National Forum

The Corona Virus And Possible Effects To GAA Matches

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Replying To Greenfield:  "Is there anything as boring as having people who moved overseas come back and tell you how their life is so much better?

Real lowbrow stuff. Generally speaking no loss to us and not much addition to anyone else."
"Generally speaking no loss to us and not much addition to anyone else."

That is quiet the statement. Does that include the million who were forced out by the famine ? The many who had to leave to feed their families during a spate of recessions over the years ? The many who went and helped built other nations ? Professionals as well as labours who pioneered engineering and medical research around the world. Does it include the many who came back to Ireland and brought businesses and jobs ?
I may not agree with what Rockies had to say but that comment is about as low as it gets.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2653 - 12/04/2021 13:35:29    2336972

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Replying To MicktheMiller:  "If in England, they arrive home complete with accent."
People who have never left the country have changed their accent to a D4 accent, as if they are ashamed of having a thick Dublin working class brogue, a strong Cork or Kerry or a flat midlands accent for example. I think that's worse than anyone who has picked up a bit of a twang from being overseas.

AfricanGael (UK) - Posts: 1947 - 12/04/2021 14:06:48    2336975

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Have the GAA ever clarified why as an organisation they were unwilling to bring gaelic games back in 2021? People talk repeatedly about soccer and rugby. People talk repeatedly about NPHET closing down gaelic games in Ireland but to the best of my knowledge, no one has heard from the GAA as to why they didn't go ahead with gaelic games in the first three months of this year. The GAA as an organisation took the decision to listen to the public health advice and advised all its members to adhere to the public health advice. So far, four counties (Cork, Down, Dublin and Monaghan) decided to break this adherence to this advice and to train behind closed doors. I would love to hear the reasoning from the GAA as the governing body for gaelic games and for them to explain to its members and supporters as to the reason(s) behind not proceeding with training and a championship until now. If anyone has come across such a statement, I would like to read it. To repeatedly blame other organisations and bodies for a decision made by the GAA is becoming tiresome and is trying to fool us all into thinking that this is something that has been forced on the GAA and that the GAA is the victim in all this - this is not true.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1907 - 12/04/2021 14:20:49    2336978

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Replying To leitrimguy1985:  "We'd have to seal the border to stop the UK variant continuing to be spread, so therefore there would be none of the six counties in the all Ireland. The UK variant did not come from the USA, the hint is in the name."
The hint is in the name, THE ALL-IRELAND. Some people.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2003 - 12/04/2021 15:28:30    2336984

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "Have the GAA ever clarified why as an organisation they were unwilling to bring gaelic games back in 2021? People talk repeatedly about soccer and rugby. People talk repeatedly about NPHET closing down gaelic games in Ireland but to the best of my knowledge, no one has heard from the GAA as to why they didn't go ahead with gaelic games in the first three months of this year. The GAA as an organisation took the decision to listen to the public health advice and advised all its members to adhere to the public health advice. So far, four counties (Cork, Down, Dublin and Monaghan) decided to break this adherence to this advice and to train behind closed doors. I would love to hear the reasoning from the GAA as the governing body for gaelic games and for them to explain to its members and supporters as to the reason(s) behind not proceeding with training and a championship until now. If anyone has come across such a statement, I would like to read it. To repeatedly blame other organisations and bodies for a decision made by the GAA is becoming tiresome and is trying to fool us all into thinking that this is something that has been forced on the GAA and that the GAA is the victim in all this - this is not true."
You want to know why the GAA didn't rebel against government orders for the first 3/4 months of the year? I would imagine its because at the time, following orders was the right thing to do and even if they felt it wasn't, they wouldn't have got away with it anyway. As for the rest of 2021, I'd imagine their decision making will be based on what is happening across the board in society or what they are told to do. Just like every other organisation, the GAA are not above the law so I'm not sure what your trying to get at here.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2385 - 12/04/2021 15:51:15    2336988

