I don't know what's more pathetic, a paper that only ever mentions the GAA when they can dig up something negative to say about it, or the BNP-supporting comments at the end of the story:
QuoteBNP make equality complaint against GAA (http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/headlines/bnp-make-equality-complaint-against-gaa-1-4799717)
Published on Monday 18 February 2013 08:57
The British National Party in Northern Ireland has written a letter of complaint about the GAA to the Equality Commission.
BNP regional organiser for Northern Ireland, Steven Moore, claims in the letter that the GAA "is likely to be in breach of The Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998".
He has alleged that the GAA seeks to exclude unionists by flying the Irish flag at grounds and singing the Irish national anthem at matches.
"Furthermore," Mr Moore writes, "some GAA grounds are named after prominent Republicans and have been used for Republican anti-British political commemorations contrary to the Association's own rules.
"This creates an environment where unionists will feel intimidated, threatened and of less value than other citizens, because of their national identity.
"Effectively they are excluded from attending or participating in GAA in Northern Ireland."
Scraping the bottom of the barrel much?
Newsletter? I wouldn't wipe me arse with it.
Who cares what the BBC, Newsletter, BNP, DUP etc think or write anyway? The vast majority of unionists wouldn't want anything to do with the GAA, even without flags, anthem etc.
The GAA needs to worry about it's own members, players, supporters instead of wasting time trying to please unionists, who will never be happy no matter how far they go.
Pathetic.
QuoteBNP regional organiser for Northern Ireland, Steven Moore, claims in the letter that the GAA "is likely to be in breach of The Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998".
He has alleged that the GAA seeks to exclude unionists by flying the Irish flag at grounds and singing the Irish national anthem at matches.
Oh right, so any flying of a flag is prohibited by Fair Employment legislation. Someone should tell Belfast City Council, Translink etc.
This clarity could be helpful in the flegs debate.
Quote from: armaghniac on February 19, 2013, 07:19:10 PM
QuoteBNP regional organiser for Northern Ireland, Steven Moore, claims in the letter that the GAA "is likely to be in breach of The Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998".
He has alleged that the GAA seeks to exclude unionists by flying the Irish flag at grounds and singing the Irish national anthem at matches.
Oh right, so any flying of a flag is prohibited by Fair Employment legislation. Someone should tell Belfast City Council, Translink etc.
This clarity could be helpful in the flegs debate.
Bingo.
Talk about be careful what you ask for.
If a Gaa match flying the tricolour is prohibited on equality grounds then what can of worms would that open? No 12th marches unless half of the participants are Catholics? No fleg protests unless both flegs included??
Presumably the IFA and its playing of the British National anthem will also be "in trouble".
As will of course the DUP and UUP who exclude Nationalists from their ranks by their policies ( and vice versa for SF, SDLP).
In that case i wanna joint the orange order under the same pretenses, dont see him complaining about that
Quote from: BennyCake on February 19, 2013, 06:41:52 PM
Newsletter? I wouldn't wipe me arse with it.
Who cares what the BBC, Newsletter, BNP, DUP etc think or write anyway? The vast majority of unionists wouldn't want anything to do with the GAA, even without flags, anthem etc.
The GAA needs to worry about it's own members, players, supporters instead of wasting time trying to please unionists, who will never be happy no matter how far they go.
Bang on BennyCake. Especially your last paragraph.
Quote from: Farrandeelin on February 19, 2013, 08:28:31 PM
Quote from: BennyCake on February 19, 2013, 06:41:52 PM
Newsletter? I wouldn't wipe me arse with it.
Who cares what the BBC, Newsletter, BNP, DUP etc think or write anyway? The vast majority of unionists wouldn't want anything to do with the GAA, even without flags, anthem etc.
The GAA needs to worry about it's own members, players, supporters instead of wasting time trying to please unionists, who will never be happy no matter how far they go.
Bang on BennyCake. Especially your last paragraph.
