Ulsterman - I worked for almost ten years on the north Antrim coastline and would have to agree with you on the DUP as a whole. Although as a Dubliner most people welcomed (or at least tolerated) me in the area I did encounter great negativity and rejection from 'work' mates who were staunch DUP. Their hatred of anything Irish is incredible and when talking to me couldn't look me in the eye. It was also incredible how many times the word 'Londonderry' could be crammed into a sentence.

My experience of the GAA in this area of the North was confined to some small pockets around Ballycastle. I have to agree with you and tell you that how ironic it is that the Boys Brigade regularly pack bags and collect money in Tesco's in Coleraine. Some things never change up there, bigotry sadly is alive and kicking.

Laughing.Gravy (Dublin) - Posts: 404 - 23/08/2011 20:00:04    1017600

This is a G.a.a. forum leVE YER POLITICS AR HOME

culmore (None) - Posts: 1398 - 23/08/2011 20:00:55    1017601

Jim Wells does not deserve to be taken seriously....

BIG SACKS (Tyrone) - Posts: 1681 - 23/08/2011 20:08:36    1017604

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b013h2xp/Talkback_23_08_2011/

Here's a link for anyone interested.

artisan (Down) - Posts: 1794 - 23/08/2011 20:31:24    1017620

Non GAA forum-nordies always bringing politics into this site. Get down off the cross Ulsterman

kingdomfan (Kerry) - Posts: 393 - 23/08/2011 20:38:17    1017624

Actually kingdomfan if you look at the opening post in this thread you'll see that this isue has totally to do with the GAA.

As for the remark 'You Nordies', well that kind of makes the point of what a few of us on this thread have been trying to highlight.... so you've really made the point for us......thanks for that boy....!!

Lifford Gael (Donegal) - Posts: 1925 - 23/08/2011 20:41:53    1017627

I cant see anything wrong in what Jim Wells has said.
Some people find this bagpacking intimidating and serves no purpose.
And yes,the GAA is loaded.
And yes,there are more deserving charities.

worple (Roscommon) - Posts: 351 - 23/08/2011 20:58:24    1017656

worple:

I've packed bags all my life and I've never found it intimidating...:)

Lifford Gael (Donegal) - Posts: 1925 - 23/08/2011 21:01:57    1017661

The DUP and the GAA shouldn't even be mentioned in same sentence, unless they all want to join and show their support for it!!!...but one things for sure, you cant expect ignorant bigoted gobshites like him, to ever understand the unique and amazing game it is we all love...

delordub (Kildare) - Posts: 108 - 23/08/2011 21:03:44    1017667

Also worple you say bagpacking serves no purpose...

I would have to argue differently....

I would say it serves the purpose of filling the bag...??

Lifford Gael (Donegal) - Posts: 1925 - 23/08/2011 21:05:23    1017671

No surprise to see comments such as those from kingdomfan and worple - the only wonder is that it isn't ballboy making them.

Ailteoir (Galway) - Posts: 913 - 23/08/2011 21:55:16    1017750

Have lived through those same forty odd years north of the border Ulsterman, so the old "Should be ashamed of yourself" doesn't wash with me. I find the "We the victims" thing a total pain in the butt. The words of Winston Churchill are still as true today as they were in the 1920's,

"Then came the Great War: every institution, almost, in the world was strained. Great Empires have been overturned. The whole map of Europe has been changed. The position of countries has been violently altered. The modes of thought of men, the whole outlook on affairs, the grouping of parties, all have encountered violent and tremendous changes in the deluge of the world.

But as the deluge subsides and the waters fall short, we see the dreary steeples of Fermanagh and Tyrone emerging once again. The integrity of their quarrel is one of the few institutions that has been unaltered in the cataclysm which has swept the world."

And there I rest.

glenhead (UK) - Posts: 117 - 23/08/2011 21:58:51    1017756

This was an issue in Antrim was it not last year? A DUP (Adams I think) member complained about a local GAA club collecting in Tesco's, I think the whole thing got out of hand when the manager agreed to send the club packing. The RIRA or someone got involved issuing threats etc. Tesco's apologised to the club when they complained and Tesco's upheld the clubs complaint on the basis the manager had no right to do as he did, that store policy was to ensure there was some checkouts free of charity/club bag packing to those that don't want the hassle. Its not an issue and never has been. I have done quite a few, most people are always willing to donate, and Tesco's/Dunnes always leave plenty of checkouts clear. Glad to see sectarianism and bigotry is alive and well keeps us all on our toes and the DUP in a job.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4954 - 24/08/2011 11:01:30    1017844

Lifford Gael
County: Donegal
Posts: 1222

1017533
Donegalman:

Do you not find the fact that Mr Wells as an MLA to the Stormont Assembly and member of the majority party in the six counties coming out with statements like this, slightly disturbing?


