Messages

Not to clog the thread up with this debate any longer, we are not going to agree on this point.
I have made my point and not based on wild conspiracy theories as was suggested. We have been sold a pup on this one.

back to the hurling.......

Just before we go - I have seen Visit West Belfast/ Failte Feirste Thiar in "action" over the last 10 years or so, and it's basically a vehicle to hoover up funding in that sector. And let's just say their funding wouldn't be commesurate with their output. As for them being "duty bound" to promote West Belfast, are you serious? If they never lifted a hand again nobody would notice and the funding would continue to roll in. For quite a few years their office on the Falls Rd consisted of a fella manning a Twitter account but they where never far from a foreign junket to "promote West Belfast", I remember seeing they where in Milwaukee of all places promoting West Belfast...........

So that why I was a little surprised and sceptical to see them getting so involved with Casement.

As NAG1 said we will agree to disagree

No don't get me wrong - I'm no cheerleader for the group at all - or various quangos in "our wee province".

You live in Waterfoot right?
Well excuse me for stating the obvious but you're in no position to say that nobody would notice if they didn't lift a hand again!
We can agree to disagree on some things - but I can point you to many people living in poverty and many projects in West Belfast where people most certainly do notice.
Minder - that's just bulls**t.
You might not particularly like them - I'm no cheerleader - but stick to facts.

Junkets happen everywhere - and West Belfast does need promoted abroad.
On a Saturday morning there's piles of tourists in buses and Black taxis up and down the Falls Road. Walking through the cemeteries. You think they just arrived there by chance? You think three's not some sort of co-ordination to all of this?
Stay in Waterfoot then before you pass comment on something you clearly know nothing about and are just prejudiced about.

Now that said this is a hurling forum - your comments were not only out of place - but factually incorrect.

So to finish things on matters hurling - the "Feile crowd" were positively involved in the Fr Reid Weekend and lend lobbying support to project casement - as they are duty bound to do.
There is no agenda, and no desire to infiltrate and aspect of the GAA.
They wouldn't want to - and it wouldn't be tolerated.  Antrim GAA offers nothing for the group anyway.
Stick to your conspiracy theories, ones which still have never been able to have any motive or substance - and I will stick to facts.

I'm from Waterfoot I have lived in West Belfast for almost 15 years so I am in as good a position as anyone else to comment

Clearly not - given the fact you're making in inaccurate statement.
Stick to the "Friends of Glenarrife" and all their great work promoting that area and their gates.
Or stick to commenting on hurling as you haven't aren't that learned on the "wild west".

Well yes I kind of predicted that response
No connection to them at all - indeed I've said I'm no fan of the various quangos we have.
I'm more irritated at the notion anyone (non-GAA) can parachute into our affairs (any GAA affairs)as easy - or that we have something to offer them. It's just nonsense.
You guys are just way off the mark on this one hence you haven't said anything of substance.

And to be perfectly honest what I'm more irritated about is Casement itself.
It going on too long.
It's going to get built - and on that site.
No more debate.
Get it built.
Regardless of anyone's opinions on the politics of it (including mine) a new stadium is preferable to all Antrim Gaels than the current waste ground.
This is the only show in town - the only option.

Enough is enough - build the f**kin thing.

Not to clog the thread up with this debate any longer, we are not going to agree on this point.
I have made my point and not based on wild conspiracy theories as was suggested. We have been sold a pup on this one.

back to the hurling.......

Just before we go - I have seen Visit West Belfast/ Failte Feirste Thiar in "action" over the last 10 years or so, and it's basically a vehicle to hoover up funding in that sector. And let's just say their funding wouldn't be commesurate with their output. As for them being "duty bound" to promote West Belfast, are you serious? If they never lifted a hand again nobody would notice and the funding would continue to roll in. For quite a few years their office on the Falls Rd consisted of a fella manning a Twitter account but they where never far from a foreign junket to "promote West Belfast", I remember seeing they where in Milwaukee of all places promoting West Belfast...........

So that why I was a little surprised and sceptical to see them getting so involved with Casement.

