After attending Saturday's games in Croke Park I have to ask who do the God Fathers in the GAA represent. Supporters from Kildare, Meath, Monaghan and Armagh made the effort to travel up to the games in the worst weather we have had for sometime. They had to get parking and then make it to the ground in all the rain. Not to bad if you seat was under shelter, but if you were unlucky enough to be out in the elements hard luck to you. My point is why weren't these people offered the choice of going up to the top decks which remained closed for both games. No the God Fathers already had your money so luck.
Why were the Armagh crowd told to take down there Garvey Road on Tour Banner, Did Sky TV not like it. Finally who does the GPA represent, again on Sunday night on the Sunday game we had trail by television. Who gives these morons the right to judge present day players, were they all saints when they were playing. Maybe if the GPA issued a statement saying if this continues their members will not talk to the media it might save some player from missing an important game. Or are they like the God Fathers just want the players money and the big job.
Just thinking did Kildare Meath Monaghan and Armagh Supports not have the right to use the Hill. I noticed the God Father's did not put any tickets up for sale. more money if the people all use the stands.

The Badger Dublin

hoppy7 (Dublin) - Posts: 3 - 05/08/2014 13:56:01    1631811

I know what your getting at but the I can see the point in these circumstances.
If they only planned to have half (bottom tier) of the stadium opened then they would have needed more stewards etc to open the top tier. This with it brings a lot of headaches.

About the trial by TV I too don't like these things being highlighted but I disagree about players missing games. things are done in the heat of the moment and while they may not reflect a players characters punishments should be given out for unsportsmanlike conduct.

dstuction (Donegal) - Posts: 1209 - 05/08/2014 14:23:23    1631829

Who Rules Gaa.
05/08/2014 13:56:01 hoppy7
After attending Saturday's games in Croke Park I have to ask who do the God Fathers in the GAA represent. Supporters from Kildare, Meath, Monaghan and Armagh made the effort to travel up to the games in the worst weather we have had for sometime. They had to get parking and then make it to the ground in all the rain. Not to bad if you seat was under shelter, but if you were unlucky enough to be out in the elements hard luck to you. My point is why weren't these people offered the choice of going up to the top decks which remained closed for both games. No the God Fathers already had your money so luck.The upper tier wasn't open and wasn't worth opening. The crowd wasn't big enough to warrant the upper tier being opened. Horrible weather isn't enough of a reason to open the upper tier.
05/08/2014 13:56:01 hoppy7
Why were the Armagh crowd told to take down there Garvey Road on Tour Banner, Did Sky TV not like it. Finally who does the GPA represent, again on Sunday night on the Sunday game we had trail by television. Who gives these morons the right to judge present day players, were they all saints when they were playing. Maybe if the GPA issued a statement saying if this continues their members will not talk to the media it might save some player from missing an important game. Or are they like the God Fathers just want the players money and the big job.
Just thinking did Kildare Meath Monaghan and Armagh Supports not have the right to use the Hill. I noticed the God Father's did not put any tickets up for sale. more money if the people all use the stands.
The Badger Dublin I don't know why those fans were told to take down a banner. Who asked them to take it down?
They are analysts and its their role to query/question things. What exactly are you complaining about? Maybe criticism is ott at times but what can you do about that?
You complain about not opening the upper tier because of the rain and then complain about fans not using the hill????

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 05/08/2014 14:23:57    1631830

Hoppy, you're dead right in everything you say.

Midleton (Cork) - Posts: 643 - 05/08/2014 14:41:46    1631845

Think some of the Armagh lads had added a Palestinian flag and the logo 'we stand by Gaza' or something to it. Still begs the question to why it was taken down?

Think Connor McGregor would make a good leader of the GAA by the way.

Brolly (Monaghan) - Posts: 4472 - 05/08/2014 15:00:19    1631858

Sky showed the Roscommon v Armagh game and I'm pretty sure I saw that Garvaghey Road banner in Hyde Park, don't think they were asked to put it away that day. Who knows. The Palestinian flags have been a feature at most of the games I've watched since it all kicked off over there and I'd imagine there'll be a few of them on the Hill next weekend. Dunno how the authorities will try to police that when the Hill is packed out with fans.

decky (Roscommon) - Posts: 384 - 05/08/2014 15:08:45    1631870

ormondbannerman
County: Clare
The upper tier wasn't open and wasn't worth opening. The crowd wasn't big enough to warrant the upper tier being opened. Horrible weather isn't enough of a reason to open the upper tier.

I think it (horrible weather) is enough of a reason to open the upper tier. Its the only part of the stand that gets cover. If it costs the GAA money, well that's the price you pay for not putting a proper roof on in the first place. People aren't getting into the matches for free, they deserve some kind of reasonable facility.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 05/08/2014 15:27:07    1631892

After attending Saturday's games in Croke Park I have to ask who do the God Fathers in the GAA represent.

Combination of Kim Jong-un and Benjamin Netanyahu. It works like the presidency of the European Union and they alternate it every 6 months. Think Netanyahu took over there recently which may explain the removal of the Palestinian flags.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 05/08/2014 15:30:47    1631898

I have no problem at all with the Garvaghey Rd banners but I don't like the Palestinian conflict being brought into it.

The Ulster final was blighted with protests on the way to the game & on the way home by people who, in my opinion, couldn't care less about what is going on over there.

Not sure what the GAA can do about it though.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 05/08/2014 15:35:26    1631901

Agree muckrosshead. While what is happening over there is terrible and should be stopped, it has become a political football in the north like everything with reps and loys taking opposing sides. I'm all for solidarity etc but you can't do for one and not for another - the amount of stuff going on elsewhere in the world is unreal so maybe we should look after our own affairs - and leave political views out of the GAA.

