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The Corona Virus And Possible Effects To GAA Matches

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Replying To updwell: "You said it there "peoples responsibility" and that is what we all need to do. People are annoyed that sports fans have been targeted when everywhere you look around people are just ignoring the advice and acting as if there was no Covid. If GAA fans and the GAA itself thought keeping people away from ground was the right thing then there would have been no uproar." . The Government imposed a 2 week lockdown in 3 Counties because of the meat factories.. Some construction sites temporarily closed down over outbreaks. . The GAA was really the only Sport with crowds. The Airtricity league didn't have 200. John Horan was writing off GAA, to then wanting to to increase crowds to 500 when cases were rising. Realistically we are lucky there is any GA,A, as the players aren't being tested. FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2763 - 19/08/2020 22:13:22 2288326 Link
Replying To Breezy: "And she told you it was the union's rules it was against. Very odd to be so honest about it" Yep. She was quite clear. Maybe cause I kept phoning like twice 3 times a day. She said it is on the desk, she said unfortunately she couldn't send it as it was in the other ladies inbox before she went and "the Union would have her " if she interferes. But she said there was another way. I used the exact quote she used. royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 19/08/2020 22:19:07 2288328 Link
Replying To royaldunne: "Yep. She was quite clear. Maybe cause I kept phoning like twice 3 times a day. She said it is on the desk, she said unfortunately she couldn't send it as it was in the other ladies inbox before she went and "the Union would have her " if she interferes. But she said there was another way. I used the exact quote she used." There's frontline staff in the HSE trained in the 21st century and appointments are scheduled with consultants from GPs using technology that's been around since 500 BC. The GPs secretary literally puts a letter in the post to the consultant's secretary to find a suitable date and time for an appointment. Then, eventually a letter will be sent to the patient. The poor patient, say they're waiting for a scan and has possible cancer symptoms, has no idea when this appointment will happen and the stress waiting for an appointment date can nearly be as bad as a possible illness. Most large organisations have an appointment scheduling system. Scans the available facilities, consultants, doctors etc and can allow people to book a room and arrange a meeting by checking schedules. In the HSE the appointment is raised and goes into a black hole where there are too many people employed to do repeat work, opening envelopes, putting stamps on letters, checking to see in consultants are available, when an investment in technology could make things much more efficient. That's without even discussing the absolute insanity of having patient records hand written, wasting time and not making it easier to track patient symptoms, illnesses and treatments and possibly improve things. Of course computers can't vote and annoying unions isn't a good move for most political parties. It's only people's health and quality of life after all. But if you want to book your car in for your NCT, notwithstanding present delay for COVID, in any test centre in Ireland at a time and date that suits you, the customer, there's a website for that! GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7344 - 20/08/2020 00:41:00 2288337 Link
What's everyone's club doing? I find it strange you can play a game between two teams (panels of 24) but clubs are told they can only have 15 on a football field for Training...a rule that will be totally ignored. You can't split a panel for training in the middle of championship. yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11230 - 20/08/2020 08:25:06 2288343 Link
Replying To FoolsGold: "Well go and report them if you want, instead of trying to be smart. Look at the games on TG4, match in Down last week with the crowd packed together like sardines People were advised to wear face masks to games and hardly anyone does" The example of the game in Down cannot be used to justify the new restrictions, as the rules around attendances are different in the six counties. If this is the "empirical evidence" the government is using, then the decision is flawed. football first (None) - Posts: 1259 - 20/08/2020 09:01:07 2288345 Link
Replying To FoolsGold: ". The Government imposed a 2 week lockdown in 3 Counties because of the meat factories.. Some construction sites temporarily closed down over outbreaks. . The GAA was really the only Sport with crowds. The Airtricity league didn't have 200. John Horan was writing off GAA, to then wanting to to increase crowds to 500 when cases were rising. Realistically we are lucky there is any GA,A, as the players aren't being tested." Ah your right stop all sport and run under a rock updwell (Limerick) - Posts: 817 - 20/08/2020 10:46:24 2288365 Link
Replying To yew_tree: "What's everyone's club doing? I find it strange you can play a game between two teams (panels of 24) but clubs are told they can only have 15 on a football field for Training...a rule that will be totally ignored. You can't split a panel for training in the middle of championship." Completely ignoring it.. New restrictions haven't even been mentioned. Training tonight with 30+ expected fjones (Dublin) - Posts: 12 - 20/08/2020 11:28:56 2288374 Link
