Minister wants all-Ireland league

SectionF

Dermot Ahern calls for all-Ireland league
Soccer's governing bodies in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic should be merged, Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern has said.

Mr Ahern said an all-island league would generate more income for clubs and provide more talented players for a re-constituted national team.

He told the Soccer Writers Association of Ireland that times had changed since the governing body split in the 1920s.

"Together they can achieve so much more than by remaining apart," he said.

Benedict XVI

SectionF wrote:

Dermot Ahern calls for all-Ireland league
Soccer's governing bodies in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic should be merged, Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern has said.

Mr Ahern said an all-island league would generate more income for clubs and provide more talented players for a re-constituted national team.

He told the Soccer Writers Association of Ireland that times had changed since the governing body split in the 1920s.

"Together they can achieve so much more than by remaining apart," he said.

Yea that story has been around these boards a few times in the last few years.
I totally disagree with it.
As a Republic of Ireland fan I don't want to go to games to hear 'Ireland's Call' or face a flag that is not the Tricolour, plus I don't want to be caught in the middle when the Celtic shirt wearing idiots meet the Rangers shirt wearing idiots at an 'Ireland' game.

People site rugby as an example of where it works but the two (soccer and rugby) cannot be compared, both historically and socially.

cournioni

I reckon we would get on a bit better if we merged with Brazil...

Mossy Monk

Benedict XVI wrote:

Yea that story has been around these boards a few times in the last few years.
I totally disagree with it.
As a Republic of Ireland fan I don't want to go to games to hear 'Ireland's Call' or face a flag that is not the Tricolour, plus I don't want to be caught in the middle when the Celtic shirt wearing idiots meet the Rangers shirt wearing idiots at an 'Ireland' game.

People site rugby as an example of where it works but the two (soccer and rugby) cannot be compared, both historically and socially.

exactly what he said

MrJoeSoap

I'd love an All-Ireland club league. The inter-league Setanta Cup games have been a huge success to date.

~Rebel~

Yeah Id be happy out with a new All Ireland League, an all ireland football team though, no thanks. If we ever become reunited as a nation then fair enough, but before that happens it just seems pointless.

As Benedict said very well, you just cant compare the football and rugby situations.

_blank_

All-island league ftw.

Setanta has been brilliant, and I've had nothing but great receptions from if IL clubs' fans on my visits up there recently.

The aul M-sixteen escort into The Oval for the Glentoran CL game was a bit scary though!:eek:

We need a fully professional 10-12 (possibly 14-16) team league from both jurisdictions on this island.

Derry -v- Linfield at the Brandywell would be amazing to see again.

walrusgumble

let the all ireland cup (sentanta) continue as it is. not sure if it would be good for football yet, each loi and ni leagues have very bad teams. people still remember linfield and the tyler cup days. but thank fully things are changing.

noel should stick his nose out.

The Rooster

Benedict XVI wrote:

As a Republic of Ireland fan I don't want to go to games to hear 'Ireland's Call' or face a flag that is not the Tricolour

How oxymoronic of you.

Someone who feels very strongly about the National Anthem and National Flag (both very much nationalistic 32 county "symbols"), but yet not nationalistic enough to want a united 32 county team on the soccer pitch....... I find it difficult to get my head round that one.

There would be 100% support for an All Ireland soccer team amongst nationalists with an interest in soccer in the 6 counties. But a large majority of Northern Ireland fans (mostly protestants) would be against it.

I can well understand someone who doesnt care about politics, or doesnt really care what happened 80 years or 800 years ago ("all ancient history, not relevant today") not wanting to mess with the "Republic of Ireland".

But anyone who is a nationalist politically and has a strong grá for the National Anthem and the Tricolour has to be in favour of a united soccer team. Unless they've no idea what the Tricolour means.....

Not that the blazers in the FAI and IFA would let it happen anyway, as it would mean half of them would lose their power.

Pigman II

I always am interested in how popular the idea of a unified league is down here. The thing most people forget or aren't aware of is that the IFA are the original football organisation in Ireland and that we down south are merely a breakaway group.

If there was a re-unification it would seem only fair that it was done under the IFA banner.

On the plus side the FAI would no longer exist but on the downside the game in this country would be run from a different country and all Ireland home games should (justifiably) be played in Belfast.

The Rooster

Indeed it was the FAI that broke away from the IFA 80 years.

Interesting opinion that it means a unified body would be based in Belfast and home games would be in Belfast.

Personally I dont see how it follows. A red herring methinks.

In the unlikely event of both organisations agreeing to merge, home games would mostly be played in Lansdowne, with the odd one in Windsor. Neither the old IFA nor the old FAI would exist. There would be a brand new organisation, but it would most likely be called the Irish Football Association, or perhaps the All Ireland Football Association.

Töpher

One can't happen without the other. If we get an all-Ireland league, we get an all-Ireland national team.

Not too fussed over the national team aspects if the truth be known, but an all-Ireland league is the way forward. The Setanta Cup has been an incredible success to date, nothing like a good trip to Belfast!