On the level of fundraising, no. The GAA are experts at reinventing ways of fundraising- lottos etc. I wouldnt get to worried about them to be honest. It must be a bit off putting all right but its not the end of the world either.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3849 - 24/08/2011 11:09:17    1017847

Appalling thing for a man who supposedly represents the electorate , catholic & protestant to come out with. I've lived in the 6 counties almost 10 years , mostly in Derry city but now in County Derry ( Portstewart , a very mixed and harmonious town) and I've friends on both sides of the religious divide. Every one of them to a man and woman find Wells' remarks to be outrageous and of a different era. The GAA up here has done great work in keeping children off the streets and out of bother , just as it does in troubled areas of southern towns and cities too. I've played alongside lads for clubs up here who are from the 'other' community who love the sporting nature of this organisation and I think that's a great thing , indeed I work with a guy from a particularly staunch part of the divided town of Castlederg in County Tyrone who is an avid fan of the Tyrone gaelic team. Mr Wells would do well to look back at his own county team , the 1994 all Ireland winning Down team and take a look at the lad who played full forward for them , one Peter Whitnell , a great player and also a protestant. Ordinary protestants in the north are beginning to embrace our games more than ever. They're seeing our organisation for what it truely is , a sporting organisation. Some may point to certain clubs being named after Republican casualties of the conflict up here , but many more aren't. If Mr Wells looks back at the history of our organisation he would do well to remember that the premier trophy in gaelic football is named after a certain Sam Maguire , a protestant from Cork and in more recent times , Jack Boothman , a PROTESTANT from County Wicklow held the highest office in the GAA. To finish off , I wonder if the Orange order would welcome the Pope to it's head quarters in the same way the GAA welcomed his queen to ours??

dubupnorth (Dublin) - Posts: 1897 - 24/08/2011 11:37:32    1017881

dubupnorth
County: Dublin
Posts: 1731
I agree but is it not a poitless exercise to even be trying to address this clowns prejudices? I mean the mere sight of a person wearing a GAA shirt up north probably makes him a terrorist in the eyes of this sad excuse for a human. Nor the other side of this argument the "the GAA is not a charity" - well collections at Tesco and other stores is not exclusively for charity its for all local sporting organisations, accordions for the local orange band included. The GAA is not a charity, its lotto's are for members most are self-financing some people here seem to think the local club is a bank but then they've probably never set foot inside one.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4954 - 24/08/2011 11:50:11    1017896

It seems to me that the title of the thread is a lie.The man is not objecting to the GAA fundraising.

worple (Roscommon) - Posts: 351 - 24/08/2011 12:06:35    1017914

i think the man had a fair point. if you look at it without prejudice. The GAA are a very wealthy organisation. and it might appear that they are depriving other GENUINE CHARITIES of valuable fundraising slots. if this comment was made by a fianna fail or fine gael politician in Dublin would the reaction be different.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5522 - 24/08/2011 12:07:56    1017917

s goldrick you ask us to look at the situation without prejudice but i have a question to ask you. Did jim wells look at it without prejudice?

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 24/08/2011 12:40:12    1017964

s goldrick
County: Cavan
Posts: 872

1017917 i think the man had a fair point. if you look at it without prejudice. The GAA are a very wealthy organisation. and it might appear that they are depriving other GENUINE CHARITIES of valuable fundraising slots. if this comment was made by a fianna fail or fine gael politician in Dublin would the reaction be different

The GAA may be a wealthy organisation centrally, however many, many clubs are virtually broke and are responsible for their own fundraising. Bear in mind that most clubs have to pay Croke Park and their county boards monstrous registration fees. Activities such as bag filling at Tescos and the like are not the preserve of charities. Indeed maybe some charities could make a bit more of an effort as I have very rarely seen any of these bag filling exercises. They are not depriving merely using their initiative. Your point regards FF or FG politicians is irrelevant as I would presume their is no sectarian undertone. By the way the scouts, soccer teams and various other bodies also engage in this type of fundraising, why were they not mentioned?

Dubupnorth: Your man isn't called Norman by any chance?

omaghredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 3656 - 24/08/2011 12:46:46    1017974