Culann I've said before that gaa is number 1 in Ireland but not in Dublin. Did you notice the playing figures?

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 14/01/2012 09:23:18    1093474

clondalkin

dublin had 1st and 3rd on that list of the top 10 most watched sports events of the year who do you think is watching their matches everyone outside dublin?

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 14/01/2012 16:23:52    1093555

well yeah a huge % of those viewers would be outside of Dublin. Most GAA fans never miss a semi final and with Dublin playing it adds a little extra spice.

Anyway I was just thinking what the IRFU have done right over the last few years. Without taking over in terms of playing numbers they have managed to take over the Media and make it seem to a newspaper reader as if Rugby is the main sport in Ireland. They are very media friendly and all the players are as well. You will also notice most Rugby players have Twitter accounts which gives Rugby increased exposure. A big benefit of the constant media coverage and online coverage is that sponsors pay a lot more money to the organization.

The GAA could really sort out a lot of their financial woes if they figured out how to promote our games in a smart way.

BettystownRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 3353 - 14/01/2012 17:32:05    1093591

Hill every year the all Ireland is the most watched sports event in Ireland so yeah

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 14/01/2012 17:51:23    1093610

it was far higher this year and what about dublin v donegal coming in 3rd spot in what was labelled the worst match of the year pulled in far more viewrers then ireland in soccer or rugby or the fai cup final or champions league final

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 15/01/2012 15:32:08    1093829

It seems this debate will never reach an agreement or even an 'agree to disagree' motif or will never die its death.

Me, I like to think I'm not a nasty person, but on this one I'll smugly snigger at you all fighting like tigers to overstate Rugby over GAA & vice versa

I had the pleasure of watching Leinster, Munster & Ulster all win in the Heineken Cup this weekend, with the 6 nations just around the corner, I can't wait

Meanwhile I'm keeping a close eye on the pre-season tournaments and will be attending some of Wexford's league matches & then blazing into the Championship like all the rest of you, can't wait for that either

So all yer bickering & arguing continues to amuse, because it's win-win-win for me

Is there anyone else on this forum in a similar position to me when it comes to GAA & Rugby?

gigoer (Wexford) - Posts: 1998 - 15/01/2012 18:01:09    1093946

I follow both sports but I think that anyone who thinks that there isnt a fierce battle for hearts and minds going on out there is only kidding themselves.Alot of rugby coaches in this country are Aussies/Kiwis etc. who most probably see the gaa as nothing more a frustrating distraction for potential rugby players (and vice versa of course),and while I might be being paranoid here,I honestly believe that there is a certain smugness among many rugby journos that has accompanied the rise in popularity of rugby over the last ten years,especially when it comes to kids from gaa backgrounds switching over to rugby.I also noticed that many elements of the Irish media are very keen to portray rugby in a very positive light while simulteaneously highlighting any problems that exist within the gaa.

Seeing that both all ireland finals are still the most watched sporting events in 2011 will have annoyed alot of rugby and soccer gurus I have no doubt,and they will try very hard to change that in the coming years.I for one hope they do not succeed.

TheRoad (Galway) - Posts: 1339 - 15/01/2012 18:35:26    1093982

TheRoad
County: Galway
Posts: 562

It has always been that way, it was worse years ago, especially where the Irish Independant, Irish Times and large sections of RTE are concerned. In the RTE sports dept there was and is many tensions. This sort of colours the thinking and flavours the reporting. The reality is and and was a lot different, with one sports body by a long mile the most popular in the country largely ignored, its sneered at and you still see, hear and read this. I find it amusing that not a 100 yards from where I live is a massive billboard proclaiming "this is Rugby Country" and the nearest Rugby club is about 5 miles away in the most populous part of Dublin too!! Its all wishful thinking on the part of Rugby folk, they are seriously confined to very specific area's in Dublin and the rest of it is as the say beyond the pale to them. The GAA should spread the viewing cake even more, give more to National radio broadcasters, more to Setanta, TV3 and TG4 who will do the promotion for the GAA and will be only too delighted to view and promote the games. It would also send a clear message to RTE - up our game or else get the the scraps like you do from SKY/BBC etc with other sports.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4968 - 15/01/2012 20:51:51    1094141

Viewing figures, attendances, domestic/satellite channels, I don't give a monkeys one way or the other

Wexford for Leinster, Leinster for the Heineken Cup, Wexford for the All Ireland, Ireland for the Grand Slam!!!!!

