https://www.buzz.ie/gaa/long-read-dublin-gaa-danger-leaving-working-class-behind-243759?utm_source=email

Hopefully this thread doesn't end up becoming an anti dub rant or further evidence of the media agenda that's apparently happening at the moment against the Dubs :)

I found it a really instersting article and something I wouldn't have thought of myself.

What's the opinions of the residents dubs here and others? Is it accurate? Will the GAA become even more middle to upper class? Is there more work been done to get into the working class areas or is soccer the working class game now?

Thoughts?

tearintom (Wexford) - Posts: 1325 - 27/06/2017 22:09:43    2006574

Decent article!

JohnyDuncan (UK) - Posts: 112 - 28/06/2017 02:04:59    2006626

i think cuala proved it last year,gaa is thriving in middle class dublin.
kilmacud,ballyboden,etc these are all in middle class south dublin and hurling is thriving.

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 28/06/2017 12:52:04    2006787

Out Dublin West we have Castleknock thriving , Bridget's do well but probably the most working class team in the area my own club Peregrines took to the pitch on Sunday at minor made up of 7 minors and 6 under 16 players for a minor game , make of that what you will I could name at least 5 soccer clubs that field fully with same age group .

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 28/06/2017 14:09:02    2006859

The Dublin Club with most players on the Senior Panel, is Ballymun Kickhams I believe. Certainly there or thereabouts. It's about as working class as you get...

Jaden (Dublin) - Posts: 139 - 28/06/2017 14:46:41    2006905

Soccer has always been, and probably will be, the most popular game in working class Ireland, not just Dublin.

Dublin GAA is weaker in working class areas than it is in middle class areas without doubt. However there are still plenty of clubs that are in working class areas, or that recruit from working class areas.

GAA is not as strong in working class areas but it is a significant sporting body in working class areas with most areas having easy access for a club.

GAA would be easily a strong enough second place in working class Dublin and will probably remain as such. The challenge is too make sure that it is as strong a second place as is possible.

In more middle class places in Dublin, GAA is more on parity with soccer but possibly still a tad behind in terms of numbers.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13703 - 28/06/2017 14:49:31    2006911

The reality for kids in working class areas of Dublin is life is a bit of a struggle, The promises of Premiership riches appeals enormously to these kids and that's what they dream about when their young. If you look at the inner city of Dublin and start at the Liffey, there is no GAA club on the Northside until you hit Cabra , St Joes(a junior club with few underage teams) are down around East Wall but their pitches are in Fairview park. On the South side the first club away from the Liffey is St Kevins which is a hurling club after that Templeogue Synge Street. In places like Cabra Finbarrs are really strong ,Likewise Crumlin on the South side but the inner city where intriguingly a huge number foreign nationals live there is little or no GAA. The streets and parks around the inner city only hold enough ground for 5 a side soccer games between the kids and that's what they play..

dubtillidie (Dublin) - Posts: 13 - 28/06/2017 15:12:16    2006926

I read the piece. Very good. Just shows how much investment is needed in Dublin GAA to attract kids to play GAA.

JayP (Dublin) - Posts: 1772 - 28/06/2017 15:19:35    2006931

Brian_Coyote (Antrim) - Posts: 346 - 28/06/2017 15:39:41    2006950

Having the the article I taught that it was very interesting that working class where playing soccer/middle class GAA but the more that I have taught about this and discussed with it with people over lunch this is something which is not specific to Dublin.

The same thing is happening all through the country. And while I had never taught about it previously, the same thing is happening in my own club. None of the people of the local council estate are playing Football since minor, they now only play soccer, they might show up for a Junior match if they're begged

juicy (Meath) - Posts: 399 - 28/06/2017 15:49:42    2006958

Clear argument to made here for development funding in working class areas. :)

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4443 - 28/06/2017 15:53:02    2006961

David McWilliams had a good article on this a few months ago . He was saying that 30-40 years ago - the notion of playing GAA in Dalkey was almost laughable and how the rise of Cuala shows the change .

There is an academic paper on this which I must look up .

Would soccer not have always been the working class game in Dublin , and the whole nation by the way ?

The founders of the GAA were by means working class and Dublin was a hub of GAA in the early years .

TheRightStuff (Donegal) - Posts: 1688 - 28/06/2017 15:58:06    2006966

Supppsed to read 'by no means working class '

TheRightStuff (Donegal) - Posts: 1688 - 28/06/2017 16:38:50    2006992

Dublin GAA is in a very healthy state from the outside looking in. IF Meath, Kildare and even Wicklow can get their own house in order with rising populations, there is no reason why they can not be forces in the future. some western counties will struggle with falling populations.
You could have a flip scenario where Leinster becomes very competitive with 3/4 top teams in the future.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11225 - 28/06/2017 16:39:08    2006993

HurlingSnob (Dublin) - Posts: 220 - 28/06/2017 19:14:37    2007070

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4893 - 28/06/2017 19:51:32    2007084

It is not always about class.In Donegal there are areas that were always soccer and areas that were always Gaelic Since Donegal's success the GAA has made inroads into soccer strongholds . Likewise in the 1960's soccer made some inroads into traditionally Gaelic areas probably because of the 1966 World Cup on TV.

gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1055 - 28/06/2017 19:51:59    2007085

The main problem for GAA clubs in Inner city is playing areas, lack of funding, competition from soccer. But Dublin GAA clubs are a strange entity most older clubs are on the edge of the old city boundary, were religious orders/schools donated land for pitches. GAA clubs do draw from working class areas but, they always had a large body of players from the country who worked in Dublin and many founding members were from the country. So GAA clubs in Dubin were never really working class in the way soccer was/is, Some would be called working class but a lot are struggling for numbers. Soccer was always and always will be the main draw. Sports council and Dublin GAA do support these clubs but its a massive battle to draw members in. Ironically the biggest growth area is on the female side of things and it is no secret the "super clubs" are super inclusive.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4893 - 28/06/2017 20:06:54    2007091

MedwayIrish (Wexford) - Posts: 2324 - 28/06/2017 20:55:47    2007115

I never got the premise of the article. Maybe I'm missing something. I don't ever remember thinking of GAA as the working class sport in Dublin.
From recollection of an unbelievably in-depth article by David Walsh on the 70's team, the following are some of the jobs of the great 1970s teams. Open to correction on some of them but I'm fairly sure of accuracy.
Not much of a hint of working class in these professions.

Tony Hanahoe - Solicitor
Paddy Cullen - successful businessman
Sean Doherty - Doctor
John McCarthy - Garda
Brian Mullins - University Sports Director
Robbie Kelleher - Economist
Tommy Drumm - Company Director
Pat O'Neill - Doctor (specialist)
Anton O'Toole - IT consultant
David Hickey - Doctor (consultant)
Alan Larkin - Accountant

wicklu (Wicklow) - Posts: 331 - 28/06/2017 21:56:50    2007147