As NAG1 said we will agree to disagree

No don't get me wrong - I'm no cheerleader for the group at all - or various quangos in "our wee province".

You live in Waterfoot right?
Well excuse me for stating the obvious but you're in no position to say that nobody would notice if they didn't lift a hand again!
We can agree to disagree on some things - but I can point you to many people living in poverty and many projects in West Belfast where people most certainly do notice.
Minder - that's just bulls**t.
You might not particularly like them - I'm no cheerleader - but stick to facts.

Junkets happen everywhere - and West Belfast does need promoted abroad.
On a Saturday morning there's piles of tourists in buses and Black taxis up and down the Falls Road. Walking through the cemeteries. You think they just arrived there by chance? You think three's not some sort of co-ordination to all of this?
Stay in Waterfoot then before you pass comment on something you clearly know nothing about and are just prejudiced about.

Now that said this is a hurling forum - your comments were not only out of place - but factually incorrect.

So to finish things on matters hurling - the "Feile crowd" were positively involved in the Fr Reid Weekend and lend lobbying support to project casement - as they are duty bound to do.
There is no agenda, and no desire to infiltrate and aspect of the GAA.
They wouldn't want to - and it wouldn't be tolerated.  Antrim GAA offers nothing for the group anyway.
Stick to your conspiracy theories, ones which still have never been able to have any motive or substance - and I will stick to facts.

Will you two get a room

The only significant bit here is who owns casement
As nag says it should never have been signed over without consultation of the clubs
The people who where the trustees on land registry didn't own it to sign it over
Casement belongs to the Gaels of Antrim and they should have been consulted
I also heard the sign over fee was paultry
Apparently SV are re-negotiating this to the tune of millions
Or is this another story that's grown a pair of legs
If this happens am I correct in saying casement is then the sole property of Ulster council
I am confused by the whole thing

I get NAGs point on this - and I'm in total agreement - indeed it's a point I supported on here months and years ago!

But my point is it's a debate that's got nothing to do with West Belfast or it's quangos!
The slant there was absolute conspiracy paranoia nonsense!

ANd don't hold any breath for SV securing any sort of different deal whatsoever.
The ship has sailed lads.
There WILL be a new Casement.
We WON'T have full control over it.
That was realised long ago.

[That's why I kept using "" in "Feile Crowd" as it's not the body which is lobbying on behalf of the stadium at all. Maybe you didn't grasp that. Failte Feirste Thiar / Visit West Belfast is one group lobbying in support of the stadium. And equally none of the many bodies (you have singled out only one, and one which is not even involved) lobbying for casement are nor need to be expert's in stadium redevelopment any more that I lobby for a tax deduction but I'm not an accountant.]

Read back over my posts, no issue with the venue for the match no issue with the match itself or the activities around it.

As I said its not a conspiracy theory when it is actually happening. Nothing to do with NA/ Belfast divide, a simple observation.

You are saying they are lobbying group charged with developing W Belfast?

"Féile an Phobail -
Féile an Phobail was established in West Belfast in 1988 and has evolved to become one of the major arts and festival organisations in the north of Ireland. Its growth over the past 24 years has been rapid and the organisation now provides an annual programme that are firmly entrenched in Ireland's festival calendar."

Tell me where in that mission statement it says that they are experts in stadiums/ Redevelopment?

That's why I kept using "" in "Feile Crowd" as it's not the body which is lobbying on behalf of the stadium at all. Maybe you didn't grasp that. Failte Feirste Thiar / Visit West Belfast is one group lobbying in support of the stadium. And equally none of the many bodies (you have singled out only one, and one which is not even involved) lobbying for casement are nor need to be expert's in stadium redevelopment any more that I lobby for a tax deduction but I'm not an accountant.

