UTV & BBC & RTE & TV3

[DaleCooper]

Hes not a bad skin but would suggest trying some balance. Would be interesting to see a demographic breakdown of listership.

[AustinPowers]

The GAA Social's Wednesday episodes seem to be primarily about people dealing wtih sickness/addiction/tragedy, with the occasional brief tokenistic reference to football/hurling shoehorned in. Don't get me wrong, they can be interesting, but it really is shameless at this stage. The podcast equivalent of ambulance chasing.

TG4's Laochra Gael went  that way too  in recent years. 

X split up with his girlfriend ,  the dog died, somebody stole his lawnmower , all in the  same week. But he still  put all that aside to win the  Leitrim hurling championship.

[marty34]

The GAA Social's Wednesday episodes seem to be primarily about people dealing wtih sickness/addiction/tragedy, with the occasional brief tokenistic reference to football/hurling shoehorned in. Don't get me wrong, they can be interesting, but it really is shameless at this stage. The podcast equivalent of ambulance chasing.

TG4's Laochra Gael went  that way too  in recent years. 

X split up with his girlfriend ,  the dog died, somebody stole his lawnmower , all in the  same week. But he still  put all that aside to win the  Leitrim hurling championship.

You beat me to it AP. Was going to say the same about Laochra Gael. Great for the first few series then drifted into putting the programme more about the 'sob story'. I don't mean that in a callous way but maybe, from a production and marketing point of view, it brought in more viewers.


A lot of programmes go down that route - including them talent shows.


It's light entertainment but I enjoyed the TG4's Underdogs series but it ended up going down the same route also re: players having problems away from the game. But as a concept, I enjoyed the programme. It was last on a few years ago and I'm not sure it's pencilled in again or not?  But it was good entertainment I thought. They did football, hurling and women's soccer iirc.

[tiempo]

The GAA Social's Wednesday episodes seem to be primarily about people dealing wtih sickness/addiction/tragedy, with the occasional brief tokenistic reference to football/hurling shoehorned in. Don't get me wrong, they can be interesting, but it really is shameless at this stage. The podcast equivalent of ambulance chasing.

It smacks to me of someone trying desperately to win a podcast award

He'd be the Brendan Rodgers of sports media/podcasts

[square_ball]

The GAA Social's Wednesday episodes seem to be primarily about people dealing wtih sickness/addiction/tragedy, with the occasional brief tokenistic reference to football/hurling shoehorned in. Don't get me wrong, they can be interesting, but it really is shameless at this stage. The podcast equivalent of ambulance chasing.

TG4's Laochra Gael went  that way too  in recent years. 

X split up with his girlfriend ,  the dog died, somebody stole his lawnmower , all in the  same week. But he still  put all that aside to win the  Leitrim hurling championship.

Laochra Gaels problem was it extended to the hour so had to fill that time with the sob stories.

[Armamike]

I enjoy the GAA social but it's gone too social and not enough GAA. 

[thewobbler]

The direction taken by Laochra Gael and GAA Social is unavoidable and inevitable.

For the truth is that most people's back stories aren't that interesting.

And much as the "dyed in wool GAA die hards" will tell you that they want to hear real GAA stories, truth is that once the big personalities in the game have been done, moving into the next tier (players who are not quite as interesting), after the 3rd episode in a row of "yes we were really determined that it was our year. We trained every day, sometimes twice a day, and it was worth it", the only ones tuning in are highly localised to the person being interviewed.

By the way this one isn't a GAA problem. It's the same for all sports. How many people would honestly tune into the "Premier League social" by season 2? The reason the Overlap works is because of the presenters. They're the ones who drive the opinion and stories each week, not the subjects.

I do believe both Paddy Heaney and Benny Tierney both cited this conundrum when retiring their Irish News columns. The sport will always be exciting and interesting, but the stories that emanate are nearly always the same, which - unless you're going to become personal in opinions about managers or players - makes it very difficult to write about for any length of time.

[tiempo]

The direction taken by Laochra Gael and GAA Social is unavoidable and inevitable.

Don't accept that at all, there's an ever increasing number of short format retired player profiles and team/era profiles and documentaries in other sports that don't go down this route

Francie Bellew is about as dry a character you could imagine but we still listened and enjoyed it

Excellent formats include The Overlap and The Gloves Are Off (boxing)

Yes stories of personal hardship might emerge from time to time, but to go after it relentlessly week after week is an editorial decision, as I said before, I think its a deliberate decision to try and end up on an award winning podcast podium

[Armagh18]

The direction taken by Laochra Gael and GAA Social is unavoidable and inevitable.