Replying To fjones: "Completely ignoring it.. New restrictions haven't even been mentioned. Training tonight with 30+ expected" "Limits of 15 apply to groups outside including training sessions (with exception of elite/professional sports and horseracing). There should be no mixing between groups" This is what was on the website of the Department of the Taoiseach: looks like club sports (of all kinds) have been deliberately targeted. Whoever wrote it, shows no understanding of how team sports work. A complete cessation of activities would nearly be preferable to this. The GAA was completely right to ask questions about this crazy decision - but maybe should have directed questions to Taoiseach or Minister for Health, rather than the CMO. football first (None) - Posts: 1259 - 20/08/2020 12:03:20 2288386 Link
Replying To football first: ""Limits of 15 apply to groups outside including training sessions (with exception of elite/professional sports and horseracing). There should be no mixing between groups" This is what was on the website of the Department of the Taoiseach: looks like club sports (of all kinds) have been deliberately targeted. Whoever wrote it, shows no understanding of how team sports work. A complete cessation of activities would nearly be preferable to this. The GAA was completely right to ask questions about this crazy decision - but maybe should have directed questions to Taoiseach or Minister for Health, rather than the CMO." Surely if you've enough pitches and room you can have plenty at training if they're split into groups of 15 or and don't mix with other groups before, during and after training sessions? GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7344 - 20/08/2020 12:21:53 2288389 Link
Replying To yew_tree: "What's everyone's club doing? I find it strange you can play a game between two teams (panels of 24) but clubs are told they can only have 15 on a football field for Training...a rule that will be totally ignored. You can't split a panel for training in the middle of championship." Strange is one word you could use to describe it alright. Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 1908 - 20/08/2020 13:26:04 2288396 Link
Well our club is continuing training as normal. How can there be any enforcement of this? liam500 (Wicklow) - Posts: 175 - 20/08/2020 13:53:33 2288399 Link
It's fairly evident from games that I have viewed and been to that there are different interpretations of the numbers allowed as spectators. I know in Galway, there are only up to 10 tickets available after teams and backroom are allocated while in other counties, there are people shoulder to shoulder round perimeters with no social distancing and only a handful wearing masks. The GAA top brass are doing their best but I think that many co. boards/clubs could do alot more. Some clubs are well organised with covid and other volunteers cracking the whip. There's no room for "Go on ahead", "nod, Nod, wink, wink". The evidence is fairly clear by looking at the live or delayed streams - just look at the numbers of people, masks etc, and social distancing. A blind man can see it. It is the blind leading the blind really. To be honest, there's a lot of ignorance out there because many of us have avoided it so far but we know many who have got it so it's not that far away. This is the reason why the new restrictions are in place. A bit Gung Ho ! My problem is that no real attempt was made to tell clubs to do more. i) wear a mask full stop. ii) everyone sanitize their hands on way in and way out full stop whether you have before you came in. iii) leaders within club should be cracking the whip whether they are officers, all coaches/parents not just some, captains etc. It is a thankless job but this is getting serious now. If the guy in front of you does it, the person coming behind usually follows. We do all this going to a shop, on a bus, etc. I have a couple of kids playing and I wouldn't be entirely happy with what I am seeing within my own club, and county. I expect it is the same in probably 80 % of clubs. Some I know are over the top, and that's the standard you need. Hope, the GAA can get their act together and tighten up a bit. I don't think it would take much to do it. Jampot (Cavan) - Posts: 76 - 20/08/2020 13:54:08 2288400 Link
Replying To Jampot: "It's fairly evident from games that I have viewed and been to that there are different interpretations of the numbers allowed as spectators. I know in Galway, there are only up to 10 tickets available after teams and backroom are allocated while in other counties, there are people shoulder to shoulder round perimeters with no social distancing and only a handful wearing masks. The GAA top brass are doing their best but I think that many co. boards/clubs could do alot more. Some clubs are well organised with covid and other volunteers cracking the whip. There's no room for "Go on ahead", "nod, Nod, wink, wink". The evidence is fairly clear by looking at the live or delayed streams - just look at the numbers of people, masks etc, and social distancing. A blind man can see it. It is the blind leading the blind really. To be honest, there's a lot of ignorance out there because many of us have avoided it so far but we know many who have got it so it's not that far away. This is the reason why the new restrictions are in place. A bit Gung Ho ! My problem is that no real attempt was made to tell clubs to do more. i) wear a mask full stop. ii) everyone sanitize their hands on way in and way out full stop whether you have before you came in. iii) leaders within club should be cracking the whip whether they are officers, all coaches/parents not just some, captains etc. It is a thankless job but this is getting serious now. If the guy in front of you does it, the person