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GPA has jobs for the boys

  • 11-06-2009 08:41PM
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,026 ✭✭✭


    I was listening to Today with Myles Duncan On RTE radio 1 this morning and one of his guests was GPA chairman Dessie Farrell

    Farrell was invited onto the show by RTE to discuss a special place where GAA players could go to find work,it also offers potential employers (who only seem to want GAA players) a place to advertise their job vacancy

    Now i don't know what your opinion might be on this,you might not have an opinion on this at all but i think it stinks!

    This is an age old story in this country with people getting jobs because of who they know rather than what they know or if they play GAA or because maybe their father was the town Sargent or something like that.

    It's pretty obvious to me that the GPA does not like a level playing field and RTE sees no problem with inviting people onto its airwaves announcing to a small section of Irish life that there is a network that can provide certain people with work in this private club.

    So much for equal opportunities


«1

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 893 ✭✭✭joey54


    I think they have the right idea but have maybe gone about it the wrong way. It would be terrible to see young Irish sporting talent leaving the country because there is no work for them. They can't be paid for the footy they play so why not try the next best thing, try and help them out with a job.


  • Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 35,946 Mod ✭✭✭✭dr.bollocko


    Moved from AH.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,148 ✭✭✭✭My name is URL


    I've been saying it for years. The GAA is far too clicky, probably due to it's grass-roots bearing on communities. It's not just employment opportunities and business that it can manipulate either. The social aspect is just as bad in my experience

    Typical old Irish sectarianism, and overinflated senses of tradition


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,531 ✭✭✭Taxipete29


    The GAA is protecting its product. If inter-county players have no job and have to leave the country then everyone loses out. Lets say " The Gooch" or Joe Canning have no job and leave Ireland. Both Kerry and Galway are robbed of their best players. The fans miss out on watching these fantastic players. There are two less heros for youngsters to try to emulate.

    GAA players provide entertainment for thousands of people for no financial reward. That is why there has been a certain amount of " looking after their own" when it comes to jobs for players. I say best of luck to them. They deserve it for the sacrifices they make for the game.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,922 ✭✭✭Terrontress


    The Orange Order had a similar list of unemployed Orangemen who loyalists were to give jobs to above similarly qualified non members of their Order.

    I think it died out some time after the fifties.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,859 ✭✭✭bmaxi


    When I was growing up it was seen as beneficial to wear old School or Rugby club ties to interviews. Same thing, different means of application.


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    Can we get a link to this show??


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,366 ✭✭✭IIMII


    Best of luck to them, though I doubt that they'll place many. I think it's PR effort to justify them being the players association and stave off criticism rather than them being likely to succeed in finding jobs for half the Donegal team. If you want to understand this initiative, I think you shine the light of GAA internal politics on it. But then, there are plenty that aren't interested in the internal workings of the GAA and would prefer to see it in terms of the US deep south


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,922 ✭✭✭Terrontress


    To be honest, any employer who would restrict his people search to GAA players would need to be fairly stupid. And if he gave preference to a lesser qualified candidate due to them playing football or hurling, he could find himself up in front of a judge very easily.

    I'd say this initiative could lead to inter county players being viewed with suspicion in their workplaces.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,531 ✭✭✭Taxipete29


    To be honest, any employer who would restrict his people search to GAA players would need to be fairly stupid. And if he gave preference to a lesser qualified candidate due to them playing football or hurling, he could find himself up in front of a judge very easily.

    I'd say this initiative could lead to inter county players being viewed with suspicion in their workplaces.

    Your kind of missing the point. No employer is going to hire someone who is not qualified. I also doubt that they would restrict their search.

    The bit I have put in bold is just wrong. Employers are under no obligation to hire the most qualified candidate. They may not discriminate against a candidate based on nine specific criteria

    Gender
    Sexual Orientation
    Age
    Disability
    Member of the Travelling Community
    Religion
    Race
    Marital Status
    Family Status

    This is a non story tbh and I dont understand why people are getting upset about it. Can everyone honestly say they have never got an interview, job, promotion or something similar as a result of knowing someone, being good friends with the right person or good old fashioned nepotism???


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25,234 ✭✭✭✭Sponge Bob


    Taxipete29 wrote: »
    This is a non story tbh and I dont understand why people are getting upset about it.

    It is , Anglo Irish is full of Rugby playing types and nobody gave out to the IRFU for the mess they caused :D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 10,012 ✭✭✭✭thebman


    I disagree that it is stupid to restrict yourself to GAA players.

    They make great sales people as they are instantly recognisable in their locality so this seems like a good way for them to get jobs when employers can only afford to hire sales people they know will get the job done.

    It makes sense to me even if I don't necessarily agree with it as it is an obvious bias in hiring policy.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,934 ✭✭✭OhNoYouDidn't


    Taxipete29 wrote: »
    The GAA is protecting its product. If inter-county players have no job and have to leave the country then everyone loses out. Lets say " The Gooch" or Joe Canning have no job and leave Ireland. Both Kerry and Galway are robbed of their best players. The fans miss out on watching these fantastic players. There are two less heros for youngsters to try to emulate.

    GAA players provide entertainment for thousands of people for no financial reward. That is why there has been a certain amount of " looking after their own" when it comes to jobs for players. I say best of luck to them. They deserve it for the sacrifices they make for the game.

    Just a thought, but maybe the cash rich GAA could actually pay their players rather than getting grants from the state (rightfully pulled) or asking employers to pull a stroke for them?

    Its the same old Gah - the rules almost apply.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,531 ✭✭✭Taxipete29


    Just a thought, but maybe the cash rich GAA could actually pay their players rather than getting grants from the state (rightfully pulled) or asking employers to pull a stroke for them?

    Its the same old Gah - the rules almost apply.

    Its an amatuer sport and should always remain so. Thats the beauty of the sport. Players do it for the sport and for their club or county.

    Employers pulling what strokes????


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,460 ✭✭✭Orizio


    I've been saying it for years. The GAA is far too clicky, probably due to it's grass-roots bearing on communities. It's not just employment opportunities and business that it can manipulate either. The social aspect is just as bad in my experience

    Typical old Irish sectarianism, and overinflated senses of tradition

    Please point to the sectarianism.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,460 ✭✭✭Orizio


    Just a thought, but maybe the cash rich GAA could actually pay their players rather than getting grants from the state (rightfully pulled) or asking employers to pull a stroke for them?