Don't accept that at all, there's an ever increasing number of short format retired player profiles and team/era profiles and documentaries in other sports that don't go down this route

Francie Bellew is about as dry a character you could imagine but we still listened and enjoyed it

Excellent formats include The Overlap and The Gloves Are Off (boxing)

Yes stories of personal hardship might emerge from time to time, but to go after it relentlessly week after week is an editorial decision, as I said before, I think its a deliberate decision to try and end up on an award winning podcast podium

Is there such a thing? Outside of the GAA Social the Football Pod with Rooney, Andrews and O'Donoghue is great, have enjoyed listening to Soupy on the Monday Club and Beyond the 45 with Keegan and Mugsy can be hilarious, Mugsy is a funny f**ker despite being from Tyrone. Spillane and Clerkin talk out of their holes mostly but you can get a laugh out of them at times

I really enjoy the GAA Social more or less every week, not sure enjoy is the right word when listening to someone talk about their terminal illness or death of a loved one or whatever it may be that week but there is something compelling about it and it probably hits home for a lot of people because there's not a person in the country who hasn't been impacted in some way by these tragedies and we can all relate in some way to what's being talked about and can take something from the guest who most weeks is someone we admire.

There's also a morbid curiosity as well that we all have.

Can't be bothered to go through it now but I'm sure if you were to scroll back there's as many guests who came on and didn't talk about darker stuff as those who did, but some of the most memorable ones have been when the depressing stuff has came up- 2 obvious ones being Jody Gormley and Ciara Mageen due to their circumstances, but also Margaret McConville, the main theme being how she remained so positive and did so much for the GAA in the face of so much adversity- losing a son, the troubles and obviously Oisin's issues.

Overall a really good podcast I think and while Niblock can be ott he is a decent fella and I've obviously huge time for Oisin.

[Snapchap]

The direction taken by Laochra Gael and GAA Social is unavoidable and inevitable.

Don't accept that at all, there's an ever increasing number of short format retired player profiles and team/era profiles and documentaries in other sports that don't go down this route

Francie Bellew is about as dry a character you could imagine but we still listened and enjoyed it

Excellent formats include The Overlap and The Gloves Are Off (boxing)

Yes stories of personal hardship might emerge from time to time, but to go after it relentlessly week after week is an editorial decision, as I said before, I think its a deliberate decision to try and end up on an award winning podcast podium

Agreed. I've no issue with delving into the tragic back stories now and again, but it's getting to the point where it's just relentless ambulance chasing episodes about people who maybe walked past a GAA field once 30 years ago, but who have a story to tell about pain, suffering, addiciton, illness or bereavement.

If Tommy wants to do a weekly podcast about dealing with adversity then brilliant, but ffs don't try to diguise it as a GAA podcast.

[mackers]

Overall the GAA Social is excellent but Niblock needs to dial down the "best podcast ever" crap almost every week.  It gets tiresome.  He also needs to cut out the patronising "you're a great human being" nonsense as well.

For me Oisin carries the podcast.  I think it might be his counselling background but he sets the level of questioning very well.

[Ethan Tremblay]

The direction taken by Laochra Gael and GAA Social is unavoidable and inevitable.

Don't accept that at all, there's an ever increasing number of short format retired player profiles and team/era profiles and documentaries in other sports that don't go down this route

Francie Bellew is about as dry a character you could imagine but we still listened and enjoyed it

Excellent formats include The Overlap and The Gloves Are Off (boxing)

Yes stories of personal hardship might emerge from time to time, but to go after it relentlessly week after week is an editorial decision, as I said before, I think its a deliberate decision to try and end up on an award winning podcast podium

Is there such a thing? Outside of the GAA Social the Football Pod with Rooney, Andrews and O'Donoghue is great, have enjoyed listening to Soupy on the Monday Club and Beyond the 45 with Keegan and Mugsy can be hilarious, Mugsy is a funny f**ker despite being from Tyrone. Spillane and Clerkin talk out of their holes mostly but you can get a laugh out of them at times

I really enjoy the GAA Social more or less every week, not sure enjoy is the right word when listening to someone talk about their terminal illness or death of a loved one or whatever it may be that week but there is something compelling about it and it probably hits home for a lot of people because there's not a person in the country who hasn't been impacted in some way by these tragedies and we can all relate in some way to what's being talked about and can take something from the guest who most weeks is someone we admire.

There's also a morbid curiosity as well that we all have.

Can't be bothered to go through it now but I'm sure if you were to scroll back there's as many guests who came on and didn't talk about darker stuff as those who did, but some of the most memorable ones have been when the depressing stuff has came up- 2 obvious ones being Jody Gormley and Ciara Mageen due to their circumstances, but also Margaret McConville, the main theme being how she remained so positive and did so much for the GAA in the face of so much adversity- losing a son, the troubles and obviously Oisin's issues.

