After the Darren Graham Affair is settled

[SammyG]

But Sammy are you a Catholic atheist or a Protestant atheist???

I'm a Hindu Atheist with a few traces of Shintuism

[Tubberman]

Athiest, Protestant, same difference.

Stop typing will you!? You're raving now.
If I'm an atheist, that equates me with all protestants does it? And by protestant, you presumably mean Unionist - they're not the same thing you know. 

[A Quinn Martin Production]

But Sammy are you a Catholic atheist or a Protestant atheist???

I'm a Hindu Atheist with a few traces of Shintuism

I think those traces of Shintuism will come out in a low temperature wash if you use Daz automatic.

[blast05]

Athiest, Protestant, same difference.

Oh jaysus. If nothing else, then those 4 words as an expressed opinion have enlightened me significantly as to why there is such a reluctance by the unionist community to get involved in the GAA.

[Jim_Murphy_74]

Membership
Membership of the Association shall be
granted only by a Club, and shall be governed
by the following regulations: -
(a) Full membership shall be open to all
persons of eighteen years or over who
subscribe to and undertake to further the
aims and objects of the Gaelic Athletic
Association, as stated in General Rules.
Each player in the Under 21 age grade or
over must be a registered full member.
Only registered full members shall be
entitled to vote at club meetings,
including the Annual Meeting.
(b) Youth membership shall be open to
persons under eighteen years.
(c) Honorary membership shall be confined
to persons who have rendered
exceptional service to the Club or to the
games and/or activities of the Association.

SammyG,

How many schoolboy players will be over 21?   

/Jim.

[SammyG]

SammyG,

How many schoolboy players will be over 21?   

/Jim.

I would hope not many but the coach/school teacher would presumably have to be, in order to become a member.

[Jim_Murphy_74]

Basic Aim
The Association is a National organisation
which has as its basic aim the strengthening of
the National Identity in a 32 County Ireland
through the preservation and promotion of
Gaelic Games and pastimes.

SammyG,

If one limits oneself to promoting a national identity solely through preservation and promotion of the games would they not avoid "signing up" to supporting terrorists etc. etc....?

/Jim.

[Jim_Murphy_74]

I would hope not many but the coach/school teacher would presumably have to be, in order to become a member.

So the participants are members of the GAA so can enter competitions.  Could the school teacher just not become a full member of the GAA or could the GAA provide a coach?

/Jim.

[SammyG]

Basic Aim
The Association is a National organisation
which has as its basic aim the strengthening of
the National Identity in a 32 County Ireland
through the preservation and promotion of
Gaelic Games and pastimes.

SammyG,

If one limits oneself to promoting a national identity solely through preservation and promotion of the games would they not avoid "signing up" to supporting terrorists etc. etc....?

/Jim.

You are using the games to promote a 32 county 'national identity' which is a political concept. There is no such a thing as a 32 county 'national identity(and never has been but that's a different issue) and to promote one means taking a political stance, which is barred in state schools.

[Jim_Murphy_74]

You are using the games to promote a 32 county 'national identity' which is a political concept. There is no such a thing as a 32 county 'national identity(and never has been but that's a different issue) and to promote one means taking a political stance, which is barred in state schools.

But by attending a rugby match or playing for "Ireland" you are promoting a "national identity". You are playing in a 6-"nations" tournament, representing your "nation".

I would agree that the concept of "nation" could be interpreted to mean a 32-County republic but it isn't necessarily so.

Also do you not concur that it is through the "promotion and preservation of games" which is at odds with your initial claim about signing up to terrorist rallies etc....?

/Jim.

[SammyG]

You are using the games to promote a 32 county 'national identity' which is a political concept. There is no such a thing as a 32 county 'national identity(and never has been but that's a different issue) and to promote one means taking a political stance, which is barred in state schools.

But by attending a rugby match or playing for "Ireland" you are promoting a "national identity". You are playing in a 6-"nations" tournament, representing your "nation".

Not at all. Rugby is organised by the various Rugby Football Unions, which are 'loosely' based on geographical areas. It has no concepts of nationhood which is why you get South Africans and Australians representing Wales or English players representing Ireland

I would agree that the concept of "nation" could be interpreted to mean a 32-County republic but it isn't necessarily so.

WHen read in conjunction with the next paragraph about 'nationhood being impared', I'm not sure what other interpretation you could put on it. How is 32 county 'nationhood' impared other than by the border?