    And how has paying players worked for the rugby and soccer club game in Ireland? Give players contracts and you open the road to clubs losing their very best players, like we see with the AIL, and that would be an absolute disaster. It would make little financial, or practical sense.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,460 ✭✭✭Orizio


    From one point of view, its the GPA and GAA's job to protect 'its product', but when it crosses the line and people start getting jobs ahead of better suited applicants because of their connections then its impossible to defend (although its worth pointing out that having certain well known GAA players work in a particular company can be valuable to the company's image etc, even if this person isn't the best person for the job in terms of ability).

    Unfortunately, this kind of nepotism, favouritism or low level corruption is prevelent in all societies to various degrees. Very simply, human beings favour particular people for reasons that are neither fair or just, because they are part of a particular organisation, because they are attractive, because they are friendly, because someone knew someone elses daddy back in the 70s etc. I might add that one may be unjustly showing favouritism without even consciously realising it. This kind of corruption is a problem that permeates all groups, organisations, and social levels and is impossible to eradicate, being an important part of how human beings operate, making choices upon instincts and emotions for the sake of speed and convenience.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,213 ✭✭✭✭jmayo


    I suppose they need this website now that the old reliables have hit tough times.

    No more jobs in the banks (AIB, BOI) and the guards, army have probably stopped as well, not to mention cut backs in teacher posts :rolleyes:

    It always amazed me how many army cadets had intercounty football careers :rolleyes:

    I am not allowed discuss …



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,934 ✭✭✭OhNoYouDidn't


    Taxipete29 wrote: »
    Its an amatuer sport and should always remain so. Thats the beauty of the sport. Players do it for the sport and for their club or county.

    Spare us. The GAA were happy to allow professionalism via the grant system.

    Players in every sport play for their club or country. You don't have a monopoly on player pride, despite what you tell yourselves.
    Taxipete29 wrote: »
    Employers pulling what strokes????

    Hiring a Gah player at the expense of a qualified non-Gah player.
    Orizio wrote: »
    And how has paying players worked for the rugby and soccer club game in Ireland? Give players contracts and you open the road to clubs losing their very best players, like we see with the AIL, and that would be an absolute disaster. It would make little financial, or practical sense.

    Well in rugby it has brought home four European Cups.

    Tighten up on the rule that you can only play for your county of birth. No transfers.

    This line would be all the more credible from the GAA heads if there wasn't an acceptance of professionalism via the now pulled grants system.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,460 ✭✭✭Orizio


    Spare us. The GAA were happy to allow professionalism via the grant system.

    Players in every sport play for their club or country. You don't have a monopoly on player pride, despite what you tell yourselves.



    Hiring a Gah player at the expense of a qualified non-Gah player.



    Well in rugby it has brought home three European Cups.

    Tighten up on the rule that you can only play for your county of birth. No transfers.

    This line would be all the more credible from the GAA heads if there wasn't an acceptance of professionalism via the now pulled grants system.

    Professionalism has benefited the international team, which is irrelevent to the GAA since we don't really have one, and has practially ruined the club game regarding attendances, popularity and so on. A strong club scene is essential to keeping young lads not good enough for provincial acadamies playing rugby, and in GAA, its the heart of the association. Any move that may damage the club scene has to be avoided.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,934 ✭✭✭OhNoYouDidn't


    Orizio wrote: »
    Professionalism has benefited the international team, which is irrelevent to the GAA since we don't really have one, and has practially ruined the club game regarding attendances, popularity and so on. A strong club scene is essential to keeping young lads not good enough for provincial acadamies playing rugby, and in GAA, its the heart of the association. Any move that may damage the club scene has to be avoided.

    Depends what you mean by club game. Another layer of the pyramid was inserted in terms of the Provincial clubs, and they are thriving.

    But the core point is that the recession is doing that damage for you.

    So either:

    a: Pay players their market value and keep them in Ireland

    or

    b: Don't, but stop whinging when your amateur players have to move to work like every other sports players do.

    You can't have it both ways.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,969 ✭✭✭hardCopy


    Well in rugby it has brought home three European Cups.

    4


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,531 ✭✭✭Taxipete29


    Spare us. The GAA were happy to allow professionalism via the grant system.

    Players in every sport play for their club or country. You don't have a monopoly on player pride, despite what you tell yourselves.



    Hiring a Gah player at the expense of a qualified non-Gah player.



    Well in rugby it has brought home four European Cups.

    Tighten up on the rule that you can only play for your county of birth. No transfers.

    This line would be all the more credible from the GAA heads if there wasn't an acceptance of professionalism via the now pulled grants system.

    I highlighted the above bit as I fail to see what you mean by it. I am not a player or affiliated to any club. I am just an avid supporter.

    I never said there was a monopoly on player pride, your assuming again.

    Nowhere has it been stated that players would be hired ahead of anyone.

    Amatuer boxers reciave grants and maintain amatuer status. Why cant GAA players be the same ??


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,460 ✭✭✭Orizio


    Taxipete29 wrote: »
    I highlighted the above bit as I fail to see what you mean by it. I am not a player or affiliated to any club. I am just an avid supporter.

    I never said there was a monopoly on player pride, your assuming again.

    Nowhere has it been stated that players would be hired ahead of anyone.

    Amatuer boxers reciave grants and maintain amatuer status. Why cant GAA players be the same ??

    The GAA is eeeeeeeeeeevvviiiiiiilllllllllllll!!!!!! :p

    I'm not sure who is 'whinging' as such, the reality is that paying players is an absolute no-no. So the GAA has to used other ways to protect its players, which is fine just as long as it doesn't result in unfair appointments (and it doesn't have to). What it can do is appoint certain players as coaches, or pay for their own study, work training etc.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 264 ✭✭getcover


    So an organisation that represents a group of people is going to do their best to find jobs for the people it represents. Wow, how shocking!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,934 ✭✭✭OhNoYouDidn't


    Taxipete29 wrote: »

    Nowhere has it been stated that players would be hired ahead of anyone.

    Its kind of implied in the campaign.

    Look, at one level getcover is right, the GPA are looking out for their members as is their job. But the implication is that sponsors and Gah friendly companies should take on dead wood simply because they happen to be on an intercounty cup panel. To do so would be into illegal territory on the employers part.