Overall a really good podcast I think and while Niblock can be ott he is a decent fella and I've obviously huge time for Oisin.

I think The Gaa Social gives a platform to people involved in Gaa who may not get it anywhere else, and as it is mostly unscripted, it can lead anywhere. 
Like there is going to be no biographies released for some of the people that go on there, so they mostly talk about events that may have shaped them to being the people that they are. 

Jody Gormley would have been a hero to many people growing up and people got to listen to his story.  Houly in Armagh the same.  Personally I like the format, of "not strictly Gaa" talk. 

[johnnycool]

The direction taken by Laochra Gael and GAA Social is unavoidable and inevitable.

Don't accept that at all, there's an ever increasing number of short format retired player profiles and team/era profiles and documentaries in other sports that don't go down this route

Francie Bellew is about as dry a character you could imagine but we still listened and enjoyed it

Excellent formats include The Overlap and The Gloves Are Off (boxing)

Yes stories of personal hardship might emerge from time to time, but to go after it relentlessly week after week is an editorial decision, as I said before, I think its a deliberate decision to try and end up on an award winning podcast podium

Is there such a thing? Outside of the GAA Social the Football Pod with Rooney, Andrews and O'Donoghue is great, have enjoyed listening to Soupy on the Monday Club and Beyond the 45 with Keegan and Mugsy can be hilarious, Mugsy is a funny f**ker despite being from Tyrone. Spillane and Clerkin talk out of their holes mostly but you can get a laugh out of them at times

I really enjoy the GAA Social more or less every week, not sure enjoy is the right word when listening to someone talk about their terminal illness or death of a loved one or whatever it may be that week but there is something compelling about it and it probably hits home for a lot of people because there's not a person in the country who hasn't been impacted in some way by these tragedies and we can all relate in some way to what's being talked about and can take something from the guest who most weeks is someone we admire.

There's also a morbid curiosity as well that we all have.

Can't be bothered to go through it now but I'm sure if you were to scroll back there's as many guests who came on and didn't talk about darker stuff as those who did, but some of the most memorable ones have been when the depressing stuff has came up- 2 obvious ones being Jody Gormley and Ciara Mageen due to their circumstances, but also Margaret McConville, the main theme being how she remained so positive and did so much for the GAA in the face of so much adversity- losing a son, the troubles and obviously Oisin's issues.

Overall a really good podcast I think and while Niblock can be ott he is a decent fella and I've obviously huge time for Oisin.

I think The Gaa Social gives a platform to people involved in Gaa who may not get it anywhere else, and as it is mostly unscripted, it can lead anywhere. 
Like there is going to be no biographies released for some of the people that go on there, so they mostly talk about events that may have shaped them to being the people that they are. 

Jody Gormley would have been a hero to many people growing up and people got to listen to his story.  Houly in Armagh the same.  Personally I like the format, of "not strictly Gaa" talk. 

As my Da used to say, "there is an off button if you don't like it"

I don't listen to each and every podcast on the GAA social, like I don't watch every Lochra Gael as TBH I found some of them pretty repetitive with some lad on sure we beat so and so this year, then got beat the following year, so we did everything we could to win the following year. Rinse and repeat.

The better ones for me were the likes of the Sambo McNaughton ones where there was a back story which probably wasn't overly well known beyond those in Cushendall and the Glens.

Turn it off if it's not for you lads.

[NAG1]

The direction taken by Laochra Gael and GAA Social is unavoidable and inevitable.

Don't accept that at all, there's an ever increasing number of short format retired player profiles and team/era profiles and documentaries in other sports that don't go down this route

Francie Bellew is about as dry a character you could imagine but we still listened and enjoyed it

Excellent formats include The Overlap and The Gloves Are Off (boxing)

Yes stories of personal hardship might emerge from time to time, but to go after it relentlessly week after week is an editorial decision, as I said before, I think its a deliberate decision to try and end up on an award winning podcast podium

Is there such a thing? Outside of the GAA Social the Football Pod with Rooney, Andrews and O'Donoghue is great, have enjoyed listening to Soupy on the Monday Club and Beyond the 45 with Keegan and Mugsy can be hilarious, Mugsy is a funny f**ker despite being from Tyrone. Spillane and Clerkin talk out of their holes mostly but you can get a laugh out of them at times

I really enjoy the GAA Social more or less every week, not sure enjoy is the right word when listening to someone talk about their terminal illness or death of a loved one or whatever it may be that week but there is something compelling about it and it probably hits home for a lot of people because there's not a person in the country who hasn't been impacted in some way by these tragedies and we can all relate in some way to what's being talked about and can take something from the guest who most weeks is someone we admire.

