We need to talk about the Dubs - get it off your chest

[Syferus]

But seriously, flags bigger than A4 are banned? that's absolutely ludicrous. What sort of bolloxes are these people? I understood the security implications of large rucksacks etc, but what the heck is the rationale for banning flags? That's pathetic.

You can write political slogans on a something bigger than an A4.
While this is common it can often be fobed off at soccer games but Croke park and Hill 16 has a wider impact.
This is the motivation behind the ban.

The problem with Dublin on Hill 16 is that they organised themselves.

Are political slogans a problem in GAA circles? I haven't seen any? The big flag ban is mental itself, but banning ALL flags larger than A4 is just ludicrous. Sure the flags in the crowd add to the colour and excitement that they are always blathering on about in Croker.

How many times have you been trapped behind a jackass with a big flag? Not fun.

[AZOffaly]

Fair enough. But In that case can't they just say banners with political messages will be removed. Talking about flags greater than A4 size is basically thousands of kids and others with their county flags, and banning them from Croke Park. Where do they think the colour they love comes from?

[AZOffaly]

But seriously, flags bigger than A4 are banned? that's absolutely ludicrous. What sort of bolloxes are these people? I understood the security implications of large rucksacks etc, but what the heck is the rationale for banning flags? That's pathetic.

You can write political slogans on a something bigger than an A4.
While this is common it can often be fobed off at soccer games but Croke park and Hill 16 has a wider impact.
This is the motivation behind the ban.

The problem with Dublin on Hill 16 is that they organised themselves.

Are political slogans a problem in GAA circles? I haven't seen any? The big flag ban is mental itself, but banning ALL flags larger than A4 is just ludicrous. Sure the flags in the crowd add to the colour and excitement that they are always blathering on about in Croker.

How many times have you been trapped behind a jackass with a big flag? Not fun.

Ah stop. Are umbrellas banned too? They're bigger than A4 and a damn sight more annoying than a flag that only gets waved when there's a score or something anyway.

[Owenmoresider]

But seriously, flags bigger than A4 are banned? that's absolutely ludicrous. What sort of bolloxes are these people? I understood the security implications of large rucksacks etc, but what the heck is the rationale for banning flags? That's pathetic.

You can write political slogans on a something bigger than an A4.
While this is common it can often be fobed off at soccer games but Croke park and Hill 16 has a wider impact.
This is the motivation behind the ban.

The problem with Dublin on Hill 16 is that they organised themselves.

Are political slogans a problem in GAA circles? I haven't seen any? The big flag ban is mental itself, but banning ALL flags larger than A4 is just ludicrous. Sure the flags in the crowd add to the colour and excitement that they are always blathering on about in Croker.

How many times have you been trapped behind a jackass with a big flag? Not fun.

Ah stop. Are umbrellas banned too? They're bigger than A4 and a damn sight more annoying than a flag that only gets waved when there's a score or something anyway.

Ah sure you can by the Croke Park-branded ponchos inside to make you marginally less drenched than you otherwise will be. Another nice little earner for McKenna and co.

[Syferus]

But seriously, flags bigger than A4 are banned? that's absolutely ludicrous. What sort of bolloxes are these people? I understood the security implications of large rucksacks etc, but what the heck is the rationale for banning flags? That's pathetic.

You can write political slogans on a something bigger than an A4.
While this is common it can often be fobed off at soccer games but Croke park and Hill 16 has a wider impact.
This is the motivation behind the ban.

The problem with Dublin on Hill 16 is that they organised themselves.

Are political slogans a problem in GAA circles? I haven't seen any? The big flag ban is mental itself, but banning ALL flags larger than A4 is just ludicrous. Sure the flags in the crowd add to the colour and excitement that they are always blathering on about in Croker.

How many times have you been trapped behind a jackass with a big flag? Not fun.

Ah stop. Are umbrellas banned too? They're bigger than A4 and a damn sight more annoying than a flag that only gets waved when there's a score or something anyway.

Umbrellas should be banned at matches, tbh. People don't pay money in to look at an umbrella for 70 minutes.

[Owenmoresider]

The Croke Park statement was reported about in the media
I quoted from this article
http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/they-have-us-packed-in-like-animals-dublin-fans-lash-out-at-the-gaa-over-flag-ban-and-threaten-boycott-35970540.html

It's not just about flags, but also the sacred sandwiches etc.

Just read through that now, Milton has learned the art of the smug arrogant reply well from his master.

[vallankumous]

Fair enough. But In that case can't they just say banners with political messages will be removed. Talking about flags greater than A4 size is basically thousands of kids and others with their county flags, and banning them from Croke Park. Where do they think the colour they love comes from?

