Dead right on the munster thing mike. I never knew anyone who went to a munster game before the explosion in interest around 2000. Seems to be tapering off again though.

hurlinspuds (Cork) - Posts: 1494 - 14/04/2014 09:59:34    1574751

Hurlingspuds it is tapering off because Munster Rugby took everything they got from corporate money and they got the hangers on from the "fair weather fans". There was people who were at Muster matches and they would not be able to tell you the shape of the ball. I live five minutes from Thomond Park, followed Shannon since i was a kid, always went to games. Had buddies involved but could i get tickets for the matches when the boom came, very rarely. It was a joke. Munster lost its roots, the working class person who loves the game in Limerick was forgotten for the coin. Egg chasing was always a working class game in Limerick but that has changed and it is now looked at a game that the upper class should have their kids playing as it is the "cool" thing to do.

I now get offered a corporate ticket most weekends Munster play from work. I would not support them financially in a fit for the way they initially treated people. Some say that was business, i say it was bad business and they are reaping the rewards from it, they are broke.

Hoover78 (Limerick) - Posts: 865 - 14/04/2014 10:42:03    1574784

14/04/2014 08:48:24
BigMack
A big setback for the developement of underage hurling in West Limerick has been the decision not to allow an allmalgamated West Limerick team enter the Harty cup. Why would you lads ever want to play a game where they can't really test themselves against the best that's around the Munster region. IMO amalgamted teams are no different to Ard Scoil Ris as they have players not only from different clubs/parishes but also different counties. Ard Scoil are completely different to amalgamated sides regardless of how some kids join ASR just to play hurling. Parish/club/county is irrelevant in terms of ASR. All schools have players from different clubs/parishes and depending on geography and location of a school a school will have players from different countys
14/04/2014 09:29:48 mike03
Your name is too long so I'm sticking with Ormy. The Munster website has a habit of having double or triple vision. Last year it said there was 18,000 at one of the league games against one of the Italian teams. This was despite there not being a single person behind either posts. Not one. And both stands only 50% full.
I was at that Heineken cup match on the Wednesday afternoon so can state for a fact that I walked in 5 mins before kick off and got a place in the middle of the popular side without any problem. At most, there was 3000 at it. At most. Munster rugby in Limerick is a relatively new past time and social event.
A certain phrase comes to mind when people try to say Munster rugby was a big thing before 2000: Lies, damn lies and statistics!!I know the name is long but what I disagree with is what its shortened to. Just call me Ormond as that makes sense. Its where im from, part of name of area I live in, part of name of my local club.
Munster website doesn't have double/triple vision but like all sporting organisations stretches the truth at times and sometimes will announce as attendance the tickets sold not who actually went in the turnstiles. All sports including hurling/gaelic/soccer do likewise on occasion.
Munster rugby is not relatively new. Up to 2000 or so Munster only played 5/6 games at home a year and it was the club scene that dominated and that's where the crowds where

14/04/2014 10:42:03 Hoover78
Hurlingspuds it is tapering off because Munster Rugby took everything they got from corporate money and they got the hangers on from the "fair weather fans". There was people who were at Muster matches and they would not be able to tell you the shape of the ball. I live five minutes from Thomond Park, followed Shannon since i was a kid, always went to games. Had buddies involved but could i get tickets for the matches when the boom came, very rarely. It was a joke. Munster lost its roots, the working class person who loves the game in Limerick was forgotten for the coin. Egg chasing was always a working class game in Limerick but that has changed and it is now looked at a game that the upper class should have their kids playing as it is the "cool" thing to do.
I now get offered a corporate ticket most weekends Munster play from work. I would not support them financially in a fit for the way they initially treated people. Some say that was business, i say it was bad business and they are reaping the rewards from it, they are broke. Its not tapering off. If you were supposedly involved in a club you should easily have been able to get tickets. Any time I wanted a ticket I got one even for the biggest of games. Munster dint lose their roots especially in Limerick. The working class people who dominate the sport in Limerick were not forgotten as they are the majority in the city.

