Should the GAA Support Flood Victims?

Bud Wiser · December 05, 2009, 12:42:22 PM

No need to explain the difficulties people are in. some awful scenes on TV.
Should the GAA not do something, take the lead, hold a benefit game in Croke Park.
Before anyone says, it's too much to ask the players after the years commitments, if I was still playing I would gladly do it, day or night and I would say almost every player to a man would want to do the same.
So even pay the players for their nights work, have the GPA All Stars play the GAA All -Stars with those who were nominated making up the teams where there is a joint award decided.
Fill Croke Park some night, people who would not normally go to games would go, everyone put their shoulder to the wheel and as someone suggested one time, get an ould car as sponsorship and have a raffle for it on the admission tickets and get anyone except Jedward to sing a few songs between games. We have done it before for other countries but now, when it is our own some of these unfortunate people are being put through Means Tests ! Yep, the HSE and Social Welfare never cease to amaze me. That's my house there floating down the river, where would you like me to sit while I do your means test?

I think this would be a chance for the GAA to make a name for itself, it would certainly distance it from the tag of being a Grab All Assoc.

Get every club in the country involved. Get each club to get reports from their area about hardship cases or simply give the money to the Red Cross, Vincent DePaul or Welfare Officers in each area. If the Credit Unions can donate 120K we should be able to donate 1.2M.

brokencrossbar1 · December 05, 2009, 01:17:44 PM

It is a grand idea Bud but would you be able to get the numbers out to make it worthwhile with us in the mouth of Christmas? If there was a full house in CP it wouldn't be unreasonable to do a double header of the All Stars against the AI champs in both football and hurling. A one off, no pressure game but you could charge €40 a head and the gate receipts would be in excess of €3m. I don't know how much it takes to run Croke Park for the day but there would probably be an excess of €1.5m. It could be marketed I suppose as give other people a Christmas present and attend this match. I would go.

longrunsthefox · December 05, 2009, 01:20:31 PM

Laudable idea but it would open the floodgates as they would be expected to step up to the mark on every good cause. (Floodgates... get it?

)

Bud Wiser · December 05, 2009, 01:37:41 PM

It doesn't have to be done before Christmas, even after Christmas would be time enough. Maybe combine the Club Finals day? Costs? The gaa have an add o their website for stewards and for them to get PSA recognition they have to do training. They could limit their costs to zilch with a bit of voluntary commitment and use it as training. I just think the GAA should make a name for itself. As regards setting a precedent I really hope there is nothing worse than being flooded out of your home, nowhere to stay and not having a euro coming down the line. They could say it is a one off. There are lots of people that would sell tickets and get people to go that would not normally go.

longrunsthefox · December 05, 2009, 01:58:53 PM

So wat about people who have lost their homes in the recession, the homeless on our streets, Aids victims, many GAA families have been affected by cancer... the list is endless. It is a laudable idea but many other groups are also very worthy.

pintsofguinness · December 05, 2009, 02:03:55 PM

Quote from: longrunsthefox on December 05, 2009, 01:58:53 PM
So wat about people who have lost their homes in the recession, the homeless on our streets, Aids victims, many GAA families have been affected by cancer... the list is endless. It is a laudable idea but many other groups are also very worthy.

I agree, can't pick and choose causes. The list is endless.
I don't think you'd ever get a full house for it either - and you'd never get 40 euro a head bc!

Bud Wiser · December 05, 2009, 02:58:27 PM

I suppose taking those points into consideration ye are right and I agree. Still I would like to see it done because there is no use having the Red Cross and Vincent DePaul involved if they have no money.

muppet · December 05, 2009, 08:03:07 PM

Quote from: Bud Wiser on December 05, 2009, 02:58:27 PM
I suppose taking those points into consideration ye are right and I agree. Still I would like to see it done because there is no use having the Red Cross and Vincent DePaul involved if they have no money.

Good idea. There are lots of things that could be done. A legends game. A rugby 15 versus a soccer 15 in Gaelic Football. A montage of the above with a free concert + bar (proceeds to flood charity).