I will spell it out for you once more IMO this is not a West Belfast stadium, this is an Antrim County stadium, Wrong! The money was allocated to Ulster Council, and once public money is involved there are may stakeholders. Again, that's a separate point and an old debate. therefore anyone exerting influence on the consultation/ design/ building of a stadium for their own reasons be that the redevelopment of West Belfast, economic regeneration or for the Arts and Culture of the region, should be answerable to ALL Antrim Gaels. Being answerable is fine, nobody disputes accountability. You said they shouldn't be involved - that's a different matter. But you should know that in terms of casement the accountability lies to more than just Antrim gaels.

Again not to confuse the issue, I am not against any of these things happening and would like to see them all happen in fact. But the primary interest for me is to get the best deal/ stadium for a kid in Ballycastle/ Glenarm/ Larne/ Portglenone the same as one from Andersonstown. All other factors are secondary IMO - that means that people who are backing/ promoting the stadium for their own reasons outside of this IMO should be held accountable and declare their interest in any future development.

They are accountable, that's why they are lobbying for the stadium. If they didn't they'd be in dereliction of their duty. They are backing the stadium because their interest is in promoting West Belfast - that's their job. If you want a stadium in Larne - get Larne folk to lobby for one. Or maybe those in somewhere like Dunsilly for a random example. It was never within the gift of Antrim GAA to decide where this money was to be spent. It has to be built somewhere - Belfast & Casement is the only option - and that's where the money has been allocated for. Again, you are coming to this debate very late and this is the only show in town - get over it. 

[Their interest is clearly in the future of West Belfast - which is best served by a new Casement - what's so difficult to understand? Why aren't you targeting everyone who voices support for new Casement?]

The "Feile Crowd" are more than entitled and welcome to lobby in support of a new stadium in the area - there would be something wrong if they didn't. Many other bodies are also supporting the campaign - there's nothing unusual in this. Don't forget it's Casement is public money not GAA money.

That's totally different to having a formal say in any GAA matters which they do not and never will.

Sorry guys I think you're just being wild conspiracy theorists on this one.

And I say that as a Gael who is loathe to anyone outside the GAA interfering in our affairs!

Glad to see the NHL games will be shared around.

It is public money that has been assigned to Sporting Organisations i.e. IRFU - Ulster the Soccer men and Ulster GAA - not to community activists or lobbyists. I think it is naive in the extreme to think that they are in it for anything other than their own interests long term.

Their interest is clearly in the future of West Belfast - which is best served by a new Casement - what's so difficult to understand? Why aren't you targeting everyone who voices support for new Casement?

What are the GAA giving up for their support? Nothing. What do you think they could or would give up? How? Why would anyone want them to give anything up?

Not a conspiracy theory when it is actually happening.
What's happening is that an organisation charged with promoting West Belfast is supporting a new stadium in West Belfast. It'd be highly curious if they were not.

So you believe that in exchange for their support they are not being offered anything? Naive much?

So either I am naive or you are a conspiracy theorist. I'll take that - especially since I've explained why they support casement already - but you have been unable to tell me what exactly they have "been offered" or why.

I for one as an Antrim Gael do not want us to be giving up the rights to our own county ground, with no say in when its open, for how many games and whether we will have access to it etc etc etc I also as part of that take issue with a special interest group, exerting external influence on promoting this, until we as a collective of Antrim gaels have been given reassurances around these issues.

No argument there. But that's an old debate on the Casement Project between Antrim and Ulster Council - it's got absolutely nothing to do with the "Feile Crowd"

To extend the point further, I want what is best for Antrim GAA - not what will regenerate West Belfast. If the two happen to coincide then mores the better but not at the expense of the first.
Nice for you. But the public money has been allocated for the project at Casement. Your point here is irrelevant again. The money was allocated to Casement Project in conjunction with ravenhill and Windsor - it's not an argument about West Belfast community Vs Antrim GAA. The money is going to casement - nowhere else. Get over it.

It is not the responsibility of or the gift of anyone one to give up the rights to our county ground simply to get a stadium built to suit the needs of Ulster council. You're coming to this debate a bit late - scroll back a load of pages. I was one person who argued the same.

