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Anti GAA Agenda

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Replying To KillingFields:  "i was talking about swimming if you read my post. lots of people go to the pool regularly and swim regularly but have never been competitive in any form of organised swimming event, been member of a club be it a masters club(masters is what swimming clubs for adults are called)"
Masters as in oul lads?

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2616 - 25/11/2025 13:16:26    2646014

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "I don't know. Dancing can be a pretty big deal for girls. In terms of participation for kids I'd say it's much bigger than rugby. There's one rugby club in Wexford town and there's about 20 dance groups. My daughter is in to ballet and has gotten herself in serious shape. Having said that I think she'd be horrified if somebody referred to it as sport."
And your last line proves the very point I was making.

Just as I'm sure far more people go swimming regularly than play rugby regularly, I'm sure far more people are involved in dancing than in rugby. Especially if you consider traditional Irish dancing, ballet, hip hop, ballroom dancing, jive, and every other type of dancing too.

But how many people regard a Feis or a ballroom dancing competition as a sports event?

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3282 - 25/11/2025 22:22:39    2646078

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "I don't know. Dancing can be a pretty big deal for girls. In terms of participation for kids I'd say it's much bigger than rugby. There's one rugby club in Wexford town and there's about 20 dance groups. My daughter is in to ballet and has gotten herself in serious shape. Having said that I think she'd be horrified if somebody referred to it as sport."
Yes but where are all the Hurling clubs in Wexford Town. One is a Junior B so hard to say that makes much of a difference and then the powerhouse that have won 5 senior hurling championships the last one in 2001. I wouldn't be using Hurling in Wexford Town as an example. However I don't understand why you seem so focused on rugby. Yes its perhaps the third most popular team sport in you include all the Gaelic Games activities into one, its an international sport that is far more popular in other countries with bigger playing populations but yet we have shown that we can be competitive if not better than those teams, which as a country we should all be proud of. Is there something wrong with that?
Where the GAA should be focused on is what the stats tells them about what they could do better. There were a few obvious ones in the report if you cared to pick them out.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 2129 - 26/11/2025 01:29:38    2646085

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Replying To zinny:  "Yes but where are all the Hurling clubs in Wexford Town. One is a Junior B so hard to say that makes much of a difference and then the powerhouse that have won 5 senior hurling championships the last one in 2001. I wouldn't be using Hurling in Wexford Town as an example. However I don't understand why you seem so focused on rugby. Yes its perhaps the third most popular team sport in you include all the Gaelic Games activities into one, its an international sport that is far more popular in other countries with bigger playing populations but yet we have shown that we can be competitive if not better than those teams, which as a country we should all be proud of. Is there something wrong with that?
Where the GAA should be focused on is what the stats tells them about what they could do better. There were a few obvious ones in the report if you cared to pick them out."
Harriers, clonard, shells Martin's and Glynn barntown are all town clubs :)

In all seriousness though, we're not talking about winning trophies, we're talking about participation. Go to pairc Garman on a Sunday morning and see what numbers are like. Around 100 at each age group, this is a significant operation by comparison to Wexford wanderers. That's without considering sars, vols, marys, Joseph's, North end, Albion, Wexford Celtic.

You also shouldn't diminish the contributions of chinner, Richie kehoe, Larry O, hopper McGrath etc. Either

I have no issue with the sport of rugby. It just irritates me that it's over represented in national media.

If you look at my original post you'll see I took issue with a rugby friendly getting more media attention than an incredible few days in an international soccer tournament.

Rugby in Ireland is a minority sport, as it is globally with a couple of notable exceptions. The media behave as if it is all things to all people. Fundamentally this is dishonest.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4053 - 26/11/2025 09:20:46    2646092

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@doylerwex - in an attempt to put this to bed, and looking at this line of your last post:
If you look at my original post you'll see I took issue with a rugby friendly getting more media attention than an incredible few days in an international soccer tournament.

I've had a look at that original post. It's from 6.07 p.m. on Thursday November 20 and says you were listening to the sports news right then.

Two things that afternoon:
- The World Cup playoff draw, where at about 12.30, Ireland were drawn to play Czechia. Would already have been covered in depth all afternoon long and seems was still the top item in the news bulletin you were listening to.
- Ireland rugby team to play South Africa was named a few hours later (story appeared on the RTE website just after 4 p.m.).

So, seems the 6 p.m. news still led with the 'old' news that anyone interested in must surely have heard by then anyway, before moving on to the other main Irish sports news of the afternoon.

