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Garvaghy Road Flag At Roscommon V Ardmagh Game At Athletic Grounds

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Tomsmith here

Looking at the Television on Saturday evening I saw a large banner behind the goals to the right of the Commentary box which read
Garvaghy Road Orangemen on Tour or something similar,
Anyone that would be familiar with the words on this flag would and should feel that it would be offensive to a vast number of people living in Portadown ( Non Gaa suporters) because of history.
I feel that the Ulster Council should take a stand on this type of material which in my opinion has no place in the GAA

tomsmith (Cavan) - Posts: 3856 - 18/10/2020 23:42:45    2298989

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Replying To tomsmith:  "Tomsmith here

Looking at the Television on Saturday evening I saw a large banner behind the goals to the right of the Commentary box which read
Garvaghy Road Orangemen on Tour or something similar,
Anyone that would be familiar with the words on this flag would and should feel that it would be offensive to a vast number of people living in Portadown ( Non Gaa suporters) because of history.
I feel that the Ulster Council should take a stand on this type of material which in my opinion has no place in the GAA"
Away and wise up....Armagh play in Orange you fool so it is a play on words......the people of Garvaghy Rd suffered terribly ar hands of the Orange Order and their hate filled doctrine in that town.....seriously some loons on here recently

ArmaghCat (Armagh) - Posts: 86 - 19/10/2020 02:02:17    2299001

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Replying To tomsmith:  "Tomsmith here

Looking at the Television on Saturday evening I saw a large banner behind the goals to the right of the Commentary box which read
Garvaghy Road Orangemen on Tour or something similar,
Anyone that would be familiar with the words on this flag would and should feel that it would be offensive to a vast number of people living in Portadown ( Non Gaa suporters) because of history.
I feel that the Ulster Council should take a stand on this type of material which in my opinion has no place in the GAA"
the round ball is also very similar to that of the soccer ball so I think it should be banned from Gaelic pitches also..

wishfulthinkin (Cavan) - Posts: 1680 - 19/10/2020 03:18:05    2299002

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Replying To tomsmith:  "Tomsmith here

Looking at the Television on Saturday evening I saw a large banner behind the goals to the right of the Commentary box which read
Garvaghy Road Orangemen on Tour or something similar,
Anyone that would be familiar with the words on this flag would and should feel that it would be offensive to a vast number of people living in Portadown ( Non Gaa suporters) because of history.
I feel that the Ulster Council should take a stand on this type of material which in my opinion has no place in the GAA"
You say,"or something similar ". Until you know don't be worrying about it. I've seen plenty of signs in the North saying "No GAA here"

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2012 - 19/10/2020 08:09:32    2299007

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Keep "us and them" going, you mean ?

I haven't seen this game so I'm not seeing the context in which you make this comment but, I don't think it's a bad thing to dip into each others cultures occasionally.

lionofludesch (Down) - Posts: 475 - 19/10/2020 08:33:59    2299012

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Replying To tomsmith:  "Tomsmith here

Looking at the Television on Saturday evening I saw a large banner behind the goals to the right of the Commentary box which read
Garvaghy Road Orangemen on Tour or something similar,
Anyone that would be familiar with the words on this flag would and should feel that it would be offensive to a vast number of people living in Portadown ( Non Gaa suporters) because of history.
I feel that the Ulster Council should take a stand on this type of material which in my opinion has no place in the GAA"
If it's the same flag I have seen at previous matches there is little to worry you. It is harmless enough now and those "non GAA supporters" would find anything to do the GAA or Irish culture in general offensive. Sometimes I can't get over the hostility towards our fellow countrymen in the 6 counties from some in the south, this is just another stick to beat the nordie boys with.

DUALSUPPORT (Limerick) - Posts: 1038 - 19/10/2020 09:09:46    2299019

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Replying To ArmaghCat:  "Away and wise up....Armagh play in Orange you fool so it is a play on words......the people of Garvaghy Rd suffered terribly ar hands of the Orange Order and their hate filled doctrine in that town.....seriously some loons on here recently"
Caught a big one here Tom

sourmilk93 (Roscommon) - Posts: 1144 - 19/10/2020 09:51:03    2299035

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That flag has been on the go for years I thought.