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 14/04/2014 11:15:21    1574805

14/04/2014 10:42:03 Hoover78
Hurlingspuds it is tapering off because Munster Rugby took everything they got from corporate money and they got the hangers on from the "fair weather fans". There was people who were at Muster matches and they would not be able to tell you the shape of the ball. I live five minutes from Thomond Park, followed Shannon since i was a kid, always went to games. Had buddies involved but could i get tickets for the matches when the boom came, very rarely. It was a joke. Munster lost its roots, the working class person who loves the game in Limerick was forgotten for the coin. Egg chasing was always a working class game in Limerick but that has changed and it is now looked at a game that the upper class should have their kids playing as it is the "cool" thing to do.
I now get offered a corporate ticket most weekends Munster play from work. I would not support them financially in a fit for the way they initially treated people. Some say that was business, i say it was bad business and they are reaping the rewards from it, they are broke. Its not tapering off. If you were supposedly involved in a club you should easily have been able to get tickets. Any time I wanted a ticket I got one even for the biggest of games. Munster dint lose their roots especially in Limerick. The working class people who dominate the sport in Limerick were not forgotten as they are the majority in the city.


You are obviously living in cloud cuckoo land. Munster are in it up to their neck. They are broke. I followed Shannon all the time as a kid, i was never a member and i never stated i was. I got tickets occassionally from players who played on the team. I would not ask as they had enough people bugging them so when given i would go. Seeing i have a few acquaintances who have played for the team and those same guys will agree that there has been a huge drop off in fans attending the matches. The man in the street can see it, all but you sir.

Second point - If you still think the work class are the dominant rugby playing person in Limerick go to any schools or club game and you will see that is not the way. I am not sure if you attend these in Limerick but if you do you must have blinkers on.

Hoover78 (Limerick) - Posts: 865 - 14/04/2014 11:30:26    1574824

this thread was supposed to be about hurling in west limerick lads........??

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 14/04/2014 11:37:13    1574826

14/04/2014 11:30:26
Hoover78
You are obviously living in cloud cuckoo land. Munster are in it up to their neck. They are broke. I followed Shannon all the time as a kid, i was never a member and i never stated i was. I got tickets occassionally from players who played on the team. I would not ask as they had enough people bugging them so when given i would go. Seeing i have a few acquaintances who have played for the team and those same guys will agree that there has been a huge drop off in fans attending the matches. The man in the street can see it, all but you sir.

Second point - If you still think the work class are the dominant rugby playing person in Limerick go to any schools or club game and you will see that is not the way. I am not sure if you attend these in Limerick but if you do you must have blinkers on. Im not living in cloud cuckoo land at all. Munster were stuggling big time but the past 2 seasons success and getting to Europe semi finals plus the professional game committee and commercial board(link) are getting in money.
Ive friends playing with Shannon(first team and seconds) and while support has changed they are still doing quite well.
Ive played rugby in Limerick. Young Munsters, Shannon, Thomond, Bohs all totally working class clubs. Garryowen, Crescent traditionally thought themselves a bit higher and then you look to the junior clubs(traditionally) like Richmond(now back senior this season), Marys all completely working class.

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 14/04/2014 11:43:58    1574832

The point u r missing ormondbannerman is that the Harty cup is elitist. A kid in lk with no means of attending ASR or C Troy or Doon should not be prohibited from playing at highest level.
If we are all hurling men then we should be all concerned in promoting hurling. Inclusivity is the answer not elitism. The 3 schools in west limk have a combined male student population that is less than that of ASR so there is nothing unfair here.

Discriminating against kids because their patents can't get them into a top hurling school seems unfair in the extreme.

disillusiondfan (Limerick) - Posts: 4279 - 14/04/2014 11:46:21    1574834

I would agree with the clubs you stated but there was a huge change of tack and you have to agree with re class playing the game in the city. I would prefer all sports to be successful but i just won't put mney into the coffers as i feel they did treat people poorly. I know lots of guys that frequented AIL games but could not get Munster tickets and that is not fair.

Hoover78 (Limerick) - Posts: 865 - 14/04/2014 11:49:15    1574836

14/04/2014 11:46:21
disillusiondfan
The point u r missing ormondbannerman is that the Harty cup is elitist. A kid in lk with no means of attending ASR or C Troy or Doon should not be prohibited from playing at highest level.
If we are all hurling men then we should be all concerned in promoting hurling. Inclusivity is the answer not elitism. The 3 schools in west limk have a combined male student population that is less than that of ASR so there is nothing unfair here.

Discriminating against kids because their patents can't get them into a top hurling school seems unfair in the extreme. Harty Cup isn't elitest. Schools in Limerick that compete are open public schools with no fees. If you cant get into one of those schools it isn't elitism. Schools rugby in Dublin Is still very elitist as vast majority of schools are fee paying.
14/04/2014 11:49:15
Hoover78
I would agree with the clubs you stated but there was a huge change of tack and you have to agree with re class playing the game in the city. I would prefer all sports to be successful but i just won't put mney into the coffers as i feel they did treat people poorly. I know lots of guys that frequented AIL games but could not get Munster tickets and that is not fair. In what ways were people treated poorly? What you are describing very vaguely happens in all walks of life...

