The Milk Cup?

[johnneycool]

Well I certainly agree with a lot of what cockahoop is saying in terms of organisation and fair play to his lads playing a bit of soccer and doing well at it. The organisation of underage GAA in Derry is a complete joke.

However my quibble with the organisation of soccer versus Gaelic is the way in which they are publicised and funded. How many soccer matches would be played if public funds weren't providing the playing spaces for them? I would hazard that it would be a grand total of none quite frankly as there are a miniscule number of clubs that own their own ground. Why should the public purse pay to provide soccer grounds and not Gaelic grounds?

In terms of publicity I read the News Letter most days for a laugh. Today in their sports section they had a 2 page spread on pigeon racing, [I kid you not] another page on cricket, a few pieces on bowls. There wasn't a mention of GAA at all in their coverage. Now that is fair enough as it is up to any paper to print what it thinks its readers want. But that does not wash for a public service broadcaster such as the BBC and i think it is obvious they have a similar attiude to the GAA as the Newsletter does. In particular their treatment of the Milk Cup shows the bias they have towards any sport that is not GAA. the success of their efforts is obvious on here by the number of people who are proclaiming this to be a world class event. It's not. It's a crowd of wains running after a ball on a pitch that the soccer authorities havent paid a brass farthing for.

Do you go out of your way to get offended?  Funding for the Milk Cup and GAA coverage in the Newsletter....sweet jesus but your stress levels can't be good

My stress levels are quite obviously much better than your comprehension!

The News Letter reference was merely used to illustrate an determined attitude amongst a large swathe of the population to steadfastly ignore the GAA as if it doesn't exist, and big up anything that reinforces the unionist hegemony. An unfortunate viewpoint that is clearly held by many influential figure in the BBC NI sports dept. It's not quite the 'IRA at play' anymore but it is only slowly moving away from that IMO.

Do you think it is ok for a local council to provide and maintain scores of pitches for one sport and the grand total of zero pitches for another equally popular one. It's hardly a level playing field now is it?

The Irish News whilst they don't ignore local soccer they don't exact cover it in all it's 'glory' which is understandable as their market research shows their readers aren't interested. BBC NI sports I don't get the criticism really, they showd every Ulster game this year (except Derry/Donegal) and provide decent coverage of GAA. gaelic football

Back to the main point, the Milk Cup is a superbly run competition and a great opportunity for many young fellas to display their skills at a high international junior level.

fixed that for you.

[general_lee]

Do you think it is ok for a local council to provide and maintain scores of pitches for one sport and the grand total of zero pitches for another equally popular one. It's hardly a level playing field now is it?

is this (the old) Coleraine Council you're on about? Hardly be a strong demand for council GAA pitches there? How many clubs in that area? Owen Roes, Glenullin, Ballerin, Kilrea, Swatragh maybe? If you want blatant indifference to GAA look no further than Craigavon Council 

[take_yer_points]

Well I certainly agree with a lot of what cockahoop is saying in terms of organisation and fair play to his lads playing a bit of soccer and doing well at it. The organisation of underage GAA in Derry is a complete joke.

However my quibble with the organisation of soccer versus Gaelic is the way in which they are publicised and funded. How many soccer matches would be played if public funds weren't providing the playing spaces for them? I would hazard that it would be a grand total of none quite frankly as there are a miniscule number of clubs that own their own ground. Why should the public purse pay to provide soccer grounds and not Gaelic grounds?

In terms of publicity I read the News Letter most days for a laugh. Today in their sports section they had a 2 page spread on pigeon racing, [I kid you not] another page on cricket, a few pieces on bowls. There wasn't a mention of GAA at all in their coverage. Now that is fair enough as it is up to any paper to print what it thinks its readers want. But that does not wash for a public service broadcaster such as the BBC and i think it is obvious they have a similar attiude to the GAA as the Newsletter does. In particular their treatment of the Milk Cup shows the bias they have towards any sport that is not GAA. the success of their efforts is obvious on here by the number of people who are proclaiming this to be a world class event. It's not. It's a crowd of wains running after a ball on a pitch that the soccer authorities havent paid a brass farthing for.