Harder to police. Easier just to ban them.


Isn't it convenient this comes out before QFs while the Dubs a struggling for motivation.

[AZOffaly]

Baby - Bathwater springs to mind. There's a risk of a couple of political banners. OK. Let's ban ALL flags bigger than the size of your refill pad. That'll teach those pesky kids a lesson for trying to support their county!

[magpie seanie]

If the gaa had any sense they would repeal this before it causes more damage to their reputation.  I would assume the gaa have people trolling sites like this to gauge the mood of the people and the message is loud and clear "COP ON FFS", remember ye are in the entertainment industry and people like to be entertained by watching games, waving flags, meeting people, singing etc..
Gaa are making a huge mistake here in my opinion.  Send some of the decision makers to hill 16 to see what it's all about.  Remember fans can choose other sports, watch from home, not buy burgers, not train young players, not go to meetings, not wash jerseys, not buy tickets, not donate to dressing room and pitch funds.
The message is clear - repeal and stop the nonsense.

Sligoman - these guys do not give a fcuk what the likes of you or me think and they certainly don't care about the GAA. They are just businessmen who are trying to convert the goodwill of hundreds of thousands of us into cold, hard cash. I actually believe they're actively trying to destroy traditions and "normalise" gaelic games to make it more "presentable" for the (semi) professional game they crave. Sky's crap viewing figures might hold this ambition up for a while but not forever. These guys are cuckoos in our nest. Unelected gobshites telling us what to do. It's a sorry mess, the whole thing. There needs to be a revolution in the GAA. Unfortunately county boards who are badly stretched are completely neutered. They cannot oppose anything for fear of the money they badly need being cut off.

That congress in Sligo where they voted to allow pay for play was the beginning of the end. It's not too late to reverse course but the replies I'll get to this will show who the outcry will come when it's too late.

[magpie seanie]

Baby - Bathwater springs to mind. There's a risk of a couple of political banners. OK. Let's ban ALL flags bigger than the size of your refill pad. That'll teach those pesky kids a lesson for trying to support their county!

They don't give a f**k AZ. I've heard it said that McKenna is a genius because Croke Park is so successful. Talk about the easiest job in the world. The real genius was being brave enough to plan for it and build it coming out of a terrible recession. We owe those men of the early 90's some debt of gratitude but I think their legacy and those that went before them has been betrayed by upstarts like McKenna, Duffy and Milton.

[vallankumous]

Baby - Bathwater springs to mind. There's a risk of a couple of political banners. OK. Let's ban ALL flags bigger than the size of your refill pad. That'll teach those pesky kids a lesson for trying to support their county!

it's more than a risk. Hill 16 are leading the way here.
Any social issue they feel they can highlight they do it. From choosing a certain minute of the game to clap to now, boycotting goods inside Croke park. It's clear they are well organised. It's all peaceful and well supported.
There are people who want to nip that in the bud.

[AZOffaly]

Well I wouldn't necessarily support political banners on the Hill, or anywhere else. It implies mass support for a particular topic, when a large percentage of those in the area may not support the ideal at all. Any banner that says 'Dublin supports XYZ' is out of order because it obviously is intended to suggest that all Dublin fans, and maybe the Dubs themselves, support something.

[vallankumous]

Well I wouldn't necessarily support political banners on the Hill, or anywhere else. It implies mass support for a particular topic, when a large percentage of those in the area may not support the ideal at all. Any banner that says 'Dublin supports XYZ' is out of order because it obviously is intended to suggest that all Dublin fans, and maybe the Dubs themselves, support something.

Sure but I think most people understand that.
It's a common type slogan seen everywhere.
-Residents against blah
-Ireland Anti blah Group
-Jobstown Not Guilty

[Main Street]

If Milton's statement was about banning non-football related sloganeering, then it would have referred to non-political slogans,
It would have been relatively easy to pass of the non-political stance of the GAA on these matters as part of the reasoning.

As it is, there's no reference at all to the  tiny political element, just a blanket ban on flags >A4  etc. etc.

[vallankumous]

If Milton's statement was about banning non-football related sloganeering, then it would have referred to non-political slogans,
It would have been relatively easy to pass of the non-political stance of the GAA on these matters as part of the reasoning.

As it is, there's no reference at all to the  tiny political element, just a blanket ban on flags >A4  etc. etc.

It wouldn't work otherwise. It would be an easy argument to win but an impossible policy to implement.
I got the impression that most people think the reason given is bogus anyway.