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 14/04/2014 11:59:39    1574844

And to add to that point Hoover, the vast majority of those who attended AIL games don't go to Munster games and those who attend Munster games have never been to an AIL game. There is zero connection between Munster supporters and real rugby people.

Using rugby as an excuse for the low enough level of hurling in West Limerick just doesn't wash for me. I accept fellas play rugby but it's not like there are any clubs in the area playing at a decent level. The fact is that it is a football area and I don't see why lads have an issue with that. You don't hear people in West Limerick giving out that the likes of Kilmallock, Ahane, Na Piarsaigh etc are mainly hurling clubs. Nearly every county that has one dominant sport be it hurling or football will still have pockets within the county where the weaker sport is number 1. Limerick has football pockets, Clare the same, Kerry has hurling pockets.

I'd rather a young fella playing Gaelic football than nothing at all...

mike03 (Limerick) - Posts: 2000 - 14/04/2014 12:14:58    1574851

14/04/2014 12:14:58 mike03
And to add to that point Hoover, the vast majority of those who attended AIL games don't go to Munster games and those who attend Munster games have never been to an AIL game. There is zero connection between Munster supporters and real rugby people.
Using rugby as an excuse for the low enough level of hurling in West Limerick just doesn't wash for me. I accept fellas play rugby but it's not like there are any clubs in the area playing at a decent level. The fact is that it is a football area and I don't see why lads have an issue with that. You don't hear people in West Limerick giving out that the likes of Kilmallock, Ahane, Na Piarsaigh etc are mainly hurling clubs. Nearly every county that has one dominant sport be it hurling or football will still have pockets within the county where the weaker sport is number 1. Limerick has football pockets, Clare the same, Kerry has hurling pockets.
I'd rather a young fella playing Gaelic football than nothing at all... That's false when you say "vast majority of those who attended AIL games don't go to Munster games and those who attend Munster games have never been to an AIL game." Go to any AIL game and majority will go to their provincial games as well and will combine going to both as much as physically possible.
There is a total connection between supporters of the provincial side and the clubs. How do you define what a real rugby person is?

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 14/04/2014 12:23:46    1574854

Ormondbannerman u really have no idea what u r talking about. Elitism isn't only caused by money or lack of it. U obviously have no idea how difficult it is to get ur kid into a top school in limerick. Only those in the know get their kids in. I'm talking from personal experience so don't dispute that please.

Secondly if I am living in drom are u SERIOUSLY suggesting that I drive my kid to and from limk city or doin so he can play Harty??????? Either there is equal opportunity ( which in west lk there isn't) or u have elitism.

disillusiondfan (Limerick) - Posts: 4279 - 14/04/2014 12:32:10    1574862

14/04/2014 12:32:10
disillusiondfan
Ormondbannerman u really have no idea what u r talking about. Elitism isn't only caused by money or lack of it. U obviously have no idea how difficult it is to get ur kid into a top school in limerick. Only those in the know get their kids in. I'm talking from personal experience so don't dispute that please.

Secondly if I am living in drom are u SERIOUSLY suggesting that I drive my kid to and from limk city or doin so he can play Harty??????? Either there is equal opportunity ( which in west lk there isn't) or u have elitism. Elitism is primarily driven by money.
I have enough friends/family who've attended schools in Limerick city and county. The wife of a very good friend&work colleague is principal of one of the big schools in Limerick..
It isn't who you know and those in the know who get into the top schools in Limerick. What schools are you referring to?
Yeah there's many who drive as far(and further) for their kids to attend schools for variety of reasons.

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 14/04/2014 12:41:04    1574871

I'm sorry but I am getting v annoyed with ppl who know nothing of west limerick making outrageous comments. Mike NO ONE said rugby was a prob for hurling or GAA in west lk. It isn't. So what washes with u or doesn't is completely irrelevant.

Neither is it true to say that west lk is a football division. This year lk team will prob have 4 west lk men PLUS the son of a west lk legend. As we have 4 divisions 4 is doing our bit on senior team and lk hurling should be damn glad of that.

