GAA Demographics

[Rossfan]

Since the removal of the 'Brit forces" ruke has any Club in the 6 Cos refused membership to someone on religious or political grounds?

[Evil Genius]

Theres loads of clubs available to unionists. Bout the same as the amount of clubs available to people of a nationalist perspective.
 

Technically, yes. But the fact is, they're not joining.

With the risk of engaging in whataboutary, I suppose the same could be said for how the NI support still only pulls from one side as well. Complete failure to properly engage with half the population of NI. A damning failure.

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?

[Truthsayer]

Theres loads of clubs available to unionists. Bout the same as the amount of clubs available to people of a nationalist perspective.
 

Technically, yes. But the fact is, they're not joining.

With the risk of engaging in whataboutary, I suppose the same could be said for how the NI support still only pulls from one side as well. Complete failure to properly engage with half the population of NI. A damning failure.

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?

I seriously doubt there are many NI supporters from the Nationalist community. Not that long ago (2019) NI fans recorded singing 'we hate Catholics'... wasnt too many moving to stop them.

[trueblue1234]

Theres loads of clubs available to unionists. Bout the same as the amount of clubs available to people of a nationalist perspective.
 

Technically, yes. But the fact is, they're not joining.

With the risk of engaging in whataboutary, I suppose the same could be said for how the NI support still only pulls from one side as well. Complete failure to properly engage with half the population of NI. A damning failure.

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?

I can tell you that no one I know from a nationalist perspective supports NI. Literally no one.
I wasn't talking about the sport of soccer. I was talking about support for the national team for this wee country. They have zero support due to the unionist trappings that go along with that support. And nothing but token effort to change that. When Gaelic is played outside NI it has people from a wide range of backgrounds. Unfortunately people here tend to be a bit backwards on somethings.

[Armagh18]

Why even bother replying to that twat.

No one was ever turned away from the GAA on the basis of creed, colour or sexuality

[Baile Brigín 2]

Why even bother replying to that twat.

No one was ever turned away from the GAA on the basis of creed, colour or sexuality

But the GAA constitution could be interpreted to exclude unionists.

[Munchie]

Amazing how when they trampled Northern Nationalist into the ground, excluding them from basic civil liberties, unionists weren't asking for nationalist inclusion. The GAA is open to unionists many partake, many will never, the lad on here yapping, it's simple f**k him, why care what he thinks.

[lenny]

Why even bother replying to that twat.

No one was ever turned away from the GAA on the basis of creed, colour or sexuality

But the GAA constitution could be interpreted to exclude unionists.

The gaa was set up before partition so the constitution wasn't written to exclude unionists. The gaa was set up because the British were trying to eradicate Irish culture and language and trying to impose british culture and sports. In the circumstances the constitution wasn't written completely understandable and reasonable.

[armaghniac]

Antrim poor here, even given its demographics.

[armaghniac]

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.

[general_lee]

Evil Genius is being a tad disingenuous. Unionism has traditionally been hostile towards the GAA. Was it the boul Sammy that called us "The IRA at play?"

Even renowned "moderate" Doug Beattie got his knickers in a twist a few years ago when *checks notes* St Paul's Lurgan had the audacity to put goal nets up in their club colours. Poor ol Doug thought that the local IRA training camp GAA club were trying to "mark territory". One can only imagine the privately held views if this is the nonsense an MLA is daft enough to come out with.

Only this week a gentleman from Braniel was found guilty of placing pipe bombs at the grounds used by arguably Ulster's most progressive GAA club. This is the backdrop with which GAA clubs have had to operate and continue to have to operate under.

It's all well and good criticising the GAA for not attracting enough Unionists, but it's easier said than done when you're up against such an archaic mentality.

[Hand of God]

Evil Genius is being a tad disingenuous. Unionism has traditionally been hostile towards the GAA. Was it the boul Sammy that called us "The IRA at play?"

Even renowned "moderate" Doug Beattie got his knickers in a twist a few years ago when *checks notes* St Paul's Lurgan had the audacity to put goal nets up in their club colours. Poor ol Doug thought that the local IRA training camp GAA club were trying to "mark territory". One can only imagine the privately held views if this is the nonsense an MLA is daft enough to come out with.

Only this week a gentleman from Braniel was found guilty of placing pipe bombs at the grounds used by arguably Ulster's most progressive GAA club. This is the backdrop with which GAA clubs have had to operate and continue to have to operate under.

It's all well and good criticising the GAA for not attracting enough Unionists, but it's easier said than done when you're up against such an archaic mentality.

Well said. A number of clubs in the north has Protestant players but they generally tend to be in more integrated rural areas where sectarian tensions are a lot less.

The Griggs lad from Brackaville who sadly passed away a few years ago being a prime example. I think GAA clubs are highly welcoming to people of all backgrounds but it's more the unionist communities who are the barrier to allowing their people join GAA clubs.

I think the one thing the GAA really need to clamp down on is a zero tolerance and extremely heavy punishment for anyone going guilty of sectarian abuse which really is a menace if we are trying to break down barriers.

Just like brawls and violent actions at matches across the island, it won't ever to be stamped out unless the association takes a hard line stance on offenders.

That chap who hit the hurler in the Leinster match should really have received a lifetime ban.

[marty34]

Funny I was checking the BBC ni website yesterday and there was 2 stories side by side.

1. Woman trying to hold back the tide in reference to the Irish language policy in BCC.

I think she is the woman who was offeded by the Palestine flag going up in at City Hall the other day.

*checks notes* Judge says she couldn't be offended as she was away on holiday when it was up.

Is that not f"&king embarassing?

2. As above poster mentioned, the lad, bombs and EB GAA.

The cultural war on anything Irish continues in late 2025.