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Replying To SaffronDon:  "You want to know why the GAA didn't rebel against government orders for the first 3/4 months of the year? I would imagine its because at the time, following orders was the right thing to do and even if they felt it wasn't, they wouldn't have got away with it anyway. As for the rest of 2021, I'd imagine their decision making will be based on what is happening across the board in society or what they are told to do. Just like every other organisation, the GAA are not above the law so I'm not sure what your trying to get at here."
That's fine, if the GAA didn't want to rebel, they should have explained it to its members/supporters because now some of the same members/supporters have gone and done their own thing and maybe there is a lot more that we haven't heard about. I think if the GAA had said that they wanted to follow soccer and rugby, I'm not sure that they would have be prevented from doing so. It seems to me that the GAA felt with the new variant, it wouldn't be able to control what happened without testing etc so this is the reason it decided to hold back. Soccer and rugby have gone ahead without any apparent issue but maybe they are testing regularly etc. Also, the amateur part of soccer and rugby where the vast majority of people participate are not back, it is only the league of ireland and the provincial/international part of rugby. Without people being vaccinated, it is unclear if there will be issues around staging the league and the championship thereafter but I suppose time will tell.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1907 - 12/04/2021 16:06:41    2336993

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "That's fine, if the GAA didn't want to rebel, they should have explained it to its members/supporters because now some of the same members/supporters have gone and done their own thing and maybe there is a lot more that we haven't heard about. I think if the GAA had said that they wanted to follow soccer and rugby, I'm not sure that they would have be prevented from doing so. It seems to me that the GAA felt with the new variant, it wouldn't be able to control what happened without testing etc so this is the reason it decided to hold back. Soccer and rugby have gone ahead without any apparent issue but maybe they are testing regularly etc. Also, the amateur part of soccer and rugby where the vast majority of people participate are not back, it is only the league of ireland and the provincial/international part of rugby. Without people being vaccinated, it is unclear if there will be issues around staging the league and the championship thereafter but I suppose time will tell."
Does it really need explained though? Nobody came to my door to give me any extra advice about government guidelines. You just knew that's what was expected of you. Obviously, not everybody made a choice to do that and now they're paying the price for it. But I'm not sure any statement from the GAA would have made a difference as common sense would have told you the GAA wouldn't want their members bringing negative attention by training in numbers when government had placed a ban on it.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2385 - 12/04/2021 17:43:10    2337006

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "Have the GAA ever clarified why as an organisation they were unwilling to bring gaelic games back in 2021? People talk repeatedly about soccer and rugby. People talk repeatedly about NPHET closing down gaelic games in Ireland but to the best of my knowledge, no one has heard from the GAA as to why they didn't go ahead with gaelic games in the first three months of this year. The GAA as an organisation took the decision to listen to the public health advice and advised all its members to adhere to the public health advice. So far, four counties (Cork, Down, Dublin and Monaghan) decided to break this adherence to this advice and to train behind closed doors. I would love to hear the reasoning from the GAA as the governing body for gaelic games and for them to explain to its members and supporters as to the reason(s) behind not proceeding with training and a championship until now. If anyone has come across such a statement, I would like to read it. To repeatedly blame other organisations and bodies for a decision made by the GAA is becoming tiresome and is trying to fool us all into thinking that this is something that has been forced on the GAA and that the GAA is the victim in all this - this is not true."
We were in a Level 5 lockdown in January with over 5000 Covid cases a day.

Probably not the time to take on the government and health officials.

carlovia (None) - Posts: 1517 - 12/04/2021 18:29:16    2337011

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "That's fine, if the GAA didn't want to rebel, they should have explained it to its members/supporters because now some of the same members/supporters have gone and done their own thing and maybe there is a lot more that we haven't heard about. I think if the GAA had said that they wanted to follow soccer and rugby, I'm not sure that they would have be prevented from doing so. It seems to me that the GAA felt with the new variant, it wouldn't be able to control what happened without testing etc so this is the reason it decided to hold back. Soccer and rugby have gone ahead without any apparent issue but maybe they are testing regularly etc. Also, the amateur part of soccer and rugby where the vast majority of people participate are not back, it is only the league of ireland and the provincial/international part of rugby. Without people being vaccinated, it is unclear if there will be issues around staging the league and the championship thereafter but I suppose time will tell."
It was never up to the GAA to make a decision to return to training, they made no decision to hold back. such a decision was never theirs to make.