Disagree with BennyCake. We in GAA should always reach out and be inclusive, it's a threat to no-one least of all our own members. Just because a loyalist rag like the Newsletter chooses to promote BNP bigotry/bullshit does not mean that the GAA should discontinue its great work. As far as I'm concerned the likes of Willie Fraser and that flags young fella Bryson, Donaldson, Robinson and then Paisleys are all welcome into the GAA. They all are as Irish as we are even they can't see it. The GAA should always be the bigger organisation and be open and inclusive to everyone and let us all enjoy our sporting cultures together under the green, the white and the orange!
The Ulster Council have been working very hard to get more northern protestants involved in the GAA. Hurling was brought across the Irish Sea to Scotland where it became Shinty. It's part of their heritage. Makes me sad when I see this kind of bigotry in print, undermines a lot of good work.
Danny Murphy has been good at reaching out to unionists like Basil McCrea who seem to have moderated their stance. Maybe a visit to the Newsletter's editorial staff would be in order.
While i agree with the feeling sad such bigotry exists eamon i don't think it undermines anything.
No one with one ounce of sense would listen to a bnp complaint about equality.
My problem isn't so much with this article (only the knuckle-dragging flag protestors would voice support for the BNP, which they're doing in the comments if you can hold your nose long enough to read them), but my problem is with this paper's attitude to the GAA in general. They never mention the GAA at all unless they can find something negative or controversial to say about it. Any time a unionist politician goes to a GAA match it's reported with weasel words like "Gregory Campbell is planning to go to a GAA match, it has emerged." The subtle little digs just keep on coming. No match reports, no results, not a word about any of the good community work that goes on. Just a constant drip drip drip of negativity and misinformation to reinforce the bigotry of their readership. And whether we like it or not, people read that paper and it shapes opinions.
Quote from: imtommygunn on February 19, 2013, 09:19:19 PM
While i agree with the feeling sad such bigotry exists eamon i don't think it undermines anything.
No one with one ounce of sense would listen to a bnp complaint about equality.
+1
The fact that the Newsletter includes comments from the BNP says allot. The BNP offer more to stand up comedy than the do to politics. The Newsletter isn't far behind
Quote from: Eamonnca1 on February 19, 2013, 09:32:33 PM
My problem isn't so much with this article (only the knuckle-dragging flag protestors would voice support for the BNP, which they're doing in the comments if you can hold your nose long enough to read them), but my problem is with this paper's attitude to the GAA in general. They never mention the GAA at all unless they can find something negative or controversial to say about it. Any time a unionist politician goes to a GAA match it's reported with weasel words like "Gregory Campbell is planning to go to a GAA match, it has emerged." The subtle little digs just keep on coming. No match reports, no results, not a word about any of the good community work that goes on. Just a constant drip drip drip of negativity and misinformation to reinforce the bigotry of their readership. And whether we like it or not, people read that paper and it shapes opinions.
Reasonably minded people wouldn't either a) read it or b)pay heed to it.
Unfortunately the last few months have shown us there are a lot less reasonable people about than we'd hopef :-\
Pig and grunts spring to mind. So who cares what this glorified toilet roll prints.
QuotePig and grunts spring to mind. So who cares what this glorified toilet roll prints.
The Newsletter did cover GAA to a certain extent in the past. While the editorial policy seems to have moved to the right, this doesn't seem the ideal move from a commercial perspective, as Unionists are declining in number and middle of road types are increasing in number. Perhaps there is still a lot of "
loyal" readers in the older age groups who still fork out for a paid copy and wouldn't bother with d'Internet.
An equality complaint from the BNP - you couldn't make it up.
Quote from: ck on February 19, 2013, 09:11:14 PM
Disagree with BennyCake. We in GAA should always reach out and be inclusive, it's a threat to no-one least of all our own members. Just because a loyalist rag like the Newsletter chooses to promote BNP bigotry/bullshit does not mean that the GAA should discontinue its great work. As far as I'm concerned the likes of Willie Fraser and that flags young fella Bryson, Donaldson, Robinson and then Paisleys are all welcome into the GAA. They all are as Irish as we are even they can't see it. The GAA should always be the bigger organisation and be open and inclusive to everyone and let us all enjoy our sporting cultures together under the green, the white and the orange!
I've no problem with the unionist/Protestant community playing or following GAA, but I worry about the amount of work the GAA are doing to include them. Fair enough, the GAA might do good work with community relations etc, but I just don't want our own fans or players suffering or being neglected due to this.
