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The story of the GAA is largely one of success, there is however one area in which it has monumentally failed. The stated aims of our founders, which are still contained within our constitution, include a committment to promote the ancient game of Rounders. I am not aware of any current Rounders competitions, i do  not know anyone who plays the game, apart from children inthe school-yard, have never heard this sport mentioned in any GAA forum, so why do we persist with this patently absurd pretention. What led the founding fathers to consider it a national sport worth preserving, was there just too much strong drink taken in Hayes Hotel.

Anyone like to add to this list. before you do, remember that Tyrone or Armagh winning the All Ireland are not important in the grand scheme of things
Important Dates of the GAA

    * 1884 - the GAA is founded on November 1 in Hayes' Hotel in Thurles, Tipperary
    * 1886 - the Artane Boys Band gives its first GAA public performance on June 14 of this year
    * 1887 - Tipperary and Limerick win the first All-Ireland Hurling and Football Finals respectively
    * 1892 - goals are made equal to five points and teams are reduced fro 21 to 17-a-side.
    * 1896 - the value of a goal is reduced from 5 points to 3 points
    * 1912 - the junior championships are introduced at All-Ireland level
    * 1913 - the Jones' Rd. ground, Dublin, is purchased by the GAA and renamed Croke Memorial Park
    * 1920 - twelve spectators and a player, Michael Hogan, are killed in Croke Park during a Black & Tan raid
    * 1926 - the first radio broadcast of a GAA match took place when Galway played Kilkenny
    * 1931 - the name Cumann Luthchleas Gael is adopted
    * 1935 - the GAA enters its second half century: a crowd of 50,000 attend the All-Ireland Finals
    * 1938 - Micheál O Hehir commentates on fis first GAA match
    * 1939 - the Cork V. Kilkenny hurling match is remembered as the thunder & lightning final as the climax is played in a storm
    * 1947 - the Cavan V. Kerry All-Ireland Football Final is played in the Polo Grounds, New York.
    * 1954 - a record 84,856 attend Croke Park when Cork play Wexford in the hurling final
    * 1959 - 75th Anniversary of the GAA: the first cantilevered New Hogan Stand is opened at Croke Park
    * 1961 - a record 90,556 attend the Down V. Offaly All-Ireland Football Final at Croke Park
    * 1962 - the first GAA match is broadcast live on Telefís Éireann (RTÉ)
    * 1976 - Páirc Uí Chaoimh is opened in Cork City
    * 1984 - Centenary year of the GAA: the All-Ireland Hurling Final between Cork & Offaly is played in Thurles
    * 1993 - a grand plan to completely re-construct Croke Park was launched
    * 1996 - the new Cusack Stand was opened
    * 2002 - the redeveloped Cusack, Canal End and Hogan Stands were officially opened
    * 2003 - the Nally Stand was removed to make way for the refurbishment of Hill 16

Political Correctness
Multiculturism
Racism
Foul Language
Yobbish Behaviour
The Term...All right minded people
Pat Kenny

The Referee is free to press charges, if he so wishes, i can think of no reason why he should not do so. Its time the thuggish offenders were held accountable for their actions and not the often innocent club,whose name they besmirch

Copied from website of Kilmoyley G.A.A.Club
   

For those of you who follow the GAA...
Knowing that the situation in Afghanistan can be a little confusing, here is the quick guide to the main GAA players in more global terms.

USA = Kerry - Utterly Arrogant and motivated by greed.
If they suffer the slightest injustice the whole world hears about it. Leader sees himself as bit of a visionary, most see him as bit of a tyrant.

Al Qaeda = Meath - Thugs who like to take out opponents behind the play.
Capable of upsetting just about anyone. Leader is a paranoid nutter.

United Kingdom = Galway - Had moved forward having been stuck in the past for decades.
Have a leader who loves the sound of his own voice, full of rhetoric whilst ducking the important issues.

France = Sligo - Perennial bridesmaids. Have a huge armoury but heavily criticised in the past for misfiring. More likely to bore you to death than to be a real threat toanyone.

Pakistan = Kildare - Trying hard to be one of the big boys, but has upset a large percentage of it's supporter base
through its over involvement with foreigners. Could soon experience a revolt within its own ranks.

India = Down - A sleeping giant, not a contender at the moment but with a huge supporter base.
Likes to think it's opinion is worth plenty, yet is largely ignored by non-fans. Local derbies can be a bit fier

Dubnut i was being disparaging of the views expressed by the people who were critisizing your own sensible and reasonable statement on the issue. The keep your Head down and whatever you say,say nothing brigade, who appear to have a problem with marking or remembering seminal events in the history of the G.A.A. or the Nation.

Apologies Gael, thought you had started the thread, its the lay-out on this new board

If this debate illustrates anything, it is the fact that shoneeism and gombeenism is still alive and well in the so called modern Ireland of the Celtic Tiger.

Its interesting to note that the all bar one of the Names put forward by the Gael are forwards, the same trend is reflected in the votes to date. Defenders never get the recognition they deserve. I have been priveliged too have seen all of these players in their prime. Rather than choose one, i would just like to note that only one player since the sixties..Mickey Linden..would have been good enough to merit inclusion in the 60/61 team, and even he would have struggled to earn that place. BTW. i have heard real old timers from Down, Tyrone,Armagh and even Kerry state emphatically that the best footballer they ever seen was a Down-Man named Dan Lavery who played in the forties. Ah Hell if i have to pick one from the last fifty years, ill go for Tony Hadden, if only for his versatility.

No problem with Jersey change every three years, though dont see the point other than crass commercialism. Big problem with O Neills no longer full strips for children as a pack, Jersey,Shorts,Socks, as they use to do, for about £25. Each item has now to be purchased separately at a cost of about £40/50. A real rip off

In what year was the rotational system for AI semi-finals introduced

Paddy Russels decision in the 1995 final was the correct one
Pat Donnan definitely carried the ball over the line in the 86 ulster final, much as it pains me to say it. I was standing in direct line with the posts, and said it was a goal even before the umpire flagged it.

Agree with your general points Darbyo, but your suggested solution is actually part of the problem, we need less of this so called coaching, not more. Listen to the mantras of todays coaches, get behind the ball, play tight dont give the ball away, dont shoot under pressure...a good summation of all this nonsense would be dont take responsibility, dont kick the ball if there is another option,play negatively.  The basic skills of gaelic football are not being taught or practised. When a team like Mayobridge records 1 point in a game,and other Co. Champions are faring little better, then there is something seriously wrong. I am pointing the finger firmly at the modern coaches and tacticians, if someone has another theory im willing to listen.

Have just checked the members register,too see if all the Down men made it over. We seem to have left The Gael behind. Could some-one go back and get him, before the inner circle seize control of this board.