    You don't pay your players (legally at least) you will lose a huge amount of them in a recession. That is life. Deal with it.
    Taxipete29 wrote: »
    Amatuer boxers reciave grants and maintain amatuer status. Why cant GAA players be the same ??

    Because boxing defines amateur differently. Basically they are not fighting for a purse as opposed to earning money for being a boxer, which amateurs can do.

    My point is that the GAA's policy is that so long as the player does not get money direct from the GAA, they aren't professional. So if they can get a grant, money from a sponsor or club benefactor, no matter how much it is, thats still amateur. Thats clearly disengenious and same old same old from the Gah.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 217 ✭✭Hookey



    Tighten up on the rule that you can only play for your county of birth. No transfers.

    Pretty sure if you went professional employment law wouldn't allow that.

    This is the dilemma of all amateur sports; its incredibly difficult to keep them that way. The stupid thing here is the GPA have come out and been explicit about their approach; there's a lot to be said for being circumspect about this kind of thing (it went on for years in rugby - everyone knew about it and colluded without it being newsworthy).


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,146 ✭✭✭youcrazyjesus!


    I've been saying it for years. The GAA is far too clicky, probably due to it's grass-roots bearing on communities. It's not just employment opportunities and business that it can manipulate either. The social aspect is just as bad in my experience

    You mean teammates who've played on teams with each other for decades socialise with each other too? You're kidding me? :rolleyes:

    Nobody is excluded. Go to Australia or New York and join the local GAA club and you instantly have a social life. This is an incredibly useful outlet for all Irish citizens. All you have to do is waddle around the pitch and kick a few balls for an hour once a week in return. You make it sound sinister.

    As Tom Humphries says, "the GAA is the most effective welfare body the country has. It's like the sporting wing of the Freemasons, the drinking arm of the Mafia".

    I says this as somebody who plays for an amateur soccer team and no longer plays GAA.
    Typical old Irish sectarianism, and overinflated senses of tradition

    Please explain how this amounts to sectarianism or an an overinflated sense of tradition. I have never heard anything so nonsensical.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,146 ✭✭✭youcrazyjesus!


    Just a thought, but maybe the cash rich GAA

    They invest this money in grass roots sport in schools and communities, they provide employment. They do the work of the State in this regard. Get some perspective please. They also return millions and millions to us every year from the tax revenue generated by their activities.
    could actually pay their players rather than getting grants from the state (rightfully pulled) or asking employers to pull a stroke for them?

    The GAA don't get any grants from the State for players. It's an amateur organisation. You're confusing the GPA and the GAA. They have no relation whatsoever. The GAA aren't asking employers to pull any strokes. It's the GPA, not the "GAA". GPA. GAA.
    Its the same old Gah - the rules almost apply.

    Yet another clueless and bigotted opinion on the GAA, how tiresome.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,934 ✭✭✭OhNoYouDidn't


    They invest this money in grass roots sport in schools and communities, they provide employment. They do the work of the State in this regard. Get some perspective please. They also return millions and millions to us every year from the tax revenue generated by their activities.

    All sports do that. In fact the professional sports employ many multiples of the people the GAA do. So what?

    The difference I suppose is that other sports don't go on about it, they just get on with it.

    The GAA don't get any grants from the State for players. It's an amateur organisation. You're confusing the GPA and the GAA. They have no relation whatsoever. The GAA aren't asking employers to pull any strokes. It's the GPA, not the "GAA". GPA. GAA..

    Thats a fair point. But its worth noting the GAA have backed both GPA schemes. The GAA have no problem with players recieving payment yet still call themselves amateur organisation. Thats both sides of the mouth stuff, and the wink nudge culture of the GAA shines through in the "jobs for the lads" scheme.

    Yet another clueless and bigotted opinion on the GAA, how tiresome.

    Bigotted? How so?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,146 ✭✭✭youcrazyjesus!


    All sports do that. In fact the professional sports employ many multiples of the people the GAA do. So what?

    So what? Your comment was that the GAA is a cash rich operation. They are. My point response is this money is invested in grass roots sport, employment, equipment and so on. Your response is "so what?". I give up.
    The difference I suppose is that other sports don't go on about it, they just get on with it.

    I hope the mods will alow this one sentence in caps. WE ARE POSTING IN A DEBATE ABOUT THE GAA AND YOU ARE WHINGING ABOUT THEM. THATS WHY WERE "GOING ON" ABOUT IT.

    If whingers didn't go on bitterly about the GAA 24/7 it wouldn't need to be said. Mind your own sport.
    Thats a fair point. But its worth noting the GAA have backed both GPA schemes.

    After years of negotiation they've come to a point where in order to get the GPA out of their hair, they've agreed to the GPA's requests for certain things. The GAA want nothing to do with the GPA but are forced to deal with them. The GPA represent a tiny fraction of GAA players.
    The GAA have no problem with players recieving payment

    They very much do have a problem with players receiving payment.
    yet still call themselves amateur organisation.

    It is an amateur organisation. Players aren't paid. They've acceded to the GPA's bullying overtures to them and reluctantly agreed, as I said, so that the GPA will piss off and leave them alone to get on with their business. The tax breaks scheme also comes with a whole lot of responsibilities for the players, including community involvement in certain things. Visiting schools, handing out medals and things like that.
    Thats both sides of the mouth stuff, and the wink nudge culture of the GAA shines through in the "jobs for the lads" scheme.

    How many times? The GPA is not the GAA. GPA. GAA. GAA. GPA. They GPA are despised by, I would say, a majority of GAA people and fans.

    I've no hesitation at this point in saying you absolutely do not have the faintest idea of what the GAA do, who the GPA are and your opinion of the situation is completely myopic and uninteresting.
    Bigotted? How so?

    The opinion of you and people of your ilk is bitter, myopic, unbalanced and you tar everybody with the same brush. You don't even seem to understand that the GAA and GPA are two different organistions who have been at loggerheads since the founding of the GPA. Your opinion amounts to "all GAA people are stupid, devious people and the GAA is a sinister organisation who eat babies and steal money". I'm absolutely sick of hearing it, it's so completely unbalanced and idiotic it's unreal.

    As I say I'm a soccer player and ex-GAA player. I despise the FAI but have the ability to distinguish between the good and bad in soccer. Most GAA fans are soccer and rugby fans too. Go into any club bar in the country and they'll be watching a variety of sports.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 10,012 ✭✭✭✭thebman


    In fairness nobody invests in community facilities like the GAA.

