Messages

[lubhouses up & down the country without running water, hot showers, proper dressing rooms, enough equipment etc etc]

Paul Flynn really can't be the sharpest knife in the drawer if he can't see how flying dozens and dozens of people over to the US every year looks terrible, when there are clubhouses up & down the country without running water, hot showers, proper dressing rooms, enough equipment etc etc

All Star trips and the annual team holiday for AI winners are one thing. I don't think anyone has a problem with them. At least I don't. But spending truck loads of money on junkets (with loads of hangers on) to play a bastardized version of hurling that serves no purpose whatsoever, does not sit well with people.

The money could be better spent elsewhere, whether it's their own money, the GAA's or the sponsors. If he can't see that, it's a damming inditement of just how out of touch with reality he & the rest of the GPA are.

I don't think the GPA ever pretended to have anything to do with anything other than intercounty players.

I know that.

But the wider population are ordinary rank and file GAA club members. They are the ones who see how hard life is at grass roots level. They are the ones who have a problem with all these US junkets & they are the people Paul Flynn doesn't seem to understand having a problem.

Fair play for admitting that Beffs. It's plain old mindless begrudgery! Who do these fookers think they are swanning off to New York where Irish Americans give give them a load of dosh.

Instead what should be done, is a random draw among all club members where 60 players from around the country are picked to go to the US to play a match where the yanks can pay $80 a ticket and thousands for dinner to meet these great club people.

And all the excess proceeds can go to the list of clubs that Beffs is going to tell us about that don't even have running water.

What a marvellous idea. I'm sure it's a winner.

It is amazing how begrudgery makes people forget to switch on their brains

I don't think anyone has an issue with IC players travelling and playing the exhibition games.

It's more than people in the travelling party who don't seem to have a particular reason for being there - see my previous post.

Did anyone hear something about a well known political Cavan family being involved?

There's a well known political Cavan family?

Am not sure where to stand.

I think they'd make it a lot easier for themselves if they were a bit more transparent - having a full list of scholarship recipients available etc.

The optics of the first trip to Boston (two years ago?) weren't great when it seemed like there a huge number of hangers on in the pictures - they probably paid their own way but it gives rise to the junket impression.

Apart from the journalists who get a three week holiday in Oz and the Croke park staff (who may or may not have any operational connection to the games) who get drawn out of a hat to go - does anyone give a toss about this anymore?

https://m.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/mayo-gaa-threatened-with-high-court-injunction-as-governance-row-takes-fresh-twist-38705954.html

More craic.

That said, if the geezer isn't a paid up member, he isn't a paid up member...

The 'geezer' is a well known and respected journalist here in Mayo. If he didn't pay by March 31st then he hasn't a leg to stand on I know, but you'd think the procedure would be explained by whoever to him.

AFAIR, Croke Park issued directives to all County boards and then to clubs that this rule would/should be strictly enforced, two years ago.

If the Mayo county board have consistently applied it since then they're airtight, if they've been selective in how they apply it and he has evidence of same, presumably their ruling would be overturned at the 2nd stage (provincial appeal) and he'd be let run.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/the-inside-story-mayo-the-county-board-and-the-row-with-the-millionaire-38675616.html

It's not so long ago that John Bailey arrived in Parnell Pk to take the Dublin Hurling panel out for the session.

But the GAA pay for that...

Pay for it now after GPA lobbied them.

Brolly v Wolly
Ewan McKenna v Eddie O'Sullivan

...Someone explain to me why I'm drawn to going to this. Am I ok?

What is it, Celebrity Death Match??

Spewan outdid himself again this week. Tweeted that Gay Byrne was a "vile pr1ck". Deleted it when he sobered up. Alcoholism may explain some of his problems.

Didn't Ewan's Daddy work for RTE?

Yes. RTE Producer John MacKenna that had 10 year Ewan in RTE getting gigs from ten years of age.

The same Ewan who rails against the Rugby boys for the privilege and leg up life afforded them.

If anyones up in Dublin, il give you a tour of Innisfails grounds.

PM me.

the sports centre in Adamstown.

Not too much in Adamstown Lar apart from an abandoned train station and a ton of Nigerians!

You're better than that Heffo.

Ah cmon, there is no racial overtone in my post.