There's also a morbid curiosity as well that we all have.

Can't be bothered to go through it now but I'm sure if you were to scroll back there's as many guests who came on and didn't talk about darker stuff as those who did, but some of the most memorable ones have been when the depressing stuff has came up- 2 obvious ones being Jody Gormley and Ciara Mageen due to their circumstances, but also Margaret McConville, the main theme being how she remained so positive and did so much for the GAA in the face of so much adversity- losing a son, the troubles and obviously Oisin's issues.

Overall a really good podcast I think and while Niblock can be ott he is a decent fella and I've obviously huge time for Oisin.

I think The Gaa Social gives a platform to people involved in Gaa who may not get it anywhere else, and as it is mostly unscripted, it can lead anywhere. 
Like there is going to be no biographies released for some of the people that go on there, so they mostly talk about events that may have shaped them to being the people that they are. 

Jody Gormley would have been a hero to many people growing up and people got to listen to his story.  Houly in Armagh the same.  Personally I like the format, of "not strictly Gaa" talk. 

As my Da used to say, "there is an off button if you don't like it"

I don't listen to each and every podcast on the GAA social, like I don't watch every Lochra Gael as TBH I found some of them pretty repetitive with some lad on sure we beat so and so this year, then got beat the following year, so we did everything we could to win the following year. Rinse and repeat.

The better ones for me were the likes of the Sambo McNaughton ones where there was a back story which probably wasn't overly well known beyond those in Cushendall and the Glens.

Turn it off if it's not for you lads.

      

[JoG2]

The direction taken by Laochra Gael and GAA Social is unavoidable and inevitable.

Don't accept that at all, there's an ever increasing number of short format retired player profiles and team/era profiles and documentaries in other sports that don't go down this route

Francie Bellew is about as dry a character you could imagine but we still listened and enjoyed it

Excellent formats include The Overlap and The Gloves Are Off (boxing)

Yes stories of personal hardship might emerge from time to time, but to go after it relentlessly week after week is an editorial decision, as I said before, I think its a deliberate decision to try and end up on an award winning podcast podium

Is there such a thing? Outside of the GAA Social the Football Pod with Rooney, Andrews and O'Donoghue is great, have enjoyed listening to Soupy on the Monday Club and Beyond the 45 with Keegan and Mugsy can be hilarious, Mugsy is a funny f**ker despite being from Tyrone. Spillane and Clerkin talk out of their holes mostly but you can get a laugh out of them at times

I really enjoy the GAA Social more or less every week, not sure enjoy is the right word when listening to someone talk about their terminal illness or death of a loved one or whatever it may be that week but there is something compelling about it and it probably hits home for a lot of people because there's not a person in the country who hasn't been impacted in some way by these tragedies and we can all relate in some way to what's being talked about and can take something from the guest who most weeks is someone we admire.

There's also a morbid curiosity as well that we all have.

Can't be bothered to go through it now but I'm sure if you were to scroll back there's as many guests who came on and didn't talk about darker stuff as those who did, but some of the most memorable ones have been when the depressing stuff has came up- 2 obvious ones being Jody Gormley and Ciara Mageen due to their circumstances, but also Margaret McConville, the main theme being how she remained so positive and did so much for the GAA in the face of so much adversity- losing a son, the troubles and obviously Oisin's issues.

Overall a really good podcast I think and while Niblock can be ott he is a decent fella and I've obviously huge time for Oisin.

I think The Gaa Social gives a platform to people involved in Gaa who may not get it anywhere else, and as it is mostly unscripted, it can lead anywhere. 
Like there is going to be no biographies released for some of the people that go on there, so they mostly talk about events that may have shaped them to being the people that they are. 

Jody Gormley would have been a hero to many people growing up and people got to listen to his story.  Houly in Armagh the same.  Personally I like the format, of "not strictly Gaa" talk. 

As my Da used to say, "there is an off button if you don't like it"

I don't listen to each and every podcast on the GAA social, like I don't watch every Lochra Gael as TBH I found some of them pretty repetitive with some lad on sure we beat so and so this year, then got beat the following year, so we did everything we could to win the following year. Rinse and repeat.

The better ones for me were the likes of the Sambo McNaughton ones where there was a back story which probably wasn't overly well known beyond those in Cushendall and the Glens.

Turn it off if it's not for you lads.

What are you talking about? Daft craic.
Have you not delved into the Up for the Match or The Late Late Show threads? Keep watching / listening and keep moaning..it's the GAABoard way