Do you go out of your way to get offended?  Funding for the Milk Cup and GAA coverage in the Newsletter....sweet jesus but your stress levels can't be good

My stress levels are quite obviously much better than your comprehension!

The News Letter reference was merely used to illustrate a determined attitude amongst a large swathe of the population to steadfastly ignore the GAA as if it doesn't exist, and big up anything that reinforces the unionist hegemony. An unfortunate viewpoint that is clearly held by many influential figures in the BBC NI sports dept. It's not quite the 'IRA at play' anymore but it is only slowly moving away from that IMO.

Do you think it is ok for a local council to provide and maintain scores of pitches for one sport and the grand total of zero pitches for another equally popular one. It's hardly a level playing field now is it?

Do Belfast City Council own the Cherryvale pitch? Is it used at all?

[Hardy]

Well I certainly agree with a lot of what cockahoop is saying in terms of organisation and fair play to his lads playing a bit of soccer and doing well at it. The organisation of underage GAA in Derry is a complete joke.

However my quibble with the organisation of soccer versus Gaelic is the way in which they are publicised and funded. How many soccer matches would be played if public funds weren't providing the playing spaces for them? I would hazard that it would be a grand total of none quite frankly as there are a miniscule number of clubs that own their own ground. Why should the public purse pay to provide soccer grounds and not Gaelic grounds?

In terms of publicity I read the News Letter most days for a laugh. Today in their sports section they had a 2 page spread on pigeon racing, [I kid you not] another page on cricket, a few pieces on bowls. There wasn't a mention of GAA at all in their coverage. Now that is fair enough as it is up to any paper to print what it thinks its readers want. But that does not wash for a public service broadcaster such as the BBC and i think it is obvious they have a similar attiude to the GAA as the Newsletter does. In particular their treatment of the Milk Cup shows the bias they have towards any sport that is not GAA. the success of their efforts is obvious on here by the number of people who are proclaiming this to be a world class event. It's not. It's a crowd of wains running after a ball on a pitch that the soccer authorities havent paid a brass farthing for.

Do you go out of your way to get offended?  Funding for the Milk Cup and GAA coverage in the Newsletter....sweet jesus but your stress levels can't be good

My stress levels are quite obviously much better than your comprehension!

The News Letter reference was merely used to illustrate a determined attitude amongst a large swathe of the population to steadfastly ignore the GAA as if it doesn't exist, and big up anything that reinforces the unionist hegemony. An unfortunate viewpoint that is clearly held by many influential figures in the BBC NI sports dept. It's not quite the 'IRA at play' anymore but it is only slowly moving away from that IMO.

Do you think it is ok for a local council to provide and maintain scores of pitches for one sport and the grand total of zero pitches for another equally popular one. It's hardly a level playing field now is it?

No, but it's hard to put that situation down to sectarianism, since the situation down here is similar. At least one local authority had, recently, a "football" development plan that included a free stadium for a professional soccer team. As seems to be the way of these things, however, I don't think it ever happened.

[JoG2]

Well I certainly agree with a lot of what cockahoop is saying in terms of organisation and fair play to his lads playing a bit of soccer and doing well at it. The organisation of underage GAA in Derry is a complete joke.

However my quibble with the organisation of soccer versus Gaelic is the way in which they are publicised and funded. How many soccer matches would be played if public funds weren't providing the playing spaces for them? I would hazard that it would be a grand total of none quite frankly as there are a miniscule number of clubs that own their own ground. Why should the public purse pay to provide soccer grounds and not Gaelic grounds?

In terms of publicity I read the News Letter most days for a laugh. Today in their sports section they had a 2 page spread on pigeon racing, [I kid you not] another page on cricket, a few pieces on bowls. There wasn't a mention of GAA at all in their coverage. Now that is fair enough as it is up to any paper to print what it thinks its readers want. But that does not wash for a public service broadcaster such as the BBC and i think it is obvious they have a similar attiude to the GAA as the Newsletter does. In particular their treatment of the Milk Cup shows the bias they have towards any sport that is not GAA. the success of their efforts is obvious on here by the number of people who are proclaiming this to be a world class event. It's not. It's a crowd of wains running after a ball on a pitch that the soccer authorities havent paid a brass farthing for.

