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A nuclear attack by Russia is unlikely. Economic attack is more likely unless we have deterrence. There is no excuse with the budget surplus.

We should be investing in cyber security and if necessary for defence purposes.

But back to a question asked earlier, how many jets do we need?

Having three isn't worth my arse full of warm snow, we need at least 20 and a few nuclear warheads hidden in the bogs of Offaly and to come out of the ground like in thunderbirds.

Do you think that aircraft that switch off their transponders and enter Irish airspace should be intercepted?

Define intercepted?

Do you seriously not know what it means?

I don't. But a big Russian bomber enters Irish airspace. We launch a Viggen. Then what?

A nuclear attack by Russia is unlikely. Economic attack is more likely unless we have deterrence. There is no excuse with the budget surplus.

We should be investing in cyber security and if necessary for defence purposes.

But back to a question asked earlier, how many jets do we need?

Having three isn't worth my arse full of warm snow, we need at least 20 and a few nuclear warheads hidden in the bogs of Offaly and to come out of the ground like in thunderbirds.

Do you think that aircraft that switch off their transponders and enter Irish airspace should be intercepted?

Define intercepted?

Shels and Shamrock Rovers both lost last night. Not looking good for qualification.

And both lost again last night. You could excuse Shels, even if Palace sauntered through their defence at will, as they were playing a team from one of the main European leagues. Rovers was a bad loss - is the Icelandic league so superior to ours? I wonder what kind of spin will Eamon Sweeney try to put on this?

No, it isn't. Although Bredablik are by a distance the best team there. Rovers are shattered. They have had no post season break two years running, playing solidly since Feb 2024. Other LoI clubs are starting pre season, Rovers still have a game to play to finish theirs. They ordinarily win that.

What size is the defence force currently?

Is there any point spending a whole pile more for what will be the same result- if the US/Russia/Brits/France or whoever decided to invade tomorrow they'd blitz us,  (South Armagh aside )if we fired x amount of money at it, they'd still blitz us unless a friendly power decided to help us out..

There is a whole heap of things short of full invasion need defending against though. Russia *will* act the bollocks during the EU presidency and as we saw last week, we need to be able to react better.

Not one of you can fill out that form.

And that's the reason why responsible countries spend on defence.

Nobody is saying spending on defence hasn't been sufficient and the navy in particular is understaffed.

You can agree we need to open the checkbook while simultaneously recognising a clear and orchesated campaign of scaremongering

https://www.ft.com/content/4748d385-877b-40f3-a1ca-0b8ed5177658
Ireland is an island nation that did not have a navy until 1946, had run out of ships by 1969 and is now so under-resourced that only four of its eight vessels are in service. Lacking security infrastructure, it is also cut off from those who might seek to help: friendly Nato nations are unable to communicate a potential hazard, such as an incoming Russian vessel, because Ireland lacks the intelligence systems to receive classified information, three European naval officers have told the FT.

They aren't that bad. The FT is on a sales pitch for big weapons. NATO can easily contact the DF.

During the cold war nobody bothered trying to sell us kit. Now we are rich they are queuing up and the FT in particular are pushing how it is our moral obligation to buy big

The military industrial complex wants to make more money so they have leaned on the Financial Times to write stories to put pressure on the Irish government buy expensive weapons?

Is that what you're saying?

To put pressure on everyone to arm themselves to the teeth

https://www.ft.com/content/4748d385-877b-40f3-a1ca-0b8ed5177658
Ireland is an island nation that did not have a navy until 1946, had run out of ships by 1969 and is now so under-resourced that only four of its eight vessels are in service. Lacking security infrastructure, it is also cut off from those who might seek to help: friendly Nato nations are unable to communicate a potential hazard, such as an incoming Russian vessel, because Ireland lacks the intelligence systems to receive classified information, three European naval officers have told the FT.

They aren't that bad. The FT is on a sales pitch for big weapons. NATO can easily contact the DF.

During the cold war nobody bothered trying to sell us kit. Now we are rich they are queuing up and the FT in particular are pushing how it is our moral obligation to buy big

Soccer is based on an sectarian entity, any of the above is mere mitigation.

The thing is, Soccer was always an all-Ireland sport, until the Partitionist 26 Counties seceded and formed their own, separatist entity.