    They invest alright but not on the same level as the GAA. Even GAA pitches in the middle of no place have flood lit pitches at this stage and proper dressing rooms and dug outs etc...

    GAA invests in rural Ireland like no other sporting organisation in this country that I can see anyway.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,934 ✭✭✭OhNoYouDidn't


    Here comes the defensive overkill from the GAA crusaders
    So what? Your comment was that the GAA is a cash rich operation. They are. My point response is this money is invested in grass roots sport, employment, equipment and so on. Your response is "so what?". I give up.

    Every sport investes in grass roots, and most manage to avoid sponging off the state to pay their players, a scheme that was thankfully shelved.

    In fact, the GAA are copying the FAI's grassroots model.

    I hope the mods will alow this one sentence in caps. WE ARE POSTING IN A DEBATE ABOUT THE GAA AND YOU ARE WHINGING ABOUT THEM. THATS WHY WERE "GOING ON" ABOUT IT.

    You brought up this grassroots work. Lets be clear, the Gah do fantastic work and are to be commended. But so do the FAI, IRFU etc.
    If whingers didn't go on bitterly about the GAA 24/7 it wouldn't need to be said. Mind your own sport.

    My sport is fine. Rovers have full houses every week, a team full of underage internationals and are all over the worlds media in advance of the kickabout with Real Madrid. At a broader level, there are more people playing football than hurling and Gaelic combined, and thats before we include 5 and 7 a side.

    After years of negotiation they've come to a point where in order to get the GPA out of their hair, they've agreed to the GPA's requests for certain things. The GAA want nothing to do with the GPA but are forced to deal with them. The GPA represent a tiny fraction of GAA players.
    They very much do have a problem with players receiving payment.
    It is an amateur organisation. Players aren't paid. They've acceded to the GPA's bullying overtures to them and reluctantly agreed, as I said, so that the GPA will piss off and leave them alone to get on with their business. The tax breaks scheme also comes with a whole lot of responsibilities for the players, including community involvement in certain things. Visiting schools, handing out medals and things like that.

    With respect, waffle. The GAA gave permission to a scheme that would have seen intercounty players recieve money based on how far they went in the inter county cup. You can't allow payments and still call yourselves amateur, its totally counterintuitave.




    How many times? The GPA is not the GAA. GPA. GAA. GAA. GPA. They GPA are despised by, I would say, a majority of GAA people and fans.

    I've no hesitation at this point in saying you absolutely do not have the faintest idea of what the GAA do, who the GPA are and your opinion of the situation is completely myopic and uninteresting.

    Again, they are the players union, representing the bulk of the GAA's elite players and have an input in GAA policy. You are protesting far too much.
    The opinion of you and people of your ilk is bitter, myopic, unbalanced and you tar everybody with the same brush. You don't even seem to understand that the GAA and GPA are two different organistions who have been at loggerheads since the founding of the GPA. Your opinion amounts to "all GAA people are stupid, devious people and the GAA is a sinister organisation who eat babies and steal money". I'm absolutely sick of hearing it, it's so completely unbalanced and idiotic it's unreal.

    Thats just an incoherent ramble.
    As I say I'm a soccer player and ex-GAA player. I despise the FAI but have the ability to distinguish between the good and bad in soccer. Most GAA fans are soccer and rugby fans too. Go into any club bar in the country and they'll be watching a variety of sports.

    Why do you even feel the need to say that?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,934 ✭✭✭OhNoYouDidn't


    thebman wrote: »
    In fairness nobody invests in community facilities like the GAA.

    They invest alright but not on the same level as the GAA. Even GAA pitches in the middle of no place have flood lit pitches at this stage and proper dressing rooms and dug outs etc...

    GAA invests in rural Ireland like no other sporting organisation in this country that I can see anyway.

    Thats probably true. But bear in mind:

    - The GAA got huge amounts of free land in the 20's and 30's from the land commission that other sports didn't.
    - The GAA is able to get bar licences with ease other sports can't
    - Up until very recently the GAA got the lions share of sports capital grants.
    - Now other sports are getting parity of funds, the GAA has organised campaigns to get to 'share' other sports facilities - Landsdowne Road, Tallaght, Abbotstown, Lusk etc.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,146 ✭✭✭youcrazyjesus!


    Every sport investes in grass roots, and most manage to avoid sponging off the state to pay their players, a scheme that was thankfully shelved.

    In fact, the GAA are copying the FAI's grassroots model.

    Grand. But I was replying to a particular point of yours. You need to understand this when replying again. "So what?" only aggravates people.
    You brought up this grassroots work. Lets be clear, the Gah do fantastic work and are to be commended. But so do the FAI, IRFU etc.

    Nobody said otherwise. I'll repeat: you said the GAA was cash rich (implying they have money fights at HQ). I'm saying they are an amateur organisation and they put their money to good use. So the point about being cash rich is irrelevant. I'd prefer them to be cash rich investing in communities than in a permanent state of semi-bankruptcy, relying on handouts like free soccer only "municipal" stadiums in order to keep their business in business.
    My sport is fine. Rovers have full houses every week, a team full of underage internationals and are all over the worlds media in advance of the kickabout with Real Madrid.

    Ah. That explains a lot.
    At a broader level, there are more people playing football than hurling and Gaelic combined, and thats before we include 5 and 7 a side.

    What does this have to do with the subject at hand? This ESRI report will be pried from your cold dead hands I imagine. The lengths you lot go too. My club is bigger than your club. We've won more than you. My dad is bigger than your dad. It's a pathetically childish viewpoint. If you include lads kicking balls on street corners and in back gardens and the numbers go way up too. While we're at it though, you could fill Shamball Rovers ground for a season with one GAA full house.
    With respect, waffle. The GAA gave permission to a scheme that would have seen intercounty players recieve money based on how far they went in the inter county cup. You can't allow payments and still call yourselves amateur, its totally counterintuitave.

    They're not allowing or sanctioning payments to players. Players are not getting paid. Just like professional soccer players and rugby players some GAA players will get tax breaks, amounting to 40 euro a week or something. They have to do community work and train professionally in return. Athletics is an amateur sport but they get grants to train. It's not a contradiction and not everybody is happy with it. Nobody is saying a GAA player getting money for sponsorship is breaking amateur rules. So it goes for the tax break scheme. Some GAA players will refuse it, along with membership of the GPA.
    Again, they are the players union, representing the bulk of the GAA's elite players and have an input in GAA policy.