Advertise any or all of the above for the floods and you will sell out (even if tickers buyers don't attend they will buy them).

mountainboii · December 05, 2009, 08:31:44 PM

The Allstars should play Brazil when they come next March.

Bud Wiser · December 05, 2009, 09:13:55 PM

Quote from: AFS on December 05, 2009, 08:31:44 PM
The Allstars should play Brazil when they come next March.

And why not. After this evenings vote of acceptance of the GPA which was negotiated by Fintan Drury of Platinum One it should be no problem. In 2007 and 2008 PLATINUM ONE acted as Official Pre-Season Partner to FC Barcelona, organising all aspects of the club's pre-season tour to Edinburgh, Scotland. If Brazil give us the thumbs down then all is not lost so Barcelona could be an option. Fintan looks after Manchester United FC , FC Barcelona (2007 & 2008 Official Pre-Season Partner) Real Madrid C.F. (2009 Official Pre-Season Partner) Sevilla FC , UEFA and FIFA . A game against Brazil would be very easy to organize now that we are in amongst the pro's.

Along with helping the flood victims it would be a great learning curve for Cooney, Duffy, and the boys in HQ to sit in on the organising committee as it will give them a great insight and grounding as to where the GAA is headed in the coming years and they will be ready for anything we can throw at them, even if all we have left to throw is our caps.

Rawhide · December 05, 2009, 11:48:38 PM

Bud, you have just let you cover slip with your last post. Another bag of dung being posted from your goodself on this matter.

On the issue on this thread, a lovely idea indeed, but what has this to do with the GAA. There is a government in place to do deal with it. If we can't agree on how to look after or own players, how would we ever get to the point of agreeing to fund raise for something that the GAA has no responsibility.

Bud Wiser · December 06, 2009, 12:29:31 AM

If you want to reply do so without the personal insults from behind your keyboard. You are not too far away from talking a bag of dung yourself if you are depending on the government to sort out the flood victims. There are adds all over the papers today for donations to the Red Cross and St Vincent dePaul who would not even be in existance today if everyone like you spread the dung you are talking and gave nothing only moaning that the government will sort it out.

I said that the GAA could organise a game between the GPA All-Stars and The GAA All-Stars and I made it in a genuine way. Another poster suggested that the All Stars play Brazil and I correctly point out how easy it would be to arrange such a game. Don't worry about it since it is obvious you do not supoort the Red Cross or any charity but maybe someday you might get what you wish for and I hope then you are not depending on the governent to come and help you.

fitzroyalty · December 06, 2009, 12:46:22 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2e_lzieKwuI

Rawhide · December 06, 2009, 02:14:29 PM

Quote from: Bud Wiser on December 06, 2009, 12:29:31 AM
If you want to reply do so without the personal insults from behind your keyboard. You are not too far away from talking a bag of dung yourself if you are depending on the government to sort out the flood victims. There are adds all over the papers today for donations to the Red Cross and St Vincent dePaul who would not even be in existance today if everyone like you spread the dung you are talking and gave nothing only moaning that the government will sort it out.

I said that the GAA could organise a game between the GPA All-Stars and The GAA All-Stars and I made it in a genuine way. Another poster suggested that the All Stars play Brazil and I correctly point out how easy it would be to arrange such a game. Don't worry about it since it is obvious you do not supoort the Red Cross or any charity but maybe someday you might get what you wish for and I hope then you are not depending on the governent to come and help you.

wheres the personal insults!. I said I thought your post was a bag of dung. I didn't call you names in any way, nor would I make it personal on any matter. I would be well above that approach. But I am entitled to think that your post was a pile of dung

Asal Mor · December 07, 2009, 01:12:07 PM

I dont agree with people saying the GAA shouldnt do this because they cant help all causes. Just because you cant help everyone doesnt mean you shouldnt help anyone. The idea itself is a nice thought but I don't think it would work. They say it takes about 30,000 to break even in Croker and its hard to get people to go to games in this weather, especially for a friendly.