Just read Joe Brollys comments on GPA , spot on IMO.
They don't disclose who and how much gets paid what.
Are they full time or part time ?.
Wonder what the ratio of their salaries are as to what individual players in D3 and D4 get in annual mileage etc.


Probably a good idea in the very beginning as I am sure a lot of players were begging for mileage allowance, healthcare, but the lack of transparency and their mega fund raising dinners in the US
just raises a lot of genuine questions that apparently will not be answered.

Surely the gaa shouldn't be funding them until accounts are submitted for scrutiny every year?

The GAA shouldn't be funding them full stop. If the players want a union they should fund it themselves. If they want to be treated like soccer and rugby they should have to pony up like they do. And thats before the whole neutered topic comes up.

If Joe has any questions about how GPA money is being spent he can download the accounts and refer to actual figures rather than making wild assumptions.

The long standing complaint is the lack of detail in the accounts

If anyones up in Dublin, il give you a tour of Innisfails grounds.

PM me.

the sports centre in Adamstown.

Not too much in Adamstown Lar apart from an abandoned train station and a ton of Nigerians!

I may be wrong... but I'm gonna call bullshit on the Gaybo catching Joe skinny dipping story!!!

And in the water for 20 minutes with no clothes no less in the middle of winter

[Nobody dominates forever, watching the Hurling in the 00s with Kilkenny so far ahead of the pack i probably felt the same as the begrudgers on here feel but look a the hurling now, wide open, tight games, different winners every year.]

Are they likely to win 6-7-8 and draw more and more criticism ?
Or would they throw 2020 and start the clock again in 2021 with no hassle ?

Being a Dublin fan, i think we can win it next year, however i dont think we will win 7 in a row and it will open up a bit. Nobody dominates forever, watching the Hurling in the 00s with Kilkenny so far ahead of the pack i probably felt the same as the begrudgers on here feel but look a the hurling now, wide open, tight games, different winners every year.

If you hear Cluxton in the media last week, he doesnt sound like he will be around for much longer, and few will join him, already two high profile players gone. Cracks will appear.

On the other hand, you will see Ciaran Archer join up with the panel(Hopefully), he has the potential to surpass the current talented crop of forwards and be one of the greatest, but must learn his trade.

The obvious problem with that analysis is that Kilkenny don't have the pick of the next ten counties put together.

You can add in that Kilkenny  during those years were so strapped for money that  AI winning players had to fundraise to pay for their overseas holiday. I don't think we are gonna see Dublin players standing outside church gates with plastic buckets cadging a few bob from mass goers for a while yet.

The Dublin panel have fundraised for their team holiday for each of their last seven wins. They've spent Oct-Dec each year touring pubs, garages etc

Really?
Is that sanctioned by the county board?

Yes, 100% really.

I'm not privy to private communication between Jim Gavin & John Costello but I would say yes 99.99% sanctioned.

[Nobody dominates forever, watching the Hurling in the 00s with Kilkenny so far ahead of the pack i probably felt the same as the begrudgers on here feel but look a the hurling now, wide open, tight games, different winners every year.]

Are they likely to win 6-7-8 and draw more and more criticism ?
Or would they throw 2020 and start the clock again in 2021 with no hassle ?

Being a Dublin fan, i think we can win it next year, however i dont think we will win 7 in a row and it will open up a bit. Nobody dominates forever, watching the Hurling in the 00s with Kilkenny so far ahead of the pack i probably felt the same as the begrudgers on here feel but look a the hurling now, wide open, tight games, different winners every year.

If you hear Cluxton in the media last week, he doesnt sound like he will be around for much longer, and few will join him, already two high profile players gone. Cracks will appear.

On the other hand, you will see Ciaran Archer join up with the panel(Hopefully), he has the potential to surpass the current talented crop of forwards and be one of the greatest, but must learn his trade.

The obvious problem with that analysis is that Kilkenny don't have the pick of the next ten counties put together.

You can add in that Kilkenny  during those years were so strapped for money that  AI winning players had to fundraise to pay for their overseas holiday. I don't think we are gonna see Dublin players standing outside church gates with plastic buckets cadging a few bob from mass goers for a while yet.

The Dublin panel have fundraised for their team holiday for each of their last seven wins. They've spent Oct-Dec each year touring pubs, garages etc

Eoghan O'Gara retired. Made a huge contribution to Dublin team over the years.

His goal v Tyrone in 2010 was a real turning point for Dublin