    The GAA want nothing to do with them. Where they need to deal with them, solely on player welfare issues, they will. That's about it. Again, you've proved your ignorance on the GAA, policies are decided by democratic structures, certainly not the GPA. They have no input into official GPA policy. Except where GAA officials are briefed to deal with them.
    Thats just an incoherent ramble.

    Nope, you're just talking a whole lot of nonsense that needs to be put straight.

    Why do you even feel the need to say that?[/quote]

    Because I find many LOI fans to be hold an irrational, unbalanced mindset when it comes to the GAA that is only reciprocated by very few GAA fans. Almost every single GAA player I know plays 5-a-side or plays soccer informally. Every time I'm in a club they're watching soccer, rugby, even the cricket gets a run out. GAA people are worldly, they play sport and support sport, not myopic and bitter supporting only 1 tiny club, fighting each other after games. If a Dublin club was in an All-Ireland final you'd get a large degree of support from other Dublin clubs, generally. If soccer clubs had clubhouses (we barely have jerseys and play on public parks) the fans would pull the TV off the wall if the GAA was on. I can only I put it down to an inferiority complex. After all it must be gutting to watch Croke Park being filled time and time again, generating 10s of millions of euro for GAA sports year in, year out. Or maybe even getting that feeling when you get to see it yourself in a half-filled stadium when the national team players there. Then you have to go back to a half-filled tin shed watching English league cast-offs play football tennis on a sloppy pitch or even worse going to a half-built freebie stadium. Enjoy Real Madrid, you'll get to see what a real football team looks like.

    I accept any infraction for this!


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,146 ✭✭✭youcrazyjesus!


    Thats probably true. But bear in mind:

    - The GAA got huge amounts of free land in the 20's and 30's from the land commission that other sports didn't.

    So. They're still investing, purchasing, developing.
    - The GAA is able to get bar licences with ease other sports can't

    Rugby clubs have bars. Soccer clubs don't have clubhouses generally, that's what you're really saying.
    - Up until very recently the GAA got the lions share of sports capital grants.

    Because they had plans and it's money returned with interest on VAT alone, in the case of Croke Park.
    - Now other sports are getting parity of funds, the GAA has organised campaigns to get to 'share' other sports facilities - Landsdowne Road, Tallaght, Abbotstown, Lusk etc.

    They've said they're prepared to INVEST in publically owned sports facilities. Ie give money to the State to help them build publically owned sports facilities that the whole community will own equally. Very forward thinking. Unfortunately there isn't a soccer business in the country in the same position. Rugby Union and GAA clubs are fanastically well organised. Why can't soccer businesses get their act together?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,934 ✭✭✭OhNoYouDidn't


    They've said they're prepared to INVEST in publically owned sports facilities. Ie give money to the State to help them build publically owned sports facilities that the whole community will own equally. Very forward thinking. Unfortunately there isn't a soccer business in the country in the same position. Rugby Union and GAA clubs are fanastically well organised. Why can't soccer businesses get their act together?

    I'm not inclined to wade through all your posts as I really don't have time, but this needs to be challenged.

    The FAI have their act together in a way that they never have before. The FAI's first project was to increase participation and improve grassroots facilities. They did so in spectacular fashion and in 10 years have dwarfed all other sports in terms of participation levels.

    The second project was to fix the LoI, which is ongoing. In doing so, they sought and got capital grants to improve the stadia up and down the land. The GAA was not going to be caught on the hop again and formally demanded to be included in all football projects that had public funding recently. Landsdowne Road, Lusk and Abbotstown all saw GAA delegations demadning access to the facilities and in Tallaght they went to the High Court and attempted to injunct.

    AT NO POINT DID THE GAA OFFER TO HELP FUND ANY OF THESE FACILITIES. They demanded free access and the stadia redesigned at huge cost to others for them. On Tallaght they were forced to conceded that the cost of the facility would increase €15m, capacity would be slashed to 1,500 and the GAA didn't plan on using it.

    The GAA's strategy is clearly sabotage by legal or political pressure.

    So bearing in mind you have been caught in a direct lie, I'll take the rest of your posts with a large pinch of salt.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,146 ✭✭✭youcrazyjesus!


    I'm not inclined to wade through all your posts as I really don't have time, but this needs to be challenged.

    The FAI have their act together in a way that they never have before.

    LoL and LoI. The clubs are quite happy with the FAI's shambolic management of the league, aren't they? Saipan, the Staunton & Trappatoni appointment. King Midas John Delaney.
    The second project was to fix the LoI, which is ongoing.

    They're doing a smashing job.
    In doing so, they sought and got capital grants to improve the stadia up and down the land.

    Lol. Their solution is to beg from State handouts?
    The GAA was not going to be caught on the hop again and formally demanded to be included in all football projects that had public funding recently. Landsdowne Road, Lusk and Abbotstown all saw GAA delegations demadning access to the facilities and in Tallaght they went to the High Court and attempted to injunct.

    The GAA never demanded access to Lansdowne Road. Not sure where you got that gem from and it was the Government who ASKED the GAA to commit big games to the stadium there, in order to make it viable and the GAA agreed iirc to commit full house type games per year. Not the other way around. Get your facts straight before making claims.

    As for GAA investing in public facilities, I said "They've said they're prepared to INVEST in publically owned sports facilities", which is true and that's a matter of public record. Unfortunately they were badly burned by the Tallaght fiasco, John O'Donoghoe destroyed a lot of trust. It could very easily have derailed the Croke Park issue.

    The GAA are victims of their own success in that there is a perception that they're well catered for but it's not reason to exclude them from municipal facilities, making them soccer only. The GAA can and will fund publically owned facilities IF it's done right. It's good the GAA can fund things, if it was left to the likes of the Shambles Rovers shower to invest in their own facilities we'd still be in Dalymount watching international games. Luckily the Government is ready to put something into soccer's begging bowl.
    AT NO POINT DID THE GAA OFFER TO HELP FUND ANY OF THESE FACILITIES.

