Could Ireland be better at world sports if it wasn't for GAA?

Richard Hillman

karma_ wrote: »

Don't blame your school, they have a budget to spend in order to facilitate your education as well as see you had some kind of sporting access. Tell me, did you ever think to join a local athletic club at all?

Most schools have athletic equipment but they are left to gather dust. My primary had everything needed for athletics bar the hammer and pole vault but we used to have to play GAA football, with football and basketball the odd time. It was only until sports day that the athletics equipment was brought out

karma_

Richard Hillman wrote: »

Most schools have athletic equipment but they are left to gather dust. My primary had everything needed for athletics bar the hammer and pole vault but we used to have to play GAA football, with football and basketball the odd time. It was only until sports day that the athletics equipment was brought out

And that equipment takes time to set up. If your setting up more than one event it takes extra staff etc.

asherbassad

NIMAN wrote: »

I am not trying to slag off the GAA or anything here, but I got to thinking about our performance in the Olympics and how we struggle to get a handful of medals each Olympic Games.

Ireland has been so obsessed with the GAA, do you think it has hindered our success elsewhere in the sporting world? After all, we are great at it, but no-one else plays it!;)

How many of those supremely gifted athletes who perform week-in, week-out for their local football and hurling teams/counties would have made it at a high level in other sports such as soccer?

Yeah, can you imagine if the Aussies didn't play that Aussie Rules crap that nobody else plays......just think, they might have a chance in sports like Rugby or Cricket or Swimming or Sailing or Golf.

Da Shins Kelly

I do not get all the GAA bashing. It's a well-organised grassroots organisation that has done a great job of introducing kids to sport and giving them a purpose, binding communities together and helping to preserve our culture. As far as I can see, it's been nothing but positive. Other sports suffer because they don't have the funding or the organisation. Any sport we do commit to, we often do pretty well. And nobody is "forced" to do anything. I know plenty of people who grew up playing hurling and/or football, and plenty who didn't. Regardless, the GAA is well-loved by many and has a huge following.

Plus, the GAA is more entertaining to watch than any Olympic sport, as far as I'm concerned. There is nothing like being in Croke Park on All-Ireland Hurling Final day. Nothing like it.

ormond lad

Da Shins Kelly wrote: »

I do not get all the GAA bashing. It's a well-organised grassroots organisation that has done a great job of introducing kids to sport and giving them a purpose, binding communities together and helping to preserve our culture. As far as I can see, it's been nothing but positive. Other sports suffer because they don't have the funding or the organisation. Any sport we do commit to, we often do pretty well. And nobody is "forced" to do anything. I know plenty of people who grew up playing hurling and/or football, and plenty who didn't. Regardless, the GAA is well-loved by many and has a huge following.

Plus, the GAA is more entertaining to watch than any Olympic sport, as far as I'm concerned. There is nothing like being in Croke Park on All-Ireland Hurling Final day. Nothing like it.

If the GAA was well organised it would have wiped out all other sports in most areas of the country.
The GAA is a great organisation but is certainly not well organised. For most teams in tipperary anyway weeks and weeks can go by without games especially in mid summer when the conditions are at their best for hurling.
There is plenty of sports that have suffered from the GAAs influence. for example there has been several kids in kerry/cork who have made regional development squads in rugby and then are added to county minor hurling/football squads and are then dropped from the minor squad as soon as they drop the rugby.
other sports do suffer from lack of funding etc but thats not the GAAs fault. Most of the sports funding goes to only a small number of sports.
The biggest obstacle to ireland getting more medals in the future is a lack of facilities like the lack of both indoor 200metre and outdoor 400metre running tracks in the country is unbelievable and its the same about the lack of 50metre swimming pools

purplepanda

This idea that kids that are talented at sports are prevented from reaching their full potential by the GAA is strange when so many Irish sportsmen have played GAA games into their late teenage years & beyond. In some cases actually wining minor & senior All Ireland medals before becoming professional sportsmen, from Niall Quinn, Kevin Moran in football , Setanta O'Halpin & various other Kerry GAA players in Australian Rules Football are just some examples.

Most kids will have a go at any sport they like, & continue to play more than one, if a kid in Ireland is good enough to be professional he will be soon spotted by English football club scouts. Rugby clubs will also compete for young talent & hope to attract young Gaelic Football players if they feel they have potential.

How many great Hurlers could have been professional Soccer players or even Cricket players anyway? Maybe Field Hockey but that's not a major professional sport?


