Replying To blackspot91:  "You do know that the GAA has two sports ya?"

Replying To bloodyban:  "There's alot of negativity coming from people whos counties will be out in the first or second round."

Replying To Lockjaw:  "I said in an earlier post that I felt that the Government bottled a decision on inter county games going ahead and left it to the GAA. It is what it is now and we can only hope that the testing is rigorous and that players are fully aware of their responsibilities. I think it it can work because in relative terms it's a very small % of the population we're talking about here in a controlled environment. I guess the feeling is that if the players are happy enough to proceed with it then they're just going to run with it.

Away from the GAA one thing there are a few things that don't add up for me. I've head of people getting notified that they are a close contact. But by the time it's fully traced the 14 day quarantine is up for them anyway. So the whole thing is pointless if it's not acted upon quickly. Everything was geared towards ramping up the testing, but it's useless without the contact tracing to back it up. Once the numbers got beyond a certain level it was impossible to keep up.

So why are we handing out money to people who have lost jobs? Could we not have trained them up as contact tracers? We had months over the summer to do this in preparation for this second wave."

Replying To Lockjaw:  "I said in an earlier post that I felt that the Government bottled a decision on inter county games going ahead and left it to the GAA. It is what it is now and we can only hope that the testing is rigorous and that players are fully aware of their responsibilities. I think it it can work because in relative terms it's a very small % of the population we're talking about here in a controlled environment. I guess the feeling is that if the players are happy enough to proceed with it then they're just going to run with it.

Away from the GAA one thing there are a few things that don't add up for me. I've head of people getting notified that they are a close contact. But by the time it's fully traced the 14 day quarantine is up for them anyway. So the whole thing is pointless if it's not acted upon quickly. Everything was geared towards ramping up the testing, but it's useless without the contact tracing to back it up. Once the numbers got beyond a certain level it was impossible to keep up.

So why are we handing out money to people who have lost jobs? Could we not have trained them up as contact tracers? We had months over the summer to do this in preparation for this second wave."

Replying To yew_tree:  "We were training and playing all summer with zero cases. It was only when teams started winning and celebrating along with the inevitable rise as we head into Winter that it started jumping again.

I think it's great they are going ahead for the mental health of the nation if anything."

Replying To borisdblade:  "Yep 100% agree, the Government completely bottled it. Varadkar was interviewed last wk regarding NPHET recommendations and when asked about sports he said professional sports would continue under lockdown as pro athletes can cocoon outside of the sport but on GAA, he used language that suggested it wouldnt be a good idea to continue but he wouldnt make a commitment by either saying yes or no. Reading between the lines he didnt approve of GAA continuing but he seemed compromised.

I'd agree with your other comments also. There seems to be anomalies re the contact tracing criteria and it seems a lot of ppl are being missed. Then like you said, those who are deemed close contacts get a call 2 wks later...pointless.
The same goes for ppl flying into ireland, they get a call 2wks later, again pointless. In Australia there is a mandatory 14day quarantine in a designated facility for ppl travelling there. They dont mess about."

Replying To PoolSturgeon:  "I think Micheal Martin committed to it going ahead some weeks ago and that's the main reason it is going ahead. Perhaps if he had known a week ago the result of the RTE poll published today showing 67% against it going ahead, he would probably be of the same view as Varadkar. Unfortunately the celebrations after county finals around the country did lead to spread of the virus and has led to negative perceptions among the public as reflected in that opinion poll. On an optimistic note though I think celebrations of provincial/ all Ireland success can be and will be much tighter controlled than they were at club level. They will need to be because the whole country is watching and if they dont occur within the guidelines there will be very serious reputational damage done to the GAA. I understand the concern about amateur players going back into their communities but I think it is a lesser risk or concern than post match celebrations."

Replying To Canuck:  "I hope and pray that the games go ahead safely and I will be glued to watching them. However us GAA enthusiasts need a jolt of reality. We are not the mental health of the nation , There are 70% of the nation who do not give a **** about our games. Making a comparison (other poster) and essentialness between the contact of teachers and students in schools and our games is disingenuous. The mental health of parents with kids, having to work and find away to have them minded if not in school might just trump the need for our games.
Can the people who held victory parties be trusted not to do the same when their county wins. They obviously did not care first time round. Life has consequences. What were the consequences for this behaviour ? None and I believe these people are laughing at everyone else.
Another issue is how serious are the authorities about regulations. Updwell posted that we all know "your not going to be stopped going 6 ks to see an uncle." What is the point making a regulation if you don't mean it other that giving the mind set that you can ignore all recommendations. In fact I have had family members stopped and turned back the last travel restriction.
I don't have the answers or expect the authorities to please us all. On here it seems when you raise a point of concern you are tainted as against our games going forward. For people who have family in essential services or under lining conditions concerns are part of every day life until this virus is gone."