    You've named Lansdowne Road. Not sure where you're getting that from. The GAA were never ever going to be involved in it. So you're very wrong on that one. Abbotstown was ALWAYS going to involve ALL major sports. As for Lusk, it's only right that the GAA AND rugby should be involved too.
    It's good that the GAA is getting a look in in Lusk. If soccer bigots had their way the only sport that would be played in the country would be soccer. Local authorities should include all sports in sports infrastructure projects, not just soccer, despite what you and your ilk want.

    It also was the wish of the democratically elected South Dublin County Council that the Tallaght stadium be multi-sport (including, I would say, rugby). John O'Donoghoe stepped in to change this to give it exclusively to a soccer business. Therein the problem lies.

    On the Tallaght issue, the final word I'll leave as this:

    “However, we must address the perception among our members that we are not benefiting in an equitable manner from growing local authority investment in sport facilities. Tallaght is the most serious example of a lost opportunity to develop multi-sport participation in a publicly-funded facility.
    The implications of that decision remain a huge bone of contention within the GAA, and not just for the Thomas Davis club and the other GAA clubs in the Tallaght area. We have never received an adequate explanation as to why the wishes of the elected members of South Dublin County Council to develop a genuine multi-sport venue, specifically accommodating Gaelic games and soccer, were denied by the then Minister for Sport."


    The GAA's strategy is clearly sabotage by legal or political pressure.

    Yeah. They sabotaged soccer and rugby didn't they with the Croke Park thing.
    So bearing in mind you have been caught in a direct lie, I'll take the rest of your posts with a large pinch of salt.

    Please point out precisely what my "direct lie" was. My post was so emphatic there's no need to reply to the rest of it.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,531 ✭✭✭Taxipete29


    The GAA are streets ahead of the FAI with their organisation and ability to pull whole communities together. Soccer participation may be ahead of GAA ( would like to see figures to support this though) But I would say that has more to do with the general popularity of the sport, through the premiership and champions league and less to do with the FAI themselves.

    Alot of people here just seem to want to bash the GAA which I cant understand. Ok it may seem ridiculous to some they dont pay players but get over it, its an amateur sport and most people are happy for it to continue that way. Can you imagine the cost of a ticket for a Dubs game if the players were being paid??

    While I am not the biggest fan of the GAA themselves, they have a right to protect their product and help keep their players employed.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,922 ✭✭✭Terrontress


    taxipete. If you read the posts above, it apparently is not the GAA but the GPA trying to get their people jobs ahead of others.

    And by the way, I have never got a job through a nudge and a wink or favouritism of any kind.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,366 ✭✭✭IIMII


    Well in rugby it has brought home four European Cups.
    Lol :D. So what? There is really only 4 countries in the competition. And in fairness rugby is a minority sport on this island compared to the GAA.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,934 ✭✭✭OhNoYouDidn't


    LoL and LoI. The clubs are quite happy with the FAI's shambolic management of the league, aren't they? Saipan, the Staunton & Trappatoni appointment. King Midas John Delaney.



    They're doing a smashing job.



    Lol. Their solution is to beg from State handouts?



    The GAA never demanded access to Lansdowne Road. Not sure where you got that gem from and it was the Government who ASKED the GAA to commit big games to the stadium there, in order to make it viable and the GAA agreed iirc to commit full house type games per year. Not the other way around. Get your facts straight before making claims.

    As for GAA investing in public facilities, I said "They've said they're prepared to INVEST in publically owned sports facilities", which is true and that's a matter of public record. Unfortunately they were badly burned by the Tallaght fiasco, John O'Donoghoe destroyed a lot of trust. It could very easily have derailed the Croke Park issue.

    The GAA are victims of their own success in that there is a perception that they're well catered for but it's not reason to exclude them from municipal facilities, making them soccer only. The GAA can and will fund publically owned facilities IF it's done right. It's good the GAA can fund things, if it was left to the likes of the Shambles Rovers shower to invest in their own facilities we'd still be in Dalymount watching international games. Luckily the Government is ready to put something into soccer's begging bowl.



    You've named Lansdowne Road. Not sure where you're getting that from. The GAA were never ever going to be involved in it. So you're very wrong on that one. Abbotstown was ALWAYS going to involve ALL major sports. As for Lusk, it's only right that the GAA AND rugby should be involved too.
    It's good that the GAA is getting a look in in Lusk. If soccer bigots had their way the only sport that would be played in the country would be soccer. Local authorities should include all sports in sports infrastructure projects, not just soccer, despite what you and your ilk want.

    It also was the wish of the democratically elected South Dublin County Council that the Tallaght stadium be multi-sport (including, I would say, rugby). John O'Donoghoe stepped in to change this to give it exclusively to a soccer business. Therein the problem lies.

    On the Tallaght issue, the final word I'll leave as this:

    “However, we must address the perception among our members that we are not benefiting in an equitable manner from growing local authority investment in sport facilities. Tallaght is the most serious example of a lost opportunity to develop multi-sport participation in a publicly-funded facility.
    The implications of that decision remain a huge bone of contention within the GAA, and not just for the Thomas Davis club and the other GAA clubs in the Tallaght area. We have never received an adequate explanation as to why the wishes of the elected members of South Dublin County Council to develop a genuine multi-sport venue, specifically accommodating Gaelic games and soccer, were denied by the then Minister for Sport."





    Yeah. They sabotaged soccer and rugby didn't they with the Croke Park thing.



    Please point out precisely what my "direct lie" was. My post was so emphatic there's no need to reply to the rest of it.

    What a load of self serving tosh. In fact, that gets marked down under crude propaganda. Soccer bigots? Do me a favour.

    The GAA still get more than 60% of Capital Grants despite being a minority sport with less than 30% of team sport participation. And you have the arrogance to accuse football of 'begging'? Unreal.

    Find me the 'public record' where the Gah offered to 'invest' in any of the four named projects that they tried to muscle in on please.

    Here is the Gah trying to get in on LR.

    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article696512.ece

    Tallaght has been done to death, suffice to say the Judge called the GAA position vexatious and malicious.

    The FAI have worked hard to get the Lusk project up and running. They link in with local government and get a much needed project going for the local communityand then the Gah come in crying like girls that they aren't involved AFTER the planning consultation period. If they wanted in, why not do it in a spirit of partnership rather than aggression?This after the local club got a huge wedge. What right have the GAA to play on football pitches by the way?