The game was based in Belfast. Bohemians and Shelbourne won the Cup. 8 out of 10 teams were from Belfast.  Soccer is partitionist. Rugby and GAA aren't. 

Even if I took your and Armaghniac's fairly witless simplifications at face value - which I obviously don't - I still cannot see what any of it has to do with the demographic problems facing the GAA.

You know, the subject of this thread, on this GAA forum?

Unless you have nothing better by which to avoid addressing the Elephant in the Room?

I agree we are on a tangent, but surely you can see why the Leinster Football Association split off?

Ah they're just right. They're still fit and healthy and happy at it. There's clearly a demand as well. They'll go til they drop.

Fine. But give over with repeatedly stating that they are finished

Jamie must get feck all  done.  Constantly running around  looking for things to complain about.

His lawn must be   6 foot high and the dishes piled high in  the sink.

He needs  a hobby or a sport to play. Maybe he  could join East Belfast GAA and  make use of  that hurl of his?

Who is this guy? Or more importantly, how does he consistently get access to the courts immediately despite not being a lawyer? And he keeps losing/wasting the courts time too...

I shall indulge your "whataboutery" for the moment, by pointing out that soccer is played/supported/administered in all parts of NI, by all communities. The NI Schools Cup, for example, attracts over 100 entrants every year, comprising state and fee-paying schools, grammar, comprehensive, integrated, technical and Irish language schools from all areas. How does that compare eg with its GAA equivalent, the MacRory Cup?
Whilst all our representative sides, men and women, boys and girls are similarly mixed. The current Manager of the Senior Mens team, Michael O'Neill is ex-GAA, as is his Captain, Conor Bradley.
And I can tell you from my own, direct experience that there are more NI supporters from the Nationalist community than you might imagine - even if they don't broadcast it widely.

Anyhow, this is a GAA forum, so back to your Demographics, eh?

Soccer is based on an sectarian entity, any of the above is mere mitigation.

But more nationalists in the 6 play soccer than gaelic games...

That's just false, just like the south soccer dominates in the city like Derry & Belfast where the GAA are very outnumbered but the rest of the 6 counties are dominated by Gaelic games in nationalist areas.

More people play soccer in each of the 26 counties than Gaelic football. Why would that fact be different in the 6?

Sometimes I think some people want see Ireland lose, same in the soccer!

Not really. But when the goys bang on about how they are best on the world, schadenfreud does enter the conversation when the inevitible happens

So you're shaping your thoughts on our national rugby team on what a few people you don't know say... Got it, mature thinking

Basically, yes. If the rugby media insist on hyping them to that level, hard not to chuckle when they inevitably fall short.

Does this include fat over 40s running around made up local competitions?

Similar stat was bandied about saying that soccer is the most played sport in the Republic.

Which is true when you include the group of mates playing 5 a side of a Tuesday.

Gaelic football most played competitively I would say but most gaelic footballers play a bit of soccer in the winter which inflates the soccer figure, plus the old lads playing to stay fit

Incorrect. The ESRI and CSO do numbers on sport particpation and both have it as soccer, informal/5 a side, then Gaelic football. So the two most played games are both soccer. Every county has more soccer players. Interesting that a player who does both remains primarily a Gaelic player...

Sometimes I think some people want see Ireland lose, same in the soccer!

Not really. But when the goys bang on about how they are best on the world, schadenfreud does enter the conversation when the inevitible happens

I shall indulge your "whataboutery" for the moment, by pointing out that soccer is played/supported/administered in all parts of NI, by all communities. The NI Schools Cup, for example, attracts over 100 entrants every year, comprising state and fee-paying schools, grammar, comprehensive, integrated, technical and Irish language schools from all areas. How does that compare eg with its GAA equivalent, the MacRory Cup?
Whilst all our representative sides, men and women, boys and girls are similarly mixed. The current Manager of the Senior Mens team, Michael O'Neill is ex-GAA, as is his Captain, Conor Bradley.
And I can tell you from my own, direct experience that there are more NI supporters from the Nationalist community than you might imagine - even if they don't broadcast it widely.

Anyhow, this is a GAA forum, so back to your Demographics, eh?

Soccer is based on an sectarian entity, any of the above is mere mitigation.

But more nationalists in the 6 play soccer than gaelic games...