Our problem is we are not doing our bit underage. The main concerns I have is the success of the Desmond league soccer. Soccer both takes players from hurling and it also makes football more popular as it is a closer game to soccer than hurling is. There is a v real concern that traditional hurling areas are now becoming football clubs. If this trend is not halted and reversed it will be v sad for those of us hurling ppl in the west but also by extension for lk hurling in general.

disillusiondfan (Limerick) - Posts: 4279 - 14/04/2014 12:53:31    1574886

Elitist is strictly about money and position. You cant really use the term elitist as a young fella will be accepted into the school. I t just doesnt matter as he may live 50 km away and its no good to him. its not an elitist issue its more of a populist issue as the best public schools are normally in centres of big populations densities.
There should be a harty cup presence in west limerick however. its a major disadvantage.
Ormond i have friends in tipperary aswell and i can gurantee that i dont know whats going on there. you dont know half of whats going on in limerick even if your have "friends" here. It is very hard to get a child into some schools but it is not elitist as financial means do not come into it for the most part

Fishermantom (Limerick) - Posts: 569 - 14/04/2014 13:05:34    1574900

Ormondbannerman u believe the rhetoric if u want but as I said I know from experience what it takes. U are basing ur comments on hearsay ( c annoyingly so I might add). There are many parents on here who know what is required so u have harmed u argent by contradicting what we all know to be true.

U do equal harm when u suggest that a kid should spend over 3 hours a day travelling to and from school. That is a 10.5 hour day when would he study? Or are u ok with him playing Harty n failing leaving? Are u also suggesting on parent give up their job or go down to part time to drive him. If so there is a prohibitive financial cost and now we are back to a financial prohibitive which is ur own narrow definition of elitism.

If ppl on here just argue for the sake of it with no regard for facts or common sense u r ruining the forum for those if us who live in real world and limit ourselves to reality and to the possible

disillusiondfan (Limerick) - Posts: 4279 - 14/04/2014 13:13:28    1574908

14/04/2014 13:05:34
Fishermantom
Ormond i have friends in tipperary aswell and i can gurantee that i dont know whats going on there. you dont know half of whats going on in limerick even if your have "friends" here. It is very hard to get a child into some schools but it is not elitist as financial means do not come into it for the most part I know enough. To get into a lot of the big sec schools is very difficult. Wife of a work colleague of my dads is head of a school in the city and I know it isn't elitist. I said elitism is primarily driven by €€€€s

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 14/04/2014 13:22:50    1574914

It is considered a football area so. Happy now?

mike03 (Limerick) - Posts: 2000 - 14/04/2014 13:47:52    1574937

Ormondbannerman u obviously have no idea what it takes to get a kid into a school in lk city. You are totally wrong but for this argument let us suppose u r right. If ASR has 150% of its first year capacity applies to go to ASR. They can only take 100% so who gets in is a pure lottery. If u r prepared to drive 80 miles round trip to get in that is irrelevant unless u r lucky enough to get drawn out of hat. If u don't and u don't get C troy then YOU say that kid can't play Harty cos drom Newcastle or rathkeale amalgamation is not acceptable.

How ludicrous is it to suggest that I add 3.5 hours on to a students day to drive him to and from drom? When would he study ( bear in mind hurling training and matches. U prob think it ok for him to forego his leaving cert just cos he wants to play Harty n by pure bad luck he was born 40 miles from nearest school.

For ur own sake ormondbannerman u do ur argument a disservice when u argue for the sake of it despite ur obvious ignorance if the reality of getting into a lk city school and ur total lack of concern for a kids eel being when u suggest he down 18 hrs a week travelling to school. Can we deal in plausible please.

Also elitism is not in reference to getting into a school it is in reference to kids with wary reach of ASR being able to play Harty n those out west not being allowed the same opportunity.

disillusiondfan (Limerick) - Posts: 4279 - 14/04/2014 14:07:22    1574952

Anyone know how granagh ballingarry minor team is joined with banogue this year.banogue always played in south in football. thing with west limerick is that Kderry feognagh castlemahon and monagea have to join together to field teams from u14 to 21.the rest of lads that can't make the team what happens them.they give it up play other sports.manages and fcastlemahon are stuck in ja cos of it.Kderry are the only ones from the 3 joined together that have come on from it is it cos
Of most of mmanagement over Deel rangers are from knockaderry.should they make ja all co the teams in west ja must be sick of playing each other at this stage.feo are meant to be having 2 separate squad for ja and Jb hurling this year.ya they prob will win Jb out but at the expence of their a team.that's what b team should be for to bring lads onto their a team

oll (Limerick) - Posts: 693 - 14/04/2014 14:13:29    1574960