Quote from: BennyCake on February 19, 2013, 10:43:07 PM
Quote from: ck on February 19, 2013, 09:11:14 PM
Disagree with BennyCake. We in GAA should always reach out and be inclusive, it's a threat to no-one least of all our own members. Just because a loyalist rag like the Newsletter chooses to promote BNP bigotry/bullshit does not mean that the GAA should discontinue its great work. As far as I'm concerned the likes of Willie Fraser and that flags young fella Bryson, Donaldson, Robinson and then Paisleys are all welcome into the GAA. They all are as Irish as we are even they can't see it. The GAA should always be the bigger organisation and be open and inclusive to everyone and let us all enjoy our sporting cultures together under the green, the white and the orange!
I've no problem with the unionist/Protestant community playing or following GAA, but I worry about the amount of work the GAA are doing to include them. Fair enough, the GAA might do good work with community relations etc, but I just don't want our own fans or players suffering or being neglected due to this.
Ah come off it BennyCake! You seriously "worry" about the amount of work the GAA does to include "them". That sounds as bad as he tripe the BNP comes out with!
You don't want our own fans or players "suffering" or being "neglected". Are you serious?! How on earth are they suffering or being neglected?
Quote from: muppet on February 19, 2013, 07:36:56 PM
Quote from: armaghniac on February 19, 2013, 07:19:10 PM
QuoteBNP regional organiser for Northern Ireland, Steven Moore, claims in the letter that the GAA "is likely to be in breach of The Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998".
He has alleged that the GAA seeks to exclude unionists by flying the Irish flag at grounds and singing the Irish national anthem at matches.
Oh right, so any flying of a flag is prohibited by Fair Employment legislation. Someone should tell Belfast City Council, Translink etc.
This clarity could be helpful in the flegs debate.
Bingo.
Talk about be careful what you ask for.
If a Gaa match flying the tricolour is prohibited on equality grounds then what can of worms would that open? No 12th marches unless half of the participants are Catholics? No fleg protests unless both flegs included??
You called?
Quote from: BennyCake on February 19, 2013, 10:43:07 PM
I've no problem with the unionist/Protestant community playing or following GAA, but I worry about the amount of work the GAA are doing to include them. Fair enough, the GAA might do good work with community relations etc, but I just don't want our own fans or players suffering or being neglected due to this.
:o
Quote from: ck on February 19, 2013, 10:58:08 PM
Ah come off it BennyCake! You seriously "worry" about the amount of work the GAA does to include "them". That sounds as bad as he tripe the BNP comes out with!
You don't want our own fans or players "suffering" or being "neglected". Are you serious?! How on earth are they suffering or being neglected?
The GAA have run several initiatives in Protestant schools/areas branching out to the unionist community. And it's become bigger and bigger over the last few years. Money that could be spent on other things such as underage/school coaches, club facilities, gear etc for people that actually do play our games.
Quote from: BennyCake on February 19, 2013, 11:55:24 PM
Quote from: ck on February 19, 2013, 10:58:08 PM
Ah come off it BennyCake! You seriously "worry" about the amount of work the GAA does to include "them". That sounds as bad as he tripe the BNP comes out with!
You don't want our own fans or players "suffering" or being "neglected". Are you serious?! How on earth are they suffering or being neglected?
The GAA have run several initiatives in Protestant schools/areas branching out to the unionist community. And it's become bigger and bigger over the last few years. Money that could be spent on other things such as underage/school coaches, club facilities, gear etc for people that actually do play our games.
How does the GAA deal with the national anthem or FLEGS at lower levels?
I know because it's still a serious issue of cultural and political identity in the north to nationalists, republicans whatever label you want to stick on it, but for the GAA to really branch out to 'de other side' they need to be politically neutral, at least in the six counties. Tough as it may be for some to hear the GAA needs to take a leaf out of Irish rugby's book on this one.
It may not be what's best for hard-line nationalists but in the long run it would be for the best of the GAA. It needs to move into the post-political era because being Irish in 2013 means something very different to being Irish in the days of Cusack and the rest of his bearded Hayes Hotel cadre and the GAA doesn't truly reflect that fact. (I'd also add most of the founders were quite open and fore-sighted and that the narrow, blinkered approach developed as the GAA became a haven for even more radical ideals in its early years.)