Brolly (Monaghan) - Posts: 4472 - 05/08/2014 15:44:09    1631909

link

jamesjoyce (Derry) - Posts: 126 - 05/08/2014 16:02:47    1631926

It's not so much who runs the GAA as who runs Croke Park that is the question. The answer is PCT(Pairc and Chrocaigh Teoranta), they govern how Croke Park operates. What may be deemed acceptable in other grounds may not always be so in HQ.Bad weather isn't reason enough to open the upper tiers, which would result in more stewards being required and more cleaners/bar and shop staff also. The majority of Croke Park stewards are volunteers and those who visit regularly will notice that there are a lot more stewards around the place when Dublin are playing. The expected attendance was poor for Saturday and with a dreadful forecast you would'nt expect many "walk ups" so I think it was correct to stick with just opening the lower tier. This is Ireland after all , my Croke Park bag has sunglasses, suncream, waterproof jacket and pull ups to cover all eventualities.
With regard to the removal of the flag I can't comment , I did notice a flag on the hill during matches 2 weeks previously which remained for the duration. It could just be a case of one person taking it on themself to have it removed if it offended their sensibilities.

64bv (Meath) - Posts: 2 - 05/08/2014 16:11:51    1631936

I was at the games on Saturday night - I had tickets for "family section" in Cusack 310 row Q - Knew before I got there that the seats would be exposed to the elements - I asked the steward if we could move - She said we could stand at the back of the same section (410) but if it got crowded we would have to move !!!
I asked her why the top tier was not open given the weather and she mentioned "health and safety

I tried the seats for about 2 minutes and could see it would be a disaster - but noticed that seats in 321/421 - corner of Davin/Hogan where completly empty so assumed were not sold.

We moved over there and no-one stopped us. by the start of the second game I'd say another 1000 people odd had done the same thing.
The stewards should have been able to say that certain sections were not sold and then stopped if they became full - Couldnt have been any bigger a H&S issue than telling people to stand at the back of the cusack.

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 05/08/2014 16:14:15    1631941

I agree with Muckross. Bringing political banners into grounds is an attempt to say that everyone among Dubs or Donegal or Armagh supporters support what is being put across. I consider myself to be a republican but when I go to the Hill it is to support the Dubs along with Dubs of all persuasions and none. If you want to have a poltical protest there are plenty other places to have them.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 05/08/2014 16:27:18    1631952

We also had seats out in the elements. Went up to the very back luckily enough a few Armagh people were leaving after their game maybe not the best view but definitely saved a drowning

butters1990 (Kildare) - Posts: 262 - 05/08/2014 16:43:16    1631962

The amount of secret influence and seemingly unlimited power people claim the Frank Murphy fella from Cork has would make even the most deranged tinfoil hat wearing conspiracy theorist blush. I've seen his name mentioned with anything that ever happens in Munster or involving Cork.

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1643 - 05/08/2014 16:59:00    1631978

ormondbannerman
The upper tier wasn't open and wasn't worth opening. The crowd wasn't big enough to warrant the upper tier being opened. Horrible weather isn't enough of a reason to open the upper tier.
05/08/2014 15:27:07 Marlon_JD
I think it (horrible weather) is enough of a reason to open the upper tier. Its the only part of the stand that gets cover. If it costs the GAA money, well that's the price you pay for not putting a proper roof on in the first place. People aren't getting into the matches for free, they deserve some kind of reasonable facility. No it isn't. There is a proper roof on the stadium and no horrible weather isn't enough of a reason for croke park management to have to use much more stewards than required which is a needless cost.

What is a proper roof for the stadium if the current roof isn't "a proper roof"?

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 05/08/2014 17:26:35    1632002

Brolly
County: Monaghan
Posts: 3673

1631858 Think some of the Armagh lads had added a Palestinian flag and the logo 'we stand by Gaza' or something to it. Still begs the question to why it was taken down?

Ah f..k what did he do now.

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 05/08/2014 18:08:30    1632031

AthCliath
County: Dublin
Posts: 3270

1632031
Brolly
County: Monaghan
Posts: 3673

1631858 Think some of the Armagh lads had added a Palestinian flag and the logo 'we stand by Gaza' or something to it. Still begs the question to why it was taken down?

Ah f..k what did he do now.

Haha, That was my first reaction too when I saw my first "JUSTICE FOR GAZA" banner at the Ulster final.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 05/08/2014 18:32:36    1632041

ormondbannerman
County: Clare
No it isn't. There is a proper roof on the stadium and no horrible weather isn't enough of a reason for croke park management to have to use much more stewards than required which is a needless cost.
What is a proper roof for the stadium if the current roof isn't "a proper roof"?

In your opinion it isn't. In mine it is. Both subjective.

As for what constitutes a proper roof, that would be one that gave adequate coverage to all parts of the stand. Or at least most of it. The roof as it is only covers the top tier, which is closed for alot of the games. So the roof is a token effort, rather than a fully functional roof. If you buy a ticket for a covered stand, you should get what you paid for. For the games on Sunday, there may as well have been no roof on the stands. The roofing on the stands in Thomand, for example, seem pretty decent, and appear to at least give coverage to most of the stands.

As for more stewards being a needless cost, if thats whats required, thats whats required. If you charge money for people to sit in a covered stand, and you have the capacity to provide covered seating, which they had on Sunday, thats what you have to provide.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 05/08/2014 19:46:52    1632090