Therefore anyone who is supportive of pushing this through I consider to have an ulterior motive in this. Let's try again. The motive of the "Feile crowd" is the future of West Belfast. They support a regenerated Casement as part of that. They are duty bound to support the project in the area - and so they do - they don't want anything from the GAA other than the stadium built  - they are doing their job by lobbying in support of it - the new Stadium is of mutual interest to West Belfast and Antrim GAA - that's the motive - not some hidden agenda to take over the world via Antrim GAA (although you have yet to tell us what it is you think other than your conspiracy theory).

Your points about Project Casement - are a different debate altogether, and an old one.
Your points about the Feile crowd - they are wild conspiracy theories and to be quite frank the "Feile crowd" have the ear of movers and shakers well beyond Antrim GAA, it's laughable to think Antrim GAA can be used for anything we are small fry!

Do you not see that you have already dismissed your own side of the debate, why do they need the ear of anyone? Why all of a sudden are they so heavily involved in Antrim matters?

And again - they have the ears of people outside of the GAA for non-GAA matters - they don't need Antrim GAA at all, and don't want whatever it is your grand conspiracy theory thinks - because you have never said.

Simple. Here goes. Again.
They are a group tasked to improve West Belfast - supporting a West Belfast project.
It really is that simple. So much so that if they were not proactively supporting Casement - I for one would be asking why not.

Not conspiracy theories or anything of the sort merely pointing out the obvious and questioning it.
And you have got your answer. Over and over again. You just prefer to disregard what is blatently simple & obvious in favour some West Belfast conspiracy masterplan in your head.
What about the Ulster Council & Stormont Ministers from both sides of our politics which this "Feile Crowd" have also met to promote a project in West Belfast - are they part of your conspiracy too?

I'm starting to think the Tipperary match should have been played up the Glens NAG - let you lads could have organise it, finance it, you wouldn't have needed to go to Belfast to see it, and we could have checked out how us McCooeys can invent conspiracy theories as a result.

Give it up man - it's a simple situation that is been easily explained. You just been watching a bit much TV to accept that.

[Their interest is clearly in the future of West Belfast - which is best served by a new Casement - what's so difficult to understand? Why aren't you targeting everyone who voices support for new Casement?]

The "Feile Crowd" are more than entitled and welcome to lobby in support of a new stadium in the area - there would be something wrong if they didn't. Many other bodies are also supporting the campaign - there's nothing unusual in this. Don't forget it's Casement is public money not GAA money.

That's totally different to having a formal say in any GAA matters which they do not and never will.

Sorry guys I think you're just being wild conspiracy theorists on this one.

And I say that as a Gael who is loathe to anyone outside the GAA interfering in our affairs!

Glad to see the NHL games will be shared around.

It is public money that has been assigned to Sporting Organisations i.e. IRFU - Ulster the Soccer men and Ulster GAA - not to community activists or lobbyists. I think it is naive in the extreme to think that they are in it for anything other than their own interests long term.

Their interest is clearly in the future of West Belfast - which is best served by a new Casement - what's so difficult to understand? Why aren't you targeting everyone who voices support for new Casement?

What are the GAA giving up for their support? Nothing. What do you think they could or would give up? How? Why would anyone want them to give anything up?

Not a conspiracy theory when it is actually happening.
What's happening is that an organisation charged with promoting West Belfast is supporting a new stadium in West Belfast. It'd be highly curious if they were not.

So you believe that in exchange for their support they are not being offered anything? Naive much?

So either I am naive or you are a conspiracy theorist. I'll take that - especially since I've explained why they support casement already - but you have been unable to tell me what exactly they have "been offered" or why.

I for one as an Antrim Gael do not want us to be giving up the rights to our own county ground, with no say in when its open, for how many games and whether we will have access to it etc etc etc I also as part of that take issue with a special interest group, exerting external influence on promoting this, until we as a collective of Antrim gaels have been given reassurances around these issues.