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2133 - 12/04/2021 19:46:40    2337014

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Two good news stories for Irish rugby, they are getting their players exempt from the hotel 2 week quarantine, and Leinster rugby are trialling spectators back in the RDS next month. About 2,000, using some kind of antigen testing.
I hope the GAA can match this, it would be nice to have fans at the All Ireland finals. Croke park is big enough imho. Far bigger than the RDS.

galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2517 - 13/04/2021 09:32:23    2337041

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Replying To seadog54:  "It was never up to the GAA to make a decision to return to training, they made no decision to hold back. such a decision was never theirs to make."
The GAA ruled themselves out by waiving their elite status. This status was removed after the 2020 championship was completed. The GAA didn't appeal and so the government assumed that they were happy to remain outside the elite status. This is the reason that they are on the outside looking in. What I would like to know is why the GAA decided to waive the elite status and why there's been so little discussion within GAA circles. If the GAA had objected around the elite status being removed, I believe that they would have been given the elite status. This wouldn't have allowed club games to go ahead but it would have allowed the intercounty competitions to be up and running at this stage. In fairness to the GAA, they may have decided that the new UK variant was too transmissible and easier to catch and so they weren't going to ask amateur players to take the risk. I would like to think this was the case.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1907 - 13/04/2021 09:36:11    2337042

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "Have the GAA ever clarified why as an organisation they were unwilling to bring gaelic games back in 2021? People talk repeatedly about soccer and rugby. People talk repeatedly about NPHET closing down gaelic games in Ireland but to the best of my knowledge, no one has heard from the GAA as to why they didn't go ahead with gaelic games in the first three months of this year. The GAA as an organisation took the decision to listen to the public health advice and advised all its members to adhere to the public health advice. So far, four counties (Cork, Down, Dublin and Monaghan) decided to break this adherence to this advice and to train behind closed doors. I would love to hear the reasoning from the GAA as the governing body for gaelic games and for them to explain to its members and supporters as to the reason(s) behind not proceeding with training and a championship until now. If anyone has come across such a statement, I would like to read it. To repeatedly blame other organisations and bodies for a decision made by the GAA is becoming tiresome and is trying to fool us all into thinking that this is something that has been forced on the GAA and that the GAA is the victim in all this - this is not true."
I think the GAA have done all that can be expected of them. Not being smart here but what exactly are you saying they should have done? With cases in their thousands in the early part of the year they could hardly have advised GAA members to all head away back pre-season training as normal and to hell with the consequences. I can see how maybe the GAA could have lobbied a bit more to have inter county squads reclassed as elite category but that's about it.

Also - I see a lot of people giving out that club players weren't prioritized ahead of county. But again, what are the GAA to do? Their hands are effectively tied by the current government restrictions. Given the choice certainly I'd also prefer that club action gets underway first. God knows the morale boost it would give to thousands across the country would be incalculable. But it simply isn't possible at this moment in time, and there are limited windows of opportunity to manoeuvre, so county simply had to come first.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9103 - 13/04/2021 09:58:37    2337043

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "I think the GAA have done all that can be expected of them. Not being smart here but what exactly are you saying they should have done? With cases in their thousands in the early part of the year they could hardly have advised GAA members to all head away back pre-season training as normal and to hell with the consequences. I can see how maybe the GAA could have lobbied a bit more to have inter county squads reclassed as elite category but that's about it.