    Its very simple. If the Gah want to share facilities with other sports, drop rule 42. All you are trying to do is keep your facilities to yourselves and insist on using other sports grounds.

    Like the GPA position here, its entirely illogical and pure stroke play. The GAA as an organisation lives in a grey area of winks, nudges and cute hoorism. It was a necesasry evil at one stage, but like the politicians and church, its time they simply moved on.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,146 ✭✭✭youcrazyjesus!


    The GAA still get more than 60% of Capital Grants despite being a minority sport with less than 30% of team sport participation. And you have the arrogance to accuse football of 'begging'? Unreal.

    At least the GAA (and probably 9/10 other sporting organisations) will get value out of every cent, the FAI will spend it on a non-existent stadium or a lose a few hundred thousand to Jimmy the Greek and his tickets. I must read that ESRI report. Horse racing gets alot of money. It doesn't have that many participants. It's not the issue. The GAA is a cultural and community organisation as well as a sporting one. A few fat lads, like myself, kicking the ball around a public pitch is a soccer team but we're not a club or a community. We don't deserve any money. A small GAA club does. I'm not too interested in the politics and stats of sports. Lots of people play lots of sports and that's great. My favourite sports are cricket, rugby union, football, soccer and hurling. I don't place one above the other. They're exciting and good in their own way with brilliant hard working people and organisations running them. Except for the FAI. The GAA has 800,000 members by the way, that's in the ESRI report too.

    Here are some more stats, I think from the 2005 report:

    Participation rates among male adults-
    Soccer 13%
    Gaelic football 8%
    Hurling 5%
    5 a side soccer 4%
    Golf 17%
    Rugby- not even in top 15 which means less than 2%

    Attendance at sports by adults:
    Football 34%
    Hurling 23%
    Soccer 16%
    Rugby 8%

    Participation on a club team by secondary schoolchildren (boys)
    Soccer 31%
    Gaelic football 29%
    Hurling 18%
    Rugby 8%

    Participation on a club team by primary schoolchildren (boys)
    Soccer 40%
    Gaelic football 37%
    Hurling 24%
    Rugby 15%

    Club members as percentage of population (male)
    Gaelic football 13%
    Hurling 4%
    Soccer 6%

    Volunteering (male adult)
    Gaelic football 24%
    Soccer 22%
    Hurling 19%
    Camogie 3%
    Rugby 3%
    Find me the 'public record' where the Gah offered to 'invest' in any of the four named projects that they tried to muscle in on please.

    I said they're prepared to invest in future plans, I'm trying to find Padraic Duffy's statement on it. Abbotstown - always multi sport, they never tried to muscle in on anything. Lansdowne - was a promise made to the GAA and tied into the Abbotstown thing.

    It also runs contrary to what the government promised in 2004, when it abandoned the idea of building the Bertie Bowl at Abbotstown, in which the GAA had promised to hold key fixtures. The government said the new 50,000-seater Lansdowne Road would be able to host GAA games.
    “When the Lansdowne Road project was announced, it was stated quite clearly that the project would be designed for Gaelic games,” said Danny Lynch, a GAA spokesman. “We said there were matches and events that Croke Park was just too big for and that Parnell Park is too small for.”


    Lusk and Tallaght are council facilities, as I've said they should be available to all sports played in the community, not soccer only grounds. Which stupid and a criminal waste of taxpayers money.

    Fair enough but it's another example of the GAA being given a bum deal. They were promised one thing and it wasn't followed through on. If the GAA promised the use of Croke Park following the completion of Lansdowne and reneged on it I can only imagine what the reaction would be.
    Tallaght has been done to death, suffice to say the Judge called the GAA position vexatious and malicious.

    The judge was wrong imo.
    The FAI have worked hard to get the Lusk project up and running. They link in with local government and get a much needed project going for the local communityand then the Gah come in crying like girls that they aren't involved AFTER the planning consultation period. If they wanted in, why not do it in a spirit of partnership rather than aggression?This after the local club got a huge wedge. What right have the GAA to play on football pitches by the way?

    All the GAA want is to be included, not at the expense of others sports, as soccer supporters wish, but alongside them.
    Its very simple. If the Gah want to share facilities with other sports, drop rule 42. All you are trying to do is keep your facilities to yourselves and insist on using other sports grounds.

    Unfortunately you'd couldn't trust a lot of LOI supporters in GAA grounds. I honestly believe they'd take out their hatred with criminal damage. As for rule 42, club grounds and county grounds are owned locally. Even if Rule 42 was removed tomorrow most clubs and counties would not be in a position to offer the use of their grounds for anything other than 1 off events and certainly not habitual use from other sports, professional soccer businesses would be laughed out of it if they tried to turn a profit off the back of the local club's ground, quite rightly. Most clubs have dozens of people at least who have put in a life's work developing top quality facilities, they're not just going to open the door to their facilities which in all probability are overused as it is.

    The GAA's position is simple: where the State is investing in expensive "community" facilities each sport played in that community should represented. They said they're prepared to invest in these facilities with the Government of the day. The GAA has made big strides forward in recent years. Saving the bacon of the FAI (I'll excuse the IRFU as they run a tight ship) by opening up Croke Park. There is absolutely no reason that soccer, rugby and GAA should be not be represented in new facilities.
    Like the GPA position here, its entirely illogical and pure stroke play. The GAA as an organisation lives in a grey area of winks, nudges and cute hoorism. It was a necesasry evil at one stage, but like the politicians and church, its time they simply moved on.

    The GAA has moved on with the times and is a very progressive organisation. Croke Park for example. Rule 21 is another. Not sure what you're talking about with winks, nudges and cute hoorism. That's just drivel.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,934 ✭✭✭OhNoYouDidn't


    So to sum up your position.

    -The FAI are useless despite quadroupling playing numbers in 10 years.

    -The GAA are magic despite a decrease in playing numbers in the same timeframe.

    -The GAA are entitled to bar other sports from their grounds, but other sports have a legal and moral obligation to share. In fact, other sports facilities must be amended to incorporate a bigger pitch at no cost to the GAA.

    -"Council Facilities" (do you include golf courses and swimming pools?) must be made available to the GAA, but GAA pitches on council land (such as Pairc Ui Caoimh) are not to be made available to other sports.

    - GAA facilites are not to be shared with football fans as we would only wreck them (like we do with Croker?!?)

