GAA is NOT a minority sport in DLR.
All you have to do is look at the state of Blackrock Rugby Club. FFS they were on the verge of being Cuala's bitch.
Look at the state of St Francis Gaels... Thats not an argument
You would be foolish to the point of lying to claim Gaelic Games are 'bigger' than rugby and soccer in DLR
It’s ironic that while Dublin is the only county in Ireland where Gaa is a minority sport , it has totally dominated Gaelic football for the past decade. Intercounty dominance to such an extent is likely to
Lead to complacency and loss of interest, presenting further challenges for the inefficient club structures in Dublin. Splitting Dublin , and indeed Dublin super-clubs, must now be considered to ensure sustainability of this “minority” sport in the capital. This will hopefully open doors for far more aspiring GAA players in Dublin, develop more local interest in the GAA and stimulate growth.
Those who have lauded the formation of “East Belfast” GAA, which eats into the catchment area of local clubs, will argue that local clubs have welcomed the inclusion of a new club , in stimulating GAA in that area. Could this be a model Dublin GAA could consider to develop their “minority sport”?
Thats nonsense. We now have a situation where most of Dublin now has a club, that wasn't the case before, and a winning intercounty side, which definitely wasn't the case before. Thats what drives interest. That is down to the superclub structure. I have issues with it, but there isn't enough land for houses, where are these spin off new clubs going to be located?
Cuala renting off a soccer club and playing in a public park worked, but it cost millions. You want to risk replicating that times a hundred?
My major issue with the superclub model is Gaelic games in the capital is now a middle class game, the working class clubs were jettisoned. But at least there was a strategy.
Telling these new players and parents that the modern, safe, local superclub is gone, or at least to them, can you please drop your kids to the park, won't fly. We know you used to have a coffee and a read of tbe paper when training was on, but sure you can shelter in the car. We know your kid had county underage ambition, but the new club with new coaches and no facilities will do grand. Soccer and rugby clubs will hoover them up.
I don't think non Dubs get the competition we have and tbe reality that for lots of us, other sports have better facilites, more volunteers, more money and are better ingrained. But we have the Dubs as an aspiration for kids and a day out. Other sports don't.