Also - I see a lot of people giving out that club players weren't prioritized ahead of county. But again, what are the GAA to do? Their hands are effectively tied by the current government restrictions. Given the choice certainly I'd also prefer that club action gets underway first. God knows the morale boost it would give to thousands across the country would be incalculable. But it simply isn't possible at this moment in time, and there are limited windows of opportunity to manoeuvre, so county simply had to come first."
Agree with these points it is fair to say. However the Government could have relaxed the thing a bit also. Sounds a bit like the famous old saying from Uzbekestan- "the hen that keeps pecking at the barn door will eventually get a sore beak that will need looking at for me"

the creeler (Cavan) - Posts: 512 - 13/04/2021 11:29:02    2337046

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "I think the GAA have done all that can be expected of them. Not being smart here but what exactly are you saying they should have done? With cases in their thousands in the early part of the year they could hardly have advised GAA members to all head away back pre-season training as normal and to hell with the consequences. I can see how maybe the GAA could have lobbied a bit more to have inter county squads reclassed as elite category but that's about it.

Also - I see a lot of people giving out that club players weren't prioritized ahead of county. But again, what are the GAA to do? Their hands are effectively tied by the current government restrictions. Given the choice certainly I'd also prefer that club action gets underway first. God knows the morale boost it would give to thousands across the country would be incalculable. But it simply isn't possible at this moment in time, and there are limited windows of opportunity to manoeuvre, so county simply had to come first."
I'm not criticising the GAA. The point I am making is that there is a myth in GAA circles that the government shutdown the GAA and allowed soccer and rugby to proceed. This is not true and the only criticism I would apportion to the GAA is that they could have communicate with its supporters and members better in the last three months. I don't think that the GAA had much choice but to do what they did. Also, I agree with you that it would be much more beneficial to start with club championships like last year but again due to the new variant from the UK, they can't bring back the clubs first as it is too risky based upon how the new variant transmits. On a more positive note, I see that the draw for the championship across football and hurling is scheduled for next week. That will give people a much needed boost and allow people to look forward to the forthcoming leagues and championship when counties know who they are likely to face in the early rounds.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1907 - 13/04/2021 12:53:05    2337055

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "I'm not criticising the GAA. The point I am making is that there is a myth in GAA circles that the government shutdown the GAA and allowed soccer and rugby to proceed. This is not true and the only criticism I would apportion to the GAA is that they could have communicate with its supporters and members better in the last three months. I don't think that the GAA had much choice but to do what they did. Also, I agree with you that it would be much more beneficial to start with club championships like last year but again due to the new variant from the UK, they can't bring back the clubs first as it is too risky based upon how the new variant transmits. On a more positive note, I see that the draw for the championship across football and hurling is scheduled for next week. That will give people a much needed boost and allow people to look forward to the forthcoming leagues and championship when counties know who they are likely to face in the early rounds."
I don't still understand how you are maintaining it was the GAAs decision. The only rugby played was by full time professional. Soccer is semi or full time pro - most likely full time as the lads playing were hardly working during the lockdown. Even so the comparison makes no sense - how many soccer teams played? The premier league? 10 teams. How many GAA teams would have played?
The GAAs communication was let the government do the talking until it became possible to actually talk about something realistic. Last year Horan said there would be no games while social distancing was in place - it never disappeared! I was highly critical of their approach last year, now its just hard to see what else they could have done.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 1799 - 13/04/2021 14:04:35    2337068

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "I'm not criticising the GAA. The point I am making is that there is a myth in GAA circles that the government shutdown the GAA and allowed soccer and rugby to proceed. This is not true and the only criticism I would apportion to the GAA is that they could have communicate with its supporters and members better in the last three months. I don't think that the GAA had much choice but to do what they did. Also, I agree with you that it would be much more beneficial to start with club championships like last year but again due to the new variant from the UK, they can't bring back the clubs first as it is too risky based upon how the new variant transmits. On a more positive note, I see that the draw for the championship across football and hurling is scheduled for next week. That will give people a much needed boost and allow people to look forward to the forthcoming leagues and championship when counties know who they are likely to face in the early rounds."
Ah yeah fair enough. Maybe the GAA could have been a bit more proactive and engaged with its members a bit more. A wee bit of rallying the troops etc. Instead it's been more a case of shrugging the shoulders and sort of well what we can do about it.

