Roddy Doyle says the GAA is a bit of a con

[From the Bunker]

There's a battle looming as well lads, and in many places GAA is going to be in trouble. When the FAI make the move to soccer in the summer, there's going to be a major fixtures headache, as well as exposure to kids for training etc, and unless there's a bit of creative thinking, there's going to be a power struggle between the GAA and the FAI, and to be honest, I think both will lose, but I'm not confident the GAA will come out on top.

soccer in mayo moved to summer a few years ago , has not had much of an impact  for either code apart from there being fewer games postponed for the soccer team, which had reached ridiculous levels .
the biggest soccer supporting set in ireland are the fantasy football type where matches are tv programs and articles in magazines  rather than going out on wet and windy mornings either playing or supporting

I'm not worried about lads shouting for Liverpool in the pub, I'm worried about 10,11,12,13,14,15 year old kids and them being asked to choose what to play or train too easy. You say there's been little impact in Mayo? How are they managing fixtures and training? In the Limerick League, when they make a fixture they stick to it unless the weather is atrocious.

It can be tough going (in Mayo) if you have a kid who is decent and wants to play both. I rural areas a decent under 12 can end up playing for for 4 teams - his own grade in both codes and the grade above him in both codes. About 10+ years ago the Youth fixtures secretary for Soccer approached the Gaa underage fixtures Secretary. He asked for to section out the summer Soccer take April/May for under 12, Gaelic take under 14 for that month and Hurling take under 16. This rotates for June/July and August/September with slight overlaps. He was told to go take a run and Jump!

[rosnarun]

just heard the Roddy Doyle interview on second captains. he seems to a very odd individual he seemed to be clinging on to a half remembered remark to back up his essential Irish author liberal credentials , his GAA remarks were just bizarre, isinuatin a Claques is form around Marty Morrisey  after games to give the idea of a crowd but the brushed aside the massive crowds in croke park while comparing unfavorably small GAA crowds to Tottemhams wembley crowds .
as relevant an argument as comparing EPL crowds with  American gridiron college games that get about 3 times the crowds

a very sad man

[BennyCake]

Roddy Doyle Ha Ha Ha

[Zulu]

Why would GAA lose that battle if we have good fixtures, which I understand is the case at underage?

[ashman]

I think some of Roddy's new writing deals with corporal punishment administered by the religious order in school . 

He seems to be of a cabal in Irish society who see the GAA as part of that thing .

I know quite a few who have such views .

Imagine the furore if some Irish writer said the hoped Georgia beat ROI at soccer because soccer was the sport of the Black and Tans .

[AZOffaly]

Why would GAA lose that battle if we have good fixtures, which I understand is the case at underage?

I'm not sure we'd lose, as such. I think both would lose. There are definitely young lads that prefer soccer.

[dec]

When the FAI make the move to soccer in the summer, ...

I know that the League of Ireland plays in the summer, is lower level and underage moving to the summer as well?

[Eamonnca1]

Does anyone really care what Roddy Doyle aays.

No, I don't really care what Roddy Doyle says but he is symptomatic of the attitude by certain parts of our nation to its national sports, Gaelic football and hurling. It's been said to me many many times.To many of those outside our organisation and indeed to some inside it we are seen as a money grabbing bunch of con men who trade in the wares of bog ball, stick fighting, welly wearing country and western yahoos straight out of the turf with the Heather hanging around their ears etc. It's as wrong as it is hurtful. I have no issue with soccer, rugby, hockey cricket or indeed any other sport. I greatly respect them and I enjoy a lot of their games and like many other GAA people if I get a chance I will watch Ireland soccer or rugby in the Aviva and cheer them on as much as anybody. Sport is sport and I love the GAA. My father taught me the love of it and my family are deeply immersed in it to the exclusion of all other sports but they love going over to watch the Arsenal or cheering on the rugby or like tonight watching the transfer deadlines in soccer. It's no big deal. Roddy and many others should show us respect. In the north here we have fought a long and hard battle to get respect. Certain elements here are being dragged screaming and cursing and have yet to show it and probably never will. The Dublin fans deserve respect. Many attend for different reasons and they like many other counties have lukewarm fans who love the craic etc but aren't fully up to speed with the club and GAA in general but so what. They make matches in Croke Park or anywhere else they go a great occasion and my little girl who is only 7 couldn't wait to hear the dubs sing "come on you boys in blue' at a recent game we were at ( and we are from the North). It's an iconic image of Irish sport.  It's not everybody's cup of tea but leave us alone to enjoy it with out making us feel like we should be ashamed of the antiquated bog ball and stick fight.  Roddy, (and I hope I haven't read you wrong)  please give us the  respect we deserve, no more no less. The GAA with all it's faults has been a blessing in my family and I dare say many many more. We watch, appreciate, enjoy and support all sports but the GAA is our life and we love it. For me it's real and certainly no con job.