I wonder if Scotland is blaming their version of the GAA, the Shinty / Camanachd Association for the lack of athletes taking part in the London Olympics & the lack of numbers of top class Rugby Union & Football players that Scotland has produced in the last 20 years or more :pac:

There really needs to be more focus on getting kids active & playing sports, not blaming those that put in the voluntary effort & time doing just that IMO!

Feisar

karma_ wrote: »

Who's going to fund it? I'm sure more schools would offer these programs if they could afford to.

I agree, funding. But people can't expect a plethora of medals considering what we are up against internationally.

billyhead

Da Shins Kelly wrote: »

I do not get all the GAA bashing. It's a well-organised grassroots organisation that has done a great job of introducing kids to sport and giving them a purpose, binding communities together and helping to preserve our culture. As far as I can see, it's been nothing but positive. Other sports suffer because they don't have the funding or the organisation. Any sport we do commit to, we often do pretty well. And nobody is "forced" to do anything. I know plenty of people who grew up playing hurling and/or football, and plenty who didn't. Regardless, the GAA is well-loved by many and has a huge following.

Plus, the GAA is more entertaining to watch than any Olympic sport, as far as I'm concerned. There is nothing like being in Croke Park on All-Ireland Hurling Final day. Nothing like it.

True. All those posters bashing the GAA are complete idiots. The OCI and the FAI should learn from the GAAs promotion of the games and devolpment work done at under age level. Nothing can equal the passion, entertainment, rivalry and spectacle that the likes of a Munster or All Ireland hurling final produce. Hurling as far as I see it is the greatest game on the planet

Cienciano

WallyGUFC wrote: »

This is the stupidest post I think I've ever seen on Boards and that says a lot.

You think everyone goes cos they like to see the horsies running around, awww bless.

billyhead wrote: »

True. All those posters bashing the GAA are complete idiots. The OCI and the FAI should learn from the GAAs promotion of the games and devolpment work done at under age level. Nothing can equal the passion, entertainment, rivalry and spectacle that the likes of a Munster or All Ireland hurling final produce. Hurling as far as I see it is the greatest game on the planet

Fastest doesnt necessarily mean good. And the FAI can't have anything like a munster or all ireland final, slight competition from across the water for players. No amount of underage promotion can change that. GAA has a massive advantage that it doesn't need to pay players, and there's no competition from another GAA competition in a different country.

False Prophet

Rubbish! There are loads of areas where gaa has not been popular down through the years + women have not had the same chances to play gaa (lack of local women gaa club). These areas have not produced world sport people!

The only reason that british have won so many medals is that they have invested huge amount of money into sports. In 1996 uk only won 1 gold medal!!! Money gets you (best coaches and trainers and backup team +world class equipment + few plastic brits).

Duckworth_Luas

Earlier in the games Yorkshire had won more medals than Australia. Anybody who knows anything about that area will know that it's sporting culture is absolutely dominated by soccer (just think of all the league clubs that come from their), cricket & rugby league. Even rugby union is hugely popular at an amature level. Yet they have won a haul of medals without having to blame their traditional sports.

False Prophet

Is gaa the reason that the likes india(over a billion ppl no gold medal) + Indonesia (230 million ppl no gold medal) + Pakistan (180 million ppl no medals) + Mexico (100+ ppl no gold medal) + lots of others.
What about europe
( norway similar population have only 3 medals)
( Finland similar population have only 1 medals)
( serbia similar population have only 2 medals)
( Bulgaria similar population have 0 medals)
( Switzerland 7 million have 3 medals)
( Austria 8 million have 0 medals)

oldyouth

More and more young people are discovering sports that the older (my) generation never knew existed previously. Back in the day, their only options were GAA, rugby, football, tennis, golf etc. Now it is kite surfing, volleyball, frisbee, kayaking, triathlon or whatever.

There is a sport out there for everyone, it just needs to be discovered

Da Shins Kelly

Cienciano wrote: »

Fastest doesnt necessarily mean good.

He didn't say that fastest meant best. He just said it was the best game on the earth, in his opinion. I know plenty of people who'd agree.

kelly1952

NIMAN wrote: »

I am not trying to slag off the GAA or anything here, but I got to thinking about our performance in the Olympics and how we struggle to get a handful of medals each Olympic Games.

