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[and hundreds of others]

HQ need to stand their ground on this one. A very small but very loud minority support this politicising of the games. It remains incredibly distasteful to me that these people use the Palestinian cause as a prop to further their own selfish ends.

If anyone wants to pretend that all but a few of these people have any real interest in their plights and it isn't yet another attempt to try to wind up unionists in the north, cop on. Creating divisions rather than trying to bridge them, even in sport.

So Give Her Dixie and hundreds of others drove 3,000 miles with aid to Gaza just to annoy Unionists? 

Christ. What's the point of even arguing with someone who will so wilfully try to manipulate facts?

How many people does it take to drive a lorry these days? How many were even Irish, let alone GAA supporters? This isn't the north, you can't just invent facts and expect them to stick.

you must be some craic on a night out......

Facts are facts. I commend you on your personal dedication to humanitarianism but if you can't see that others are using the cause as a prop in a way that isn't befitting the gravity of the situation I fear you can't see the forest for the trees.

Can you give me any examples of what you are seeing that i'm not?

[and hundreds of others]

HQ need to stand their ground on this one. A very small but very loud minority support this politicising of the games. It remains incredibly distasteful to me that these people use the Palestinian cause as a prop to further their own selfish ends.

If anyone wants to pretend that all but a few of these people have any real interest in their plights and it isn't yet another attempt to try to wind up unionists in the north, cop on. Creating divisions rather than trying to bridge them, even in sport.

So Give Her Dixie and hundreds of others drove 3,000 miles with aid to Gaza just to annoy Unionists? 

Christ. What's the point of even arguing with someone who will so wilfully try to manipulate facts?

How many people does it take to drive a lorry these days? How many were even Irish, let alone GAA supporters? This isn't the north, you can't just invent facts and expect them to stick.

you must be some craic on a night out......

It never ceases to amaze me how those who know so little do the most crying over something they know they know so little about, or even care about.

The experience in Clones yesterday was fantastic. Not only did dozens of flags fly proudly at the game, but the streets of Clones had flags everywhere.

I was along with a good friend from Gaza who has been living here for a long time. He was the proudest person in Clones yesterday as he saw his flag flying everywhere. To see his pride at the sight of the flags was a joy to behold, and to be in among the Fermanagh and Donegal supporters flying the flag was extra special.

Not only did this photo make it into today's Irish News, but also in the Daily Record in Scotland on an article about Arlene going to the game !!

Viva Palestina

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/dup-leader-arlene-foster-attends-12782961

http://www.irishnews.com/paywall/tsb/irishnews/irishnews/irishnews//news/2018/06/25/news/palestinian-flags-on-display-during-ulster-final-as-gaa-appears-to-soften-its-stance-1364063/content.html

https://twitter.com/TyroneGAALive/status/1010576984932601856

Bring back John Hurson

https://www.sportsjoe.ie/gaa/tyrone-gaa-paul-broderick-tweet-carlow-165337

If anyone is to blame for this GAA / Palestine flag issue it's the members of this board who first came forward with donations
of money towards my crazy idea to fill a van or a lorry with aid and go join a convoy to Gaza in the UK organised by George Galloway.

His idea was in response to the 21 day assault on Gaza by Israel called Operation Cast Lead that left over 1,400 dead in late 08/09. Having rallies was one thing, direct action was another and he came up with this idea of a convoy through North Africa and into Gaza via the Rafah crossing.

It was an incredible journey, and when we broke the siege I was so so proud to drive through the Rafah Crossing into Gaza in a Rocwell lorry filled not only with a token of aid, but with the love and solidarity from not only everyone on this site, but everyone in Ireland, and beyond.

What we witnessed over the time we were there so soon after the attacks changed each and everyone of us forever.

It got into our blood and we all pledged after our journey that we would do all we could to help in any way we could.

Because of the support of this site, I had a big GAABoard.com sticker on the lorry going in, and it represented everyone here.

The lorry stayed along with the aid. The GAA had arrived in Gaza.....