Is that issue even approachable by the jingle-dangle top brass or palatable to most of the GAA supporters in the six counties? Almost surely not.
Quote from: BennyCake on February 19, 2013, 11:55:24 PM
Quote from: ck on February 19, 2013, 10:58:08 PM
Ah come off it BennyCake! You seriously "worry" about the amount of work the GAA does to include "them". That sounds as bad as he tripe the BNP comes out with!
You don't want our own fans or players "suffering" or being "neglected". Are you serious?! How on earth are they suffering or being neglected?
The GAA have run several initiatives in Protestant schools/areas branching out to the unionist community. And it's become bigger and bigger over the last few years. Money that could be spent on other things such as underage/school coaches, club facilities, gear etc for people that actually do play our games.
Jesus wept! ::)
Quote from: Syferus on February 20, 2013, 01:38:29 AM
Quote from: BennyCake on February 19, 2013, 11:55:24 PM
Quote from: ck on February 19, 2013, 10:58:08 PM
Ah come off it BennyCake! You seriously "worry" about the amount of work the GAA does to include "them". That sounds as bad as he tripe the BNP comes out with!
You don't want our own fans or players "suffering" or being "neglected". Are you serious?! How on earth are they suffering or being neglected?
The GAA have run several initiatives in Protestant schools/areas branching out to the unionist community. And it's become bigger and bigger over the last few years. Money that could be spent on other things such as underage/school coaches, club facilities, gear etc for people that actually do play our games.
How does the GAA deal with the national anthem or FLEGS at lower levels?
I know because it's still a serious issue of cultural and political identity in the north to nationalists, republicans whatever label you want to stick on it, but for the GAA to really branch out to 'de other side' they need to be politically neutral, at least in the six counties. Tough as it may be for some to hear the GAA needs to take a leaf out of Irish rugby's book on this one.
It may not be what's best for hard-line nationalists but in the long run it would be for the best of the GAA. It needs to move into the post-political era because being Irish in 2013 means something very different to being Irish in the days of Cusack and the rest of his bearded Hayes Hotel cadre and the GAA doesn't truly reflect that fact. (I'd also add most of the founders were quite open and fore-sighted and that the narrow, blinkered approach developed as the GAA became a haven for even more radical ideals in its early years.)
Is that issue even approachable by the jingle-dangle top brass or palatable to most of the GAA supporters in the six counties? Almost surely not.
Cusack was a cricketer himself. I think everyone's agreed that it was a mistake to keep 'the ban' for as long as we did, nobody misses Rule 21, and Rule 42 should be next to go IMHO. It's already being ignored outside of Ireland anyway. I'd be all in favour of neutralizing the games up north. More protestants playing GAA games will do far more to bring about Irish unity than boys like us standing to attention for Amhrán na bhFiann.
I wonder what % of the BNP are Black, Jewish, Nationalist-Irish, Asian, French, Muslim, Openly Homosexual, Sikh, plays GAA, German, have 1 or more GCSE etc?
Quoteand Rule 42 should be next to go IMHO
???????
Quote from: BennyCake on February 19, 2013, 11:55:24 PM
Quote from: ck on February 19, 2013, 10:58:08 PM
Ah come off it BennyCake! You seriously "worry" about the amount of work the GAA does to include "them". That sounds as bad as he tripe the BNP comes out with!
You don't want our own fans or players "suffering" or being "neglected". Are you serious?! How on earth are they suffering or being neglected?
The GAA have run several initiatives in Protestant schools/areas branching out to the unionist community. And it's become bigger and bigger over the last few years. Money that could be spent on other things such as underage/school coaches, club facilities, gear etc for people that actually do play our games.
I'll not even reply to this. Unbelievable.
...but just to add. If Uniting Ireland is the objective then we need to bring people in, not keep them out! Think about it.
To take the next step the GAA needs to take the lead, and if that means changing club names or taking down a flag, why not?
I'm all for Irish unity, in fact I'm passionate about it. But using the strategy of Irishness over everything else with only ever guarantee that the border remains!
