A couple of questions for the OWC posters

[Billys Boots]

The only rule in relation to naming of clubs is that a club can't be named after a living person.

Is there a club named after Cormac McAnallen yet?

[ziggysego]

In Sydney there is Billy.

[T Fearon]

My point exactly Orior. If you want liberal protestant/unionist views on the GAA, then you won't glean them from surveying OWC members

[Homer]

The only rule in relation to naming of clubs is that a club can't be named after a living person.

Is there a club named after Cormac McAnallen yet?

Yes in Sydney Cormac McAnallens GAC

[nifan]

If you want liberal protestant/unionist views on the GAA, then you won't glean them from surveying OWC members

what are you on about? there are no liberal members on OWC.
Catch a grip tony

[pintsofguinness]

Seems like everything would be fine and the world would be rosey if:

1) GSTQ was played at the start of matches
2) The Union Jack was flown at GAA grounds
3) The majority of club names were changed
4) The use of Irish was banned

At the end of the day, I aint ever gonna support the six county soccer team, so why would I expect the loyalist people of ulster to support their club/county?

Agree orior.

I don't see the point of a thread (with the greatest respect to HD) where our unionists friends can repeat and reapeat their stereotypical misgivings about the GAA.

[Solomon Kane]

Cant really fault Chris, tony h or Solomon for their opinions, and it is interesting to see their views.

Will correct Solomon on one thing – that GAA was not born out of republicanism!

The political situation in NI for a couple of hundred years has as we know created the religious/nationality split and caused polarization towards either 'sides' chosen sports. So given the bitterness over the last 40-50 years, its understandable why unionists/loyalists would not see the gaa as an open access organization. In time that will all pass but only time can change this.

First of all, as for my assertion about the birth of the GAA that was a misconception on my part and I apologise.

Secondly, NI hasn't been around for a couple of hundred years.

Orior, POG and Fearon are providing exactly the type of poison that does create suspicion among non-nationalists about the GAA. That is freedom of speech for you.  

[pintsofguinness]

Orior, POG and Fearon are providing exactly the type of poison that does create suspicion among non-nationalists about the GAA. That is freedom of speech for you. Roll Eyes

You know the suspicion works both ways.  Most northern Unionists have no intentions on joining the GAA, following the GAA or anything else and instead of just saying that you come up with excuses and keep repeating the same old tired arguments.  No matter how many times people try and talk to you and explain these circumstances yous don't want to hear and go back to the same old argument.

i.e. Kevin Lynch club in Derry - one club of probably well over a thousand clubs in Irieland alone yet how many times does it appear in these arguments?  People like you only look for sticks to beat the GAA with and no matter what we changed you would find something else. 

[Orior]

Cant really fault Chris, tony h or Solomon for their opinions, and it is interesting to see their views.

Will correct Solomon on one thing – that GAA was not born out of republicanism!

The political situation in NI for a couple of hundred years has as we know created the religious/nationality split and caused polarization towards either 'sides' chosen sports. So given the bitterness over the last 40-50 years, its understandable why unionists/loyalists would not see the gaa as an open access organization. In time that will all pass but only time can change this.

First of all, as for my assertion about the birth of the GAA that was a misconception on my part and I apologise.

Secondly, NI hasn't been around for a couple of hundred years.

Orior, POG and Fearon are providing exactly the type of poison that does create suspicion among non-nationalists about the GAA. That is freedom of speech for you.  

So what are you afraid of? That I'll take your women and covert them to the One True Faith? That your sons might prefer the Euro? That you might actually like watching the Ireland rugby team? What? Come on. What? What?

[Solomon Kane]

I am a bit scared of heights, but not much else. I am especially not afraid of internet warriors like yourself Orior. I will never like watching the Ireland rugby team, or any other rugby team for that matter for the simple reason the game bores the tits off me. As for that other stuff.....priceless!

[saffron sam2]

Tried to stay out of this thread and keep things as relevant as possible, but I can't help myself when this idiot gets started.

Council owned, not GAA owned. How do I know? The clue was in the provision of soccer pitches, which kinda proves my point about the ability/willingness of GAA to reach outside of its traditional comunity. For example, when the GAA was offered bundles of cash to make Croke available even temporarily to the National soccer and rugby teams, it took a huge amount of soul searching and debate. Whereas, when a Camogie team needed somewhere locally to practice under floodlights in South Belfast*, the only question was whether the Linfield Janitor would still be around to lock up Windsor Park after they'd finished.

* - For free, btw.

Interesting that, because in the aftermath of the NI - Denmark game and the furore over why the game had to be played on the Saturday, it would be safe to assume that there was at least one more question. "Will you be needing the facilities on a Sunday, ladies?"

Anything for a cheap shot at the GAA. Wally.

Janitor? The only time I heard that word before was in Hong Kong Phooey.