National Forum

Time To Stand Up To GAA

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The GAA is a great organization in many ways. A smart organization that despite the claim that its power is in the rank and file who support it through a democratic process. Nothing could be further from the truth. It might have been one time. The power is at the top with high paying jobs on the back of amateur players who without their participation there would be no need for those jobs. These executives have a vested interest in maintaining the amateur ethos. These executives do not have to go to work with a sore angle, knee, broken finger or stitches over their eye. Some gig you think?
However I believe the line is starting to be hauled in. This is a good thread and a justifiable one. Nothing ever change until people complain and defy the injustices.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2660 - 22/07/2018 19:45:20    2124825

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Replying To Onion Breath:  "
Replying To PaudieSull1:  "[quote=Mfs:  "People can give out all they like but the GAA wont listen. The only language they understand is €€€€€.

I dont expect anybody not to go and and support their county as a result of what has happened this week.

However would it be possible to get a campaign going this weekend NOT TO BUY ANY MATCH PROGRAMME OR ANY FOOD OR DRINK FROM THE GAA. I know it would be short notice but if they were told in advance it was going to happen they simply wouldnt buy in as much supplies or print as many programmes so short notice would hurt more.

Food or drink can be bought anywhere else and team sheets can be printed off or got online."
Why should we hit the funding of our facilities up and down the country???? What are we 'standing' up to?? Any chance someone might pose the question to the multi million FAI organisation as to why it is such as shambles to not even have a 15000 capacity stadium in the country's second city........."
Surprised that someone from Northern Ireland would regard Cork as the country's second city.

Otherwise, that was a really cheap shot. Grow up, and tell your unionist pals to do the same."]Northern Ireland, where exactly is that? Are you talking about Donegal or where, I regard cork city as the second city on this island just cause the British and unionists tried define Belfast as the 'capital' of their failed statelet doesn't mean we all have to do the same......I guess some people would say Belfast is Irelands 2nd city, on a personal level don't agree with that but it certainly wasn't me making any political point as anyone who knows me would know the hue of my politics and it certainly isn't blue........the point is the inability of the FAI to build a decent stadium in cork and indeed their pathetic efforts in general in squandering millions of pounds........

PaudieSull1 (Down) - Posts: 738 - 22/07/2018 20:38:25    2124847

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Hot air post of the year , populist sensationalism to the core , change happens from within , rant and rave on HoganStand but I will eat my right arm if it turns out original poster has ever brought a motion to his club executive, keyboards never tire of warriors

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 22/07/2018 20:56:17    2124861

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Replying To ulsterrules:  "I am GAA through and through but there is nothing wrong in his post , decisions are about bottom line and nothing else in the GAA. Grass routes fend for themselves and the club player sits on his hands as games are cancelled to suit the intercounty game . the money is papering over alot of cracks in the GAA in my view."
I agree.

There is a growing disconnect between the ordinary club man down the country and executives at the top table and the chasm is getting wider.

I think realmchange will only happen through the likes of the cpa and gpa if they decide to grow a pair, then they hold real power.

A quick view at my own county and you will see a disconnect, games being concede at an epidemic rate at all levels most notably underage. The emphasis at the top is to fill Croke Park as gotten as possible and everything else doesn't matter meanwhile they stumble from one pr disaster into another.

Grassroots is getting disenfranchised which is why we have seen the cpa come into being but if course croke Park hq treated then with utter distain, the gpa ho,d the real power but seem happy to just cost up gettin the few bin from croke park

tearintom (Wexford) - Posts: 1338 - 22/07/2018 21:15:41    2124873

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Replying To PaudieSull1:  "
Replying To Onion Breath:  "[quote=PaudieSull1:  "[quote=Mfs:  "People can give out all they like but the GAA wont listen. The only language they understand is €€€€€.

I dont expect anybody not to go and and support their county as a result of what has happened this week.

However would it be possible to get a campaign going this weekend NOT TO BUY ANY MATCH PROGRAMME OR ANY FOOD OR DRINK FROM THE GAA. I know it would be short notice but if they were told in advance it was going to happen they simply wouldnt buy in as much supplies or print as many programmes so short notice would hurt more.

Food or drink can be bought anywhere else and team sheets can be printed off or got online."
Why should we hit the funding of our facilities up and down the country???? What are we 'standing' up to?? Any chance someone might pose the question to the multi million FAI organisation as to why it is such as shambles to not even have a 15000 capacity stadium in the country's second city........."
Surprised that someone from Northern Ireland would regard Cork as the country's second city.