Ireland has been so obsessed with the GAA, do you think it has hindered our success elsewhere in the sporting world? After all, we are great at it, but no-one else plays it!;)

How many of those supremely gifted athletes who perform week-in, week-out for their local football and hurling teams/counties would have made it at a high level in other sports such as soccer?

yes I believe we would but we would still need money to support people who could win medals

kelly1952

bECAUSE OF THE WAY WE CHOOSE TEACHERS IN OUR SCHOOLS IF THEY ARE NOT gaa they have no hope of getting the job

castletownman wrote: »

For most children, GAA is the first sport introduced to them either through schools level, or in the more rural parts of Ireland, at a parochial level. As one of the ethos' of the GAA is promoting it from grassroots level upwards, I don't see the big problem here. It's not like the days of The Ban, when once you were a member of the GAA you couldn't be involved with any other "foreign" sport. Adam Nolan and Darren O'Neill come from hurling backgrounds. Kevin Doyle and Shane Long did likewise, as did Kevin Moran, Denis Irwin and Roy Keane before them. Geordan Murphy, Shane Horgan and Rob Kearney were serious under-age prospects, while Tomas O'Leary won an all-Ireland minor hurling championship IIRC. Padraig Harrington played minor football for Dublin.

If anything, it's narrow-minded views of people who always need a stick to beat the GAA with that is affecting Ireland's standing in world sport. But if you ask me, for a small country we don't do too bad. And sure isn't there nothing better than All-Ireland hurling final day!

Cienciano

Da Shins Kelly wrote: »

He didn't say that fastest meant best. He just said it was the best game on the earth, in his opinion. I know plenty of people who'd agree.

Fastest field game in the world? When/how was this measured?

noodler

Play soccer now because I love it.

However, I played GAA for my local Northside Club for about 8 years when I was growing up because all my friends were on it.

It was an excellent experience, outstanding coaches, great facilities, unbelievable team spirit etc etc.

Any attack on the sport has to be fully defended.

shruikan2553

Without GAA I'm sure we would be better but it's not something we can resent the GAA for. Ireland's population is spread out across the country and GAA is as well. It isn't possible to have facilities offered to everyone. There will be a GAA club close to everyone and probably a football club at least within a distance you can make it to. This is from my experience so can't tell if it is the same for everyone.

In primary school PE was seen as a "treat" for us and it could be cancelled as punishment or if it was slightly wet outside. We would play mostly football and then rounders and hockey the odd time. Football was also played every lunch and break.

In secondary school it was much the same, football for the boys, basketball for the girls most of the time. Hockey, swimming, badminton and tag rugby happened at least once. (some only did happen once) An obstacle course might of been there if the PE teacher felt creative!
The school had rugby, gaelic, football and golf teams.

In all of this there was never any proper training in schools, it was all "here's a ball, play football" and if you weren't into GAA or football you weren't sporty and the PE teachers wanted nothing to do with you so I went to find some other activities that weren't sport related even though I was decent in swimming. Being blind in one eye meant that sports with a fast moving ball coming towards me weren't my strong point.

I'm going off on a tangent here but my point is GAA isn't to blame. The current school system gives a select few sports and if they aren't your thing then you aren't sporty, instead it needs to try and find a sport with facilities in the area that suits the student. It is impossible to perfect this but it would be a huge improvement for students to receive actual training in sports. The schools can arrange deals or subsidise with the local clubs for the students to get this and get rid of PE, instead have 2 hours less of school a week (instead of having PE) to allow the students the time to get school work done and take part in these sports.

Da Shins Kelly

Cienciano wrote: »

Fastest field game in the world? When/how was this measured?

It is believed to be. Presumably it is based on how far and fast the ball can be hit with a good strike.

books4sale

Fishooks12 wrote: »

we have five medals actually

And we actually punch well above our weight in the olympics compared to countries with a similar population to ours

But don't let facts get in the way of your snide post

Why don't you stick your cheap shot at my opinion elsewhere as you're so full of facts yourself.

....and no we don't punch anywhere near above our weight in the Olympics considering the facilities we have but yeah...nice way to make your point! Keep on dreamin'.

s_carnage

books4sale wrote: »

Why don't you stick your cheap shot at my opinion elsewhere as you're so full of facts yourself.

....and no we don't punch anywhere near above our weight in the Olympics considering the facilities we have but yeah...nice way to make your point! Keep on dreamin'.

