colm Nally on twitter @colmnally and order a copy of his football book.
"Games-Based Approach to Gaelic Football"

Loads of small sided games to use in training sessions.

Much better than the standing in a line drills that we grew up with.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: bannside on June 03, 2022, 05:36:48 PM
Or the original coaching bible "Games for better team play" by Philip Kerr, Terence Mc Williams and John Morrison.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: johnnycool on June 06, 2022, 03:32:16 PM
Quote from: Upandover on June 02, 2022, 05:49:17 PM
Davitts have some green shoots appearing, great facilities and with alan rainey doing well with antrim minors it can only benefit the davitts, some great hurlers coming through.

Fierce work being put in by the Davitts, hurling wise Rainey and Michéal has them here, there and everywhere and they're getting their rewards. Fair play to them.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Walter Cronc on June 06, 2022, 03:55:58 PM
Understand city has many more challenges but I think the key is the culture of a club. If that's right, when the players come (usually a cyclical thing) then you will have success. Wee Jimmy might not be a deadly footballer or hurler but he might be a great Irish dancer or brilliant at the Scor. Thats equally as important because he might have a brother or sister who is a future star. In summary keeping families involved is a huge thing and something we (Glen) have put a big focus on.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: general_lee on June 06, 2022, 04:36:11 PM
I know families in Belfast and they've more clubs than tiger woods!
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on June 06, 2022, 07:18:05 PM
Quote from: johnnycool on June 06, 2022, 03:32:16 PM
Quote from: Upandover on June 02, 2022, 05:49:17 PM
Davitts have some green shoots appearing, great facilities and with alan rainey doing well with antrim minors it can only benefit the davitts, some great hurlers coming through.

Fierce work being put in by the Davitts, hurling wise Rainey and Michéal has them here, there and everywhere and they're getting their rewards. Fair play to them.

Very hard to sustain . More power to them if they can
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Saffsof82 on June 06, 2022, 11:22:59 PM
Quote from: Upandover on June 02, 2022, 05:45:55 PM
Ive recently started mentoring at a local west belfast club, u8/u9, done a couple of courses with gaelfast, bought a few books, both sons play for the club.
Every weekend we are struggling for numbers, we have great facilities, number one culprit....... Caravan season!
I dread to see what its going to be like when the schools finish for summer.
On a sidenote, anyone recommend any books dual codes?

"Give us a game" published by Dublin I think
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Ciall on June 06, 2022, 11:31:59 PM
Quote from: Saffsof82 on June 06, 2022, 11:22:59 PM
Quote from: Upandover on June 02, 2022, 05:45:55 PM
Ive recently started mentoring at a local west belfast club, u8/u9, done a couple of courses with gaelfast, bought a few books, both sons play for the club.
Every weekend we are struggling for numbers, we have great facilities, number one culprit....... Caravan season!
I dread to see what its going to be like when the schools finish for summer.
On a sidenote, anyone recommend any books dual codes?

"Give us a game" published by Dublin I think



A few free online resources (especially for u8/9 as you say):

https://antrimgaagamesdevelopment.ie/resources/lets-play-a-game

https://antrimgaagamesdevelopment.ie/resources/the-family-of-games

https://learning.gaa.ie/planner/


Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Upandover on June 11, 2022, 10:20:06 PM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on June 06, 2022, 07:18:05 PM
Quote from: johnnycool on June 06, 2022, 03:32:16 PM
Quote from: Upandover on June 02, 2022, 05:49:17 PM
Davitts have some green shoots appearing, great facilities and with alan rainey doing well with antrim minors it can only benefit the davitts, some great hurlers coming through.

Fierce work being put in by the Davitts, hurling wise Rainey and Michéal has them here, there and everywhere and they're getting their rewards. Fair play to them.