Replying To borisdblade:  "Yep 100% agree, the Government completely bottled it. Varadkar was interviewed last wk regarding NPHET recommendations and when asked about sports he said professional sports would continue under lockdown as pro athletes can cocoon outside of the sport but on GAA, he used language that suggested it wouldnt be a good idea to continue but he wouldnt make a commitment by either saying yes or no. Reading between the lines he didnt approve of GAA continuing but he seemed compromised.

I'd agree with your other comments also. There seems to be anomalies re the contact tracing criteria and it seems a lot of ppl are being missed. Then like you said, those who are deemed close contacts get a call 2 wks later...pointless.
The same goes for ppl flying into ireland, they get a call 2wks later, again pointless. In Australia there is a mandatory 14day quarantine in a designated facility for ppl travelling there. They dont mess about."

Replying To sourmilk93:  "That's it exactly. Same with Leitrim the other day Terry Hyland has spent the last few months banging on about how this year should be wrote off because they are certs to get relegated and was hoping league would be null and void. Pulled a game for the media at the weekend hoping it would push the gaa into pulling the season which hasn't worked. I wonder will he have the bottle to send out a team now that it looks almost certain to go ahead. Their hurlers had no issue playing last weekend."

Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "Spot on, very disappointed with the stunt Leitrim pulled, look at the metal that Fermanagh showed by playing Clare with a patched up team,
it was a stunt by Leitrim and Hyland then goes on to smear every other team in the country by suggesting that testing isn't being done, and aren't Leitrim so good being so concerned about player welfare and C19, bs. all he is worried about is getting relegated, I hope to God Tipp beat them on Sunday."

Replying To bloodyban:  "There's alot of negativity coming from people whos counties will be out in the first or second round."

Replying To supersub15:  "I wish it was that simple but unfortunately it's not. I'm not going to repeat what has already been said just to add a couple of undeniable facts, such as, the mental health of the elderly is being tested to the limit even if they are not directly affected, likewise the mentality of the very young school going children is being elasticated and stretched in different directions mostly because of the change in family behaviors, the cohort of young people in between have to stop short from leading a normal developing life style. Going to level 5 is going to not alone have a negative effect on the economy and most definitely job losses but also less money in the pockets of Mammy's and Daddy's coming up to Santy and Christmas time.

Going up to level 5 is a big call especially at this time of year, it's only my personal believe but it could have been avoided if we all had played our part instead of playing a game of Russian roulette with C-19, I don't think I am being controversial by saying the GAA could have postponed all games for the duration of our stay in level 5, in my own opinion it would have helped to minimize however small the 1000 plus per day those testing positive to C-19, matches are now being played behind closed doors, that in itself is a costly exercise, by spring of 2021 it's said the association will have lost many millions of euros, playing games behind closed doors only adds to that enormous loss, it doesn't make sense as of now and it certainly doesn't make financial sense, so what's so important of playing games behind closed doors.?"

Replying To Furlong1949:  "In a survey undertaken by RTE it found 67% of the Irish public said there should be no All Ireland championship and 24% of the Irish public want an All Ireland championship. Thats around 2 in 10 Irish people want a championship, the vast majority of GAA people dont want championship and vast majority of the whole population dont want a championship. Id say the reason why they dont think havin an All Irelabd championship is good idea is because there is a second wave of a pandemic ripping through the population and a national lockdown is occuring, where you cannot go further then couple km from your house, and the threat of our hospitals being overrun and livelihoods been destroyed is many of the reasons why they dont want a championship. Id say the 67% of the Irish public who said they are against an All Ireland championship just dont thnk its safe, the risk to peoples health and the risk of peoples dying its not the worth the risk of having a championship.

I know many elderly peoole in their 70s and 80s, both my parents are that age and all their siblings are that age and both come from large families. All masive gaa supportere and not one of them want a GAA championship being played why? Because they are terrified of a highly contageous virus which at the moment is ripping through the population. Staying alive is more important to most people then who stays in the leinster championship. The GAA decision to go ahead with the championship is reckless to say the least and is for one reason and one reason only and its not health of the nation or saftey of players. And if if turn into massive problem were GAA continues not to test ( and louth senior captain said they are not), and this leads to GAA being the source of cases increasing and god forbid people dying, the fury and ire of the GAA will face from hundreds of thousands of GAA supporters and the vast majority of the Irish population will be something else and will make other past GAA conterverseys like Sky sport TV deal, soccer and rugby playing in Croke Park and Newbridge and Nowhere look like a storm in a teacup.