Also do you not concur that it is through the "promotion and preservation of games" which is at odds with your initial claim about signing up to terrorist rallies etc....?

/Jim.

Unfortunately for a (sizeable) minority the two things seem to go hand in hand. And when they do they seem to be endorsed by the wider GAA (Nick Brennan at the Kevin Lynch club, no sanctions after the Casement rally etc).

[Jim_Murphy_74]

You are using the games to promote a 32 county 'national identity' which is a political concept. There is no such a thing as a 32 county 'national identity(and never has been but that's a different issue) and to promote one means taking a political stance, which is barred in state schools.

But by attending a rugby match or playing for "Ireland" you are promoting a "national identity". You are playing in a 6-"nations" tournament, representing your "nation".

Not at all. Rugby is organised by the various Rugby Football Unions, which are 'loosely' based on geographical areas. It has no concepts of nationhood which is why you get South Africans and Australians representing Wales or English players representing Ireland

I would agree that the concept of "nation" could be interpreted to mean a 32-County republic but it isn't necessarily so.

WHen read in conjunction with the next paragraph about 'nationhood being impared', I'm not sure what other interpretation you could put on it. How is 32 county 'nationhood' impared other than by the border?

Also do you not concur that it is through the "promotion and preservation of games" which is at odds with your initial claim about signing up to terrorist rallies etc....?

/Jim.

Unfortunately for a (sizeable) minority the two things seem to go hand in hand. And when they do they seem to be endorsed by the wider GAA (Nick Brennan at the Kevin Lynch club, no sanctions after the Casement rally etc).

SammyG,

"seems to be endorsed", "intepreted" is a long long way from your first very definitive explanation of what kids were being asked to sign up for.

It is quite feasible for children to

a) Receive GAA coaching
b) Participate in GAA competitions
c) See if they like they games.

If at the age of 21 the want to continue the games they could make a strong case about aspects of the rulebook that they took issue with.

However, in the interim no one is asking them to sign up to anything they don't want to.

So this would definitely bring more unionists into the game and if these unionists shared your views, give them a stronger hand to make the changes the want.

/Jim.

[snatter]

Sammy,

are you clear on the fact that schoolkids or their teachers don't have to be members of the GAA to play gaelic football, or take part in gaelic football competitions?

No, not clear at all. How can you take part in a GAA competition without being a member of the GAA? Genuine question.

Sammy,

and you've now been given genuine answers.

So just to clarify,

are you clear on the fact that schoolkids or their teachers don't have to be members of the GAA to play gaelic football, or take part in gaelic football competitions?

Sammy,

third time lucky?

are you clear on the fact that schoolkids or their teachers don't have to be members of the GAA to play gaelic football, or take part in gaelic football competitions?

[lynchbhoy]

Rugby is organised by the various Rugby Football Unions, which are 'loosely' based on geographical areas. It has no concepts of nationhood which is why you get South Africans and Australians representing Wales or English players representing Ireland

...just cant quite bring yourself to admit that its because rugby is based on a team equating to being a recognised actual COUNTRY  !
not a piss pot half arsed association !
Think you will find that the usual reason ing for 'NZ, SA ' etc players playing for other countires is that they have actual blood from that country /been nationalised and carry that country's passport.

Unfortunately for a (sizeable) minority the two things seem to go hand in hand. And when they do they seem to be endorsed by the wider GAA (Nick Brennan at the Kevin Lynch club, no sanctions after the Casement rally etc).

Nicky Brennan knows that there was no 'terrorist' acts carried out by Lynch, his club is named after his hurling prowess and memory.
you still have not answered why you call him a terrorist, you know the reasons/proof etc - the usual stuff you whinge about yourself when pontificating on here....

[lynchbhoy]

the long and the short of it is that sammy doesnt want to recognise or admit that the GAA can be joined by anyone. That people/kids can  play gaelic games without being a member, plus that membership is only a sporting thing , that has no bearing on religion etc - as the GAA moving to help young mr Graham has proven.

sammy, confused genius and co just dont want to admit that the GAA is a sport for all, multi demoninational sporting association with great sports accessible to those who wish to just play sports - or not, if they dont want to.

but stick in the muds with old dup attitudes like our unionist/loyalist posters on here will never admit to such things...

god help their wee cotton socks and tortured souls in the years to come with all this Irish convergence!