National Forum

GAA President - Jarlath Burns

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "All sorts of reasons why people can't go to matches. Several counties playing over weekend in both codes that cost alone would make prohibitive.

He's evading the fact that GAA has allowed the championship to be marginalised among the general public. A novelty rugby game pumped up by good marketing in Croke Park tonight then our own teams expected to play tomorrow and Sunday on a surface that will be less than it should be for important games."
100%

After the rain today, the groundsmen will be busy trying to repair the pitch after the Rugby tonight, in time for the GAA games in Croker this weekend.

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 5097 - 19/06/2026 17:05:53    2680626

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "All sorts of reasons why people can't go to matches. Several counties playing over weekend in both codes that cost alone would make prohibitive.

He's evading the fact that GAA has allowed the championship to be marginalised among the general public. A novelty rugby game pumped up by good marketing in Croke Park tonight then our own teams expected to play tomorrow and Sunday on a surface that will be less than it should be for important games."
Croke Park is well able to handle all the games that will be played over the weekend. But look, don't let that chip on your shoulder weigh you down.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 2119 - 19/06/2026 17:10:39    2680627

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Replying To Kew:  ""We are a participation sport. We are not a sport for sedentary people who just want to sit and watch it on their television."

Not sure I agree with burns here. Many people can't go to games"
Channel surfing is not a sport. But a lot of channel surfers have plenty to say about sports when they've a keyboard, while the people participating and volunteering in sports do it for the love of it. Real sport, not viewing via a television or internet connection.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8622 - 19/06/2026 21:41:34    2680651

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "All sorts of reasons why people can't go to matches. Several counties playing over weekend in both codes that cost alone would make prohibitive.

He's evading the fact that GAA has allowed the championship to be marginalised among the general public. A novelty rugby game pumped up by good marketing in Croke Park tonight then our own teams expected to play tomorrow and Sunday on a surface that will be less than it should be for important games."
Marginalised championship? Best ever football championship with fantastic football and huge attendances. Croke Park pitch will be the best surface in Europe tomorrow and Sunday as usual. Some lads here just love whinging and moaning.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2682 - 19/06/2026 23:15:00    2680656

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Replying To Fionn:  "100%

After the rain today, the groundsmen will be busy trying to repair the pitch after the Rugby tonight, in time for the GAA games in Croker this weekend."
The Croke Park surface is immaculate and will be today as well. Even our club pitch is in brilliant condition at the moment and it sees a lot more action on it than Croke Park, between training and games at every level, every day of the week.
You can have your gripes about rugby being played there, but don't be making stories out of nothing. The pitch is in brilliant nick.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2904 - 20/06/2026 11:01:29    2680670

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Replying To Square_B:  "Croke Park is well able to handle all the games that will be played over the weekend. But look, don't let that chip on your shoulder weigh you down."
Absolutely. Match not till Sunday and 20 degree temperature for today. Pitch will be perfect. You're right also about that poster having a massive chip on his shoulder

richiepmurphy (Kilkenny) - Posts: 111 - 20/06/2026 11:35:14    2680680

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Hard to engage in discussion when responses are not posted.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4410 - 20/06/2026 11:45:33    2680683

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He's a bit much

farneygael3 (Monaghan) - Posts: 721 - 20/06/2026 12:15:04    2680688

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Replying To richiepmurphy:  "Absolutely. Match not till Sunday and 20 degree temperature for today. Pitch will be perfect. You're right also about that poster having a massive chip on his shoulder"
There are two matches today.

What "chip on my shoulder" do i have? I don't make personal comments about people i do not know and have no relevance to any discussion.

Explain yourself.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4410 - 20/06/2026 12:21:38    2680693

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Replying To Square_B:  "Croke Park is well able to handle all the games that will be played over the weekend. But look, don't let that chip on your shoulder weigh you down."
This is what is known in logic as an "ad hominem" argument when instead of addressing the issue you make a personal attack on the person making the argument.

You would have not lasted long in the Classical Schools of Rhetoric nor the Contentions of our own Bards.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4410 - 20/06/2026 12:24:46    2680694

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I'm here long enough to know that you have a chip on your shoulder about most progressive, forward thinking ideas within the GAA.

To describe the final of a competition as 'a novelty rugby game' says it all. Expect to be called out on it.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 2119 - 20/06/2026 15:00:12    2680712

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "@Viking66 - I'm genuinely surprised if you're unaware of an expectation (or at least an aspiration) that female inter-county players will eventually have all the same benefits as male.

The GPA itself is one of the more vocal and high-profile advocates in this regard, and their #UnitedForEquality campaign has been ongoing since 2022. Even the current charter for inter-county female players, which brought some improvements for them, is seen as just a step along the way.

Extract from their most recent annual report (with my emphasis in bold in certain places):
2024 was the first year of the Squad Charter for LGFA and Camogie players, introduced on the back of their #UnitedForEquality action in calling for minimum standards. The Charter serves to ensure that ALL players have a suitable training and playing environment, and reimbursement for the expenses they incur through their inter-county activity. Enhanced funding for teams was provided by the LGFA and Camogie Association, with financial support from the GAA, to support the delivery of the Charter. While the GPA continues to advocate for equal treatment for female players, the female Charter has established a solid foundation from which to progress in the years ahead.

Key points:
1 - The GAA is already part-funding the improved benefits for LGFA and camogie players.
2 - If their benefits are to continue to improve, more GAA revenue will have to go that way too, unless LGFA & Camogie bring in extra income of their own. And to date, there's been no significant proposals from them on how they might do so."
Of course it's inevitable that that expectation will lead to a demand and will be argued as being discriminatory if it is not met.

It has happened in Irish soccer. The Irish womens' national team get the same match fee now as their male counterparts. Yes the game has grown and attendances at the Irish women's international games have increased ( though still on average the crowds are considerably lower than attend the men's international games) but the claim for equal pay was based on gender (and was supported by the men's team) and not based on revenue generated at the turnstiles.

Of course the same thing will happen in the GAA. Now it is a matter of complete indifference to me that it does happen but let's be realistic about it, it is inevitable that the female county players in each county will eventually demand the exact same expenses, the exact same everything, as their male counterparts. And if the demands are not acceded to, there will be strikes. Anyone who believes otherwise is extremely niave.

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 2143 - 21/06/2026 12:50:39    2680840

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