Two points on this

1. On a general level the GAA need to recognise that childhood obesity and diabetes are bigger threats to our community than "foreign games"
2. That point aside no matter how stupid or archaic the rules are they are the rules until they change. The club exec/officers should not be club execs unless they understand them. In fact if I was a club member if be worried if these officers were aware of their fiduciary responsibilities on things like health and safety or child protection.

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 05/02/2016 20:32:44    1822731

In that case am I promoting other sports by wearing a soccer or rugby top into a GAA ground too watch a match.It's a very thin line to be treading.

SLLY (Dublin) - Posts: 463 - 06/02/2016 08:55:12    1822761

The local Athletics club use our grounds and have done for generations, should we be fined.

We also have a handball alley and a squash court, should we be fined and have the squash court closed?

My Neighbouring club have tennis court occasionally used by the tennis association of Ireland, should they be fined?

I'm sure this is the case with numerous gaa clubs throughout the country. Squash, tennis and athletics aren't games controlled by the GAA.

Ladies football isn't controlled by the GAA.

What an idiotic decision by the GAA here. Fining a small rural club in this instance is going to achieve exactly what?

tearintom (Wexford) - Posts: 1344 - 06/02/2016 09:47:05    1822765

Ridiculous, the Gaa is a fcukin embarrassment by times!

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 06/02/2016 10:43:58    1822771

This thread is a joke, if so outraged, go to your meetings put foward a motion to change this rule. Otherwise why are you giving out if your not going to do something about it

madbull (Westmeath) - Posts: 195 - 06/02/2016 11:05:53    1822776

Very simple if you all think this is so wrong get to your club AGM (those of you who have a club), have a motion debated and voted on and get it brought to the County Convention and finally Congress. Otherwise this is the rules as they stand and all the Association is doing is applying their own rules.

benched (Tyrone) - Posts: 534 - 06/02/2016 11:10:51    1822778

Exactly, Benched & MadBull. Maybe it is time for the rule to be amended or abolished but until it's changed it stands.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 06/02/2016 11:52:31    1822786

It doesn't have to applied though does it keeper, it's bad form really to fine a Gaa club (also I'm guessing they're a club which wouldn't be flush with money) over such a minor infraction......which shouldn't even be an infraction anyway.

The Gaa opened it's doors to foreign sports a decade ago (well actually well over a decade ago if you include American Football, which somehow mustn't count as a foreign sport), so that should be that bubble well and truly burst!

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 06/02/2016 12:15:42    1822792

The point is they pick and choose when to enforce the rule. There is a big photo of the official opening of my wifes local club with the President of the GAA - its taken on the basketball court in the hall.

There is indoor soccer, badminton, table tennis and basketball played there every night of the week. Its a real focal point for the community and the income keeps the club going. The GAA would rather the club die off instead and let the kids hang around on the street. They dont give a f**k about clubs, players or the local community, just creaming off the cash from intercounty games.

Oh yeah and theres a few auld lads play Texas Hold 'em in the bar on a Tuesday night. Ban them all ! Foreign devils!

bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4624 - 06/02/2016 12:19:39    1822793

Two points on this

1. On a general level the GAA need to recognise that childhood obesity and diabetes are bigger threats to our community than "foreign games"

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts:4776 - 05/02/2016 20:32:44 182

It is not the GAA's job to do peoples parenting for them.Parents have to look out for childhood obesity and no one else.

uibhfhaili1986 (Offaly) - Posts: 1296 - 06/02/2016 12:21:46    1822794

This has been handled very badly by the GAA. Although id suspect Dromard could of saved themselves some heartache by informing the GAA of their intentions.
GAA gets wind of English Soccer star summer camp being played in a GAA ground and decides to lay down the law.
Id say the reason for Dromards fine stems from the fact they didnt ask for permission. Lots of GAA clubs allow their grounds be used by other sports , this can be essential in some communities because of lack of money and infrastructure , this isnt about us or them , Usually the GAA clubs ask for permission and generally their is no problem.
Sure doesnt Donaghy have a basketball summer camp in a certain Kerry Club .
Again a bit of common sense should of prevailed here, especially after allowing concerts ,Rugby and soccer in Croker .
Smacks of double standards.

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 06/02/2016 13:44:24    1822815

Htaem,

"It doesn't have to applied though does it keeper, it's bad form really to fine a Gaa club (also I'm guessing they're a club which wouldn't be flush with money) over such a minor infraction......which shouldn't even be an infraction anyway."

What's the point in having a rule if it's not applied? This camp was all over the Longford Leader before & after the event so the least they could've done is looked for permission from Croke Park.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 06/02/2016 15:16:12    1822844

To be honest id support the GAA on this one.
Soccer has enough money floating around the world to pay for its own camps.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 06/02/2016 15:36:54    1822854

Well apart from the fact that some rules are ridiculous they're also selectively enforced. Anyway I doubt we'll see eye to eye on this keeper.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 06/02/2016 15:38:51    1822855

Htaem, my opinion is that the rule should be looked at. How come it hasn't been brought before Congress before?

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 06/02/2016 15:56:09    1822863

Something that annoys me that I've just found out about.

Parnell's GAA club have soccer matches played on one of their astro pitches. Parnell's are beside a school and I'm sure the school has helped finance the grounds and there is a dual purpose GAA/soccer pitch on their grounds. This is likely used by the school. Probably bending the rules a little but I mean the school has likely helped Parnell's to have such good facilities it'd be very hard even for the GAA to sanction them for that.

The pitch is also used for Adult soccer though. These are adult soccer matches being played in an organised Dublin league competition. I'd be surprised if they didn't get paid for it.

How can this be allowed and then the GAA sanction a Longford club for hosting a soccer school at their grounds.

To be clear I am actually against the rule banning non-Gaelic games from being played on GAA grounds and if I had my way there'd be nothing wrong with what Parnell's are doing.

I only bring it up as I am more against there being a rule for some and then a completely different rule for others.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4226 - 13/02/2016 16:44:48    1825105

The GAA actively promite some foreign sports

http://www.hoganstand.com/Handball/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=244594

Kevin O Callaghan, County Games Manager with Cork GAA noted, "We will encourage our players to play basketball in the GAA off season

A simple google search shows a huge amount of basketball clubs which are based in the halla of GAA clubs (which i think is a great)

However big fines are coming these clubs way, 2k fine for a once off soccer events - these basketball clubs have been playing matches in GAA clubs for years...im sure that the GAA will implement its rules strictly as many here advocate.

RangersFan (Dublin) - Posts: 117 - 13/02/2016 20:04:08    1825164