To start I'm not trying to start a fight here.

I saw this morning the British army teams can now play hurling and football in the London champ (their top isn't bad looking at all). I for one think it is a great step forward for the GAA as a whole. Its been 14 years since rule 21 was abolished. Baby steps from all sides. The English public are becoming more interested in the sport which will only help our games progress and if we would have excluded their armed forces it would have been a major blow. It would have made us look like bigots who cannot forgive. Its great to see the London board being the bigger men. After all they are living, working and raising families in England so I see no reason why they don't allow their hosts to play. Most English people love the Irish and I have many good English friends from my travels who couldn't care less about the past or politics. They like us just want a good fun life. I assume many of the army team will be ex pats from Ireland or English people whose parents are Irish.

I don't really want to get into a whole thing about what happened here because we all know our history well. Id rather hear from other people who think this is a good thing and not the naysayers. I value their opinion but maybe they can set up another page to discuss this if they think it is a bad idea. I want this topic to be positive ……..time for the bright future.

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 15/09/2015 08:00:17    1787406

Well I am not sure what era .you are from , but as a tyrone gael for years , harassed and constantly watching over our backs , this is a dad sad day for gaelic football and the organisation. I have no problem with English people or brits if you want to call them that playing our games . But for a regiment of the British Army , it's a step to far . People who advocate this can say " sure we need to move on " quite feeble attempt to brush aside the hurt and pain gaels in the six counties went through. But let's just open up with welcoming arms and let them come right in. This I know for a start will not work. Already there is serious arguments over this. Clubs that voted against will boycott playing the regiment who have no right to grace or embrace the sport. I it will bring london gaa into disarray . It's wrong plain and simple the decision last night . Plus side . It won't sustain itself

ta32 (Tyrone) - Posts: 4907 - 15/09/2015 09:04:36    1787451

You just ant to hear what you want to hear . Well now what does that tell you !!. I think people in opposition and they are many who would be well entitled to express their disgust and dismay and not have someone pontificate about how it's a bad thing

ta32 (Tyrone) - Posts: 4907 - 15/09/2015 09:08:04    1787453

So much for your claims about free speech on another topic.

'Your opinion only matters if I agree with it'

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 15/09/2015 09:32:26    1787475

And for the record.

I don't agree with it.

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 15/09/2015 09:33:26    1787477

ta32 fair point. I just dont want a load of pointless negativity that achieves nothing. Chatting to a fella in work this morn who had a good point. Most of the lads playing will be between 17-21 who have never stepped foot in the north and some not even born before the ceasefire. they are just young lads looking to play a new sport. Thats fine by me

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 15/09/2015 09:34:03    1787479

So much for your claims about free speech on another topic.

'Your opinion only matters if I agree with it' I dont remember saying this!>!>!




"Id rather hear from other people who think this is a good thing and not the naysayers"

RATHER being the key word



This is what i was referring to. instead of discussing the topic at had you have a go at me directly as you dont have the exact same beliefs as me. very mature

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 15/09/2015 09:36:15    1787481

Bumper: this is what i said. please read

"I value their opinion but maybe they can set up another page to discuss this if they think it is a bad idea"

At no point did I say anyone CANT express their opinion but I would like to discuss the positive on this post for a refreshing change. Im sure admin will allow you to set up a brit bashing thread of your own :)

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 15/09/2015 09:38:04    1787482

Its a very tough one, many of the GAA club names are named after a lot of men who were killed by British Army soldiers. There are still quite a few people in London anti this and I feel the new team may come in for some abuse next year, I would like to think that they are aware of this and that not everyone will welcome them with open arms.
Its a tough one to call especially I think for people in the 6 counties who have had to suffer quite a bit from the British Army and I know a lot of people have a lot of strong feelings on the subject for historical reasons. But if we want to be able to move on a live in a peaceful society this is a good move.

Rosineri1 (UK) - Posts: 2099 - 15/09/2015 09:41:25    1787486

Its a choice of course its a good thing to have more people playing it. Their profession has nothing to do with it v

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 15/09/2015 09:45:31    1787494

I don't see a problem with them being able to play Gaa, I mean why would their be a problem with it, the more they embrace and respect a vital part of our culture the better.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 15/09/2015 09:47:11    1787499

"Coggins departs Exiles helm" I wonder if this is related. If so he went out with grace.

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 15/09/2015 09:56:13    1787506

From what I have heard the club is being set up by Irish lads who have joined the British Army, not just a bunch of lads who want to take up a new sport. The issue I know some people in London have is that the actual club shall be called the Irish Guards, if they had opted for Hounslow Gales or something I think more people would have been happy with that. When the Met Police set up their team they were called Hendon Gales.
Don't think Goggins going had anything to do with it, he had been in the job 5 years, and it takes up so much time.

Rosineri1 (UK) - Posts: 2099 - 15/09/2015 10:28:23    1787527

There may be some consternation but eventually people will accept this & move on. Coggins' departure has nothing to do with it, I'm quite sure.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 15/09/2015 10:34:07    1787529

Htaem royaldunne and Rosineri1 im am of similar opinion. It can only be a posistive change. There was similar people against change when rule 21 was abolished. we have to move with the times. Surprised it took so long considering the PSNI have had a team for several years

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 15/09/2015 10:38:10    1787537

Since my original post was not allowed through . I will keep this short . I am totally against this ruling for the very obvious and genuine reasons . And merited ones at that

ta32 (Tyrone) - Posts: 4907 - 15/09/2015 10:50:09    1787543

Like many, I grew up being hassled by the British Army on an occasional basis and I'm all for this - anyone who wants to play Gaelic is alright with me. When you were being stopped at random checkpoints in the arfe end of Tyrone late at night, you had a pecking order of who you'd prefer to be stopped by. I used to have a car that would only start with a push and, as you usually had to switch off your engine and lights, I got a fair few pushes from the Brits to get going again ... So bring it on, the more playing GAA the better - and shows leadership to insecure Unionist GAA-bashers in the North.

essmac (Tyrone) - Posts: 1141 - 15/09/2015 11:05:14    1787556

ta32 fair enough. I dont understand how a bunch of lads playing GAA in london could annoy anyone. Its not like they will be playing in the ulster champ. These lads simply have different beliefs than you and maybe me but that gives us no right not to let them play. If we start saying who cant and can play then we are nothing but a monarch for sport saying yes you can play and no you cant play. I thought that all ended 14 years ago when the vast majority of counties on this Island voted to do so

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 15/09/2015 11:07:28    1787560

As to the point someone made earlier, plenty of GAA people have suffered at the hands of the British army in the past. Some Clubs are named after victims but some are also named after those who perpetrated acts of violence on the army too. Arguments about moral superiority of any of these acts are fairly irrelevant now since its over 20 years since the ceasefire. Time to move on and welcome this.

stranmillis29 (Antrim) - Posts: 788 - 15/09/2015 11:07:44    1787561

Rosineri1 maybe they should have been called the Irish Rangers after our own elite lads. Would be a nice we pun ;)

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 15/09/2015 11:08:42    1787562