Do you go out of your way to get offended?  Funding for the Milk Cup and GAA coverage in the Newsletter....sweet jesus but your stress levels can't be good

My stress levels are quite obviously much better than your comprehension!

The News Letter reference was merely used to illustrate a determined attitude amongst a large swathe of the population to steadfastly ignore the GAA as if it doesn't exist, and big up anything that reinforces the unionist hegemony. An unfortunate viewpoint that is clearly held by many influential figures in the BBC NI sports dept. It's not quite the 'IRA at play' anymore but it is only slowly moving away from that IMO.

Do you think it is ok for a local council to provide and maintain scores of pitches for one sport and the grand total of zero pitches for another equally popular one. It's hardly a level playing field now is it?

your stress levels are off the chart. I wouldn't open the Newsletter, never mind read it most days .

Your post above sounds like it was written in the 80s ! I can only speak from experience in the north west, but DCC have an initiative with the county board providing paid coaches to deliver sessions in the primary schools in the city to promote games. One of the intermediate sides plays on a council provided GAA pitch in the waterside. How much did Pearse's pay for their new land up in the Top of The Hill? Brian Og's and Colmcille for their prime location? Na Magha hurling pitch and new changing facilities? How much funding did Brian Og's and Colmcille get for pitch build and state of the art clubhouses?

Coleraine Council have opened a new 3g pitch for rugby, gaa and soccer, Limavady the same.

There's not a youngster in Derry to my knowledge who hasn't access to GAA facilities or free coaching partly provided for by public funding .

[Keyser soze]

Well I certainly agree with a lot of what cockahoop is saying in terms of organisation and fair play to his lads playing a bit of soccer and doing well at it. The organisation of underage GAA in Derry is a complete joke.

However my quibble with the organisation of soccer versus Gaelic is the way in which they are publicised and funded. How many soccer matches would be played if public funds weren't providing the playing spaces for them? I would hazard that it would be a grand total of none quite frankly as there are a miniscule number of clubs that own their own ground. Why should the public purse pay to provide soccer grounds and not Gaelic grounds?

In terms of publicity I read the News Letter most days for a laugh. Today in their sports section they had a 2 page spread on pigeon racing, [I kid you not] another page on cricket, a few pieces on bowls. There wasn't a mention of GAA at all in their coverage. Now that is fair enough as it is up to any paper to print what it thinks its readers want. But that does not wash for a public service broadcaster such as the BBC and i think it is obvious they have a similar attiude to the GAA as the Newsletter does. In particular their treatment of the Milk Cup shows the bias they have towards any sport that is not GAA. the success of their efforts is obvious on here by the number of people who are proclaiming this to be a world class event. It's not. It's a crowd of wains running after a ball on a pitch that the soccer authorities havent paid a brass farthing for.

Do you go out of your way to get offended?  Funding for the Milk Cup and GAA coverage in the Newsletter....sweet jesus but your stress levels can't be good

My stress levels are quite obviously much better than your comprehension!

The News Letter reference was merely used to illustrate a determined attitude amongst a large swathe of the population to steadfastly ignore the GAA as if it doesn't exist, and big up anything that reinforces the unionist hegemony. An unfortunate viewpoint that is clearly held by many influential figures in the BBC NI sports dept. It's not quite the 'IRA at play' anymore but it is only slowly moving away from that IMO.

Do you think it is ok for a local council to provide and maintain scores of pitches for one sport and the grand total of zero pitches for another equally popular one. It's hardly a level playing field now is it?

your stress levels are off the chart. I wouldn't open the Newsletter, never mind read it most days .

Your post above sounds like it was written in the 80s ! I can only speak from experience in the north west, but DCC have an initiative with the county board providing paid coaches to deliver sessions in the primary schools in the city to promote games. One of the intermediate sides plays on a council provided GAA pitch in the waterside. How much did Pearse's pay for their new land up in the Top of The Hill? Brian Og's and Colmcille for their prime location? Na Magha hurling pitch and new changing facilities? How much funding did Brian Og's and Colmcille get for pitch build and state of the art clubhouses?

Coleraine Council have opened a new 3g pitch for rugby, gaa and soccer, Limavady the same.