Throughout all that time from then to now I have dedicated my life to Gaza and Palestine.

With the love and support from my family and friends I have been able to do what I can for the Palestinians.

I have a big Tyrone to Gaza flag that has been signed by too many people to mention.

In 'early 09 when I decided to go to Gaza, Tyrone were All Ireland Champions.

Their sponsors Rocwell donated  a lorry, members of this board paid for the fuel, O'Neills in Strabane donated hundreds of jerseys, clubs across the land donated jerseys, I had the Sam Maguire in the lorry before departure,and on the front page of the Irish News. I had the full support of the All Ireland champions and beyond and off I went.....

And I turned my drive to Gaza into a journey of the GAA showing solidarity to Gaza........

When I got to Gaza I got to hand out Dublin and Meath jerseys, among others, and had something smart to say about it...

Gaza and Palestine is in my blood, an by my actions I tried to associate the GAA into their suffering.

It wan't long ago when we were suffering, and we were glad of all the help we could get.

The Choctaw Indians sent us help, the Ottoman Islamic Empire sent us help, and the least we can do right now is send some solidarity to the Palestinians, and repay the love and respect we got from others when we needed it.

If that means flying a flag at a GAA match, then so be it.


Let's not become the cow that forgot it was a calf...........

Please?

I don't know what possesses people to bring Palestinian flags or any flags outside of their own county to a football match.  Have people nothing better to be at?  There's a time and place. Is it really because folk feel some empathy for others' plight or is it just a chance to stick two fingers up at unionists. Knowing how both sides here think I'd guess it's the latter sadly.

Coming to that conclusion demonstrates your lack of understanding of the issue at hand.

[GAA says there is no ban on Palestinian flags at grounds]

GAA says there is no ban on Palestinian flags at grounds

The GAA last night denied it has banned Palestinian flags from its grounds.

Responding to a petition from around 1,200 of its members, Ulster GAA said there is no ban "per se" on national flags being taken to matches.

All-Ireland winners Peter Canavan and Oisin McConville were among dozens of current and former county players to sign the petition from 'Concerned Gaels.'

The petition came after Ulster Council officials sought the removal of two Palestinian flags during a championship game at Healy Park, Omagh last month. And earlier this month, a match between Tyrone and Meath in Navan saw a Tyrone fans holding a Palestinian flag arrested by Gardai.

Meanwhile, Palestinian campaigner John Hurson was removed from a voluntary position as Tyrone social media officer after he criticised the attempt to remove the flags at Healy Park.

In a statement, Ulster GAA said: "The safety of the teams, supporters and volunteers who run our games is paramount and that duty of care by Ulster GAA is always at the forefront of how we run our games.

"There is no ban per se on national flags being taken into our grounds. However, should any flag cause an obstruction or present a risk to health & safety, for example, due to the size or type of flagpole used, the GAA reserves the right to have that flagpole removed from the grounds.

"Our protocols state that flags other than the national flag, Association flag and the flags of competing teams should not be flown from flagpoles at our games.

"We respect the right of any member to hold their own views or opinions but our games are sporting occasions and our venues are not an appropriate place to express such views. Ulster GAA today accepted a petition from 'Concerned Gaels' and were happy to do so."

http://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2018/06/21/news/gaa-denies-palestinian-flag-ban-1361100/?param=ds441rif44T

How can you sign the petition? The article mentions a website but I couldn't find it online

http://www.concernedgaels.com/

HQ need to stand their ground on this one. A very small but very loud minority support this politicising of the games. It remains incredibly distasteful to me that these people use the Palestinian cause as a prop to further their own selfish ends.

If anyone wants to pretend that all but a few of these people have any real interest in their plights and it isn't yet another attempt to try to wind up unionists in the north, cop on. Creating divisions rather than trying to bridge them, even in sport.

Just shut up. Please. Shut up and take time to read and understand the sentiments of the people not only in Ulster, but across Ireland  right now.