No argument there. But that's an old debate on the Casement Project between Antrim and Ulster Council - it's got absolutely nothing to do with the "Feile Crowd"

To extend the point further, I want what is best for Antrim GAA - not what will regenerate West Belfast. If the two happen to coincide then mores the better but not at the expense of the first.
Nice for you. But the public money has been allocated for the project at Casement. Your point here is irrelevant again. The money was allocated to Casement Project in conjunction with ravenhill and Windsor - it's not an argument about West Belfast community Vs Antrim GAA. The money is going to casement - nowhere else. Get over it.

It is not the responsibility of or the gift of anyone one to give up the rights to our county ground simply to get a stadium built to suit the needs of Ulster council. You're coming to this debate a bit late - scroll back a load of pages. I was one person who argued the same.

Therefore anyone who is supportive of pushing this through I consider to have an ulterior motive in this. Let's try again. The motive of the "Feile crowd" is the future of West Belfast. They support a regenerated Casement as part of that. They are duty bound to support the project in the area - and so they do - they don't want anything from the GAA other than the stadium built  - they are doing their job by lobbying in support of it - the new Stadium is of mutual interest to West Belfast and Antrim GAA - that's the motive - not some hidden agenda to take over the world via Antrim GAA (although you have yet to tell us what it is you think other than your conspiracy theory).

Your points about Project Casement - are a different debate altogether, and an old one.
Your points about the Feile crowd - they are wild conspiracy theories and to be quite frank the "Feile crowd" have the ear of movers and shakers well beyond Antrim GAA, it's laughable to think Antrim GAA can be used for anything we are small fry!

[Their interest is clearly in the future of West Belfast - which is best served by a new Casement - what's so difficult to understand? Why aren't you targeting everyone who voices support for new Casement?]

The "Feile Crowd" are more than entitled and welcome to lobby in support of a new stadium in the area - there would be something wrong if they didn't. Many other bodies are also supporting the campaign - there's nothing unusual in this. Don't forget it's Casement is public money not GAA money.

That's totally different to having a formal say in any GAA matters which they do not and never will.

Sorry guys I think you're just being wild conspiracy theorists on this one.

And I say that as a Gael who is loathe to anyone outside the GAA interfering in our affairs!

Glad to see the NHL games will be shared around.

It is public money that has been assigned to Sporting Organisations i.e. IRFU - Ulster the Soccer men and Ulster GAA - not to community activists or lobbyists. I think it is naive in the extreme to think that they are in it for anything other than their own interests long term.

Their interest is clearly in the future of West Belfast - which is best served by a new Casement - what's so difficult to understand? Why aren't you targeting everyone who voices support for new Casement?

What are the GAA giving up for their support? Nothing. What do you think they could or would give up? How? Why would anyone want them to give anything up?

Not a conspiracy theory when it is actually happening.
What's happening is that an organisation charged with promoting West Belfast is supporting a new stadium in West Belfast. It'd be highly curious if they were not.

The "Feile Crowd" are more than entitled and welcome to lobby in support of a new stadium in the area - there would be something wrong if they didn't. Many other bodies are also supporting the campaign - there's nothing unusual in this. Don't forget it's Casement is public money not GAA money.

That's totally different to having a formal say in any GAA matters which they do not and never will.

Sorry guys I think you're just being wild conspiracy theorists on this one.

And I say that as a Gael who is loathe to anyone outside the GAA interfering in our affairs!

Glad to see the NHL games will be shared around.

[you need to look in the mirror and ask questions of yourself before anything else.]

I'm honestly completely dismayed at the comments regarding the recent visit of Tipperary.
Lets be quite clear here (as someone who is often critical of our county administration).

1) This visit was resounding success. A lower level hurling county like ourselves come a long way to visit and spend time here with our own young Gaels would have been cherished in any other similar county. There was nothing negative about that weekend whatsoever.

2) The sue of Corrigan for the game was a no-brainer. The origin of the weekend was the link with Fr Reid and Corrigan is the closest venue to Clonard Monastry. Remember the visit would not have  happened without the Redemptorist link. If the inference is that the game should have been played in North Antrim I can assure you Tipperary had no desire to put more miles on the clock after the various events they had participated in around the area - many on behalf of their own county link.
The game had no reason to be played anywhere else - God forbid some Glensmen might have to come to Belfast to see the All-Ireland Champions - blame Fr Reid.