Big Ears

Einst&#252 wrote: »

One can't happen without the other. If we get an all-Ireland league, we get an all-Ireland national team.

Unless special dispensation is given . I am in favour of an All_Ireland League but not an All-Ireland team as things currently stand . Too many people would be against an All Ireland national team(especially in Northern Ireland) for it to work .

However an All-Ireland league is something that a lot more people are in favour of and something which would be of much more benefit . The majority of people in the Republic are strongly in favour of an All-Ireland league and support in the north is divided , not just between Nationalists and Unionists but more between people in general and people seem to be more split on the idea due to footballing reasons than political ones .

The smaller clubs in the North , especially ones in the Premier division who feel that an All-Ireland league would see them moving into the second tier .

Berns

Think both communities here in north would be up for a all ireland league, but doubt they would like a all ireland team, especially now that the north is punchin above its weight with the victories over Spain and England while the republic is now below the north in the world rankings.

Personally I'd love a all ireland team, ofc Dublin would have to be the place for home games, but with the new national stadium bein developed up here, think its down the road from me in Lisburn (down about the maze it should be) I'd like em up here. Considerin accomodation here though prob not the best place though too. Not sure when it's gonna be ready or if they still considering if to have it here or Belfast since was some opposition to having it outside Belfast. Seen some campaign was made to have it in Belfast with the council even gettin plans and all drawn up for the alternatives.

DaveH

Einst&#252 wrote: »

One can't happen without the other. If we get an all-Ireland league, we get an all-Ireland national team.

An All-ireland league is the way forward, and specail dispensation should be possible under the good friday agreement. The big object is losing european places, but If im not mistaken, the national organisation puts forward clubs for the european competition's. So surely if there was an All-ireland league the IFA would propose the best finishing northy team for the CL Place(could be linfield in third place) and FAI the best place ROI team.

An All-Ireland team is a bit further off, but could people come up with honest points for and agaisnt and not the biggoted propoganda of looking at rangers jersey's.

Benedict XVI

The Rooster wrote:

How oxymoronic of you.

Someone who feels very strongly about the National Anthem and National Flag (both very much nationalistic 32 county "symbols"), but yet not nationalistic enough to want a united 32 county team on the soccer pitch....... I find it difficult to get my head round that one.

There would be 100% support for an All Ireland soccer team amongst nationalists with an interest in soccer in the 6 counties. But a large majority of Northern Ireland fans (mostly protestants) would be against it.

I can well understand someone who doesnt care about politics, or doesnt really care what happened 80 years or 800 years ago ("all ancient history, not relevant today") not wanting to mess with the "Republic of Ireland".

But anyone who is a nationalist politically and has a strong grá for the National Anthem and the Tricolour has to be in favour of a united soccer team. Unless they've no idea what the Tricolour means.....

Not that the blazers in the FAI and IFA would let it happen anyway, as it would mean half of them would lose their power.

Right, the way I see it is that I am from the Republic Of Ireland. Which is made up of 26 counties, (the other 6 are in the United Kingdom).
The tri-colour is the flag of the Republic of Ireland, and Amhrán na bhFiann is the national anthem of the Republic of Ireland.
Therefore when I go to Republic of Ireland soccer matches I expect to hear Amhrán na bhFiann and see the tri-colour.
I don't really care about the historic origins of each all I care about is that they are the symbols of my country The Republic of Ireland.
An All Ireland team would mean that we would have to do away with our just to symbols just to appease British people who live in Northern Ireland.

DaveH

Benedict XVI wrote:

Right, the way I see it is that I am from the Republic Of Ireland. Which is made up of 26 counties, (the other 6 are in the United Kingdom).
The tri-colour is the flag of the Republic of Ireland, and Amhrán na bhFiann is the national anthem of the Republic of Ireland.
Therefore when I go to Republic of Ireland soccer matches I expect to hear Amhrán na bhFiann and see the tri-colour.
I don't really care about the historic origins of each all I care about is that they are the symbols of my country The Republic of Ireland.
An All Ireland team would mean that we would have to do away with our just to symbols just to appease British people who live in Northern Ireland.

If it were an All-Ireland team then you not be going to see the republic of Ireland. Also there is an All-Ireland team in Boxing, Golf, Rugby, Athletics. All these sports use the Tri-Colour and Amhrán na BhFiann, so you have made an asmussion based on no concrete evidence agaisnt having a 32 county team.