And I'd wager any money that if you added up all the column inches and broadcast minutes over that week, you'll find that the "incredible few days in an international soccer tournament" actually did get far more media attention than "a rugby friendly".

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3282 - 26/11/2025 10:10:32    2646098

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "Harriers, clonard, shells Martin's and Glynn barntown are all town clubs :)

In all seriousness though, we're not talking about winning trophies, we're talking about participation. Go to pairc Garman on a Sunday morning and see what numbers are like. Around 100 at each age group, this is a significant operation by comparison to Wexford wanderers. That's without considering sars, vols, marys, Joseph's, North end, Albion, Wexford Celtic.

You also shouldn't diminish the contributions of chinner, Richie kehoe, Larry O, hopper McGrath etc. Either

I have no issue with the sport of rugby. It just irritates me that it's over represented in national media.

If you look at my original post you'll see I took issue with a rugby friendly getting more media attention than an incredible few days in an international soccer tournament.

Rugby in Ireland is a minority sport, as it is globally with a couple of notable exceptions. The media behave as if it is all things to all people. Fundamentally this is dishonest."
In 2024 six of the top viewed programs on TV were rugby games - nobody could beat the toy show! So while playing number are not as high as other sports the reality is the sport is popular and is in demand by the public hence the TV coverage it gets. Its hard to argue with the commercial reality of the Rugby coverage given the soccer team won't be seen until next March and rugby had a game coming up that weekend. That's just the commercial reality of TV.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 2129 - 26/11/2025 10:17:34    2646102

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "Harriers, clonard, shells Martin's and Glynn barntown are all town clubs :)

In all seriousness though, we're not talking about winning trophies, we're talking about participation. Go to pairc Garman on a Sunday morning and see what numbers are like. Around 100 at each age group, this is a significant operation by comparison to Wexford wanderers. That's without considering sars, vols, marys, Joseph's, North end, Albion, Wexford Celtic.

You also shouldn't diminish the contributions of chinner, Richie kehoe, Larry O, hopper McGrath etc. Either

I have no issue with the sport of rugby. It just irritates me that it's over represented in national media.

If you look at my original post you'll see I took issue with a rugby friendly getting more media attention than an incredible few days in an international soccer tournament.

Rugby in Ireland is a minority sport, as it is globally with a couple of notable exceptions. The media behave as if it is all things to all people. Fundamentally this is dishonest."
I get that like many friends of mine in town you like soccer, and I get that rugbys a minority sport in Ireland too. But the reason the media spend so much time on it is that it is the team sport played internationally that we have been consistently best at this millennium.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17674 - 26/11/2025 10:30:46    2646103

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "@doylerwex - in an attempt to put this to bed, and looking at this line of your last post:
If you look at my original post you'll see I took issue with a rugby friendly getting more media attention than an incredible few days in an international soccer tournament.

I've had a look at that original post. It's from 6.07 p.m. on Thursday November 20 and says you were listening to the sports news right then.

Two things that afternoon:
- The World Cup playoff draw, where at about 12.30, Ireland were drawn to play Czechia. Would already have been covered in depth all afternoon long and seems was still the top item in the news bulletin you were listening to.
- Ireland rugby team to play South Africa was named a few hours later (story appeared on the RTE website just after 4 p.m.).

So, seems the 6 p.m. news still led with the 'old' news that anyone interested in must surely have heard by then anyway, before moving on to the other main Irish sports news of the afternoon.

And I'd wager any money that if you added up all the column inches and broadcast minutes over that week, you'll find that the "incredible few days in an international soccer tournament" actually did get far more media attention than "a rugby friendly"."
That's a very well reasoned argument. On the point of column inches I think that would greatly depend on the publication.

Other than that I accept what you're saying.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4053 - 26/11/2025 11:04:47    2646107

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Replying To Viking66:  "I get that like many friends of mine in town you like soccer, and I get that rugbys a minority sport in Ireland too. But the reason the media spend so much time on it is that it is the team sport played internationally that we have been consistently best at this millennium."
I'm actually not really in to soccer other than the national team to be honest although my father is involved with Wexford FC.

I will say I have a very conscious bias about historical and political views that I very much associate with rugby which I view as completely opposite to the GAA.

Rugby organisations to nothing to help this based on the school system.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 4053 - 26/11/2025 11:07:26    2646108

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "I'm actually not really in to soccer other than the national team to be honest although my father is involved with Wexford FC.