How can you honestly say we don't punch above our weight? Right now with our 2 medals we are ranked 38th out of 204 countries competing at the Olympics. We have 3 guaranteed medals left to get and when we are credited with them we could end up being inside the top 30 in the world. If that isn't punching above our weight God only knows what you think is. Top 10?!?!?!

marvin_spazz

NIMAN wrote: »

How many of those supremely gifted athletes who perform week-in, week-out for their local football and hurling teams/counties would have made it at a high level in other sports such as soccer?

very few. maybe a few more journey men lower leagues footballers but rest assured op we have not missed out on any messi. scouting networks for top teams are worldwide btw you make it sound like going professional is a piece of piss.

foxyboxer

False Prophet wrote: »

Is gaa the reason that the likes india(over a billion ppl no gold medal) + Indonesia (230 million ppl no gold medal) + Pakistan (180 million ppl no medals) + Mexico (100+ ppl no gold medal) + lots of others.
What about europe
( norway similar population have only 3 medals)
( Finland similar population have only 1 medals)
( serbia similar population have only 2 medals)
( Bulgaria similar population have 0 medals)
( Switzerland 7 million have 3 medals)
( Austria 8 million have 0 medals)

They only excel at the Winter Olympics.

martingriff

foxyboxer wrote: »

They only excel at the Winter Olympics.

We excel in special & par olympics.

padd b1975

False Prophet wrote: »

Is gaa the reason that the likes india(over a billion ppl no gold medal) + Indonesia (230 million ppl no gold medal) + Pakistan (180 million ppl no medals) + Mexico (100+ ppl no gold medal) + lots of others.
What about europe
( norway similar population have only 3 medals)
( Finland similar population have only 1 medals)
( serbia similar population have only 2 medals)
( Bulgaria similar population have 0 medals)
( Switzerland 7 million have 3 medals)
( Austria 8 million have 0 medals)

Do you have the medal stats for the last 6 countries you mention for the Winter Olympics?

Edit: foxyboxer already raised this point.

False Prophet

padd b1975 wrote: »

Do you have the medal stats for the last 6 countries you mention for the Winter Olympics?

Edit: foxyboxer already raised this point.

So are you saying if we had no gaa we would be better in the winter Olympics
ps our nearst neighbour, with a much larger population only got 1 medal in the last winter games;) (they do play a bit of gaa in places in the uk so maybe this is why they did so bad as well:D)

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

False Prophet wrote: »

So are you saying if we had no gaa we would be better in the winter Olympics
ps our nearst neighbour, with a much larger population only got 1 medal in the last winter games;) (they do play a bit of gaa in places in the uk so maybe this is why they did so bad as well:D)

No, the point was to combine Winter and Summer and then see where Ireland lies in the table.

I think it's safe to say that the GAA has little or no effect on how Ireland does at the Olympics. Other countries have national games and their own versions of football (Australia, US, Canada) and all win medals.

The reasons for Ireland not winnign more medals are the obvious ones - lack of resources, lack of funding, smaller population, an education system that doesn't really lend itself to achievemnets outside of academics and so on.

Mal-Adjusted

FullBeard wrote: »

I do dislike tribes and anything that fosters a them-vs-us attitude. The GAA has perpetuated parochialism and parochial rivalry that has seeped into politics in the form of the parish pump.

um, you realize that "them-vs-us" is pretty much what all competitive sport is? what the hell is the point of it unless there's two opposing sides...and that includes the Olympics?

I have to ask you, do you hate all sports, or are you just a hypocrite?

neil_hosey

This is a rediculous thread, and another way to have a swipe at the GAA...

What about Australia.. with Aussie rules??
south Africa/NZ/Argentina/GB/Ireland Rugby??
US American Football/baseball??

And wait for it!! soccer! which most of the world play!! why no mention of that even in ireland??

If people focused less on their hatred for the GAA and more on the stupidity of their love of Scottish, English and Spanish football, this country will would contain far less barstool soccer supporters, and maybe more athletes for the future :P


EDIT: Dont try and say Soccer is in the olympics, it was a load of ****e in London

LordSutch

I guess New Zealand also suffers (if thats the right word) from shining in other sports because of the dominance of Rugby.

kentreaper

kelly1952 wrote: »

bECAUSE OF THE WAY WE CHOOSE TEACHERS IN OUR SCHOOLS IF THEY ARE NOT gaa they have no hope of getting the job

Absolutely true - with very rare exceptions.

In over 120 years, the GAA hasn't really progressed out of Ireland; nodody cares about it, except for a portion of people in Ireland who, like me, had it rammed down their throats by the CB's. GAA games are actually played less than tiddly-winks, worldwide.

Now past its sell by date, it should be abolished - with Pioneer Pins!

road_hog

LordSutch wrote: »

I guess New Zealand also suffers (if thats the right word) from shining in other sports because of the dominance of Rugby.

rugby is an international sport , the point which the OP is making is that the dominance of a domestic sport is to our detriment in international sports

personally speaking i think its a no brainer that the GAA hits other sports , thats not a criticism of the GAA btw which is without a doubt , thee most possitive institution this country has ever had , its an undeniable fact

Pherekydes

kentreaper wrote: »

Now past its sell by date, it should be abolished - with Pioneer Pins!