Quote from: mayogodhelpus@gmail.com on February 20, 2013, 06:20:07 AM
I wonder what % of the BNP are Black, Jewish, Nationalist-Irish, Asian, French, Muslim, Openly Homosexual, Sikh, plays GAA, German, have 1 or more GCSE etc?
Are you seriously comparing the BNP to the GAA?
Quote from: Shamrock Shore on February 20, 2013, 08:15:48 AM
Quoteand Rule 42 should be next to go IMHO
???????
It's true, Rule 42 has not gone. It is still officially in force with only Croke Park excepted. I agree that it should be removed but perhaps there should at least be a limit placed, such that permission has to be sought by the central committee, or provincial council, or even the county board (depending on how serious you take it). I favour permission from the county board. And it should be a default case that permission will always be granted unless there is a good reason not too, as opposed to only being granted if there is a good reason to do so.
'we should take a leaf out of rugby's book' - the Irish rugby team when playing in dublin at least fly the Tricolour and sing the national anthem.
Thats what the GAA already do - so whats the difference.
Or do people want us to be different to what the Irish Rugby team do?
unionist/loyalists dont like playing rugby under the Tricolour and A NaBhf.
However they swallow their sillyness and get on with it.
Same should apply to the GAA.
for those of you who dont realise, these lads will find offense at every turn if you start pandering to them.
they play rugby for Ireland because they want to play - they dont care about the symbols then.
same for playing GAA.
if they want to play it, they will.
this will happen all in good time.
we cannot and should not force the issue.
Quote from: ck on February 20, 2013, 11:18:07 AM
I'll not even reply to this. Unbelievable.
...but just to add. If Uniting Ireland is the objective then we need to bring people in, not keep them out! Think about it.
To take the next step the GAA needs to take the lead, and if that means changing club names or taking down a flag, why not?
I'm all for Irish unity, in fact I'm passionate about it. But using the strategy of Irishness over everything else with only ever guarantee that the border remains!
What's uniting Ireland got to do with it? It's not been mentioned on this thread.
By the way, I've nothing against Protestants/unionists playing GAA, and I said so earlier.
Quote from: camanchero on February 20, 2013, 12:03:48 PM
'we should take a leaf out of rugby's book' - the Irish rugby team when playing in dublin at least fly the Tricolour and sing the national anthem.
Thats what the GAA already do - so whats the difference.
Or do people want us to be different to what the Irish Rugby team do?
unionist/loyalists dont like playing rugby under the Tricolour and A NaBhf.
However they swallow their sillyness and get on with it.
Same should apply to the GAA.
for those of you who dont realise, these lads will find offense at every turn if you start pandering to them.
they play rugby for Ireland because they want to play - they dont care about the symbols then.
same for playing GAA.
if they want to play it, they will.
this will happen all in good time.
we cannot and should not force the issue.
I'd love to see a lot more Prods playing, especially in Antrim, we'd have a serious pool yo pick form if that were the case, but I can't see it happening. News Letter?? I didn't even realise they still printed the thing, as bad as the Republican News for horseshit propaganda
Quote from: camanchero on February 20, 2013, 12:03:48 PM
'we should take a leaf out of rugby's book' - the Irish rugby team when playing in dublin at least fly the Tricolour and sing the national anthem.
Thats what the GAA already do - so whats the difference.
Or do people want us to be different to what the Irish Rugby team do?
unionist/loyalists dont like playing rugby under the Tricolour and A NaBhf.
However they swallow their sillyness and get on with it.
Same should apply to the GAA.
for those of you who dont realise, these lads will find offense at every turn if you start pandering to them.
they play rugby for Ireland because they want to play - they dont care about the symbols then.
same for playing GAA.
if they want to play it, they will.
this will happen all in good time.
we cannot and should not force the issue.
Spot on.
Quote from: BennyCake on February 20, 2013, 12:08:31 PM
Quote from: ck on February 20, 2013, 11:18:07 AM
I'll not even reply to this. Unbelievable.
...but just to add. If Uniting Ireland is the objective then we need to bring people in, not keep them out! Think about it.