[High-profile GAA members sign Palestine petition amid controversy over flags]

High-profile GAA members sign Palestine petition amid controversy over flags

Around 1,200 Ulster GAA members have signed a petition in support of the people of Palestine amid controversy over attempts to stop flags being flown at grounds.

All-Ireland winners Peter Canavan and Oisin McConville are among dozens of current and former county players to have added their names to the initiative by a group called 'Concerned Gaels'.

It is expected that a copy of the petition, which calls for support for the Palestinian people and their demands for human rights, will be handed to the Ulster Council in Armagh today.

Organisers say county players to have signed it include Armagh's Brendan Donaghy and Gavin McParland and Tyrone's Padraig McNulty, with former players including Tyrone's Paudge Quinn.

It is understood it has also received the backing of Tyrone manager Mickey Harte.

The petition comes after Ulster Council officials ordered the removal of two Palestinian flags during a championship game at Healy Park in Omagh last month, although it is believed an attempt to remove them was unsuccessful.

The council has said the only flags allowed in grounds are the official GAA flag, national flag and team colours.

Earlier this month, a match between Tyrone and Meath in Navan - not under the auspices of Ulster GAA - saw a Tyrone fan holding a Palestinian flag arrested by gardaí following an exchange with officers. The Dungannon man was later given an adult caution and released.

A prominent Palestinian campaigner, John Hurson, also revealed that he was told he would no longer needed as Tyrone's match day social media officer on the morning of the Meath game.

An honorary Palestinian citizen, he had voiced his criticism of the attempt to remove flags at Healy Park and believes the decision to drop him was linked to his comments.

Mr Hurson is known throughout Ireland for his work with the 'Tyrone to Gaza' group and managed the official Tyrone social media feeds voluntarily since 2011.

The petition states: "We, the undersigned members of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, abhor the ongoing genocide in Palestine and call on all right thinking people to continue to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and support their demands for basic human rights.

"We also call on Comhairle Uladh CLG to guarantee that the appalling scenes in Páirc Tailteann, Navan, are never repeated at any GAA ground in the province of Ulster."

Organisers say the petition received more than 1,200 signatures in a week after every club in Ulster was contacted by email.

It is understood copies have also been distributed at both club and county training sessions across the province.

A spokeswoman for Concerned Gaels said the incident in Navan was "the final straw".

"It seems to be Ulster who are driving this," she said.

"Officials from the Ulster Council need to fully explain the thinking behind this."

The Ulster Council did not respond to requests for comment yesterday.

The petition organisers have set up a Facebook page and website for anyone who wants to add their names.

https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2018/06/20/news/high-profile-gaa-members-sign-palestine-petition-amid-controversy-over-flags-1360241/

Surprised by the number of "if your view is blocked, move" comments. If I pay my money in and some gobshite has a flag up permanently that's obstructing my view, I'll be telling him to take it down pretty swiftly.

Also don't see any reason to disbelieve the statement from the gardai. He was arrested for being an abusive p***k, not for having a flag.

I witnessed both incidents today and I was told on both occasions by the Gardai that they were "committing incitement to hatred" by flying the Palestinian flag. As I had a Palestinian shirt on I asked why I wasn't been arrested. I was informed it was just Palestinian flags.

Maybe you witnessed something different from me today when you say "He was arrested for being an abusive p***k, not for having a flag."

And what would be so wrong in showing solidarity to these lads in Gaza playing football in Dublin and Meath jerseys at a time when the world has forgotten them?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbDAj0QcnPs

Across Ireland and throughout the world people are coming out to show solidarity with Palestine following the mass slaughter there this week by Israeli Occupation Forces, funded and supported by the USA.

This evening over 100 people gathered in Dungannon to show solidarity with the besieged Palestinians in Gaza, the worlds largest open air prison.

Viva Gaza, Viva Palestina

And for good measure Israel flew over the Gaza prison camp in the past couple of hours dropping US taxpayers bombs

https://twitter.com/Almeqdad/status/996877528051716096