Camán, you cannot be serious about that, bos. Give over sliotharing around in the grass attacking the GAA. It's not cúl.

kentreaper

road_hog wrote: »

its an undeniable fact

Why so?

twinytwo

starbelgrade wrote: »

That's because there's only 6 teams in the world who play international rugby.

Actually there are close to 100 international rugby teams, but only 10 are tier 1

starbelgrade

twinytwo wrote: »

Actually there are close to 100 international rugby teams, but only 10 are tier 1

There's only 6 - that's why they call it the Six Nations.

Mal-Adjusted

starbelgrade wrote: »

There's only 6 - that's why they call it the Six Nations.

*facepalm*
you realize the 6 nations is an exclusivley European competition.
ever heard of the tri-nations? (now called rugby championship since Argentina was included)
or the European Nations cup?
or the pacific nations cup?
the South American Rugby championship?
the Americas Rugby championship?

just because YOU only hear about the Six Nations doesn't mean that's all there is.

LordSutch

road_hog wrote: »

rugby is an international sport , the point which the OP is making is that the dominance of a domestic sport is to our detriment in international sports

personally speaking i think its a no brainer that the GAA hits other sports , thats not a criticism of the GAA btw which is without a doubt , thee most possitive institution this country has ever had , its an undeniable fact

But thats the point I was trying to make!

Rugby is so dominant in New Zealand as to be detrimental to other sports.

Brain Stroking

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

That's becase the sports you list are expenisve and not traditionally Irish. Also, you never learn about tactics in PE lessons, it;s just here's a a ball, here's the pitch, go play.

GAA, in my experience, is a classic example of this: there is not real tactical element to it. The formations used by the teams are strict and add no fludity or imagination to the game - it';s just a case of accurate kicking and that's it.

Absolute poppycock

kippy

If it wasn't for the GAA our obesity problem with be more pronounced than it is.

starbelgrade

Mal-Adjusted wrote: »

*facepalm*
you realize the 6 nations is an exclusivley European competition.
ever heard of the tri-nations? (now called rugby championship since Argentina was included)
or the European Nations cup?
or the pacific nations cup?
the South American Rugby championship?
the Americas Rugby championship?

just because YOU only hear about the Six Nations doesn't mean that's all there is.

I think your sarcasm detector might be on the blink.

Mal-Adjusted

backpeddling already? :rolleyes:

road_hog

LordSutch wrote: »

But thats the point I was trying to make!

Rugby is so dominant in New Zealand as to be detrimental to other sports.

yes but new zealand dominate in international rugby , if GAA was played internationally , ireland might too dominate the globe in one sport , overall new zealand is a stronger nation when it comes to sport than ireland , despite the enormous culture of rugby , the country still performs strongly in the olympics etc

Pal

Today's Irish Times tells how the shower snubbed our President back in 1938 because he went to a soccer game.

OP asked would we better at sports without the GAA ?

iDave

Pathetic. Only in Ireland would we slag off our own culture and sports. Sure maybe we should blame Irish dancing for not having more people of Strictly Come Dancing while we’re at it. If you were a St Kilda AFL fan what would you rather, a Premiership or a Badminton Gold Medal. Same question to a New York Giants fan, Superbowl or obscure Olympic sport. People prefer their local teams in home grown sports. Get over it.

kentreaper

iDave wrote: »

People prefer their local teams in home grown sports

No they don't. Soccer is played/followed in every country in the world - c208 of them.

Gaelic games are really only played in ONE, after 120 years at it!

They are good games, but, obviously, there are better.....

noodler

Pal wrote: »

Today's Irish Times tells how the shower snubbed our President back in 1938 because he went to a soccer game.

OP asked would we better at sports without the GAA ?

1938?

Fascinating.

Spread

If the players and the energy focused on GAA were transferred to Soccer Ireland would have a great team. The GAA was an important part of Ireland's fight for identity (even if overtly racist) but now it is an albatross.
Am saying this as a Kerryman that is sick and tired of celebrating All Ireland wins

noodler

Spread wrote: »

If the players and the energy focused on GAA were transferred to Soccer Ireland would have a great team. The GAA was an important part of Ireland's fight for identity (even if overtly racist) but now it is an albatross.
Am saying this as a Kerryman that is sick and tired of celebrating All Ireland wins

That is a ridiculous statement.

The GAA is anything but an albatross.

I played for my local club for 8 years before eventually leaving to play soccer.

The facilities, sense of comradery amongst your teammates, sacrifices by coachs etc was something to behold.