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The Musings Of Tom Smith

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Replying To tomsmith: "Tomsmith here Well we right thinking Gaa folk have to express an opinion as regards what can be done to attract allthe Nothern Ireland folk to our Games. I feel whatever it takes should be tried" Point is that its not the pre game music that's putting them off. There are Protestants playing GAA in the North, but yer average Orangeman wouldn't, whatever is played. Its politics. "Culture boss" as some lads down here would say. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13862 - 20/12/2023 14:28:41 2517479 Link
Tomsmith here Viking 66 ... I do know and appreciate that people away from the Border with Noothern Ireland never fully understand the great divide up here. But we have to rise above that divide and we have to hold the hand of friendship to Noothern brethern. It may be No 1 no Sunday games ( Non Catholics have Sunday observance) at all No 2 As already said , maybe invite a flute Band to Croke Park No 3 It will take more cross community effort tomsmith (Cavan) - Posts: 3982 - 21/12/2023 08:55:31 2517520 Link
Replying To tomsmith: "Tomsmith here Viking 66 ... I do know and appreciate that people away from the Border with Noothern Ireland never fully understand the great divide up here. But we have to rise above that divide and we have to hold the hand of friendship to Noothern brethern. It may be No 1 no Sunday games ( Non Catholics have Sunday observance) at all No 2 As already said , maybe invite a flute Band to Croke Park No 3 It will take more cross community effort" I lived in Belfast and Tyrone for many years, before the ceasefire. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13862 - 21/12/2023 10:56:15 2517536 Link
Replying To tomsmith: "Tomsmith here Viking 66 ... I do know and appreciate that people away from the Border with Noothern Ireland never fully understand the great divide up here. But we have to rise above that divide and we have to hold the hand of friendship to Noothern brethern. It may be No 1 no Sunday games ( Non Catholics have Sunday observance) at all No 2 As already said , maybe invite a flute Band to Croke Park No 3 It will take more cross community effort" You've never been in the other side of Belfast if you think that "Sunday observance" is a big thing! BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3118 - 21/12/2023 10:58:55 2517537 Link
Replying To BarneyGrant: "You've never been in the other side of Belfast if you think that "Sunday observance" is a big thing!" Sunday observance went out the window before the end of the 90s. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13862 - 21/12/2023 11:41:16 2517548 Link
This topic has been renamed as 'The musings of Tom Smith'. Our serial thread starter has a thought provoking take on many issues of the day. Rather than have multiple topics perhaps it is better that they can all be enjoyed in the one place. The latest missive is here: Would Playing Games Adjacent To Churchs On Saturday Evening Or Sunday Mornings Be Against Some Peoples Religions Tomsmith here I heard a story of a Priest / Pastor or should I say a clergyman who had to vacate his sermon due to interference from a local ball game. I understand that his sermon was interrupted by a poor decision by someone on the Field adjacent . Perhaps its something that could be taken into consideration by Clubs that have playing Fields close to where religious services are being held at weekends Administrator (None) - Posts: 2274 - 28/12/2023 12:06:52 2517756 Link
Replying To Administrator: "This topic has been renamed as 'The musings of Tom Smith'. Our serial thread starter has a thought provoking take on many issues of the day. Rather than have multiple topics perhaps it is better that they can all be enjoyed in the one place. The latest missive is here: Would Playing Games Adjacent To Churchs On Saturday Evening Or Sunday Mornings Be Against Some Peoples Religions Tomsmith here I heard a story of a Priest / Pastor or should I say a clergyman who had to vacate his sermon due to interference from a local ball game. I understand that his sermon was interrupted by a poor decision by someone on the Field adjacent . Perhaps its something that could be taken into consideration by Clubs that have playing Fields close to where religious services are being held at weekends" This is very good Admin! Does Tom not realise plenty of religious fellas have had a great influence on the GAA since it was founded? Administrators, coaches and players? And plenty of games have been decided by pure luck, no doubt attributable to whatever God or gods you believe in?! Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13862 - 28/12/2023 12:22:04 2517759 Link
Replying To Viking66: "This is very good Admin! Does Tom not realise plenty of religious fellas have had a great influence on the GAA since it was founded? Administrators, coaches and players? And plenty of games have been decided by pure luck, no doubt attributable to whatever God or gods you believe in?!" True and wasn't it a good priest that put the curse on Mayo after they disrespected a funeral in Foxford? Never underestimate the power of the priest. Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3029 - 28/12/2023 14:06:09 2517763 Link
Replying To Viking66: "This is very good Admin! Does Tom not realise plenty of religious fellas have had a great influence on the GAA since it was founded? Administrators, coaches and players? And plenty of games have been decided by pure luck, no doubt attributable to whatever God or gods you believe in?!" Any way, Preachers have been upset by different things. In St Pauls in London there is a huge steel memorial depicting Nelson on a horse hanging from the ceiling. For some reason both the Horse and Nelson are facing away from the Altar. One day, as the Rector was trying to explain somewhat complex Theological Concept, he looked Heaven wards for inspiration. He was not best pleased with the sight that met his gaze. Expounding aloud in utter desperation, he proclaimed ' How can one preach a cogent sermon, while looking at a Horses Arse' Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4467 - 28/12/2023 16:09:00 2517770 Link
Can all the threads Tom starts go here from now on instead of cluttering up the forum KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3674 - 28/12/2023 18:49:09 2517786 Link