Who is it offending?

Orangemen? They'd have to admit to watching a GAA match first so I reckon it's unlikely enough.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13707 - 19/10/2020 09:56:28    2299039

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Tomsmith here

As one that comes from a border County and that the name spelled Smyth or Smith denotes if you go to Church or Chapel I feel that Ulster GAA could do without these type or flags or emblems which are far to pointed. . We have made great strides in holding out the hand of friendship to the other community in the North and indeed when Fermanagh was in the Ulster final we had the current first Minister in attendance at Clones.
I feel the Ulster Council should take a stand on now

tomsmith (Cavan) - Posts: 3856 - 19/10/2020 10:48:02    2299068

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Back when P Canavan (nicknamed "God") was playing, Tyrone fans reprised the old UVF banner "For God and Ulster".

As with Orangemen on Tour, it's merely a tongue in cheek way to actually be inclusive of our Unionist neighbours by noting the similarities between us. The intent is entirely benevolent.

For a GAA fan to have intended this to be "offensive", they'd logically also need to believe that the GAA is deeply offensive to Unionists. No GAA fan believes that; and the GAA is not offensive to Unionists anyway. Sure, you'll get a few well-known MPs "currying their yoghurts" and still being stuck in the past, but where I live, our Unionist neighbours wish us well when the local club is competing in the county championship; we have shared youth training days with local rugby and soccer clubs etc.

To actually be offensive to Orangemen, the banner would have needed to say something derogatory. It didn't, unless you believe that the words "on tour" somehow are "offensive"; in which case you need your head examined.

Po-faced outsiders often fail to realise the black humour at play between the 2 main communities in the North. We're a lot more comfortable with each other than outsiders think. Unemployed yahoos in Belfast divided by peace walls are not representative of rural people of either community in the North.

OP's comment derives from outdated ignorance.

essmac (Tyrone) - Posts: 1141 - 19/10/2020 10:50:35    2299071

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Replying To tomsmith:  "Tomsmith here

Looking at the Television on Saturday evening I saw a large banner behind the goals to the right of the Commentary box which read
Garvaghy Road Orangemen on Tour or something similar,
Anyone that would be familiar with the words on this flag would and should feel that it would be offensive to a vast number of people living in Portadown ( Non Gaa suporters) because of history.
I feel that the Ulster Council should take a stand on this type of material which in my opinion has no place in the GAA"
You obviously have little to worry about. Maybe you should get a black and white Television! I am more concerned about the virus and a total lockdown!!!

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 19/10/2020 10:55:56    2299077

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Ah lads.

I'd say Donegal catch have had a less successful morning than Tom.

Ignore him.

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5012 - 19/10/2020 11:01:06    2299083

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Tomsmith here

I just wonder what the Armagh County Board thinks about this Flag. As no spectators were allowed in to plant this (Black humour flag.. words of another poster) flag where did it come from.
Where is the Ulster Council standing on this, or where is the Ulster Council HQ.
Perhaps Croke Park could look at the display of obnoxious emblems at GAA grounds

tomsmith (Cavan) - Posts: 3856 - 19/10/2020 11:14:03    2299093

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Replying To tomsmith:  "Tomsmith here

I just wonder what the Armagh County Board thinks about this Flag. As no spectators were allowed in to plant this (Black humour flag.. words of another poster) flag where did it come from.
Where is the Ulster Council standing on this, or where is the Ulster Council HQ.
Perhaps Croke Park could look at the display of obnoxious emblems at GAA grounds"
Who cares? And please don't give me any of your oul I'm from a border county rubbish.

It's a frivolous bit of humour.

Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1412 - 19/10/2020 12:02:56    2299114

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Replying To tomsmith:  "Tomsmith here

I just wonder what the Armagh County Board thinks about this Flag. As no spectators were allowed in to plant this (Black humour flag.. words of another poster) flag where did it come from.
Where is the Ulster Council standing on this, or where is the Ulster Council HQ.
Perhaps Croke Park could look at the display of obnoxious emblems at GAA grounds"
are we shying away from our past, there are people still living in the border areas, whom have had bad experience of the troubles, the GAA were and are a symbol of Irishness, and such symbolism will be there for a long time to come. Of course you can take away the flag if you wish not to offend our protestant neighours, but during the troubles appeasing our neighbours didnt always save some poor unfortunate Catholics from loyalist death squads, if you were wearing a GAA jersey or a reconised player or club official you were an open target to these death squads, often aided by collusion, I wont go into the names of cases here, but it might be no harm to go google them yourself, there are lots of names, ALL Catholics.... Remember, when the RUC at the time allowed the Orange men to march down Garavaghy road, they danced and celebrated and issued medals that they done so...thats only 20 odd years ago, and innocent Catholics were murderd by the loyalists during the stand offs over them summers..no, we wont have this "one side are as bad as the other", as much as the republicans might have fuelled the protests against the orange men walking the Garvaghy Road, no protestant or loyalist lost their life, Catholics did, including children..so complain about the Garvaghy road flag if you want, and no doubt some leading GAA person with links to FG will totally understand why "some people" might be offended by the Garvaghy road flag, I for one would look at it, remember them times in the North, the literal walking over the civil righs of those living in the area l and the people that died needlessy, God rest them all, and hope we never see the likes again...and then Ide watch the match...

Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1034 - 19/10/2020 12:16:55    2299121

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Mr TomSmith regarding offensive banners, how about you look at your header or O.P. Armagh is spelt wrong. Have you got a spell checker and do you know how to use it. I ask Hogan stand to take or correct this. It is a bad look when you cannot spell properly imho.

galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2519 - 19/10/2020 14:48:46    2299213

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Replying To tomsmith:  "Tomsmith here

As one that comes from a border County and that the name spelled Smyth or Smith denotes if you go to Church or Chapel I feel that Ulster GAA could do without these type or flags or emblems which are far to pointed. . We have made great strides in holding out the hand of friendship to the other community in the North and indeed when Fermanagh was in the Ulster final we had the current first Minister in attendance at Clones.
I feel the Ulster Council should take a stand on now"
I take it your a taking the ****
Great strides ' are you for real?

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1673 - 19/10/2020 14:54:34    2299215

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Tomsmith here

Look the Gaa is an All Ireland organisation and I feel that this Garvaghy Rd flag could be deemed to be offensive to some people. Whether a section of a particular County can dictate that a flag (all be i black humour) can be slung behind the Goals of a particular County , which some people may deem offensive can go unchallenged by Ulster Council and Gaa HG I find it strange. If a County wants to fly flags, emblems, let them be all encompassing and not have tongue in cheek connotations

tomsmith (Cavan) - Posts: 3856 - 19/10/2020 20:14:54    2299365

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Replying To tomsmith:  "Tomsmith here

Look the Gaa is an All Ireland organisation and I feel that this Garvaghy Rd flag could be deemed to be offensive to some people. Whether a section of a particular County can dictate that a flag (all be i black humour) can be slung behind the Goals of a particular County , which some people may deem offensive can go unchallenged by Ulster Council and Gaa HG I find it strange. If a County wants to fly flags, emblems, let them be all encompassing and not have tongue in cheek connotations"
A song springs to mind, I think it's," Let it go"

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2012 - 19/10/2020 21:31:48    2299402

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Replying To tomsmith:  "Tomsmith here

Look the Gaa is an All Ireland organisation and I feel that this Garvaghy Rd flag could be deemed to be offensive to some people. Whether a section of a particular County can dictate that a flag (all be i black humour) can be slung behind the Goals of a particular County , which some people may deem offensive can go unchallenged by Ulster Council and Gaa HG I find it strange. If a County wants to fly flags, emblems, let them be all encompassing and not have tongue in cheek connotations"
A song springs to mind, I think it's," Let it go"

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2012 - 19/10/2020 21:31:48    2299403

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