(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post
|
It would be great to see Antrim becoming a force in both codes. Investment is obviously needed but I would be careful. As UM states the in fighting is still rife, so throwing millions of pounds at the problem won't help, it would be lost. Dublin got millions and used it fantastically well, good men rowing in the right direction for the good of Dublin. Start small, get the structures in place and the right people and take it from there. It certainly won't be an overnight success but there is hope there. The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2088 - 05/04/2017 13:36:39 1975998 Link 2 |
|
I've always felt the infighting has been played up to be honest. An excuse for us just not being quite up to it. In the football panel I know most of the recent players have gotten along well other than one guy who to be fair to him always gave his all on the pitch. In hurling there's rivalry between the North Antrim teams but 1 club in particular causes a lot of the tension within the county set up. Growing the game in Belfast shouldn't be affected by that. Antrim wouldn't have to be up there competing at the top table for the investment to be a success. If we got more players out playing our games and took back some of the soccer playing population that would be a result. Everyone looks at the Dublin money through the lense of the football All Ireland's that they've won. A huge success story has been the growth of hurling in the capital too, the increased numbers playing is what development money is about, it's not about trying to give county teams a leg up at the expense of others. More development money should see more playing the games in Belfast, that's what's important, it doesn't matter if that filters up to the county team. Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4241 - 05/04/2017 14:32:31 1976011 Link 2 |
|
Yep That's it, broaden the playing population and you've won. That's the point of games development. It's about getting more families involved at grass root level, and supporting their efforts, if you got 500 more families involved it would be a massive achievement, and just watch the outcome, it's no guarantee of top success but as you said, that's absolutely not all that matters, there's a lot more to our sports than that, but who knows maybe this 500 additional families will pop out 20 young lads at the same time, that with the right structure in place can bring them on to be a top football/hurling team. I see it as a bit of a no brainier The GAA / Irish tax payer awarded Cork GAA €40 million recently, bailed out Mayo GAA to save them €5 million This was for bricks and mortar Imagine what 5 million could do for a large urban area like Antrim, but it'll take your own CB to put together a strategic plan and then sell the idea, the model already exists, tailor it to suit Antrim with its own numerous variables, and I think you'd see a population hungry to embrace it. jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20601 - 05/04/2017 15:28:12 1976039 Link 0 |
|
If Belfast was targeted for development, would the Down club, Carryduff which draws on a sizeable part of South Belfast and appears to be growing rapidly because of this, be included in any such initiative. (I read that a young hurling team from the club was down in Kilkenny as guests of Henry Sheflin's club at the weekend so obviously are working to develop football, hurling and camogie.) neverright (Roscommon) - Posts: 1648 - 05/04/2017 15:59:36 1976050 Link 0 |
|
I suppose it would depend who it was tailored for, Belfast or Antrim. Honestly though Carryduff and Bredagh, the other Down club in Belfast, don't need the help, certainly not financial assistance anyway. bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 05/04/2017 16:20:54 1976067 Link 0 |
|
Which is why casement is so important. There are kids growing up now who obviously live close by and who haven't set foot in casement never mind played on the pitch! bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 05/04/2017 16:23:32 1976068 Link 0 |
|
Yeh, why shouldn't it be. The development money would likely be handled by the Ulster council. They'd appoint GDOs to the area not the county board directly.
Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4241 - 05/04/2017 16:23:46 1976069 Link 0 |
|
I'd like to think they would neverright. South Belfast used to be a unionist dominated area but there has been a huge increase in nationalist people now living there. The numbers joining both Carryduff and Bredagh have shot up and their underage teams are starting to emerge as a force in Down. If there was a 'Project Belfast' I would hope that it includes all areas and benefit Down as well as Antrim.
SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2386 - 05/04/2017 16:50:18 1976080 Link 0 |
|
Bumpernut is right. If it about Belfast, We and Bredagh should be included. If it's for Antrim county then no. p.s. Carryduff don't field in camogie but we do have A thriving ladies football set up Suas Sios (None) - Posts: 1550 - 05/04/2017 17:57:30 1976105 Link 0 |
|
Absolutely. Belfast urban area would include Carryduff and Bredagh. Unlike many other Ulster 'Gaels' Antrim GAA folk have no problem in sharing any investment with others.
Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9706 - 05/04/2017 18:44:11 1976126 Link 0 |
|
All urban areas outside Dublin need investment. Not just Belfast. I can tell you that the GAA is not in great condition in Galway city for example and under serious pressure from rugby and soccer. I am sure there is a similar story in Cork, Limerick, etc. Marooned (Galway) - Posts: 2224 - 05/04/2017 19:48:28 1976148 Link 0 |
|
Take another look at the map of Ulster my furry friend ... ok so I might be out by 20 miles but it's pretty bloody close
KeshGFC (Fermanagh) - Posts: 334 - 05/04/2017 20:17:26 1976162 Link 0 |
|
Mmmm in the centre
KeshGFC (Fermanagh) - Posts: 334 - 05/04/2017 20:19:12 1976164 Link 0 |
|
Aye its central for someone in Ballycastle right enough!
bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 05/04/2017 22:37:59 1976256 Link 1 |
|
Yeah, but I like Antrim.
jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20601 - 05/04/2017 22:59:26 1976267 Link 0 |
|
The geographical centre of Ulster is between Pomeroy and Carrickmore in Tyrone. Omagh is as close to central Ulster as you'd get. Important to have a decent pitch in Belfast though. essmac (Tyrone) - Posts: 1141 - 05/04/2017 23:20:48 1976275 Link 0 |
|
No-one will dispute that other cities/urban centres need help marooned, however, Belfast is our second city and that alone is sufficient reason to make sure it doesn't just simply exist, it needs to thrive. It would, however, be nice if someone, at Central Council level was to take the bull by the horns rather than continually pay lip service to the issues facing Belfast. My worry is that they think rebuilding Casement will be sufficient on its own! bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 06/04/2017 12:37:34 1976460 Link 0 |
|
Take the money intended for casement revamp and build 10,000 seater stadium and use the rest to invest in grassroots in the city ... but is money the problem ? Or is it the city county split /rivalry ? KeshGFC (Fermanagh) - Posts: 334 - 06/04/2017 23:11:08 1976729 Link 0 |
|
Aye that's a good suggestion alright and its the first time ive heard it into the bargain
bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 07/04/2017 10:01:55 1976793 Link 0 |
|
the problem is the money isn't coming from the GAA. Its coming from the government which is a take it or leave it offer. You can demand the grassroots investment with the rest of us but so far the GAA care less that you do about the city.
SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2386 - 07/04/2017 11:08:18 1976810 Link 0 |