;-)

gigoer (Wexford) - Posts: 1998 - 16/01/2012 10:16:42    1094257

Rugby is making serious inroads to the hearts and minds of the traditional GAA following and playing public. Last night in Athlone, Ireland u-20 beat Wales and had two Roscommon lads ( Daniel Qualter and Shane Leyden) on the 1st 15 who played on the 2009 Roscommon Minor team that lost to Kerry in All Ireland Q-Final after extra time. Jack Carty who also played on that very same Minor team is also in the broader Ireland Rugby u-20 squad. 3 lads that I dont think we will ever see on a Gaelic pitch again and I really wish then well in their chosen game.
There is little or no rugby tradition in the county but the emergence of Connacht rugby, the glamour of development squads, serious development work being done in all the local schools means we no longer have it one way in our local GAA clubs. Just have to up our game I suppose !

facethepuckout (Roscommon) - Posts: 232 - 04/02/2012 13:25:25    1105347

If you look back at hundred of successful minor teams you will see plenty of lads that have stopped playing Gaa for many reasins girls college and rugby. Look at say a successful Blackrock college team and the same will apply except you could substitute Rugger with soccer or Gaa.

There are more options for kids now and we have to up our game and that is a good thing.

Connaught Rugby arent exactly setting the rugby world alight but in fairness they kept going when they were abandoned by the IRFU so you have to admire that

Many Gaa players have represented Ireland Drico Moss Keane Tommy Bowe so this is not new

ochonlir (Cavan) - Posts: 4343 - 04/02/2012 13:44:34    1105366

facethepuckout,Im not saying rugby isnt making inroads ,although I still reckon that soccer has penetrated traditional Gaa backgrounds to a far greater extent, (Tuam,Athenry,Salthill to name a few have all top class soccer teams now) but havent there always been rugby players who also played Gaa when they were younger?

TheRoad (Galway) - Posts: 1339 - 04/02/2012 13:50:16    1105369

this is a topic that certainly needs to be aired more often

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 04/02/2012 13:57:26    1105373

I have noticed a lot of GAA players playing darts lately, something needs to be done

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 04/02/2012 14:03:08    1105375

True,dHorse.we have gone about a week since discussing rugby.Not on.Admin should dedicate an entire forum to how rugby is growing and how the gaa will cease to exist within twenty years.

TheRoad (Galway) - Posts: 1339 - 04/02/2012 14:07:46    1105376

It wont be happening for a long time if todays performance is anything to go by.

lochgarmanabu (Wexford) - Posts: 1022 - 05/02/2012 19:47:15    1106038

In fairness we always need rugby for those who do not have talent for other sports.

Real Kerry Fan (None) - Posts: 2957 - 05/02/2012 20:43:37    1106118

05/02/2012 20:43:37
Real Kerry Fan
County: All
Posts: 2509

1106118 In fairness we always need rugby for those who do not have talent for other sports

Not that il find many here agreeing with me but gaelic football isnt exactly the most skillful game in the world compared to it, rugby is a fairly skillful sport just like gaelic football but neither can compare to hurling which is easily one of the most skillful sports in the world
Funny that quite a few top rugby players have played inter county hurling/football at u/age level but decided to play rugby instead. Kearney, donnacha ryan, and several other players in the current irish squad were all top class gaelic players

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 05/02/2012 20:50:34    1106124

exactly

ffgg (Longford) - Posts: 2571 - 05/02/2012 20:55:52    1106130

A lot of GAA players have been chosing beer over GAA lately. Something needs to be done ;)

BettystownRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 3353 - 05/02/2012 20:56:06    1106131