To take the next step the GAA needs to take the lead, and if that means changing club names or taking down a flag, why not?
I'm all for Irish unity, in fact I'm passionate about it. But using the strategy of Irishness over everything else with only ever guarantee that the border remains!
What's uniting Ireland got to do with it? It's not been mentioned on this thread.
By the way, I've nothing against Protestants/unionists playing GAA, and I said so earlier.
That's big of you.
There are elements that have been and will continue to be hostile to the GAA regardless of what it ever does.
The best way for this organisation to progress is to (continue to) be an open and inclusive grouping that encourages everyone to join no matter their background.
The added bonus of course is how much more this will piss off the aforementioned elements.
Quote from: PAULD123 on February 20, 2013, 11:39:07 AM
Quote from: Shamrock Shore on February 20, 2013, 08:15:48 AM
Quoteand Rule 42 should be next to go IMHO
???????
It's true, Rule 42 has not gone. It is still officially in force with only Croke Park excepted. I agree that it should be removed but perhaps there should at least be a limit placed, such that permission has to be sought by the central committee, or provincial council, or even the county board (depending on how serious you take it). I favour permission from the county board. And it should be a default case that permission will always be granted unless there is a good reason not too, as opposed to only being granted if there is a good reason to do so.
Do you want the GAA to become some sort of generic sportsground providers for all other sports?
I don't think this just applies to the prods, the GAA is almost exclusively played by white, Irish Catholics and is strongly linked to the Catholic church, Irish nationalism and Irish culture. None of that is a bad thing and I'm not advocating getting rid of it any of it but if we are to seem more open to an increasing mixed race, agnostic, multi-denominational population on the island then we have to become more exclusive.
Aussie rules/ American football does not prosper outside of its host nation when compared to athletics or soccer. Soccer, that no one country can claim as its own creation, is now the most successful world sport and exists as a multi-faceted organisation which means different things in different regions.
The last point is this, lads on here are giving out about "suffering" because the GAA is trying to cater for other religions/races and "their own ones" are losing out. You sound exactly like the "fleg" protesters who believe that equality and respect for others encroaches upon their previous right to drive their culture down your throat.
Making the GAA more diverse doesn't mean it will have to mean something else to you. It means you can hold onto your interpretation of the organisation whilst it can mean something else to John Bull, Jose or Ivan.
Quote from: camanchero on February 20, 2013, 12:03:48 PM
if they want to play it, they will.
this will happen all in good time.
we cannot and should not force the issue.
Meh, the English could use that same mantra to eradicate racism in soccer. "A minority of dinosaurs are ruining the sport with racial abuse. We should wait until they die and there is a more tolerant society in the future. For the mean time, we'll do nothing and take no active measures against, it'll work out grand if we do nothing."
That was government policy before the civil rights marches; "the minority don't like our Protestant dominated state, however by holding out long enough they'll submit to our way of thinking and someday will come to accept our beliefs. In the meantime we should continue said policy of Protestant supremacy and unwavering loyalty to the Union."
Quote from: Rossfan on February 20, 2013, 01:47:03 PM
Do you want the GAA to become some sort of generic sportsground providers for all other sports?
I want the GAA to have a sensible policy on the use of its grounds. Gaelic games will always get first dibs, naturally. But if a GAA club can make a bit of money by renting otherwise idle space out to a local soccer club who needs to borrow it for a few hours then why not? That's what we do in San Francisco. We make a good income from renting the fields out to lacrosse, soccer and other activities. We have to keep that facility occupied just to pay the bills on maintaining it. We get hardly any rain from April to about November, so there's a massive bill for irrigating the fields. The money has to come from somewhere. If Rule 42 were being enforced we'd be screwed.
Quote from: Eamonnca1 on February 20, 2013, 06:19:44 PM
Quote from: Rossfan on February 20, 2013, 01:47:03 PM
Do you want the GAA to become some sort of generic sportsground providers for all other sports?
I want the GAA to have a sensible policy on the use of its grounds. Gaelic games will always get first dibs, naturally. But if a GAA club can make a bit of money by renting otherwise idle space out to a local soccer club who needs to borrow it for a few hours then why not? That's what we do in San Francisco. We make a good income from renting the fields out to lacrosse, soccer and other activities. We have to keep that facility occupied just to pay the bills on maintaining it. We get hardly any rain from April to about November, so there's a massive bill for irrigating the fields. The money has to come from somewhere. If Rule 42 were being enforced we'd be screwed.