There's not a youngster in Derry to my knowledge who hasn't access to GAA facilities or free coaching partly provided for by public funding .

I'm not surprised you don't read the News Letter as it appears you can barely read.

You certainly havent addressed any of the points that I was making, though you inadvertantly supported the general thrust of my argument with your list of clubs that bought their own grounds. How many soccer clubs do can you list that have done the same? I would warrant the answer is zero as they are so used to getting pitches provided gratis to them there is no need for them to buy anything. The local government, and I notice you have highlighted one longterm natrionalist council, support is a belated and minimal effort to redress a glaring imbalance.

I never mentioned coaching programmes but I can tell you that the vast vast majority of GAA coaching is funded directly by the GAA, so how this is a relevant point is beyond me.

[JoG2]

Well I certainly agree with a lot of what cockahoop is saying in terms of organisation and fair play to his lads playing a bit of soccer and doing well at it. The organisation of underage GAA in Derry is a complete joke.

However my quibble with the organisation of soccer versus Gaelic is the way in which they are publicised and funded. How many soccer matches would be played if public funds weren't providing the playing spaces for them? I would hazard that it would be a grand total of none quite frankly as there are a miniscule number of clubs that own their own ground. Why should the public purse pay to provide soccer grounds and not Gaelic grounds?

In terms of publicity I read the News Letter most days for a laugh. Today in their sports section they had a 2 page spread on pigeon racing, [I kid you not] another page on cricket, a few pieces on bowls. There wasn't a mention of GAA at all in their coverage. Now that is fair enough as it is up to any paper to print what it thinks its readers want. But that does not wash for a public service broadcaster such as the BBC and i think it is obvious they have a similar attiude to the GAA as the Newsletter does. In particular their treatment of the Milk Cup shows the bias they have towards any sport that is not GAA. the success of their efforts is obvious on here by the number of people who are proclaiming this to be a world class event. It's not. It's a crowd of wains running after a ball on a pitch that the soccer authorities havent paid a brass farthing for.

Do you go out of your way to get offended?  Funding for the Milk Cup and GAA coverage in the Newsletter....sweet jesus but your stress levels can't be good

My stress levels are quite obviously much better than your comprehension!

The News Letter reference was merely used to illustrate a determined attitude amongst a large swathe of the population to steadfastly ignore the GAA as if it doesn't exist, and big up anything that reinforces the unionist hegemony. An unfortunate viewpoint that is clearly held by many influential figures in the BBC NI sports dept. It's not quite the 'IRA at play' anymore but it is only slowly moving away from that IMO.

Do you think it is ok for a local council to provide and maintain scores of pitches for one sport and the grand total of zero pitches for another equally popular one. It's hardly a level playing field now is it?

your stress levels are off the chart. I wouldn't open the Newsletter, never mind read it most days .

Your post above sounds like it was written in the 80s ! I can only speak from experience in the north west, but DCC have an initiative with the county board providing paid coaches to deliver sessions in the primary schools in the city to promote games. One of the intermediate sides plays on a council provided GAA pitch in the waterside. How much did Pearse's pay for their new land up in the Top of The Hill? Brian Og's and Colmcille for their prime location? Na Magha hurling pitch and new changing facilities? How much funding did Brian Og's and Colmcille get for pitch build and state of the art clubhouses?

Coleraine Council have opened a new 3g pitch for rugby, gaa and soccer, Limavady the same.

There's not a youngster in Derry to my knowledge who hasn't access to GAA facilities or free coaching partly provided for by public funding .

I'm not surprised you don't read the News Letter as it appears you can barely read.

You certainly havent addressed any of the points that I was making, though you inadvertantly supported the general thrust of my argument with your list of clubs that bought their own grounds. How many soccer clubs do can you list that have done the same? I would warrant the answer is zero as they are so used to getting pitches provided gratis to them there is no need for them to buy anything. The local government, and I notice you have highlighted one longterm natrionalist council, support is a belated and minimal effort to redress a glaring imbalance.

I never mentioned coaching programmes but I can tell you that the vast vast majority of GAA coaching is funded directly by the GAA, so how this is a relevant point is beyond me.

