(Oldest Posts First)
I know over the festive period people have their thoughts elsewhere. Last Sunday Joe Brolly wrote an article and proved yet again he is a man of deep integrity and someone I respect enormously. I don't know if many people have read the article but have a look and discuss. I think it raises a lot of moral questions amongst gaa members and the gaa in general , in what role it could and possibly should play in the homeless crisis. https://m.independent.ie/sport/columnists/joe-brolly/joe-brolly-the-gaa-could-do-so-much-more-to-help-the-marginalised-in-our-society-36434276.html shaggylegend (Monaghan) - Posts: 1923 - 30/12/2017 09:59:29 2066222 Link 0 |
"The GAA has huge...political clout. We do not wield any of it", he says. PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 1898 - 30/12/2017 12:30:30 2066243 Link 0 |
Joe is a decent man. And more crack sober than most people are drunk. He's right that the GAA underuses its social and political clout. However, if the GAA went down that road, it'd face problems as, while GAA people tend to care more than many about communities etc, there are the same mix of right and left wingers in the GAA as anywhere else and there'd be serious disagreements about actual policy. Fine Gaelers for instance would block a state-run house building policy, while plenty others would be for it. essmac (Tyrone) - Posts: 1141 - 30/12/2017 12:54:38 2066248 Link 0 |
the GAA should stick to promoting and developing our games manfromdelmonte (UK) - Posts: 541 - 30/12/2017 13:24:30 2066254 Link 0 |
The GAA should stay out of politics as much as possible. It's obvious Joe is a good man. I am not sure what clubs can do for the homeless...many clubs are barely surviving as it is and relying on local fundraising to stay afloat. yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11219 - 30/12/2017 18:30:29 2066294 Link 0 |
Well said.
Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 30/12/2017 18:56:51 2066298 Link 0 |
I believe Joe is saying the gaa should be putting pressure on politicians. At a lot of GAA members across the county are struggling financially and struggling with poverty. How many of the young gaels within your own club will never have an opportunity to buy a house? I know people within my own club who are struggling with rising rents, how many kids that are playing underage for clubs that are currently housed in hotels? shaggylegend (Monaghan) - Posts: 1923 - 30/12/2017 19:49:40 2066305 Link 0 |
I believe Joe is saying the gaa should be putting pressure on politicians. At a lot of GAA members across the county are struggling financially and struggling with poverty. How many of the young gaels within your own club will never have an opportunity to buy a house? I know people within my own club who are struggling with rising rents, how many kids that are playing underage for clubs that are currently housed in hotels? ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 31/12/2017 13:39:25 2066362 Link 0 |
I disagree with your comment and add that if you want to get something done the last thing you should do is join a political party. If you want something done the best way is to organise and proceed to do it without playing politics. Some of the best people in the country for getting things done are within clubs. Selling all our housing stock to vulture funds (who proceed to put families out of homes) is not the way forward and never will be. Bad decisions by politicians has cost this country dearly.
browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2340 - 31/12/2017 14:12:31 2066364 Link 1 |
The politicians don't seem to want to keep sport and politics separate and are stuck in every photo opportunity they can get their faces in. catch22 (USA) - Posts: 2148 - 31/12/2017 14:37:19 2066368 Link 0 |
I agree I was in Kiltyclogher over christmas in North Leitrim, near Rossinver and Glenfarne. Before Christmas the locals banded together and launch an appeal to bring in people/families to the area. 9 families have now resettled and they have a waiting list. What does this mean? it means the local school register has gone from 10 pupils to 27 and more to come, the local club will have players, there is adults in the community bringing business and skills. The local club is at the heart of this effort, this is the way forward for a lot rural areas. The point is there is not a politician in sight, politicians are simpletons and beyond creative thinking, do it yourself if you want something done.
arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4892 - 31/12/2017 15:41:42 2066378 Link 0 |