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Wicklow GAA thread

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Disgusting scenes in Aughrim last night. Wicklow GAA already has a bad reputation for poor discipline from both players and spectators at club matches in the county. The new fence around our county grounds should have been made 1m higher, given previous incidents down through to the years, to prevent the risk of players mixing with spectators.

I doubt I'm the only one who has had to listen to comments from people in other counties slagging us off about "refs locked in boots" and "do you actually play any hurling/football up there?". Of course, it goes on in other counties too but we have more of a bad reputation for it.

Hopefully, the County Board throws the book at all those responsible for the violence last night. It's embarrassing and I'm sure it was deeply troubling for those looking on. Out of curiosity, were those lengthy bans issued after the Rathnew v Carnew match last year upheld? I think lifetime bans are the way forward for violent behaviour on/off pitch.

TheChampion (Wicklow) - Posts: 39 - 25/07/2026 18:22:21    2687088

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Replying To TheChampion:  "Disgusting scenes in Aughrim last night. Wicklow GAA already has a bad reputation for poor discipline from both players and spectators at club matches in the county. The new fence around our county grounds should have been made 1m higher, given previous incidents down through to the years, to prevent the risk of players mixing with spectators.

I doubt I'm the only one who has had to listen to comments from people in other counties slagging us off about "refs locked in boots" and "do you actually play any hurling/football up there?". Of course, it goes on in other counties too but we have more of a bad reputation for it.

Hopefully, the County Board throws the book at all those responsible for the violence last night. It's embarrassing and I'm sure it was deeply troubling for those looking on. Out of curiosity, were those lengthy bans issued after the Rathnew v Carnew match last year upheld? I think lifetime bans are the way forward for violent behaviour on/off pitch."
Jesus it looked very bad on-line ,I never seen anything like it ,but 2 lads outside the wire start punching each other then ,min 10 year bans for them

Timmy86 (Sligo) - Posts: 381 - 26/07/2026 07:04:59    2687136

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Every time this happens I say at least it can't get worse. Then it does anyway. Awful scenes.

Bowl (Wicklow) - Posts: 25 - 26/07/2026 11:44:29    2687159

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Replying To TheChampion:  "Disgusting scenes in Aughrim last night. Wicklow GAA already has a bad reputation for poor discipline from both players and spectators at club matches in the county. The new fence around our county grounds should have been made 1m higher, given previous incidents down through to the years, to prevent the risk of players mixing with spectators.

I doubt I'm the only one who has had to listen to comments from people in other counties slagging us off about "refs locked in boots" and "do you actually play any hurling/football up there?". Of course, it goes on in other counties too but we have more of a bad reputation for it.

Hopefully, the County Board throws the book at all those responsible for the violence last night. It's embarrassing and I'm sure it was deeply troubling for those looking on. Out of curiosity, were those lengthy bans issued after the Rathnew v Carnew match last year upheld? I think lifetime bans are the way forward for violent behaviour on/off pitch."
Just seen the videos, awful stuff. Should be easy enough to identify individuals from the videos & yes bans around & they should also have Gardai call to their doors as well. No place for that behaviour in the GAA.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 2315 - 26/07/2026 13:20:35    2687166

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I saw the scenes online and they are unacceptable. I don't know who these players, supporters or club(s) they're associated with and it is irrelevant as it is disgusting. I don't know how the club(s) these players and people are associated will standby and do nothing after seeing these scenes. There should be zero tolerance.

I think these incidents do not reflect 99% of GAA people in the county. It is a small minority and I think it is time that it is stamped out. It is sad to see these incidents in the year when our hurlers and footballers have won competitions and brought such pride to the county. I hope those are the things that will be remembered.

wicklowsupport (Wicklow) - Posts: 2263 - 26/07/2026 18:48:27    2687244

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I have just witnessed the videos in aughrim between Glenealy and st pats and it's shocking what happened and yet the feedback is a lot better then the last incident in aughrim between rathnew and carnew

I just hope the county board will really chomp down on this jumping the fence and all this carry on and hold out on the bans the rathnew and carnew players received and therefore the st pats and Glenealy should receive the same sentences this will show the way the official county board shall operate.

Hopefully they just use the right protocol and the official regulations

Thewicklowwanderer (Wicklow) - Posts: 1 - 27/07/2026 10:19:28    2687438

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Replying To wicklowsupport:  "I saw the scenes online and they are unacceptable. I don't know who these players, supporters or club(s) they're associated with and it is irrelevant as it is disgusting. I don't know how the club(s) these players and people are associated will standby and do nothing after seeing these scenes. There should be zero tolerance.

I think these incidents do not reflect 99% of GAA people in the county. It is a small minority and I think it is time that it is stamped out. It is sad to see these incidents in the year when our hurlers and footballers have won competitions and brought such pride to the county. I hope those are the things that will be remembered."
It's such a pity that a few morons ( thugs?) should tarnish the goid name of GAA, especially after so much good will towards Wicklow in the last few weeks. Hopefully they, and the clubs, are dealt with forcefully.

Yellaman (Wexford) - Posts: 289 - 27/07/2026 10:20:35    2687439

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was listening to local radio yesterday and they never mentioned violelce at match . eastcoast fm

lor12 (Wicklow) - Posts: 265 - 27/07/2026 13:38:22    2687511

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Replying To lor12:  "was listening to local radio yesterday and they never mentioned violelce at match . eastcoast fm"
It was after the full-time whistle when the violence occurred. I haven't heard any statement from the county board on the incident or whether or not they're investigating it.

TheChampion (Wicklow) - Posts: 39 - 27/07/2026 17:32:52    2687605

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I am old enough to remember when there was no fence around Aughrim. I can remember vividly the crowd spilling out onto the pitch in 86 at the final whistle when we beat Laois. However the fence went up not long after that and the reason was predominately to keep what was going on the pitch separated from non-players and officials. This followed several incidents where match officials had been confronted and spectators getting embroiled in stuff similar to what went on last weekend.

I have often been highly critical of the county board on this forum, but credit where it is due, they handed out some stiff medicine after the Rathnew/Carnew incident last year as far as I am aware those bans are still being upheld. Similar strong medicine needs to be handed out here.

Hawkeye2 (Wicklow) - Posts: 196 - 27/07/2026 18:07:29    2687611

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I was disappointed to learn that Avondale have pulled their intermediate hurling team from the championship due to lack of players, thus the walkover given to Kilcoole yesterday. There was also only three players listed among their substitutes for their senior match against Carnew. Why the fall off in numbers in Avondale?

TheChampion (Wicklow) - Posts: 39 - 27/07/2026 22:23:41    2687653

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Replying To TheChampion:  "I was disappointed to learn that Avondale have pulled their intermediate hurling team from the championship due to lack of players, thus the walkover given to Kilcoole yesterday. There was also only three players listed among their substitutes for their senior match against Carnew. Why the fall off in numbers in Avondale?"
I don't think they have had numbers at juvenile level for a number of years now which eventually catches up with clubs. For years now they have been part of combined teams at football and hurling. For a proud football and particularly hurling club, I always thought that was a foolish adventure. You bring a few players through but what about those not "good" enough to make the combined team. Surely Rathdrum and environs have the numbers to go it alone at juvenile level - no matter what grade. If they haven't, that tells another story.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 2318 - 28/07/2026 09:31:20    2687699

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