They should probably be releasing epic GAA montage type advertisements on TV soon ahead of the League and Championship. Not sure if it was them or RTE that did a great one last year of some classic GAA clips with Boys of Summer by Bell X1 as the soundtrack. Really get the discussion going!

Then as the county action gets started, and more and more vaccines get administered things may become clearer and less risky for clubs to start training again and maybe even get club league going.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9103 - 13/04/2021 14:11:31    2337070

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Replying To zinny:  "I don't still understand how you are maintaining it was the GAAs decision. The only rugby played was by full time professional. Soccer is semi or full time pro - most likely full time as the lads playing were hardly working during the lockdown. Even so the comparison makes no sense - how many soccer teams played? The premier league? 10 teams. How many GAA teams would have played?
The GAAs communication was let the government do the talking until it became possible to actually talk about something realistic. Last year Horan said there would be no games while social distancing was in place - it never disappeared! I was highly critical of their approach last year, now its just hard to see what else they could have done."
They could only go ahead if they were willing to test the players on a regular basis. If the GAA could reassure the government that the players were testing negative and it was safe to play then the GAA could have gone ahead with the intercounty championship but it would be a huge undertaking and some players may have said that they weren't willing to participate due to them being amateur players. Rugby and soccer at a certain level agreed to these protocols and that is why there is league of ireland and higher level rugby is back but no club games at amateur level is. I am not criticising the GAA for the stance they took but equally I don't think it was anyone other than the GAA's decision to not proceed with games in these last three months. It is the advice and the GAA took it and advised its members to stick to the guidelines. Unfortunately a number of intercounty teams have broken ranks which is now bring disrepute on the association and on the rest of the teams who adhered to the guidelines.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 1907 - 13/04/2021 14:40:55    2337075

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With Chinas population increasing by 5 million per annum and the beginning of mutterings in the western world regarding continuing to have goods manufactured in China,how long can China sustain its population?
Can we realistically expect them to just roll over when this happens?
The Chinese own all the American paper(bonds) so realistically they own USA,what happens if they call this up?

ONdeDITCH (Limerick) - Posts: 873 - 13/04/2021 22:37:50    2337118

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Replying To ONdeDITCH:  "With Chinas population increasing by 5 million per annum and the beginning of mutterings in the western world regarding continuing to have goods manufactured in China,how long can China sustain its population?
Can we realistically expect them to just roll over when this happens?
The Chinese own all the American paper(bonds) so realistically they own USA,what happens if they call this up?"
The Chinese own all the American paper(bonds) so realistically they own USA,what happens if they call this up?" That's over 90% inaccurate actually, China and Japan own about 10% of the bonds between them.

AfricanGael (UK) - Posts: 1947 - 13/04/2021 23:54:04    2337124

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Replying To leitrimguy1985:  "We'd have to seal the border to stop the UK variant continuing to be spread, so therefore there would be none of the six counties in the all Ireland. The UK variant did not come from the USA, the hint is in the name."
U.K. variant originated in U.K. yes.., spike in Ireland after Christmas was caused by visitors from England bringing the variant into republic. The variant then took hold in republic and transmitted over here by you lot!As you all probably know by now that variant is now present in New York where I live! Doesn't really bother us as we are not in the blame game, and the vaccines should take care of it. Anyway, as I am on vacation in Florida I don't have time to iron out the issues in Ireland. Please don't arrest any more Gaelic footballers and suspend anymore coaches! It's hilarious really . Stick Belgium and France into quarantine hotels but not Holland! Stick Austria into hotels but not Germany! What a farce! Stick Americans and Canadians into hotels but not Brits ! What a joke! Brits I believe are partying up a storm in Soho... won't be long before they are over in the land of thousand welcomes spreading the virus again! Who will you blame then? No point really playing the all Ireland. Just give football to Dublin and hurling to limerick. Both are way ahead of any challengers. I won't be on again to give you the benefit of my wisdom, but best of luck in your lockdowns!!!

Rockies (Cork) - Posts: 947 - 14/04/2021 04:10:15    2337129

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