    - GAA facilities are not to be shared because of all the hard work put in by the GAA (true) but football ones should be because they appear by magic.

    The sad fact of the matter, is you probably believe the above to be a resonable position.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,531 ✭✭✭Taxipete29


    taxipete. If you read the posts above, it apparently is not the GAA but the GPA trying to get their people jobs ahead of others.

    And by the way, I have never got a job through a nudge and a wink or favouritism of any kind.

    I know, but its the GAA who are being bashed. The principle remains the same

    I never got a job through favourtism either, but I did get my feet inside a few doors because I knew the right people. I will make no apologies for this and would do it again in a flash. Do you think anyone on the dole would care if they got a job through favourtism?? I think not


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,146 ✭✭✭youcrazyjesus!


    So to sum up your position.

    -The FAI are useless despite quadroupling playing numbers in 10 years.

    The FAI are useless.
    -The GAA are magic despite a decrease in playing numbers in the same timeframe.

    They are a fantastic organisation, forward thinking and the game has never been healthier or richer. Shambles Rovers rely on charity. The GAA dispute some of the ESRI report findings.
    -The GAA are entitled to bar other sports from their grounds, but other sports have a legal and moral obligation to share. In fact, other sports facilities must be amended to incorporate a bigger pitch at no cost to the GAA.

    Wrong again. Other sports don't have a moral obligation to share, however the Government and councils have a duty to ensure that when large amounts of scarce taxpayers money is being spent on new public facilities all sports in the area should be able to use them, despite soccer bigots wanting "soccer only". Also the rabble in Tallaght were gifted that ground, it wasn't, nor isn't under their ownership. South Dublin badly needs a GAA stadium to host big games. The democratically elected council members agreed after being reminded of this fact, enter stage left a clown who ruined it for everybody.
    -"Council Facilities" (do you include golf courses and swimming pools?) must be made available to the GAA, but GAA pitches on council land (such as Pairc Ui Caoimh) are not to be made available to other sports.

    Council pitches are under countil control, GAA clubs are often told not to use them if the weather is bad. The GAA have nothing to do with ownership or control of them. I'm at a loss as to how the GAA could hold games on a golf course or in a swimming pool. It's an interesting concept. The point is about investing millions and millions in massive new facilities in areas which badly need them, then depriving a large part of the community use of these facilities, in the process adhering to the wishes of fundamentalist soccer bigots.
    - GAA facilites are not to be shared with football fans as we would only wreck them (like we do with Croker?!?)

    LOI fans are notorious for violence and rioting, I honestly wouldn't trust them in somewhere like Parnell Park. Get too many in the one place at the same time and there could be serious damage and violence. It's not that point probably, I know a lot of absolutely decent LOI supporters and they're in the majority but the league does have it's fair share of troublemakers. The international games bring a different crowd and a larger security operation.
    - GAA facilities are not to be shared because of all the hard work put in by the GAA (true) but football ones should be because they appear by magic.

    I think my point was very clear. GAA clubs don't allow their own teams play on them during the winter when the weather is bad, the facilities only allow for a certain amount of usage.

    I've made all the points that are going to be made.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,934 ✭✭✭OhNoYouDidn't


    What a load of chip on shoulder bigotted garbage. Total propaganda from the Jones Road bunker. Loving the Millwall-esque hyperbole too.

    One point of fact.

    What have the Dublin County Board done with the 24 acres the SDCC gave them in Rathcoole 15 years ago? You being such a zealot when it comes to the use of scarce public resources should be up in arms about it?

    Or is it somehow different when the Council do deals with the GAA?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,146 ✭✭✭youcrazyjesus!


    One point of fact.

    What have the Dublin County Board done with the 24 acres the SDCC gave them in Rathcoole 15 years ago? You being such a zealot when it comes to the use of scarce public resources should be up in arms about it?

    Or is it somehow different when the Council do deals with the GAA?

    Seeing as we're talking facts it should be noted Dublin GAA bought that land. They weren't given it. They can do what they like with the property they bought. They've done SFA so far but the use of the lands is dependent on certain roads being built. Not sure what the latest is with it but whenever it is built it will be a large complex and a base for Dublin county teams. It won't be just a stadium. I can't imagine the mood for handing over the land they bought for soccer is high on the agenda after the Tallaght fiasco.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,934 ✭✭✭OhNoYouDidn't


    Seeing as we're talking facts it should be noted Dublin GAA bought that land. They weren't given it. They can do what they like with the property they bought. They've done SFA so far but the use of the lands is dependent on certain roads being built. Not sure what the latest is with it but whenever it is built it will be a large complex and a base for Dublin county teams. It won't be just a stadium. I can't imagine the mood for handing over the land they bought for soccer is high on the agenda after the Tallaght fiasco.

    Come on. They bought the land for €1 an acre - the same deal Rovers got.

    But to clarify, I don't claim that land for football. Its your land as you say. I would just appreciate the same respect from the GAA for our proprty rights.

    But the point remains, that land was handed over to the GAA at the same time Rovers got land in Tallaght. If Rovers doing a deal with the council is criminal and assorted other hyperbole, why is the GAA sitting on land that it was given to do something for the community an outrage?

    Unless, wait for it, you are a hypocrite?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,146 ✭✭✭youcrazyjesus!


    But the point remains, that land was handed over to the GAA at the same time Rovers got land in Tallaght. If Rovers doing a deal with the council is criminal and assorted other hyperbole, why is the GAA sitting on land that it was given to do something for the community an outrage?

    It's not sitting on it, it's waiting on SDCC to develop access roads and has been for some time. The fact is the Tallaght stadium was being built and the GAA ouldn't have duplicated the stadium with it's own in Rathcoole if it had access to Tallaght. Also, building a stadium on public land is not the same as giving land to an organisation for them to develop a stadium on it themselves. Tallaght needed no money from the FAI afaik. Rathcoole will be funded by the GAA with some capital grants from the Government. If the stadium part is going ahead, I'm not sure what exactly is planned at the minute or what the timescale is, I know it will be a center of excellence for training county teams but not sure what the situation is with the stadium. The Parnell deal is a factor as the current economic climate and Government funding may not be available now.

    If the SDCC was building a municipal stadium in Tallaght and excluding soccer and rugby I'd be quite bemused by it. It's nonsensical.


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