Have you any no biggotted constructive comments to make?

el rabitos

Benedict XVI wrote:

Right, the way I see it is that I am from the Republic Of Ireland. Which is made up of 26 counties, (the other 6 are in the United Kingdom).
The tri-colour is the flag of the Republic of Ireland, and Amhrán na bhFiann is the national anthem of the Republic of Ireland.
Therefore when I go to Republic of Ireland soccer matches I expect to hear Amhrán na bhFiann and see the tri-colour.
I don't really care about the historic origins of each all I care about is that they are the symbols of my country The Republic of Ireland.
An All Ireland team would mean that we would have to do away with our just to symbols just to appease British people who live in Northern Ireland.

the colour flag u see at irish matches and the national anthem matter so much to you?

personally i could care less if people were waving candian flags proclaiming to be the best canucking country in the world, the national anthems in general are just tacky songs imo, could care less if they were done away with as a whole...well appart from the russian one, that just rules, but u get my drift

personally i wouldnt let a national anthem and the colour of a flag people want to wave stand in the way of merging the national sides. as long as they play in a colour that looks greenish i couldnt care less, anything else is just stupid politics and tit for tat.

2 national teams and seperate irish leagues on an island this size is stupid and detremental to the development of the talent in the country (sorry both countrys)

just my 2c anyway

astrofool

I think a unified league first, then national team a few years down the line (it's a bit too early yet), alternating between Windsor/Lansdowne for the matches.

And the pope's comments aren't just stupid, they're Jade Goody stupid.

Benedict XVI

DaveH wrote:

If it were an All-Ireland team then you not be going to see the republic of Ireland. Also there is an All-Ireland team in Boxing, Golf, Rugby, Athletics. All these sports use the Tri-Colour and Amhrán na BhFiann, so you have made an asmussion based on no concrete evidence agaisnt having a 32 county team.

Have you any no biggotted constructive comments to make?

Personally I think the two countries should be sperate in every sport.
If people of a nationalist view in the North want to represent the ROI the so be it, let them move south and represent the ROI. If they want to represent Britain then let them stay in the North.
Northern Ireland is the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland is a soverign state.

Benedict XVI

el rabitos wrote:

the colour flag u see at irish matches and the national anthem matter so much to you?

Not really but they are the symbols of the country, the Republic of Ireland.

el rabitos wrote:

personally i wouldnt let a national anthem and the colour of a flag people want to wave stand in the way of merging the national sides. as long as they play in a colour that looks greenish i couldnt care less, anything else is just stupid politics and tit for tat.

That's all well and good but tell that to the idiots in the colours of two scottish teams that support both the North and ROI

el rabitos

Benedict XVI wrote:

Not really but they are the symbols of the country, the Republic of Ireland.

personally the only reason i'd need to be surrounded by symbols of the republic of ireland would be if i was lost or something. i really couldnt care less about national anthems and flags. wearing green is plenty.

Benedict XVI wrote:

That's all well and good but tell that to the idiots in the colours of two scottish teams that support both the North and ROI

on this point we agree, futhermore i think anyone that would get upset seeing an english flag at an irish game in the year 2006 to the point where they would be against a unified team is also an idiot.

i'd rather see the odd few english flags and see a unified team beat cyprus 5-0 than see 2 seperate teams struggle against teams they could comfortably beat if both talent pools were merged.

ciaran76

At the end of the day I cant see it happening in my lifetime.(I am 30 by the way).
Too many postions in the FAI and IFA to be lost and people losing their nice cushy jobs.I could see an all in one league but can't ever see the 2 country teams joining at this moment in time.

A Dub in Glasgo

Benedict XVI wrote:

If people of a nationalist view in the North want to represent the ROI the so be it, let them move south and represent the ROI.

You think nationality is the same as residency?

If they want to represent Britain then let them stay in the North.

'the North' is not Britain

Northern Ireland is the United Kingdom

Part of the UK and not part of Britain

DaveH

Benedict XVI wrote:

Not really but they are the symbols of the country, the Republic of Ireland.



That's all well and good but tell that to the idiots in the colours of two scottish teams that support both the North and ROI

And again that is an irrevalant Point. Benedict you have not made 1 constructive postive or negative point on why there should an All-Ireland team. The only resonable point you made is that the people of Northern Ireland should have a choice of representing NI or ROI. Which is possible in soccer due to the hertigage rule, e.g. Jason McAteer and Alan Kernaghan.

I take you are agaisnt an All-Ireland team, have you any meaningful objections besides not wanting to see "Rangers" jerseys at a ireland game, or upseting fans of TWO foreign clubs.

Benedict XVI

DaveH wrote:

I take you are agaisnt an All-Ireland team, have you any meaningful objections besides not wanting to see "Rangers" jerseys at a ireland game, or upseting fans of TWO foreign clubs.

In what part of my posts have I siad I have a problem with people wearing Rangers shirts ?
I have no problem with any football fans wearing colours
But there are certain 'fans' of a certain British team that also follow the Republic of Ireland that have a real problem with it

My argument is that the Republic and the North are seperate countries, therefore they should have spereate teams. And as a citizen of the Republic of Ireland I am happy with the status quo.

Benedict XVI

A Dub in Glasgo wrote:

You think nationality is the same as residency?



'the North' is not Britain



Part of the UK and not part of Britain

UK , Britain, whatever you want to call it. People born there are British, if they want to see themselves as Irish too thats Ok with me. But the two should remain sperate if you ask me.