Why is it not forced upon ye Eamonnca1? The distance I suppose.
Quote from: BennyCake on February 20, 2013, 12:08:31 PM
Quote from: ck on February 20, 2013, 11:18:07 AM
I'll not even reply to this. Unbelievable.
...but just to add. If Uniting Ireland is the objective then we need to bring people in, not keep them out! Think about it.
To take the next step the GAA needs to take the lead, and if that means changing club names or taking down a flag, why not?
I'm all for Irish unity, in fact I'm passionate about it. But using the strategy of Irishness over everything else with only ever guarantee that the border remains!
What's uniting Ireland got to do with it? It's not been mentioned on this thread.
By the way, I've nothing against Protestants/unionists playing GAA, and I said so earlier.
I doubt anyone has anything against Prods playing our games, most, if not all would think it great if they did.
I think the association need to stop naming clubs after fallen IRA men, that would help things along as the unionists tend to beat over the head with that!
Quote from: Eamonnca1 on February 20, 2013, 06:19:44 PM
Quote from: Rossfan on February 20, 2013, 01:47:03 PM
Do you want the GAA to become some sort of generic sportsground providers for all other sports?
I want the GAA to have a sensible policy on the use of its grounds. Gaelic games will always get first dibs, naturally. But if a GAA club can make a bit of money by renting otherwise idle space out to a local soccer club who needs to borrow it for a few hours then why not? That's what we do in San Francisco. We make a good income from renting the fields out to lacrosse, soccer and other activities. We have to keep that facility occupied just to pay the bills on maintaining it. We get hardly any rain from April to about November, so there's a massive bill for irrigating the fields. The money has to come from somewhere. If Rule 42 were being enforced we'd be screwed.
I was dead set on opposing foreign sports right up to the point where they allowed rugby and then sawker to be played in Croke Park, that said the second they did this they were and are right to take every cent off the sawker/rugby heads that they can!
Quote from: theticklemister on February 20, 2013, 06:23:18 PM
Why is it not forced upon ye Eamonnca1? The distance I suppose.
Technically the fields don't "belong" to the GAA, it's a lease we have on them, so I suppose there's a loophole there. But even if we owned them it'd be madness to enforce the rule, it'd put us out of business.
How very typical of us - enforce the rules (however silly) unless, of course it would cause us inconvenience.
Quote from: trileacman on February 20, 2013, 01:59:21 PM
Quote from: camanchero on February 20, 2013, 12:03:48 PM
if they want to play it, they will.
this will happen all in good time.
we cannot and should not force the issue.
Meh, the English could use that same mantra to eradicate racism in soccer. "A minority of dinosaurs are ruining the sport with racial abuse. We should wait until they die and there is a more tolerant society in the future. For the mean time, we'll do nothing and take no active measures against, it'll work out grand if we do nothing."
That was government policy before the civil rights marches; "the minority don't like our Protestant dominated state, however by holding out long enough they'll submit to our way of thinking and someday will come to accept our beliefs. In the meantime we should continue said policy of Protestant supremacy and unwavering loyalty to the Union."
I can see why you said that, but imo tobe honest the comparison - its not even the same continent let alone same ballpark !
we know that acceptance is seeping into the unionist/loyalist mindset.
There is nothing we can do to accelerate the change that will have much effect. we can rename all grounds and clubs, we can remove Tricolours and national anthem, but it wont change the feelings of the adult level of these people.
Why will they accept the Tricolour and national anthem at rugby but not GAA?
they dont like it but they accept it and move on.
the difference in your comparison is that nationalists/Irish/Catholics had discriminatory sectarian based rules and polices enforced upon them.
The adoption of GAA games is a lifestyle choice. unionists/loyalists dont have to play or watch them.
we have plenty of townies who are of Irish/nationalist/catholic/republican etc background who like the GAA as much as the unionists/loyalists do - there is not widespread move to try and harness these!