3) Criticising Corrigan's facilities is really a strange one. Many clubs in Tipperary would be glad of them. I'm not sure that you think the Tipp lads normally train in venues with gold plated toilet seats? This is the GAA, catch yourselves on - the venue was fine. Anyone who was there couldn't complain.

4) The involvement of the West Belfast Festival and Partnership has also been mentioned. Quite simply they helped finance the visit. Their representitives were therefore most welcome - as any sponsor would be.


I really find it incredulous that this weekend and visit was subject to any criticism.
We're a lesser hurling county who had the all-Ireland champions come along way to train and engage with our young Gaels, and play a game against us in our back yard. All at minimal cost to ourselves. I mean if people here can see that as a massive success then I really think you need to look in the mirror and ask questions of yourself before anything else. Would there be anything that would make you happy?

What questions would you like me to ask?
If I was so negative about such a positive weekend - I'd question myself as to why. Why the need?

I have never once said that the impact on the kids was the most important part of the weekend for me.

My point is simply that it got dressed up into some big thing when it was a friendly. That's your opinion. Anyone I spoke to at the game was very much aware it was just a friendly. In fact for most the emphasis was on kids meeting the Tipp team - not the game at all. Point being that it was not that long ago that we had these teams coming up every spring and we were 'competing' with them, it was more of a lament on my part now (as I said) that we are no longer in the position and that we are reduced to hosting them in a dressed up friendly. That ship has long since sailed - you may as well lament for cheap cigarettes and alcohol. I respect them as All Ireland champs, but I do not go in for this 'fan boy' attitude.If you can't be a fan of the all-Ireland champions the I'd be asking myself who can be? Nobody put up statues of them - but it was fantastic for kids to meet them. I would rather we got our house in order and were meeting them as equals. Grand, but that's a separate point tot he fact that it was a great weekend.

No qualms with Corrigan or St John's.

I have long has a serious issue with 'Feile' being involved so heavily in the Casement project and this is another way that they are accessing our inner decision making structures. Who is running the show, county board or felie?

I've long commented that GAA affairs should be free from outside influence, be it Feile or political parties. The Feile lads were sponsors, so they were involved. They didn't access any structures of make any decisions. I've no idea why you think they did. If it was say Creagh Concrete that put money in - would you not expect to see them there too? Trust me I want quangos and politics nowhere near our structures or the new Casement - but that's not what this weekend was about.

It was a great weekend.
We'd the all-Ireland champions in our home patch for a game and to meet kids.
Just enjoy it for heavens sake.

I'm honestly completely dismayed at the comments regarding the recent visit of Tipperary.
Lets be quite clear here (as someone who is often critical of our county administration).

1) This visit was resounding success. A lower level hurling county like ourselves come a long way to visit and spend time here with our own young Gaels would have been cherished in any other similar county. There was nothing negative about that weekend whatsoever.

2) The sue of Corrigan for the game was a no-brainer. The origin of the weekend was the link with Fr Reid and Corrigan is the closest venue to Clonard Monastry. Remember the visit would not have  happened without the Redemptorist link. If the inference is that the game should have been played in North Antrim I can assure you Tipperary had no desire to put more miles on the clock after the various events they had participated in around the area - many on behalf of their own county link.
The game had no reason to be played anywhere else - God forbid some Glensmen might have to come to Belfast to see the All-Ireland Champions - blame Fr Reid.

3) Criticising Corrigan's facilities is really a strange one. Many clubs in Tipperary would be glad of them. I'm not sure that you think the Tipp lads normally train in venues with gold plated toilet seats? This is the GAA, catch yourselves on - the venue was fine. Anyone who was there couldn't complain.

4) The involvement of the West Belfast Festival and Partnership has also been mentioned. Quite simply they helped finance the visit. Their representitives were therefore most welcome - as any sponsor would be.