Do you know what the city clubs paid for their prime bit of land?

a very small percentage of junior soccer clubs would like their own pitch, the vast majority wouldn't. Most are basically a gather up of boys which changes season on season. Leagues have teams folding and new ones starting up yearly. They don't have the membership numbers of gaa clubs, the level of volunteers. Its the largest participation sport by and its the councils responsibility to provide leisure facilities for its people. The GAA is provided for in Derry City with a full sized grass pitch which holds intermediate grade matches, has done for years. this same club has also been given land to build their own new ground

Do you think GAA clubs would want to be using council pitches or ones they own (with a big help of public funds)?

you didn't mention coaching, but i did, because it shows that the council are now helping with the provision of coaching  financially.

you want to whinge away about the poor old GAA getting buck all and soccer gets everything, because thats what your initial posts boils down to...knock yourself out

[Keyser soze]

Well I certainly agree with a lot of what cockahoop is saying in terms of organisation and fair play to his lads playing a bit of soccer and doing well at it. The organisation of underage GAA in Derry is a complete joke.

However my quibble with the organisation of soccer versus Gaelic is the way in which they are publicised and funded. How many soccer matches would be played if public funds weren't providing the playing spaces for them? I would hazard that it would be a grand total of none quite frankly as there are a miniscule number of clubs that own their own ground. Why should the public purse pay to provide soccer grounds and not Gaelic grounds?

In terms of publicity I read the News Letter most days for a laugh. Today in their sports section they had a 2 page spread on pigeon racing, [I kid you not] another page on cricket, a few pieces on bowls. There wasn't a mention of GAA at all in their coverage. Now that is fair enough as it is up to any paper to print what it thinks its readers want. But that does not wash for a public service broadcaster such as the BBC and i think it is obvious they have a similar attiude to the GAA as the Newsletter does. In particular their treatment of the Milk Cup shows the bias they have towards any sport that is not GAA. the success of their efforts is obvious on here by the number of people who are proclaiming this to be a world class event. It's not. It's a crowd of wains running after a ball on a pitch that the soccer authorities havent paid a brass farthing for.

Do you go out of your way to get offended?  Funding for the Milk Cup and GAA coverage in the Newsletter....sweet jesus but your stress levels can't be good

My stress levels are quite obviously much better than your comprehension!

The News Letter reference was merely used to illustrate a determined attitude amongst a large swathe of the population to steadfastly ignore the GAA as if it doesn't exist, and big up anything that reinforces the unionist hegemony. An unfortunate viewpoint that is clearly held by many influential figures in the BBC NI sports dept. It's not quite the 'IRA at play' anymore but it is only slowly moving away from that IMO.

Do you think it is ok for a local council to provide and maintain scores of pitches for one sport and the grand total of zero pitches for another equally popular one. It's hardly a level playing field now is it?

your stress levels are off the chart. I wouldn't open the Newsletter, never mind read it most days .

Your post above sounds like it was written in the 80s ! I can only speak from experience in the north west, but DCC have an initiative with the county board providing paid coaches to deliver sessions in the primary schools in the city to promote games. One of the intermediate sides plays on a council provided GAA pitch in the waterside. How much did Pearse's pay for their new land up in the Top of The Hill? Brian Og's and Colmcille for their prime location? Na Magha hurling pitch and new changing facilities? How much funding did Brian Og's and Colmcille get for pitch build and state of the art clubhouses?

Coleraine Council have opened a new 3g pitch for rugby, gaa and soccer, Limavady the same.

There's not a youngster in Derry to my knowledge who hasn't access to GAA facilities or free coaching partly provided for by public funding .

I'm not surprised you don't read the News Letter as it appears you can barely read.

You certainly havent addressed any of the points that I was making, though you inadvertantly supported the general thrust of my argument with your list of clubs that bought their own grounds. How many soccer clubs do can you list that have done the same? I would warrant the answer is zero as they are so used to getting pitches provided gratis to them there is no need for them to buy anything. The local government, and I notice you have highlighted one longterm natrionalist council, support is a belated and minimal effort to redress a glaring imbalance.

I never mentioned coaching programmes but I can tell you that the vast vast majority of GAA coaching is funded directly by the GAA, so how this is a relevant point is beyond me.