Otherwise, that was a really cheap shot. Grow up, and tell your unionist pals to do the same."]Northern Ireland, where exactly is that? Are you talking about Donegal or where, I regard cork city as the second city on this island just cause the British and unionists tried define Belfast as the 'capital' of their failed statelet doesn't mean we all have to do the same......I guess some people would say Belfast is Irelands 2nd city, on a personal level don't agree with that but it certainly wasn't me making any political point as anyone who knows me would know the hue of my politics and it certainly isn't blue........the point is the inability of the FAI to build a decent stadium in cork and indeed their pathetic efforts in general in squandering millions of pounds........"]Not that it has anything to do with Pairc Ui Chaoimh but why would the FAI build a decent stadium in Cork? They don't even own the Aviva. A soccer stadium in Cork would be a whiter elephant than the Bertie bowl. Fair point about them squandering millions and who knows where their money really goes? They seem happy enough to take ex-League of Ireland players for national teams while shamefully neglecting the League of Ireland.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7346 - 22/07/2018 22:19:06    2124911

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Replying To riverboys:  "GAA scored 3 own goals this season so far,
1 The farce with Kildare over Newbridge venue
2 The charity soccer match to be played at a 7000 capacity in Cork while Pair Ui Caoimh lies empty, the debate over national council having to pass this is rubbish, it was Government funding that built it and is belong to every irish citizen and is up to us to allow a charity match to be played not the old farts in Croker calling the shots
3 25 euro for a double header knockout quarter finals in Croke Park with the old system, this new media driven plan costs supporters over 75 euro for the 3 games which are pointless matches, go back to the old knockout quarter finals. Grab All Association GAA is a perfectly named organization, why didn't they give the option of buying a ticket which covers all 3 games for 30 euro, at least that way you get some value, but then again all the GAA care about is MONEY!!!
Money Money Money must be funny in a rich mans world. The Croke Park mafia are at it again, flashy cars, designer suits and hats, cigars, plenty of booze, entourage, etc"
An observation, Kildare / Mayo game in St. Conleths park was 20 euros with concessions, programmes were 3 euros.
Kildare / Galway game a couple of weeks later was 25 euros with no consessions, programmes were 5 euros. Talking about money grabbing.

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 2907 - 22/07/2018 22:29:47    2124918

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It's very difficult to understand calls to 'hit em where it hurts' when, in fact, ALL revenues generated by the GAA are funneled back into the association.

Diminishing income would simply have the affect of diminishing funding to clubs, counties, players and the organization as a whole.

The GAA is very, very transparent on this. Have a read, for example, of the 2016 accounts summary:

http://www.gaa.ie/news/gaa-annual-accounts-for-2016-published/

Rather than calling for public outcry, maybe energies would be better focused of getting involved at club or county level and tackling perceived problems from the inside.

TearsIn85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 194 - 22/07/2018 23:22:04    2124937

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plenty of the food stalls are sub-contracted so you are only hitting john and mary trying to make a few quid.this might not be the case in croke park,but i am sure they are contracted there too albeit to a bigger franchise.
i never buy a programme any more,get the teams off twitter.
i am with Damothedub overall,we've become a society of outrage on twitter,great at organising protests,and the same people wouldnt go to the club agm or get any motions on the floor at their county convention let alone take on a role of secretary or treasurer in their club.

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 23/07/2018 08:36:42    2124965

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Croke Park have offered the FAI the use of their conference facilities to organise their charity match as well as offered to host a charity hurling match at PUiC to assist the Miller family.

The larger question is what the FAI do with their resources. Scandelous how there aren't 15k seater stadia in Cork and Athlone

The_DOC (Galway) - Posts: 708 - 23/07/2018 08:47:08    2124969

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Replying To The_DOC:  "Croke Park have offered the FAI the use of their conference facilities to organise their charity match as well as offered to host a charity hurling match at PUiC to assist the Miller family.

The larger question is what the FAI do with their resources. Scandelous how there aren't 15k seater stadia in Cork and Athlone"
Scandalous? How often would a 15K soccer stadium in Athlone or Cork be filled for a soccer match?

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7346 - 23/07/2018 09:54:18    2125007

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Replying To The_DOC:  "Croke Park have offered the FAI the use of their conference facilities to organise their charity match as well as offered to host a charity hurling match at PUiC to assist the Miller family.