I really find it incredulous that this weekend and visit was subject to any criticism.
We're a lesser hurling county who had the all-Ireland champions come along way to train and engage with our young Gaels, and play a game against us in our back yard. All at minimal cost to ourselves. I mean if people here can see that as a massive success then I really think you need to look in the mirror and ask questions of yourself before anything else. Would there be anything that would make you happy?

[do the county stuff out of their own time plus no doubt working with their own club committees]

Arrogant? Certainly not.... but anything the county do you have yourself and Pj give off about it.... pure negative and we wonder why Antrim is a shit county!! They have been elected in and should be given a chance instead of sniping all the time....

You were out of order. End of. The county is in diffs because we have people who are above their station.

I'm negative when I feel I have to be.

Get off your high horse oul hand.

Then do something about it!! Unless youve been under a rock for 50 years the county has been in diffs a lot, are you critical all the time without a solution?

Who are you to tell me to do something about it? How do you know what I am doing to improve my club or county?

I'm not critical all the time for the sake of it. I've been critical of saffron vision and I have every right to be.

I tell you what I want until I know or you tell me different? You are critical all the time so I think you're negative which you've admitted... you're not part of the Antrim committee do in that respect you do feck all.. if you wash the gear at the club, the well done

I'll continue to post what i want about what i want. It's people like you and yer mate TR that give decent Belfast gaels a bad name. A whistle in your cheaper and you think you're an authority on everything.

So by me posting what I want, I'm I any different to you? You'd be a right fool to think differently.... I've explained befor PJ I ain't got mates at the county. Now if you can remember that, then that be a good start...

It's people like you who run down the county at every decision and not do anything constructive that's possibly keeps Antrim where it is

People like me? somebody who has given 30 years of his life playing, refereeing, umpiring, coaching and sitting on committees? I'm sure most other people on the board had done all this also, so maybe it's people like me that keep the clubs etc going.

Anyway, we aren't going to agree about anything so we'll stop clogging up this thread. Look forward to seeing how my complaints pan out over the next few months. My guess that we'll be still writing about the same issues this time next year.

Big win for the hurlers, couldn't make it up as her indoors was working. Any reports??

You're right, there is a long list of posters here doing what you do, without running down the efforts of people who do the county stuff out of their own time plus no doubt working with their own club committees

I'm not sure many county officers work much within their Club committees - due to the obvious time constraints.
My issue would be that over the years in Antrim we've had our fair share of County officers who arrived in position without ever working in Club committees.
But that's a different argument I suppose.

Wrong side of the ormeau bridge btdtgtt ;-)

The Orangemen used to have that problem

Any truth in the story that this is a Down team with an Antrim manager?
£10k pa
https://www.sportsjoe.ie/gaa/outrageous-direct-debit-demands-club-team-pay-manager-show-gaa-lost-control/110163

Why not name him and the club then G?

If this is true then he was obviously comfortable with the club doing this with the players, so I dont think there would be any harm in naming him and the club?

Well it isn't us and I'd be surprised if it was any of the other two Ards clubs as that sort of news would go round the place like wildfire and the first I saw it was on here.

What's the wing doing this weather?

Maybe it's in the big city where there's too much money and hurling is growing 

(P.S. Purely speculation with no basis...)

Speculating on the money? Or that hurling is growing?
I don't see either!

[to ask players to pay for their own manager, ridiculous.]

I don't actually know Nag. I don't know how the managerial merry go round has gone this year so I was just asking the question.  As there's only really 3 Down clubs this could be I thought someone might know whether it was bullsh*t or not.

That's ok, I don't know myself but I my initial thoughts on it would remain that if anyone does know then I think it should be posted up.

This whole thing may be a windup, I hope it is. 

But if its true, name and shame the club and the manager. Goes against the entire ethos of club GAA.
I accept that coaches are getting paid by clubs all over the country but to ask players to pay for their own manager, ridiculous.

So who should pay?
Why should anyone else in the club pay it?

The real answer is nobody.
It's long over time this cancer was exposed and cut out.