Do you know what the city clubs paid for their prime bit of land?

a very small percentage of junior soccer clubs would like their own pitch, the vast majority wouldn't. Most are basically a gather up of boys which changes season on season. Leagues have teams folding and new ones starting up yearly. They don't have the membership numbers of gaa clubs, the level of volunteers. Its the largest participation sport by and its the councils responsibility to provide leisure facilities for its people. The GAA is provided for in Derry City with a full sized grass pitch which holds intermediate grade matches, has done for years. this same club has also been given land to build their own new ground

Do you think GAA clubs would want to be using council pitches or ones they own (with a big help of public funds)?

you didn't mention coaching, but i did, because it shows that the council are now helping with the provision of coaching  financially.

you want to whinge away about the poor old GAA getting buck all and soccer gets everything, because thats what your initial posts boils down to...knock yourself out

Well I don't need to do that as you are proving my point for me by highlighting the fact that your beacon of GAA supporting councils has provided the princely total of one pitch for GAA. How many soccer pitches have they? I can guarantee it has scores of them.

[JoG2]

Well I certainly agree with a lot of what cockahoop is saying in terms of organisation and fair play to his lads playing a bit of soccer and doing well at it. The organisation of underage GAA in Derry is a complete joke.

However my quibble with the organisation of soccer versus Gaelic is the way in which they are publicised and funded. How many soccer matches would be played if public funds weren't providing the playing spaces for them? I would hazard that it would be a grand total of none quite frankly as there are a miniscule number of clubs that own their own ground. Why should the public purse pay to provide soccer grounds and not Gaelic grounds?

In terms of publicity I read the News Letter most days for a laugh. Today in their sports section they had a 2 page spread on pigeon racing, [I kid you not] another page on cricket, a few pieces on bowls. There wasn't a mention of GAA at all in their coverage. Now that is fair enough as it is up to any paper to print what it thinks its readers want. But that does not wash for a public service broadcaster such as the BBC and i think it is obvious they have a similar attiude to the GAA as the Newsletter does. In particular their treatment of the Milk Cup shows the bias they have towards any sport that is not GAA. the success of their efforts is obvious on here by the number of people who are proclaiming this to be a world class event. It's not. It's a crowd of wains running after a ball on a pitch that the soccer authorities havent paid a brass farthing for.

Do you go out of your way to get offended?  Funding for the Milk Cup and GAA coverage in the Newsletter....sweet jesus but your stress levels can't be good

My stress levels are quite obviously much better than your comprehension!

The News Letter reference was merely used to illustrate a determined attitude amongst a large swathe of the population to steadfastly ignore the GAA as if it doesn't exist, and big up anything that reinforces the unionist hegemony. An unfortunate viewpoint that is clearly held by many influential figures in the BBC NI sports dept. It's not quite the 'IRA at play' anymore but it is only slowly moving away from that IMO.

Do you think it is ok for a local council to provide and maintain scores of pitches for one sport and the grand total of zero pitches for another equally popular one. It's hardly a level playing field now is it?

your stress levels are off the chart. I wouldn't open the Newsletter, never mind read it most days .

Your post above sounds like it was written in the 80s ! I can only speak from experience in the north west, but DCC have an initiative with the county board providing paid coaches to deliver sessions in the primary schools in the city to promote games. One of the intermediate sides plays on a council provided GAA pitch in the waterside. How much did Pearse's pay for their new land up in the Top of The Hill? Brian Og's and Colmcille for their prime location? Na Magha hurling pitch and new changing facilities? How much funding did Brian Og's and Colmcille get for pitch build and state of the art clubhouses?

Coleraine Council have opened a new 3g pitch for rugby, gaa and soccer, Limavady the same.

There's not a youngster in Derry to my knowledge who hasn't access to GAA facilities or free coaching partly provided for by public funding .

I'm not surprised you don't read the News Letter as it appears you can barely read.

You certainly havent addressed any of the points that I was making, though you inadvertantly supported the general thrust of my argument with your list of clubs that bought their own grounds. How many soccer clubs do can you list that have done the same? I would warrant the answer is zero as they are so used to getting pitches provided gratis to them there is no need for them to buy anything. The local government, and I notice you have highlighted one longterm natrionalist council, support is a belated and minimal effort to redress a glaring imbalance.

