Is the GAA doing enough to promote hurling?

[GaelicGames.In]

A new discussion - should the GAA do more to force non-hurling counties to promote the game?

I've made a map of hurling club here:
http://www.gaelicgames.in/articles/hurlingclubs.php

have a look

[Rossfan]

Pity you had to have a map showing London incorporated into a town in North West Ireland

[Gnevin]

Short answer no

counties outside the big 8 are left on their own and its a credit to people in Antrim and Offaly that the game is still played their the amount of support give is very poor. Dublin shows what can be done but how much of this came from the top i'd say very little .

I know someone will properly correct me but sure Fermanagh could double the number of hurling clubs in a few year?

[inisceithleann]

Short answer no

counties outside the big 8 are left on their own and its a credit to people in Antrim and Offaly that the game is still played their the amount of support give is very poor. Dublin shows what can be done but how much of this came from the top i'd say very little .

I know someone will properly correct me but sure Fermanagh could double the number of hurling clubs in a few year?

Lisnaskea and Lisbellaw are the only hurling clubs but there is an underage hurling club Knocks Grattons which will probably have a senior team in the future. Many clubs like Enniskillen used to compete in the hurling championship and were senior champions in 1990. I played hurling with the club up until u-16 after which the hurling element folded. There were 6 teams in the fermanagh league then. At that stage we were beating the likes of Lisbellaw. However when you get to 16/17 you have to choose between hurling or football as many fellas play soccer as well. As hurling doesn't get the recognition in weaker counties most people just give it up.

[GaelicGames.In]

Personally I live in Britain and the biggest problem is the distance between teams. Is that a factor in Fermanagh?

Also in a place like Cork people play hurling first and then football so theres no room in there lives for soccer.

In fermanagh is it the case of Football first, soccer second but no room for hurling?

[inisceithleann]

No distance isn't the problem in fermanagh. Its def football, then soccer and unfortunately no room for hurling. It's sad but those clubs that used to play at underage level probably have the equipment lying idle somewhere. The Hurling Devlopment officer is from my own club and he's doing sterling work in the primary schools but he has been on record saying that we need more investment.

[GaelicGames.In]

I agree. Things don't move forward unless theres a big jump in momentum

Here in Britain they are going to employ 7 full time development officers for Gaelic Games. The Irish government and the GAA are splitting the cost.

Many clubs are dying because they are simply to lazy to do development and whenever there is a fall in numbers in an area the club folds. hopefuly these officers can get a system going which will change things.

something simular is necessary to get hurling in the North West going.

[fer fox ache]

Fcuk sake boys we're not interested alright.
Why not enforce the creation of rounders teams and compulsory participation in scor. You don't hear us football counties carping about the fact that Kilkenny don't even enter a football team in either league or Leinster Championship.

[inisceithleann]

Fcuk sake boys we're not interested alright.
Why not enforce the creation of rounders teams and compulsory participation in scor. You don't hear us football counties carping about the fact that Kilkenny don't even enter a football team in either league or Leinster Championship.

That's only your opinion and you're entitled to have it. However i'm from a football county and I think it is a shame that Kilkenny do not compete in the NFL or Leinster championship. We should do everything we can to promote the native games of this country and many young children would love to play hurling if they were given the oppurtunity and this can only be done by putting the proper structures in place. There is so much unused talent in the these counties. If we could get children out playing hurling instead of sitting at home playing playstations etc then the game may have a future in these counties. You may not be a hurling fan but don't criticise those who are trying to promote it.

[fer fox ache]

I'm not criticising hurling but we have enough bother keeping our football club running without taking up another sport. The dual clubs in our county also create massive fixture scheeduling problems. The kids that will take up hurling are not those camped in front of  the television but the ones already playing football.  Where did I criticise those promoting hurling all I'm saying is that you can't expect to make hay when you sowing your seed on ground already taken up by another crop

[inisceithleann]

Fair enough but the words, " Fcuk sake boys we're not interested alright", indicated that you were being critical of the development of hurling. Some footballers may start playing hurling but there are plenty of children not currently involved with the GAA that could take up the game. As for dual clubs, the issue of fixtures lies with the county board GAC. I'm primarily a football man but why should hurling not get the same recognition. It is after all the older of the two games.

[magpie seanie]

Just to help you my club - Coolera/Strandhill, Co. Sligo - caters for hurling as well as mens and ladies football so you can update your site to reflect that. On Sunday we will make history when we take to the field for our first ever Senior Hurling Championship tie. Our oldest player is 21 and the bulk of the team are minors (6 or 7 of whom helped Sligo minor hurlers win through to the All-Ireland "C" minor final last weekend). About 10 years ago a group of lads (some originally from hurling counites, some with no background at all) got the u-8's and u-10's going and here we are ten years on. Trouble is there are very few clubs (at underage its a semi final and then the final - only 6 clubs at senior) and football is king.

Anyway, the above shows what can be done with little or no outside help. Imagine if 5 or 6 other clubs in the county were at the same?

[Gnevin]

God  does every tom dick and harry has an input into fixtures , All you hear is moaning about fixtures for f**k sake if Dublin can get 200 + clubs organised .Surely your county board could find time for  4 hurling clubs

[darbyo]

Also in a place like Cork people play hurling first and then football so theres no room in there lives for soccer

That's not true at all, in parts of Cork hurling comes first in other parts (i.e West Cork) football comes first and as for ther being no room for soccer in Cork, give me a break. There are large parts of the island of Ireland where both codes can make big in roads, Limerick, Galway, Derry and Dublin city for example. The GAA is doing alot to improve hurlings stock in many parts of the country and comes in for some unjust criticism from rank and file members who don't seem to comprehend the difficulties of developing the sports in areas where they're not strong.

[Gnevin]

Also in a place like Cork people play hurling first and then football so theres no room in there lives for soccer

That's not true at all, in parts of Cork hurling comes first in other parts (i.e West Cork) football comes first and as for ther being no room for soccer in Cork, give me a break. There are large parts of the island of Ireland where both codes can make big in roads, Limerick, Galway, Derry and Dublin city for example. The GAA is doing alot to improve hurlings stock in many parts of the country and comes in for some unjust criticism from rank and file members who don't seem to comprehend the difficulties of developing the sports in areas where they're not strong.

Doing alot? What does that mean , i mean it seems to me that Dublin's turn around came with very little help from the top.