Long Kesh Park takes another step forward

[SammyG]

Sorry but this is getting really boring, you are clearly incapable of reading what is posted before replying. I was replying to your quote about 'NI's best supported sport' and you rebutt my reply by quoting a load of matches from Clones and Dublin (neither of which were in NI the last time I looked). And even if you stretch your logic and just take matches between NI teams (regardless of where they were played) you come to 227798, which is less than the two biggest Motorbike events (FFS the NW200 nearly has that on it's own) and that's not counting the hundreds of smaller events.

[snatter]

Sorry but this is getting really boring, you are clearly incapable of reading what is posted before replying. I was replying to your quote about 'NI's best supported sport' and you rebutt my reply by quoting a load of matches from Clones and Dublin (neither of which were in NI the last time I looked). And even if you stretch your logic and just take matches between NI teams (regardless of where they were played) you come to 227798, which is less than the two biggest Motorbike events (FFS the NW200 nearly has that on it's own) and that's not counting the hundreds of smaller events.

My figures are clearly for matches that feature Northern Irish teams only.
Nearly all games shown would be played within the six counties if the Maze were built.

The only exceptions would likely be the AIF (82k), AISF(65k), Monaghan V Derry (16k) and Cavan V Antrim(10k).

Subtracting those from 535k still gives a total of 362k, still way in excess of your 295/300k.

And that's without even going to the hassle of adding
   championship qualifiers
   national league games
   all ireland club champioship games
   any hurling matches.

Those would bump the difference up even higher.

[SammyG]

As per my previous post, this is getting really boring. I never mentioned the Maze, so I've no idea why your bringing it up. I repeat (yet again) I'm just talking about your claim that GAA is 'NI's best supported sport', which is clearly untrue.

[Donagh]

NW200 attracts 200K, Ulster GP attracts 95-100K plus all the hundreds of smaller events

An outright lie. I take it there are tickets receipts to show this great attendance? There wouldn't be a hope in hell of fitting 200k people into the Triangle area. The NW attendance figure is usually estimated at 100k people and as someone who lived in the area for a time even that figure is grossly exaggerated. I'm assuming they must count the same people two or three times i.e. they count the number of hotel rooms filled for the few days and total them for an attendance figure.

[Main Street]

As Sammy can't tell the difference between being a contrary old fart and irony, probably the line between fact and fiction is just as feint.

[SammyG]

NW200 attracts 200K, Ulster GP attracts 95-100K plus all the hundreds of smaller events

An outright lie. I take it there are tickets receipts to show this great attendance? There wouldn't be a hope in hell of fitting 200k people into the Triangle area. The NW attendance figure is usually estimated at 100k people and as someone who lived in the area for a time even that figure is grossly exaggerated. I'm assuming they must count the same people two or three times i.e. they count the number of hotel rooms filled for the few days and total them for an attendance figure.

That's the figure that's always quoted, I've no interest in motor sport so if you say it's bollix then I'll take your word for it. Certainly not going to start a fight over a sport I've no interest in.

[Jim_Murphy_74]

I repeat (yet again) I'm just talking about your claim that GAA is 'NI's best supported sport', which is clearly untrue.

Naturally, one could question what defines "Sport" or more particularly "supporting".  To a vast swathe of Irish people "supporting" means donning an over-priced, sweat-shop-produced, Premiership endorsed jersey and getting rat-arsed in some pub while watching "Ford Super Sunday".  

However, only someone very disingenuous would deny that Gaelic Games are the best attended field-sports on this island (north or south).  It would also take someone very disingenuous to deny that the GAA have not always received coverage or funding in Northern Ireland than was comensurate with the levels of attendance or participation.

/Jim.

[his holiness nb]

only someone very disingenuous would deny that Gaelic Games are the best attended field-sports on this island (north or south).

Indeed it would, take a bow Sammy.

[SammyG]

only someone very disingenuous would deny that Gaelic Games are the best attended field-sports on this island (north or south).

Indeed it would, take a bow Sammy.

Except for the minor problem that I didn't deny it but sure don't let the facts get in the way of a good story.

[his holiness nb]

And I quote

"I'm just talking about your claim that GAA is 'NI's best supported sport', which is clearly untrue"

Didnt deny it eh 

[SammyG]

And I quote

"I'm just talking about your claim that GAA is 'NI's best supported sport', which is clearly untrue"

Didnt deny it eh 

Christ it's like a P1 literacy class, in here today.

Read my post and then read Jim's post and see if you can spot the differences between the two, and then come back to me and if you get it right you can have a gold star.

[snatter]

only someone very disingenuous would deny that Gaelic Games are the best attended field-sports on this island (north or south).

Indeed it would, take a bow Sammy.

Except for the minor problem that I didn't deny it but sure don't let the facts get in the way of a good story.

If you don't deny it on the evidence availble, by extension can we take it that you now accept that gaelic football is the best atteneded sport in Northern Ireland?

I can accept that there is some difficulty when it comes to comparing figures of matches involving Northern Irish teams that are actually played 20 miles across the border, but surely you'd accept that in general, Armagh fans live in armagh, and Tyrone fans live in Tyrone.

So let me put it another way, on the basis of the figures I've given, would you accept that, of people who live in Northern Ireland who have attended a major sport event in the preceding year, a higher proportion would have attended a major gaelic football match than any other major competition, and that they attended more times?

btw, re the motorbike figures, I find it funny thatyou can instantly quote figures that suit your purpose without any verification, yet typically you want to see triplicate proof of anything with which you disagree, your old "I haven't personally seen it, so I don't know its true" defence.

[his holiness nb]

Stop squirming Sammy, you have been caught out once again, and no amounts of insults about peoples intelligence as is all to common from yourself (classy btw) will get you out of it.

In fact I must say thank you, you really have made me laugh today.  

[SammyG]

Stop squirming Sammy, you have been caught out once again, and no amounts of insults about peoples intelligence as is all to common from yourself (classy btw) will get you out of it.

In fact I must say thank you, you really have made me laugh today.  

How the fcuk have I been 'caught out'?

snatter said GAA was 'NI's best supported sport', which I disputed

Jim M said "that Gaelic Games are the best attended field-sports on this island (north or south)", which I haven't disputed

Two different answers to two different questions.

It really isn't that difficult.

[his holiness nb]

Its not difficult at all, its hilarious.

Anyway, back on topic. The article by Feeney really hit the nail on the head imo. Maybe not for all NI fans but for a huge amount, in my personal opinion.
The only reason nobody will admit this is that they will be told to cop on and stop being bigots.