I dunno realdub.Was it Dinny Byrne outta Glenroe?

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 03/12/2014 21:05:53    1676476

A tolerance of thuggery and mindless violence turns a lot of decent Wicklow people off getting involved in GAA. I know every county has its flare-ups in matches from time to time but the level of violence is off the scale in Wicklow. Despite being a neighbouring county I can tell you that my club in Carlow would never play a challenge match against a team from Wicklow. It is quite simply too much of a risk.

Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1412 - 03/12/2014 21:58:13    1676494

The title of this post 'What the story with Wicklow GAA' could be easily be What is the story with a lot more counties similar to Wicklow' as there are a number of counties who spend a lot more funds on GAA than Wicklow and never achieve anything but yes there are major issues within Wicklow from a GAA perspective. Firstly, we produce good players like Leighton Glynn, Kevin O'Brien etc but never seem to be able to get a group 15-20 top class inter county players in the one era. Secondly, there is a lot of negativity both in the county and from external sources towards GAA in Wicklow - I'm not saying that we haven't had issues with discipline but tell me a county in recent years that hasn't had matches abandoned, racial abuse at one stage or another, yet, sometimes you would think it is only happening in Wicklow when in fact it is a widespread problem in the GAA world. Thirdly, there is a lack of vision from within the county from all involved, you only have to look at the county grounds ... belongs in the 1950s not 2014, lack of promotion of games - I would imagine more people from Wicklow go to see the Leinster rugby team, we have no under 21 championship within the county so we are loosing talented players after minor level, the rural clubs are producing more players capable of playing for the county team than the bigger populated areas - figure that, there is an unwillingness to invest funds in the sport - we balance the books each year (only spend what you have). So, if you add it all up, it is very difficult to build momentum, I think the county board missed a golden opportunity to build on what Mick O'Dwyer started in the county.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1926 - 04/12/2014 09:27:42    1676506

We both know that's a wind-up, OnionBreath. Please disregard that post. Off the scale is a ridiculous comment. It is an an exact par with every other county. I've played with many players from all over the county on various travels and we're no different to anyone else in terms of discipline.

There are many reasons for underachieving - mostly coming from an ill-informed and poorly educated attitude towards GAA within our leadership at club, county and county board level resulting in an acceptance and expectancy of underachievement. Small consistent changes are required and thankfully afoot

wicklu (Wicklow) - Posts: 331 - 04/12/2014 09:43:45    1676508

Are ye not manly enough Onion Breath ?

sponger (Wicklow) - Posts: 2904 - 04/12/2014 09:45:02    1676509

Instead of thinking about building new stadiums on the m50 or giving Cork 35 million for a white elephant. I think the gaa would be better off adpoting the Dublin model in Wicklow, ie a full time coach in every club. I'm sure after a couple of years Wicklow would have the foundations to be competitive. Its actually not rocket science but is there anyone in the gaa with a bit of vision? Im not even from Wicklow.

Ben (None) - Posts: 101 - 04/12/2014 10:03:25    1676512

As a Wicklowman I'll tell you the main problems we have No.1 Geography..... Try find the centre point to meet in Wicklow to suit all clubs, it's up the top of a high mountain!! N0.2 Traditionally unsuccessful, hard cycle to break. No.3 An over-emphasis on the club scene. No.4 Club rivalries, East/West divide No.5 Our large towns with the exception of Wicklow Town are soccer towns (Bray and Arklow), Greystones is a rugby town. No.6 Wicklow's history is also a problem; we were the last county to be shired by the Brits... bits of Wexford, Carlow, Kildare and Dublin were meshed with what was known then as ''O'Byrne's Country'' which the real heartland of Wicklow.... to this day what has Bray in common with Carnew!!! what has Baltinglass in common with Delgany or Greystones... nothing. In conclusion we have many problems!!!