I will say I have a very conscious bias about historical and political views that I very much associate with rugby which I view as completely opposite to the GAA.

Rugby organisations to nothing to help this based on the school system."
The main rugby playing schools in County Wexford are also the main GAA playing schools. Some don't play soccer at all.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17674 - 26/11/2025 12:04:30    2646118

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Replying To Bon:  "Masters as in oul lads?"
no. just because GAA use term masters to refer to over 35s or whatever the age is doesnt mean other sports use term in the same way. masters swimming is anyone over age of 18. ie adult clubs and not like a lot of clubs which are childrens/school age clubs

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3887 - 26/11/2025 14:01:08    2646137

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Replying To KillingFields:  "no. just because GAA use term masters to refer to over 35s or whatever the age is doesnt mean other sports use term in the same way. masters swimming is anyone over age of 18. ie adult clubs and not like a lot of clubs which are childrens/school age clubs"
For physical and mental health reasons are we not better off being involved in whatever sport we choose without question, even golf or pitch & putt.?

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 3326 - 27/11/2025 09:43:30    2646196

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Great to see Tadgh Beirne make it on to the World Rugby team of the year, a brilliant year for Tadgh who has made to the best 15 for the second successive time

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 3326 - 28/11/2025 18:45:43    2646376

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "I'm actually not really in to soccer other than the national team to be honest although my father is involved with Wexford FC.

I will say I have a very conscious bias about historical and political views that I very much associate with rugby which I view as completely opposite to the GAA.

Rugby organisations to nothing to help this based on the school system."
And which historical and political views do you associate with rugby and honestly is it really relevant in this day and age?
rugby has done a lot to change its perception if you cant see that they have then you have had your head in the sand.

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3887 - 01/12/2025 10:56:25    2646602

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Replying To supersub15:  "Great to see Tadgh Beirne make it on to the World Rugby team of the year, a brilliant year for Tadgh who has made to the best 15 for the second successive time"
I'm trying not to be pedantic, but it's Tadhg, not Tadgh. In fairness, you're not the only one to spell it like that, I've seen it in newspapers and plenty other places.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2651 - 01/12/2025 13:27:20    2646635

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Replying To KillingFields:  "And which historical and political views do you associate with rugby and honestly is it really relevant in this day and age?
rugby has done a lot to change its perception if you cant see that they have then you have had your head in the sand."
A great bunch of lads the rugby. Free soup and blazers for all.

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2616 - 01/12/2025 18:21:36    2646687

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Replying To Bon:  "A great bunch of lads the rugby. Free soup and blazers for all."
you seem bitter about rugby. did some rugby guys hit you on head with rugby ball when you were younger..

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3887 - 01/12/2025 20:24:48    2646702

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Replying To KillingFields:  "you seem bitter about rugby. did some rugby guys hit you on head with rugby ball when you were younger.."
Haha no, I actually watch all the Internationals and have done since I was a kid, I actually find them quite entertaining as a sport. Its mainly the leinster brigade around where I live here in Kildare that get under my skin. I worked and lived in Limerick city for a couple of years and it seemed far more down to earth following down there.

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2616 - 01/12/2025 23:38:44    2646721

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "I'm trying not to be pedantic, but it's Tadhg, not Tadgh. In fairness, you're not the only one to spell it like that, I've seen it in newspapers and plenty other places."
Its a bit like a lot of Irish names both mean the same thing but at the end of the day it should be what the person themselves use as their spelling.

Great achievement for him whichever way you spell it.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 2129 - 02/12/2025 02:26:57    2646724

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Replying To KillingFields:  "And which historical and political views do you associate with rugby and honestly is it really relevant in this day and age?
rugby has done a lot to change its perception if you cant see that they have then you have had your head in the sand."
I don't think it requires a head in the sand for a lot of people to continue to have those opinions. But I also believe that the historical views of the game in relation to Ireland and also ill informed. Some of our greatest nationalists played rugby and enjoyed the game, so the association historically of it being almost an anti Irish sport is completely wrong but it has stuck in some people minds. In Leinster the association with private secondary schools again is an image thing and going back further, tours to South Africa did not do anything for the image either. It was and still is viewed as a middle class sport but so too is the GAA these days.

So no its not that anyone has had their head in the sand but rather they are lazy opinions, formed on the basis of selective knowledge and an unwillingness to learn more about it.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 2129 - 02/12/2025 02:45:06    2646725

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