I never mentioned coaching programmes but I can tell you that the vast vast majority of GAA coaching is funded directly by the GAA, so how this is a relevant point is beyond me.

Do you know what the city clubs paid for their prime bit of land?

a very small percentage of junior soccer clubs would like their own pitch, the vast majority wouldn't. Most are basically a gather up of boys which changes season on season. Leagues have teams folding and new ones starting up yearly. They don't have the membership numbers of gaa clubs, the level of volunteers. Its the largest participation sport by and its the councils responsibility to provide leisure facilities for its people. The GAA is provided for in Derry City with a full sized grass pitch which holds intermediate grade matches, has done for years. this same club has also been given land to build their own new ground

Do you think GAA clubs would want to be using council pitches or ones they own (with a big help of public funds)?

you didn't mention coaching, but i did, because it shows that the council are now helping with the provision of coaching  financially.

you want to whinge away about the poor old GAA getting buck all and soccer gets everything, because thats what your initial posts boils down to...knock yourself out

Well I don't need to do that as you are proving my point for me by highlighting the fact that your beacon of GAA supporting councils has provided the princely total of one pitch for GAA. How many soccer pitches have they? I can guarantee it has scores of them.

I'm not proving you point. your general whinge is that local council provide everything for soccer and nothing for GAA. In the past this may have been true. Today its different, that's my point

[theskull1]

I'm not proving you point. your general whinge is that local council provide everything for soccer and nothing for GAA. In the past this may have been true. Today its different, that's my point

Are you saying that this is done in a fair and even manor? I'd beg to differ with on that if you are

[JoG2]

I'm not proving you point. your general whinge is that local council provide everything for soccer and nothing for GAA. In the past this may have been true. Today its different, that's my point

Are you saying that this is done in a fair and even manor? I'd beg to differ with on that if you are

fair and even today? I don't know but I do know local council and public funding for the GAA is rising steeply.2 x city clubs in recent years have received massive amounts from public funding.  Do you have participation figures and what each sport gets relevant to participation levels or are we still going with 'perception'? Maybe figures from 15 years ago and today? My perception is its going in the right direction

[theskull1]

I'm going purely on perception and anecdotal experience.

Last year we got near a grand from our local council as part of Feile on the basis we were bringing tourists to the area. It was to cover team travelling expenses from memory.

The old hands in our club couldn't believe it as it was the FIRST time we'd got a cent from them. We've been about for 107 years now.

[Keyser soze]

Well I certainly agree with a lot of what cockahoop is saying in terms of organisation and fair play to his lads playing a bit of soccer and doing well at it. The organisation of underage GAA in Derry is a complete joke.

However my quibble with the organisation of soccer versus Gaelic is the way in which they are publicised and funded. How many soccer matches would be played if public funds weren't providing the playing spaces for them? I would hazard that it would be a grand total of none quite frankly as there are a miniscule number of clubs that own their own ground. Why should the public purse pay to provide soccer grounds and not Gaelic grounds?

In terms of publicity I read the News Letter most days for a laugh. Today in their sports section they had a 2 page spread on pigeon racing, [I kid you not] another page on cricket, a few pieces on bowls. There wasn't a mention of GAA at all in their coverage. Now that is fair enough as it is up to any paper to print what it thinks its readers want. But that does not wash for a public service broadcaster such as the BBC and i think it is obvious they have a similar attiude to the GAA as the Newsletter does. In particular their treatment of the Milk Cup shows the bias they have towards any sport that is not GAA. the success of their efforts is obvious on here by the number of people who are proclaiming this to be a world class event. It's not. It's a crowd of wains running after a ball on a pitch that the soccer authorities havent paid a brass farthing for.

Do you go out of your way to get offended?  Funding for the Milk Cup and GAA coverage in the Newsletter....sweet jesus but your stress levels can't be good

My stress levels are quite obviously much better than your comprehension!