Wicklowman (Wicklow) - Posts: 1139 - 04/12/2014 10:42:28    1676518

Ben, I agree with you, it would be much better for the GAA to make more counties in both hurling and football competitive than to build all these stadiums that only get filled 2-3 times per year, having said that, we need to get our act together in Wicklow as there are some issues that we could resolve that wouldn't cost money and could be easily rectified.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1926 - 04/12/2014 10:53:06    1676521

Underage setup only recently introduced.

Tradition.

Money.

Hurling punching above its weight.


That is my summary of Wicklow football.

sponger (Wicklow) - Posts: 2904 - 04/12/2014 11:14:48    1676527

The only sportsperson of note Wicklow produced was a woman boxer, need I say anymore?

Turndownforwhat (Galway) - Posts: 53 - 04/12/2014 11:32:55    1676531

No please dont.Youve said more than enough tanks.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 04/12/2014 12:08:40    1676548

Oh we're certainly manly enough to play football with ye Sponger but the problem is that too frequently it descends into something other than football which is more cowardly than manly.

I stand by my comment that levels of violence in Wicklow GAA are off the scale. I notice none of the Wicklow posters who have listed their problems (many of which ring a bell in Carlow also especially rugby) mention this. That is a big part of the problem in my view i.e. they think it's the same in every other county. I know lots of people living in Wicklow and many who have kids actively discourage their kids from getting involved in GAA. I don't find that in Carlow. That is my experience anyway.

Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1412 - 04/12/2014 12:39:20    1676566

cuederocket
County: Dublin
Posts: 1513

1676476

I dunno realdub.Was it Dinny Byrne outta Glenroe?


No, it was Miley actually :)

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8603 - 04/12/2014 12:39:52    1676567

Discipline is a "Big Issue". I used to referee Gaelic Football in Wicklow and the abuse is second to none.
Players and Supporters believe thay have a given right to say what they want.

The Co Board has no appetite to hand out suspensions. The CCC objective is to get games played.

3 years ago a report was read out by St Patrick's delegates regarding "Thuggery, Violence & Intimidation" at the County Convention.
After the Report was read, the response from the Co Chairperson was "It's not all that bad".

Later in the same convention, the Co Chairperson took his nomination from a delegate who was suspended but under appeal for allegedly abusing the County PRO. He later lost his appeal. What example does that set?

wicklowrunner (Wicklow) - Posts: 637 - 04/12/2014 12:41:28    1676569

I'll decide when ive said enough thanks.

Turndownforwhat (Galway) - Posts: 53 - 04/12/2014 12:42:22    1676570

Wicklowman, that's the best bunch of irrelevant excuses, not the reasons. Geography - not finding a middle point? That's a laughable reason. Have you tried driving from West Cork to a 'central area' in the county? Didn't you hear about Declan O'Sullivan and Jack O'Connor staying the night in Killarney because the trip back down south was too much? Have you ever seen a road in rural Donegal? I add in the likes of Paul Durcan commuting from Dublin to Donegal.

The issue with club rivalry - yeah sure we're great we're the only ones with a healthy club rivalry. I have seen first hand the intense hatred between two clubs in Tyrone and if it was a Wicklow club, it'd be national news. Hatred between clubs is actually properly intense in some counties - it's not the case in Wicklow unless your last game was a Rathew Balto championship match during the 90's. There is no bitterness at player level in the county dressing room whatsoever.

As regards, the history... The only contribution or lack thereof that has made is that we may have started on an unequal footing 130 years ago (Maybe!!). But the reasons we are currently struggling is due to current structure and current attitude towards what it means to be successful.

wicklu (Wicklow) - Posts: 331 - 04/12/2014 12:55:10    1676574

Massive population and primarily football orientated with hurlers very much the poorer relations at least resource wise.

Incidentally, that represents your 666th post there Onion Breath. You couldn't have saved it for a more apt topic

Passer_By (Carlow) - Posts: 511 - 04/12/2014 12:56:50    1676576

Maroonatic
County: Galway
Posts: 701

keeper7
County: Longford
Posts: 2189

Too many abandoned camógie matches & referees being put into the boot of a car.

Lazy and unfunny response keeper7. very lazy

Really? Read this article:

link

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 04/12/2014 19:18:47    1676731