Elitism in the G.A.A

[justme]

While I love the gaelic games and so much of the organisation is based around the family and involves the young and old, I believe elitism is starting to raise its ugly head. In Down for instance during some games in Newry there was a special section created in the middle of the stand just for 'special' guests. I do not know what qualified people (who seemed to be business people or well known local celebrities or just county admin. people) to get into that section or why guys in suits led them to the seats (people who a few years back were more interested in attending a Manchester united match or singing 'Come on you reds' with a mixed and slanged English/irish twang) but I definately think that more control needs to be generated back to the club people, who attend club games, train underage teams, support underage teams, clean changing rooms, look after pitches etc.
The life blood of the G.A.A I feel has always been because the 'people' supported it. Lose this by starting to create a group within a group just because they have money or becasue some one in a county board wants to do it is not good enough. We the people have for years been led by the nose by government, banks, insurance companies and general large organisations who treat us like fodder.We should not let OUR orgnisation be manipulated and take a route which will ultimately lead to disaster.

[Orior]

Edwin Poots would have been in the special section. Dont think it would be right to hav him stand shoulder to shoulder to True Gaels, lol

[justme]

You are right Orior ! The 'gaels' he was shoulder to shoulder with used to praise us when we threw bricks at the Brits now they say we are thugs.

Sorry you free staters wouldnt understand you sold us out a long time ago. Beside the people on this forum there is more manchester united supporters than GAA supporters. Shame on you, shame on you!

[Orior]

You are right Orior ! The 'gaels' he was shoulder to shoulder with used to praise us when we threw bricks at the Brits now they say we are thugs.

Sorry you free staters wouldnt understand you sold us out a long time ago. Beside the people on this forum there is more manchester united supporters than GAA supporters. Shame on you, shame on you!

I was gonna chastise you for bringing politics into sport, but i realised it was me 

[tonesfirstandlast]

While I love the gaelic games and so much of the organisation is based around the family and involves the young and old, I believe elitism is starting to raise its ugly head. In Down for instance during some games in Newry there was a special section created in the middle of the stand just for 'special' guests. I do not know what qualified people (who seemed to be business people or well known local celebrities or just county admin. people) to get into that section or why guys in suits led them to the seats (people who a few years back were more interested in attending a Manchester united match or singing 'Come on you reds' with a mixed and slanged English/irish twang) but I definately think that more control needs to be generated back to the club people, who attend club games, train underage teams, support underage teams, clean changing rooms, look after pitches etc.
The life blood of the G.A.A I feel has always been because the 'people' supported it. Lose this by starting to create a group within a group just because they have money or becasue some one in a county board wants to do it is not good enough. We the people have for years been led by the nose by government, banks, insurance companies and general large organisations who treat us like fodder.We should not let OUR orgnisation be manipulated and take a route which will ultimately lead to disaster.

+1

[Pangurban]

JustMe, it is not just you who feels this way, i fully endorse every word you typed

[MCMLX]

I got a seat in the centre section of the new stand for one game this year, the drubbing of armagh. I was refused entry to the centre of the stand at all other games even though I turned up early, there was very few people in the stand and no one at all in the centre. I was told it was reserved. No other explanation was forthcoming. I get free entry with a player pass, so it is not reserved for players families/relations or whoever uses the player passes. I would assume that those in the centre section will be given their tickets before the ordinary, go everywhere, buy the shirt fan gets theirs.
The armagh game was an all ticket affair and I assume I just got lucky with the seat. Both sponsors were seated close to me.

[justme]

Can anyone else give me examples?

[Banana Man]

I got tickets for the central section in Newry of a contact in the bank and the ticket was reserved, when i rocked up they told me it was full, I said no i have a ticket and it turned into a complete slnging match but as the match was starting and i didn't want to miss it, i took it on the chin and sat beside the section

i sought the steward out after the game and went for another go but he said it wasn't him, he was told not to let me in, suppose as i didn't have a suit on ffs 

[thewobbler]

I suppose you'd rather there were no sponsors in the GAA and that we were still standing on small mucky hills with umbrellas poking in our eyes.

Try sitting on a committee for a few years and juggling opportunity versus finance.

[MCMLX]

I suppose you'd rather there were no sponsors in the GAA and that we were still standing on small mucky hills with umbrellas poking in our eyes.

Try sitting on a committee for a few years and juggling opportunity versus finance.

I was a member of the original Club Down, but still wasnt allowed to sit in the centre section of the new stand. I understand that sponsors and committee men have to be accomodated, but its a bit rich that people who donated to build the thing in the first place arent allowed the best seats. Its not as if we were turning up during the Soldiers Song looking for the best seats in the house either, we were there an hour before throw in. Maybe we should have sat drinking in the club and got allowed in to the ground via the clubhouse rather than through the turnstyles like the little people.

[Farrandeelin]

You are right Orior ! The 'gaels' he was shoulder to shoulder with used to praise us when we threw bricks at the Brits now they say we are thugs.

Sorry you free staters wouldnt understand you sold us out a long time ago. Beside the people on this forum there is more manchester united supporters than GAA supporters. Shame on you, shame on you!

I'm sorry I sold you out.

[justme]

thewobbler in reply.

I have and do sit on committees, I have sponsored , I have and do on a regular basis. No matter what money has been raised by sponsors more has been raised by individuals.

Joe bloggs in a group can achieve anything if the motivation is there! The other way is selling your soul for a pound!

In my opinion it is essential that sponsors understand the ethos of the GAA and their reward is helping their community and providing young and old an outlet to express themselves.There are a lot of genuine people out there who for their own reasons, if they have money to give are only too delighted to give to the G.A.A.. I therefore do not agree with you and more importantly you are implying that only for us selling ourselves out we would not have all our facilities? I would rather still be changing on the side of the road than deny someone a ticket for a big game who has followed their team from a young age or helped in a club doing all the things I have mentioned before.

You see the minute there is a special section for one lot you are saying ' this section is for someone who has done something (usually gave money) to help us and we are rewarding them by treating them differently than you, because you dont have the money to give, that they give'

This is completely wrong and will actually in the long run cost more than they take in !

Of course I agree that if there is a ticket or a way to thank someone for a sponsorship etc. this is only good manners but it should never be the focus and certainly should not be pursued as something to focus on. Elitism divides and when the house falls down the sponsors jump ship !

Wobbler you sound like someone who has also participated in one of these special groups and feel a little guilty now - probably because you knew at the time it wasn't right but loved it anyway.

[haranguerer]

You are right Orior ! The 'gaels' he was shoulder to shoulder with used to praise us when we threw bricks at the Brits now they say we are thugs.

Sorry you free staters wouldnt understand you sold us out a long time ago. Beside the people on this forum there is more manchester united supporters than GAA supporters. Shame on you, shame on you!

I'm sorry I sold you out.

Its a start...

Fair play to ya, lets hope more follow your example, then we can talk about the forfeit...

[gallsman]

I heard a steward in the Hogan yesterday tell some fella to "go back to the North."