The News Letter reference was merely used to illustrate a determined attitude amongst a large swathe of the population to steadfastly ignore the GAA as if it doesn't exist, and big up anything that reinforces the unionist hegemony. An unfortunate viewpoint that is clearly held by many influential figures in the BBC NI sports dept. It's not quite the 'IRA at play' anymore but it is only slowly moving away from that IMO.

Do you think it is ok for a local council to provide and maintain scores of pitches for one sport and the grand total of zero pitches for another equally popular one. It's hardly a level playing field now is it?

your stress levels are off the chart. I wouldn't open the Newsletter, never mind read it most days .

Your post above sounds like it was written in the 80s ! I can only speak from experience in the north west, but DCC have an initiative with the county board providing paid coaches to deliver sessions in the primary schools in the city to promote games. One of the intermediate sides plays on a council provided GAA pitch in the waterside. How much did Pearse's pay for their new land up in the Top of The Hill? Brian Og's and Colmcille for their prime location? Na Magha hurling pitch and new changing facilities? How much funding did Brian Og's and Colmcille get for pitch build and state of the art clubhouses?

Coleraine Council have opened a new 3g pitch for rugby, gaa and soccer, Limavady the same.

There's not a youngster in Derry to my knowledge who hasn't access to GAA facilities or free coaching partly provided for by public funding .

I'm not surprised you don't read the News Letter as it appears you can barely read.

You certainly havent addressed any of the points that I was making, though you inadvertantly supported the general thrust of my argument with your list of clubs that bought their own grounds. How many soccer clubs do can you list that have done the same? I would warrant the answer is zero as they are so used to getting pitches provided gratis to them there is no need for them to buy anything. The local government, and I notice you have highlighted one longterm natrionalist council, support is a belated and minimal effort to redress a glaring imbalance.

I never mentioned coaching programmes but I can tell you that the vast vast majority of GAA coaching is funded directly by the GAA, so how this is a relevant point is beyond me.

Do you know what the city clubs paid for their prime bit of land?

a very small percentage of junior soccer clubs would like their own pitch, the vast majority wouldn't. Most are basically a gather up of boys which changes season on season. Leagues have teams folding and new ones starting up yearly. They don't have the membership numbers of gaa clubs, the level of volunteers. Its the largest participation sport by and its the councils responsibility to provide leisure facilities for its people. The GAA is provided for in Derry City with a full sized grass pitch which holds intermediate grade matches, has done for years. this same club has also been given land to build their own new ground

Do you think GAA clubs would want to be using council pitches or ones they own (with a big help of public funds)?

you didn't mention coaching, but i did, because it shows that the council are now helping with the provision of coaching  financially.

you want to whinge away about the poor old GAA getting buck all and soccer gets everything, because thats what your initial posts boils down to...knock yourself out

Well I don't need to do that as you are proving my point for me by highlighting the fact that your beacon of GAA supporting councils has provided the princely total of one pitch for GAA. How many soccer pitches have they? I can guarantee it has scores of them.

I'm not proving you point. your general whinge is that local council provide everything for soccer and nothing for GAA. In the past this may have been true. Today its different, that's my point

Well i don't see why you need to use words like whinge or exaggerate that I said councils provide nothing for GAA. I have made a fairly reasoned and cogent argument about the disparity between the provision for other sports as compared to GAA. Your own rebuttals have even confirmed these points. I recognise that ther ehave been improvements, but it is clear that there is still a major disparity in many areas. These are facts not opinions.

[theskull1]

Well i don't see why you need to use words like whinge or exaggerate that I said councils provide nothing for GAA. I have made a fairly reasoned and cogent argument about the disparity between the provision for other sports as compared to GAA. Your own rebuttals have even confirmed these points. I recognise that ther ehave been improvements, but it is clear that there is still a major disparity in many areas. These are facts not opinions.

+1

Why is this 'not even subtle' point lost on some people

[Rossfan]

situation down here is similar. At least one local authority had, recently, a "football" development plan that included a free stadium for a professional soccer team. As seems to be the way of these things, however, I don't think it ever happened.

It certainly happened in south Dublin County Council with Scumrock Rovers getting a free ( to them - cost us taxpayers €14m) Stadium and the FAI got "football" development officers' (2 at least ) salaries paid for by the same Council.