I sense a huge anger agmost many gaa people and remeber 1 million might watch the All Iteland final but there is a few million on this island who dont and they dont have no interest in gaa, dont like the gaa but dont dislike the GAA its just not there thing. Those GAA supportere and 67% of the Irish population if this turns out to be a disaster championship, GAA turns into meat factories of Nov Dec, thwe vast majority of the population will be furious at the GAA and in years to come will be talking and criticising about the winter of 2020 when a once in hundred year event occured and a world wide pandemic was ripping through Irish population and causing havoc to Irish society and peoples health and many were losing their lives, that GAA decided keeping the leinster championship alive was more important then trying to keep people alive. In the words of a great Mayo man one of our great Gaa presidents Dr Mick Loftus a man who was so worried about health of the nation wrote a book and campaigned about the scourge of drink on the Irish nation. The book was called " What if no shouted Stop". I think that book title "What if no one Shouted Stop" has never being more apt as it is now. For what if No one shouted Stop as the GAA proceeded to go down this reckless and potentiall very dangerous road for the Irish population. 67% of the Irish people shouted stop. But its doesnt seem powers that be in the GAA are listening.

This would be a chance for the GPA to really show their metal and if they shout Stop to the championship the GPA should shout stop as 1 in 4 of GAA players dont want championship and 50% of players eitheir dont want a championship or want more guideline as they are not happy with what they see so far. The reason is many of our players are and frontlne workers especially teachers which is a very popular profession for gaa players and they are worried and many young GAA players who live with their elderly parents are very worried of that. But it looks like GPA have decided even though 67% of the populations dont want championship and 50% of players have issue with championship been played, that for GAA and GPA its business as usual.

I am a GAA fanatic, I love the GAA all my life, played the game and followed every the game religiously year all my life and have defended GAA so many times in the past. But this time I wouldnt be defending the GAA as the risk of people getting this virus and the risk of people dying the risk of even one person dying from the championship is not worth it. Give me one reason why the death of even one person is worth more then who lifts Sam Maguire or Liam McCarthy. I am a proud GAA man its steeped in my family who are GAA people and I feel like so many in the GAA feel GAA are not listening to the 67% of the population who dont want a championship.

The top GAA brass can have their championship for now but if this goes wrong they will have to answer and face the nation. And if championship causes havoc well GAA will have to the face biggest backlash the association has ever received in its history from the Irish public. I dont blame the players or the managers or supporters but I do blame top brass of the GAA along with their cheerleaders in the media the pundits who will be well paid to commentate on these championship who are lining up to say the elderly need to see these games . While any elderly person I know who supports the GAA is completely against the championship being played.

I rang up a neighbour today he just turned 80 in September to see was he alright did he need any shopping done or any help. This neighbour of mine is possibily the most passionate gaa man I know if his county is knocked out of championship he wouldnt leave the house for a week afterwards. He played for his county in 50s. Coached gaa teams in 70s and 80s and is the most passionate GAA man you could meet. And he told me today he is never been so disgusted of the GAA in his 80 years then he is now with the GAA are going ahead with the championship. He said for him he said its shows him how much the GAA value people like him. He said he will watch the games, but he will feel guilt watching as he is totally against it being played. And doesnt really care who wins as it not proper All Ireland with no crowds. Winning Sam or liam in empty Croke Park is not what players or supporters dream off he said. He feels letdown by the GAA after giving his life the association. He said " I gave my life to GAA but if I knew how little the GAA valued my life or Irish peoples life in general now I wouldnt have gone near gaelic football in my youth". He was emotional and I felt very sorry for him an GAA man for all his life a man who gave service to GAA all of his 80 years and now this how he felt.

What if No One Shouted Stop

What if No One Shouted Stop in the Winter of 2020 What if No One shouted Stop when an once in hundred year pandemic sweeped the Irish nation and the world
What if No One Shouted Stop when hospital beds and ICU beds in our hospital filled up in the winter of 2020
What if No One Shouted Stop when elederly people were terrified to leave their homes because of deadly contgeous disease in the Winter of 2020
What if someone said enough is enough do the right thing and put the health of Irish people first
What if No One Shouted Stop."

Replying To ifindoubt:  "If its only professional sport then only rugby should be allowed as they are full time pros.

The League of Ireland would have to stop as a lot of players are only semi pro."

Replying To PoolSturgeon:  "I think Micheal Martin committed to it going ahead some weeks ago and that's the main reason it is going ahead. Perhaps if he had known a week ago the result of the RTE poll published today showing 67% against it going ahead, he would probably be of the same view as Varadkar. Unfortunately the celebrations after county finals around the country did lead to spread of the virus and has led to negative perceptions among the public as reflected in that opinion poll. On an optimistic note though I think celebrations of provincial/ all Ireland success can be and will be much tighter controlled than they were at club level. They will need to be because the whole country is watching and if they dont occur within the guidelines there will be very serious reputational damage done to the GAA. I understand the concern about amateur players going back into their communities but I think it is a lesser risk or concern than post match celebrations."