The larger question is what the FAI do with their resources. Scandelous how there aren't 15k seater stadia in Cork and Athlone"
The FAI are a joke of an organisation and ask anyone in YBIG for example and they'll tell you the nightmare they are to deal with and how they shaft their own fans. But it's not trendy to highlight this, I think Delaney must have friends in high places at this stage because the man is untouchable in spite of being in charge of the organisation for the past 20 years or whatever it is and running a farcical set up. There are great people in the grass roots in Irish soccer, I wish journalists would do more to highlight the farce in the FAI, I've only ever seen Dan McDonnell in the Indo really go at them.

In terms of the GAA there is no doubt they have been drifting from their core values in recent years. Obviously all revenue is funnelled back into the game which is excellent but some of the top level decisions aren't in tune with the ordinary GAA member. It started with the Sky deal and you are seeing hints of that attitude this summer with other decisions. At the end of the day the GAA are a community organisation and regardless of whether the FAI have messed up with their own facilities, hosting this event for Liam Miller is in tune with everything the GAA stands for in my opinion. They seem to have forgotten that.

JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 23/07/2018 10:19:56    2125019

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a gaa club in wexford chairman wrote the below letter to croke park.

https://www.facebook.com/Monageerboolavoguegaaclub2015/posts/962174637320604

says it all.

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 23/07/2018 10:48:25    2125036

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Replying To JoeSoap:  "The FAI are a joke of an organisation and ask anyone in YBIG for example and they'll tell you the nightmare they are to deal with and how they shaft their own fans. But it's not trendy to highlight this, I think Delaney must have friends in high places at this stage because the man is untouchable in spite of being in charge of the organisation for the past 20 years or whatever it is and running a farcical set up. There are great people in the grass roots in Irish soccer, I wish journalists would do more to highlight the farce in the FAI, I've only ever seen Dan McDonnell in the Indo really go at them.

In terms of the GAA there is no doubt they have been drifting from their core values in recent years. Obviously all revenue is funnelled back into the game which is excellent but some of the top level decisions aren't in tune with the ordinary GAA member. It started with the Sky deal and you are seeing hints of that attitude this summer with other decisions. At the end of the day the GAA are a community organisation and regardless of whether the FAI have messed up with their own facilities, hosting this event for Liam Miller is in tune with everything the GAA stands for in my opinion. They seem to have forgotten that."
Who cares about the FAI. You are off on a tangent that has nothing to do do with doing the right thing. You are also incorrect in saying the "GAA" as per say are a community organization. The clubs that play football and hurling in the different areas are community organizations. The "GAA" as we see in terms of the leadership is now about money, power and well paying jobs for some. Yes they invest money back in to clubs but also put out their hand for tax payers money. I am sure tax payers in Liam Miller's community contributed to PUC. Disgusting behaviour from an organization out of control and interrupting their own rules differently as seen fit. This has been displayed so often this year it is sickening.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2660 - 23/07/2018 14:33:07    2125228

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Replying To The_DOC:  "Croke Park have offered the FAI the use of their conference facilities to organise their charity match as well as offered to host a charity hurling match at PUiC to assist the Miller family.

The larger question is what the FAI do with their resources. Scandelous how there aren't 15k seater stadia in Cork and Athlone"
No the larger question is how can a section of Pairc Ui Chaoimh (ie the conference facilities) be deemed ok to be used for this event or not contravening the aims and obectives of the association yet a different part of the same building (ie the stadium, pitch etc) not be deemed to be ok??

Is it ok to have a conference or meeting but not ok to have a game?

Its just another example of how the association is being run on an ad hoc make it up as we go along basis.

What do people think is going to happen in a negative way if a charity game of soccer happens in PUC?

tearintom (Wexford) - Posts: 1338 - 23/07/2018 14:36:57    2125233

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Replying To Canuck:  "Who cares about the FAI. You are off on a tangent that has nothing to do do with doing the right thing. You are also incorrect in saying the "GAA" as per say are a community organization. The clubs that play football and hurling in the different areas are community organizations. The "GAA" as we see in terms of the leadership is now about money, power and well paying jobs for some. Yes they invest money back in to clubs but also put out their hand for tax payers money. I am sure tax payers in Liam Miller's community contributed to PUC. Disgusting behaviour from an organization out of control and interrupting their own rules differently as seen fit. This has been displayed so often this year it is sickening."
I was replying to somebody who mentioned the FAI. And the GAA are a community organisation but they have been moving away from those values which I stated. We're in agreement so I don't know why you took issue with my post.

JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 23/07/2018 14:44:19    2125238

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Replying To GreenandRed:  "Scandalous? How often would a 15K soccer stadium in Athlone or Cork be filled for a soccer match?"
Well some FAI clubs could ground share and make use of the facilities (have a large enough training complex attached) - its called forward thinking if they have an notion of expansion into the future.

We (GAA community) are in no position to enquire as to 'how often will it be filled to capacity" as you in Castlebar and us in Galway are onto too well aware (and we have hurling as well in Galway and yet Pearse stadium collects cowbebs for 90% of the year)!

The_DOC (Galway) - Posts: 708 - 23/07/2018 14:52:30    2125241

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Replying To tearintom:  "No the larger question is how can a section of Pairc Ui Chaoimh (ie the conference facilities) be deemed ok to be used for this event or not contravening the aims and obectives of the association yet a different part of the same building (ie the stadium, pitch etc) not be deemed to be ok??

Is it ok to have a conference or meeting but not ok to have a game?

Its just another example of how the association is being run on an ad hoc make it up as we go along basis.

What do people think is going to happen in a negative way if a charity game of soccer happens in PUC?"
I'm not really of any opinion on this but I would point out the logical flaws in this post......

When you ask ' What do people think is going to happen in a negative way if a charity game of soccer happens in PUC?' I would suggest that it could potentially be the start of the slippery slope;

You yourself ask ' Is it ok to have a conference or meeting but not ok to have a game?'

That same line could be taken in future;

'is it OK to have a charity soccer event but not a soccer testimonial?'
'Is it OK to have a testimonial match but not an exhibition game?'
'Is it OK to have an exhibition game but not a challenge match?'
'Is it OK to have a challenge match but not a competitive fixture?'

It's OK to have a conference as that's not prohibited by the rules. It's not OK to have a soccer match as that is prohibited by the rules*

Also, how can one state 'the association is being run on an ad hoc make it up as we go along basis' when in fact there is a specific rule for this scenario. If the GAA are to soemhow circumvent this rule for a special case, that that would be the very definition of 'an ad hoc make it up as we go along basis'

*according to some intrepretations, appraently.

TearsIn85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 194 - 23/07/2018 17:49:18    2125335

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I believe the GAA will accommodate this in PUC and if that is the case so be it. It would be nice if the GAA could resolve these matters one way or the other speedily instead of giving the many detractors of the GAA both inside and outside the chance to kick away at us.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4896 - 23/07/2018 18:24:16    2125348

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Croke Park have offered the FAI the use of their conference facilities to organise their charity match as well as offered to host a charity hurling match at PUiC to assist the Miller family.

The larger question is what the FAI do with their resources. Scandelous how there aren't 15k seater stadia in Cork and Athlone

The_DOC (Galway) - Posts: 435 - 23/07/2018 Why would FAI put in 15k seater stadiums in both Cork and Athlone? How often would they be filled and for what other uses would they have?

DonaldDuck (Tipperary) - Posts: 544 - 23/07/2018 18:25:08    2125349

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Replying To The_DOC:  "Well some FAI clubs could ground share and make use of the facilities (have a large enough training complex attached) - its called forward thinking if they have an notion of expansion into the future.

We (GAA community) are in no position to enquire as to 'how often will it be filled to capacity" as you in Castlebar and us in Galway are onto too well aware (and we have hurling as well in Galway and yet Pearse stadium collects cowbebs for 90% of the year)!"
But sure they don't because the FAI want very little to do with the League of Ireland. Most League of Ireland have very little money and not a whole pile of supporters to pay part time footballers. I think the League of Ireland and junior soccer are fairly forward thinking but FAI top brass aren't. Some League of Ireland clubs setup some iniatives to draw in new supporters. It's fairly easy for GAA top brass to live off the sweat of amateur players and volunteers. Sure the GAA stadiums are built already. Just saying that building another stadium that's rarely used is a waste of money. Maybe, in this newfound spirit of inclusiveness the GAA could groundshare Pearse Stadium and McHale Park and get a few quid during the GAA offseason?

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7346 - 23/07/2018 18:40:05    2125355

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