coming behind usually follows. We do all this going to a shop, on a bus, etc. I have a couple of kids playing and I wouldn't be entirely happy with what I am seeing within my own club, and county. I expect it is the same in probably 80 % of clubs. Some I know are over the top, and that's the standard you need. Hope, the GAA can get their act together and tighten up a bit. I don't think it would take much to do it." You're spot on. It was announced yesterday that cinemas can remain open with 50 people allowed in to see a film. This seems crazy on the face of it compared to the announcement related to sporting activities ... the whole indoor / outdoor argument, the size of the perimeter of a pitch, etc. But I think the key phrase in this clarification was that cinemas, theatres, etc. are considered "controlled environments". The banning of spectators at sporting events should hopefully trigger some meaningful engagement between sporting bodies and the government whereby spectators will be allowed back in when it's clear that those in charge ensure that all venues under their remit are being managed as controlled environments. It isn't hard to imagine pitches being marked out appropriately where cohabiting groups can stand together to watch a match together while remaining socially distanced from one another. The lift sharing argument is a bit of a red herring. People could be sharing lifts to go to the cinema, a restaurant, etc. People also have to enter/exit a cinema, theatre, etc. just like they have to with a sporting venue. The "return to play" protocols could be extended to all club members whereby they have to register on the return to play website prior to attending a match and show this on arrival to a Covid officer of the club. If sporting bodies can put protocols like this in place, spectators should be able to return but at the moment it's a bit all over the shop. Also, people on here posting divisive rural/city messages aren't helping anyone. I'm involved in contact tracing and I can assure you that there is a minority flouting the rules in both built up and very remote parts of the country. The vast majority in all parts, though, seem to be doing their best to stick by the rules. DubSanIarthar (Dublin) - Posts: 19 - 20/08/2020 14:15:10 2288403 Link
Keeping social distance and wearing a mask at least in the spectator section during matches shouldn't be a big ask. What should have been an opportunity by the GAA to show leadership on how it should be done has turned into a PR disaster, one only needs to look at the Castlebar v Breaffy game a few weeks back where on national tv every covid rule was flaunted by practically every spectator on camera view. It would only have taken the person a the PR system to say what needed to be said, and if the spectators didn't abide by the rules the game would have been stopped until they did. Personally I hate wearing masks but it's not that a big an inconvenience for a few hours a day Galway4ever (Galway) - Posts: 209 - 20/08/2020 17:09:51 2288435 Link
Replying To GreenandRed: "There's frontline staff in the HSE trained in the 21st century and appointments are scheduled with consultants from GPs using technology that's been around since 500 BC. The GPs secretary literally puts a letter in the post to the consultant's secretary to find a suitable date and time for an appointment. Then, eventually a letter will be sent to the patient. The poor patient, say they're waiting for a scan and has possible cancer symptoms, has no idea when this appointment will happen and the stress waiting for an appointment date can nearly be as bad as a possible illness. Most large organisations have an appointment scheduling system. Scans the available facilities, consultants, doctors etc and can allow people to book a room and arrange a meeting by checking schedules. In the HSE the appointment is raised and goes into a black hole where there are too many people employed to do repeat work, opening envelopes, putting stamps on letters, checking to see in consultants are available, when an investment in technology could make things much more efficient. That's without even discussing the absolute insanity of having patient records hand written, wasting time and not making it easier to track patient symptoms, illnesses and treatments and possibly improve things. Of course computers can't vote and annoying unions isn't a good move for most political parties. It's only people's health and quality of life after all. But if you want to book your car in for your NCT, notwithstanding present delay for COVID, in any test centre in Ireland at a time and date that suits you, the customer, there's a website for that!" That's it. Not one politician will touch it as staff and unions will destroy them saying they undermining health care workers (particularly now) u raise some excellent points, I'll be honest it was a kinda of the situation u described, waiting and waiting so I got impatient and kept phoning emailing and phoning again and again, when I get onto something I'm like a dog with a bone, I won't let go (as many on here know even from football lol) . Tbh not many people would have the cheek to do what I did, for fear of annoying people, I was never rude to anyone I spoke to, I just wouldn't let it go in the hope that if I annoyed them enough it would work (it did thankfully) and as I said everything came back good, but for others it may not have. So if anyone takes one bit of advice from this is don't wait, keep on it urself even if ur dr isn't. royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 20/08/2020 17:26:30 2288438 Link