Replying To Viking66: "This is very good Admin! Does Tom not realise plenty of religious fellas have had a great influence on the GAA since it was founded? Administrators, coaches and players? And plenty of games have been decided by pure luck, no doubt attributable to whatever God or gods you believe in?!" Tomsmith here Indeed Viking 66 you may be correct this time as I Remember in some County finals that the local Catholic Bishop would throw in the ball at the start of a Gaa game,, and then run like the fire of hell was after him to the sideline . Ough again that was years ago now with them two Boyous that ruined the Gaa game sure the ball would be over and back the field for a few minutes before it would cross the halfway line . tomsmith (Cavan) - Posts: 3982 - 28/12/2023 22:08:29 2517793 Link
I want my own thread too. Tacaí Liatroma (Leitrim) - Posts: 1126 - 28/12/2023 22:25:31 2517796 Link
Replying To Administrator: "This topic has been renamed as 'The musings of Tom Smith'. Our serial thread starter has a thought provoking take on many issues of the day. Rather than have multiple topics perhaps it is better that they can all be enjoyed in the one place. The latest missive is here: Would Playing Games Adjacent To Churchs On Saturday Evening Or Sunday Mornings Be Against Some Peoples Religions Tomsmith here I heard a story of a Priest / Pastor or should I say a clergyman who had to vacate his sermon due to interference from a local ball game. I understand that his sermon was interrupted by a poor decision by someone on the Field adjacent . Perhaps its something that could be taken into consideration by Clubs that have playing Fields close to where religious services are being held at weekends" I'm not too sure how things are in the Lakelands but down here the scarcity of clergy will, within a few years, lessen TomSmiths fears about any interference with religious services. In fairness to Tom, to me he just puts these things - musings, is an apt description - to start a conversation and boy, does he succeed. Me thinks there is a lot of tongue in cheek involved. I can just imagine him sitting in a corner of a pub sipping a pint and grinning at some of the reaction he gets. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1265 - 28/12/2023 22:34:53 2517797 Link
Replying To Freethinker: "I'm not too sure how things are in the Lakelands but down here the scarcity of clergy will, within a few years, lessen TomSmiths fears about any interference with religious services. In fairness to Tom, to me he just puts these things - musings, is an apt description - to start a conversation and boy, does he succeed. Me thinks there is a lot of tongue in cheek involved. I can just imagine him sitting in a corner of a pub sipping a pint and grinning at some of the reaction he gets." Freetinker from Wicklow Me thinks there is a lot of tongue in cheek involved. I can just imagine him sitting in a corner of a pub sipping a pint and grinning at some of the reaction he gets. Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 821 - 28/12/2023 22:34:53 Tomsmith here. Over the years on both domestic and National Hogan stand pages I have raised numerous intelligent issues from Woman driver parking ability right up to Woman commentating on Sport. Referees making the right call or inability to make the right Call was also raised As the great Mrs T who oven said to me as she guides me ( particulary on womans issues ) Tomsmith you have provided entertainment for a long number of years what keeps you going tomsmith (Cavan) - Posts: 3982 - 29/12/2023 11:20:27 2517810 Link
Replying To tomsmith: "Tomsmith here Indeed Viking 66 you may be correct this time as I Remember in some County finals that the local Catholic Bishop would throw in the ball at the start of a Gaa game,, and then run like the fire of hell was after him to the sideline . Ough again that was years ago now with them two Boyous that ruined the Gaa game sure the ball would be over and back the field for a few minutes before it would cross the halfway line ." One of those boyos is building a 6 foot wall around his training pitch, presumably to keep out prying eyes from Derry and Tyrone. Then again, it could be to segregate from religious practice that might be nearby. Who knows what goes on in the minds of geniuses like the 2 boyos? Ryanteam (Cork) - Posts: 373 - 30/12/2023 16:45:24 2517887 Link
Replying To Ryanteam: "One of those boyos is building a 6 foot wall around his training pitch, presumably to keep out prying eyes from Derry and Tyrone. Then again, it could be to segregate from religious practice that might be nearby. Who knows what goes on in the minds of geniuses like the 2 boyos?" Great to see Jim has you all worried already and we haven't started the league yet!! Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3029 - 30/12/2023 17:26:08 2517893 Link
Replying To Tirchonaill1: "Great to see Jim has you all worried already and we haven't started the league yet!!" Yeah, interesting first league game between Cork and Donegal Jan 28 in ballybofey. Cork won't have the castlehaven contingent, but should be a good game. Donegal probably have more training done, but still should be interesting game, as Cork are on the upswing! Ryanteam (Cork) - Posts: 373 - 30/12/2023 20:42:19 2517903 Link
Replying To Tirchonaill1: "Great to see Jim has you all worried already and we haven't started the league yet!!" I don't think too many are worried about Jim,, not yet anyways. The cynic in me thinks that the only reason he's yere manager to begin with is because he is not with a soccer team. Galway9801 (Galway) - Posts: 1942 - 30/12/2023 21:13:13 2517905 Link
Replying To Ryanteam: "Yeah, interesting first league game between Cork and Donegal Jan 28 in ballybofey. Cork won't have the castlehaven contingent, but should be a good game. Donegal probably have more training done, but still should be interesting game, as Cork are on the upswing!" Cork on the upswing? Really? Who on earth told you that? In hurling, I think there's no swing and in football Cork might actually be on the down swing! Time will tell but I see a 20 point hammering in store from Kerry in the Munster championship! foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2095 - 30/12/2023 23:22:43 2517913 Link
Cork certainly on upswing as shown by last year's performances in the all Ireland competition. They beat Mayo and Roscommon,and lost to Kerry by 2 points in group round robin competition,after gifting them a penalty, following Powter's sending off. Team then lost to Derry, who themselves have undergone a remarkable recovery last few years. Division 4 to division 1, and ulster champions. Ryanteam (Cork) - Posts: 373 - 31/12/2023 08:00:38 2517915 Link