Hear hear.

[armaghniac]

Why would GAA lose that battle if we have good fixtures, which I understand is the case at underage?

I'm not sure we'd lose, as such. I think both would lose. There are definitely young lads that prefer soccer.

I'm sure there will be jobs in the British Army for them, although the Black and Tans have been disbanded.

[AZOffaly]

When the FAI make the move to soccer in the summer, ...

I know that the League of Ireland plays in the summer, is lower level and underage moving to the summer as well?

Yep. They are all moving towards a march to October season.

[Zulu]

Why would GAA lose that battle if we have good fixtures, which I understand is the case at underage?

I'm not sure we'd lose, as such. I think both would lose. There are definitely young lads that prefer soccer.

While there'd definitely be lads that would prefer soccer I don't think it would really harm the GAA. You'd lose a few lads but surely the soccer would play games in the morning and not go head to head? Rugby seem to be doing ok when they've been up against soccer all along surely the GAA wouldn't struggle?

[ballinaman]

There's a battle looming as well lads, and in many places GAA is going to be in trouble. When the FAI make the move to soccer in the summer, there's going to be a major fixtures headache, as well as exposure to kids for training etc, and unless there's a bit of creative thinking, there's going to be a power struggle between the GAA and the FAI, and to be honest, I think both will lose, but I'm not confident the GAA will come out on top.

soccer in mayo moved to summer a few years ago , has not had much of an impact  for either code apart from there being fewer games postponed for the soccer team, which had reached ridiculous levels .
the biggest soccer supporting set in ireland are the fantasy football type where matches are tv programs and articles in magazines  rather than going out on wet and windy mornings either playing or supporting

I'm not worried about lads shouting for Liverpool in the pub, I'm worried about 10,11,12,13,14,15 year old kids and them being asked to choose what to play or train too easy. You say there's been little impact in Mayo? How are they managing fixtures and training? In the Limerick League, when they make a fixture they stick to it unless the weather is atrocious.

It can be tough going (in Mayo) if you have a kid who is decent and wants to play both. I rural areas a decent under 12 can end up playing for for 4 teams - his own grade in both codes and the grade above him in both codes. About 10+ years ago the Youth fixtures secretary for Soccer approached the Gaa underage fixtures Secretary. He asked for to section out the summer Soccer take April/May for under 12, Gaelic take under 14 for that month and Hurling take under 16. This rotates for June/July and August/September with slight overlaps. He was told to go take a run and Jump!

Mayo have a team in the new U15 SSE Airticity national league. I know of one very promising Stephenites player who has stopped playing football to concentrate solely on soccer after being asked to join. Team is based in Milebush Castlebar, aiming to reduce flow of underage Mayo players to Sligo Rovers.

[mrhardyannual]

The answer to Roddy Doyle is that the finals of the All Ireland Ladies GAA will draw a bigger crowd than any domestic soccer game this year. This will happen despite the Cork v Mayo semi final of the Ladies competition going ahead today without a single line of commentary/analysis in the Irish Independent today. The average home gate at the (professional) Athlone Town matches last year was about 150, a figure that would most likely be exceeded by Achill U 10s.

[sid waddell]

What's acceptable bandwagoning and not acceptable bandwagoning?

I live in Galway but will be supporting Waterford in the All-Ireland hurling final, despite having no Waterford connection whatsoever.

I'm a native of Dublin but will be supporting Mayo in the All-Ireland football final, despite having no Mayo connection whatsoever.

I follow Down in inter-county Gaelic football and have done since 1991 despite having no connection to the county.

I wanted Tyrone to beat my native Dublin last Sunday despite having no connection to that county.

[mrhardyannual]

What's acceptable bandwagoning and not acceptable bandwagoning?

I live in Galway but will be supporting Waterford in the All-Ireland hurling final, despite having no Waterford connection whatsoever.

I'm a native of Dublin but will be supporting Mayo in the All-Ireland football final, despite having no Mayo connection whatsoever.

I follow Down in inter-county Gaelic football and have done since 1991 despite having no connection to the county.

I wanted Tyrone to beat my native Dublin last Sunday despite having no connection to that county.

Now that we are comfortable with transgender issues, transcounty should be okay. Welcome aboard.