Finally, I know of and have played with/against plenty of 'prodestants'/non catholics in the 26 counties (and elsewhere) so it isnt that the GAA is a catholic organisation - it was played by a majority of catholics at one stage but that doesnt make it a catholic organisation. far from it.
Quote from: Hardy on February 21, 2013, 11:00:24 AM
How very typical of us - enforce the rules (however silly) unless, of course it would cause us inconvenience.
Putting us out of business is a bit more than "inconvenience".
Out of a matter of interest what religion was Sam Maguire?
Quote from: camanchero on February 21, 2013, 12:16:34 PM
Quote from: trileacman on February 20, 2013, 01:59:21 PM
Quote from: camanchero on February 20, 2013, 12:03:48 PM
if they want to play it, they will.
this will happen all in good time.
we cannot and should not force the issue.
Meh, the English could use that same mantra to eradicate racism in soccer. "A minority of dinosaurs are ruining the sport with racial abuse. We should wait until they die and there is a more tolerant society in the future. For the mean time, we'll do nothing and take no active measures against, it'll work out grand if we do nothing."
That was government policy before the civil rights marches; "the minority don't like our Protestant dominated state, however by holding out long enough they'll submit to our way of thinking and someday will come to accept our beliefs. In the meantime we should continue said policy of Protestant supremacy and unwavering loyalty to the Union."
I can see why you said that, but imo tobe honest the comparison - its not even the same continent let alone same ballpark !
we know that acceptance is seeping into the unionist/loyalist mindset.
Stopped reading after this, any evidence to back up your claims?
(http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2013/1/4/1357321885589/Belfast-flag-protest-010.jpg)
Current affairs would clearly point otherwise. We are losing Catholic youngsters to rugby at greater numbers than protestants are "accepting" the GAA. The idea that they will soon lose the will to continue their distrust for the GAA and join the organisation en mass is preposterous.
thats a bit of an ignorant reply by you if I may say, to be honest.
if you accept that protestant/loyalist/unionist kids are playing any GAA at all, that it is in their schools etc- thats proof enough that there have been a monumental change in mindset.
allied to the other massive changes in the sectairan north - eg GFA, that unionists/loyalists who once wouldnt cross the border were then suddenly happy enough to come down to work and integrate with southeners etc
It is prob irrelvant here about catholic kids going off to play rugby - a lot are, but not exclusively.
One South Derry lad I know has been courted by ulster rugby, but he wants to keep playing it but his first choice sport is Gaelic football. So its not all one way traffic and doom and gloom.
We are talking about cross pollination here not domination. There was enough of that ethos in the north for centuries and it didnt work then either!
the change of minsdet is happening but wont happen overnight.
Are you the over dramatic joan collins diva in the snickers ad?
chill out man.
Quote from: topgun on February 22, 2013, 12:10:27 AM
Out of a matter of interest what religion was Sam Maguire?
Rebelant.
Quote from: camanchero on February 22, 2013, 09:22:44 AM
thats a bit of an ignorant reply by you if I may say, to be honest.
if you accept that protestant/loyalist/unionist kids are playing any GAA at all, that it is in their schools etc- thats proof enough that there have been a monumental change in mindset.
allied to the other massive changes in the sectairan north - eg GFA, that unionists/loyalists who once wouldnt cross the border were then suddenly happy enough to come down to work and integrate with southeners etc
It is prob irrelvant here about catholic kids going off to play rugby - a lot are, but not exclusively.
One South Derry lad I know has been courted by ulster rugby, but he wants to keep playing it but his first choice sport is Gaelic football. So its not all one way traffic and doom and gloom.
We are talking about cross pollination here not domination. There was enough of that ethos in the north for centuries and it didnt work then either!
the change of minsdet is happening but wont happen overnight.
Are you the over dramatic joan collins diva in the snickers ad?
chill out man.
Hear hear. For all the headline-grabbing flag protest bigots, there's plenty of work going on behind the scenes with the likes of the CuChullain initiative that has catholic and protestant children playing together on hurling teams. Basil McCrea and Trevor Ringland are voices of reason in unionism that would have been burned at the stake as heretics not so long ago, and the electoral progress of the Alliance Party speaks for itself.