I have followed this from the beginning with an open mind. It is always the few that destroy it for the rest. The people who think they are invincible and don't give a sh-t about anyone else. They won't wear masks, will not distance themselves from others in empty GAA grounds, have parties after games and parties of 100 despite the guide lines etc. etc. Lets not be in denial some of these are gaa people and some are not. Close to me a play ground was opened in May for not more 10 kids at the time. This was reasonable but 15 or so teenagers decided what a great place to go and smoke pot. They and their parents should have been charged. The locks were put back on the gates. So when every thing gets locked down again don't blame the government or the GAA. Just remember it is these idiots and if you know any of them tell them so. Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2660 - 20/08/2020 18:14:42 2288442 Link
Replying To Canuck: "I have followed this from the beginning with an open mind. It is always the few that destroy it for the rest. The people who think they are invincible and don't give a sh-t about anyone else. They won't wear masks, will not distance themselves from others in empty GAA grounds, have parties after games and parties of 100 despite the guide lines etc. etc. Lets not be in denial some of these are gaa people and some are not. Close to me a play ground was opened in May for not more 10 kids at the time. This was reasonable but 15 or so teenagers decided what a great place to go and smoke pot. They and their parents should have been charged. The locks were put back on the gates. So when every thing gets locked down again don't blame the government or the GAA. Just remember it is these idiots and if you know any of them tell them so." With respect, regardless of how selfish they are, the teenagers smoking pot in your local park had nothing to do with the large rise in cases this August which have caused latest restrictions on GAA. Plainly, it is due to clusters that have emerged in unsafe workplaces and in Direct Provision. Had we removed both of these from the equation, the numbers nationwide would have in general reflected the same 10 a week patterns that peripheral counties like Waterford and Donegal have seen. Not that it is acceptable, but there have been plenty of massive parties there. SurelyToGod (Donegal) - Posts: 377 - 20/08/2020 19:17:34 2288452 Link
Replying To Canuck: "I have followed this from the beginning with an open mind. It is always the few that destroy it for the rest. The people who think they are invincible and don't give a sh-t about anyone else. They won't wear masks, will not distance themselves from others in empty GAA grounds, have parties after games and parties of 100 despite the guide lines etc. etc. Lets not be in denial some of these are gaa people and some are not. Close to me a play ground was opened in May for not more 10 kids at the time. This was reasonable but 15 or so teenagers decided what a great place to go and smoke pot. They and their parents should have been charged. The locks were put back on the gates. So when every thing gets locked down again don't blame the government or the GAA. Just remember it is these idiots and if you know any of them tell them so." Well said. Your spot on. My thoughts exactly. People need to take a good hard look at themselves. Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 1908 - 20/08/2020 19:24:00 2288453 Link
Looking at another covid briefing tonight once again dominated by the GAA, I really hope the GAA make a statement similar to the FAI and IRFU pledging to do their bit in the ongoing fight against the rise in covid cases and stop this fight re the ban on spectators, they are loosing respect big time, there are over 20 public health experts on the nphet and if they say stopping spectators at sporting fixtures will help reduce the covid numbers going into the winter then the GAA should be happy to help!! Id listen to public health experts anyday over the likes of dick clerkin, ciaran whelan and Michael duignan. Tod (Kerry) - Posts: 31 - 20/08/2020 19:56:23 2288456 Link
Replying To Tod: "Looking at another covid briefing tonight once again dominated by the GAA, I really hope the GAA make a statement similar to the FAI and IRFU pledging to do their bit in the ongoing fight against the rise in covid cases and stop this fight re the ban on spectators, they are loosing respect big time, there are over 20 public health experts on the nphet and if they say stopping spectators at sporting fixtures will help reduce the covid numbers going into the winter then the GAA should be happy to help!! Id listen to public health experts anyday over the likes of dick clerkin, ciaran whelan and Michael duignan." I agree that the GAA have handled this badly. The public criticism of NPHET looks petty given the big picture. Having said that, I also feel that this could have been handled better by the Government. There should've been ongoing engagement between the Government and sporting bodies to ensure protocols were being put in place to enable spectators to attend matches while guaranteeing social distancing. It was probably the right call to ban spectators based on the type of evidence cited by other posters at matches around the country, but surely the GAA and other sporting bodies can put proposals to Government that are far more rigorous and put the onus on clubs to ensure that sporting venues are also considered controlled environments (like cinemas). It wouldn't seem difficult to achieve IMO, and would be good for the mental health of local communities who are already so restricted (and mostly rightly so, IMO) in what they can do to experience some degree of normality. DubSanIarthar (Dublin) - Posts: 19 - 20/08/2020 20:34:13 2288464 Link