Very hard to sustain . More power to them if they can
What makes you say that? Just curious.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on June 11, 2022, 11:05:40 PM
Quote from: Upandover on June 11, 2022, 10:20:06 PM
Quote from: Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on June 06, 2022, 07:18:05 PM
Quote from: johnnycool on June 06, 2022, 03:32:16 PM
Quote from: Upandover on June 02, 2022, 05:49:17 PM
Davitts have some green shoots appearing, great facilities and with alan rainey doing well with antrim minors it can only benefit the davitts, some great hurlers coming through.

Fierce work being put in by the Davitts, hurling wise Rainey and Michéal has them here, there and everywhere and they're getting their rewards. Fair play to them.

Very hard to sustain . More power to them if they can
What makes you say that? Just curious.

Usually you will find new clubs or rejuvenated clubs with 3-4 men piling everything around 1-2 age groups . I've seen it a lot. When we started in 80s we had very good senior team by 92-95 but nobody could keep it going behind that, far too stretched.
Dungannon have bucked the trend so hopefully Davitts can too
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Upandover on March 07, 2023, 03:22:01 PM
Looks like davitts are getting a new indoor 4g pitch to go along with the rest of the facilities at davitt park, lack of facilities certainly no longer an excuse at the club.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Milltown Row2 on March 07, 2023, 03:29:32 PM
Quote from: Upandover on March 07, 2023, 03:22:01 PM
Looks like davitts are getting a new indoor 4g pitch to go along with the rest of the facilities at davitt park, lack of facilities certainly no longer an excuse at the club.

Plenty of revenue so needs spent! Where are they putting it? they have a 4g small area already, extending it?
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Upandover on March 07, 2023, 03:50:05 PM
They have a 4g muga already, this hall is south of that in the grounds of corpus christi school.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Milltown Row2 on March 07, 2023, 04:26:08 PM
Quote from: Upandover on March 07, 2023, 03:50:05 PM
They have a 4g muga already, this hall is south of that in the grounds of corpus christi school.

Very good, the old tennis court area... My old school before it was Corpus
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Upandover on March 07, 2023, 04:33:17 PM
That exact area, i went to that school when it was corpus, now mentoring my boys in the same spot.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: SaffronSports on March 30, 2023, 11:19:19 PM
Are all the clubs in Belfast funding their own facilities or are they getting council money, GAA money or just rich members putting loads in? Just asking as I was at Lamh Dhearg on Monday and Davitts tonight and the facilities are outstanding. Obviously quite a few other clubs in Belfast with excellent facilities too.
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Christmas Lights on April 02, 2023, 10:39:58 PM
Quote from: SaffronSports on March 30, 2023, 11:19:19 PM
Are all the clubs in Belfast funding their own facilities or are they getting council money, GAA money or just rich members putting loads in? Just asking as I was at Lamh Dhearg on Monday and Davitts tonight and the facilities are outstanding. Obviously quite a few other clubs in Belfast with excellent facilities too.

I could be wrong but a lot of Belfast clubs I believe have their own pretty successful social clubs which generates healthy revenues
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Milltown Row2 on April 02, 2023, 11:00:11 PM
Quote from: Christmas Lights on April 02, 2023, 10:39:58 PM
Quote from: SaffronSports on March 30, 2023, 11:19:19 PM
Are all the clubs in Belfast funding their own facilities or are they getting council money, GAA money or just rich members putting loads in? Just asking as I was at Lamh Dhearg on Monday and Davitts tonight and the facilities are outstanding. Obviously quite a few other clubs in Belfast with excellent facilities too.

I could be wrong but a lot of Belfast clubs I believe have their own pretty successful social clubs which generates healthy revenues

Maybe one or two make a profit, since GFA the profit margins dropped by around 80%
Title: Re: Belfast GAA is dying...
Post by: Walter Cronc on April 04, 2023, 07:01:05 PM
I see Knock won the year 9 B colleges there. Would they now be the strongest GAA school in the city? St Mary's CBS seems to have dropped off in both codes. Any reason?