Funny that the same people whining about Belfast and saying there is no interest in the GAA in Belfast are so opposed to any attempt to reverse that and promote the GAA in Belfast. Great to see so much positivity and enthusiasm, particularly from other Ulster Gaels. It's just like being able to sit in that room in Hayes Hotel on the 1st November 1884.

pearsesabu (Antrim) - Posts: 663 - 25/02/2009 11:21:09    217659

hear hear pearsesabu , but what should be done - you cant force wee kids to play gaelic in school if they dont want to

stranmillis29 (Antrim) - Posts: 788 - 25/02/2009 12:11:33    217721

Belfast aint the second city of Ireland,Cork is

Duffy89 (Wexford) - Posts: 3320 - 25/02/2009 14:02:46    217858

Duffy , Belfast is Ireland's 2nd largest city. Cork is the 2nd largest city in the 26 counties.

dubupnorth (Dublin) - Posts: 1897 - 25/02/2009 14:40:01    217919

Check out the news item (http://www.hoganstand.com/Antrim/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=107481) on John McSparran, Antrim County Board chairman about the decision making process. Either, in an underhand way, Limerick alone were given a nod and a wink to prepare a business plan for the game which was then used to argue that they were the better bet (as he implies), or, the Antrim County Board failed to respond properly to the opportunity or were too amateurish to grasp what was required here (which isn't beyond the bounds of possibility). Having said that, I'm not holding my breath that anyone is going to reveal the true story here (we'll no doubt just get some spin). And I have no problem at all with Limerick staging the game, by the way. Its just that after it was implied that Belfast would stage it, I, like other Antrim people, just want to know if we were let down by the county board or if they were stitched up by the Director General.

pearsesabu (Antrim) - Posts: 663 - 25/02/2009 15:31:17    218008

I suppose so dubupnorth

Duffy89 (Wexford) - Posts: 3320 - 25/02/2009 16:21:11    218074

Mr End Off, Lets see if i am allowed the right to reply ed considering my community has been called everything under the sun ! Stick your pink ladies, sheep and massey fergusons, up your ma mangle!! Not be long before youse come crawling into belfast looking work from the glen road brewery now bulmers have pulled the plug!!

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 25/02/2009 23:36:47    218606

Derryman Re promoting the GAA in bigger cities I have been up to Celtic Park in Derry on many occasion, most famously When Down beat Derry 94 , and went to a few bars around the ground, I.E the bogside Inn and the dungloe what was on English soccer and the looks from the locals weren't very welcoming

williewentwell (Tyrone) - Posts: 1712 - 25/02/2009 23:38:20    218609

williewentwell - I saw an interview with Mickey Harte where he was talking about the GAAs old ban on 'foreign sports' - he blames that for destroying the GAA in urban areas like Derry city. There was a GAA club formed in the Waterside as early as 1884. In the late 1880s the most active hurling league in Ulster was based in Derry City and Inishowen (only really Burt have survived). Its not like there was never any interest in the GAA in those areas - GAA policies strangled the association in those areas - and any attempts to reverse that (in Derry) have been left to the county board, not taken on at a central level.

pearsesabu (Antrim) - Posts: 663 - 26/02/2009 13:14:40    218950

samin10 County: Armagh Posts: 2306 216990 pearseabu I would say if you did a bit of research you would find that West Belfast crime rate would be well above average to other large cities. I have a mate lives near Clonard, house broke into twice, 1 car stole and one wrecked when hoods danced on top of it and kicked windows and mirrors through. Another lives at Stockmans lane about 300 yards from Casement, house broke into twice, once taking his car keys from the bedside table Now Clonard iis nowhere near Casement Park, it actually borders the Shankhill Road, so maybe that's were the car went. As for Stockman's Lane, burglars must be getting fitter. Imagine having to walk up a two hundred yard path to get the house, and then decide which of the 120 windows to break in? Is your mate one of the Holywood film stars from Stockman's Lane, or is he just a poor Doctor or Barrister? Andersonstown? I spent years in England trying to explain to people that I came from a posh "ghetto". A ghetto in a sectarian divide, but houses with 17 bedrooms? Hardly Coronation Street is it?

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 26/02/2009 21:22:05    219518

There is a strong element in the city now trying to really push forward Gaelic & Hurling. In North Belfast Pearses are doing an exceptional job at under age level and could do with a bit more support within Antrim & Ulster. Ardoyne and to a lesser extent St. Enda's also need more encouragement in an area that has not been kind to the GAA or the Nationalist community. A couple of high profile GAA figures giving a bit of publicity would work wonders. The West has always been strong in GAA but can be very parochial and maybe that comes across sometimes to outsiders including those who attend matches at Casement. It's not arrogance but actually the opposite for when it comes to Gaelic games there is a bit of an inferiority complex with Belfast GAA people. It's part of the wider Antrim mindset that " we are not worthy or good enough" and that's why some can shy away from big GAA events. Belfast needs a bit of support and encouragement and that has been sadly lacking from the Ulster Council and Croke Park up to now. If the Ulster Council stated tomorrow that an Ulster semi-final will be at Casement this year the people and GAA scene will do it's damndest to make it work for everyone especially the fans of both teams. We all need to wok together and get rid of the suspicions and stereotypical nonsense. By the way good luck to Limerick with the second game, that city has also been on the receiving end of some undeserving press. This is NOT sour grapes against Limerick.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9816 - 26/02/2009 22:27:36    219585

Now Clonard iis nowhere near Casement Park, it actually borders the Shankhill Road, so maybe that's were the car went. As for Stockman's Lane, burglars must be getting fitter. Imagine having to walk up a two hundred yard path to get the house, and then decide which of the 120 windows to break in? Is your mate one of the Holywood film stars from Stockman's Lane, or is he just a poor Doctor or Barrister? Andersonstown? I spent years in England trying to explain to people that I came from a posh "ghetto". A ghetto in a sectarian divide, but houses with 17 bedrooms? Hardly Coronation Street is it? ________________________________________________ Patrique (the west belfast man who got a bit of sense and got out of there) Clonard is less than a mile from Casement Park, now i am not saying you would park there to go to Casement i was just basically saying this is the sort of thing happens in west belfast. You have clearly been out of Belfast to long, it must be Stockmans lane at the Malone end you are refering to, because he lives in a 3 bedroom bungalow and works in a shop on bouchure road. It takes about 5 paces from his gate to his front door. About 100 meters from motorway and Kennedy Way. Took you years trying to explain it because you were talking *****. If you had of been talking any sense it would have taken two minutes. You made a point in an earlier post about "the butcher boy" being filmed in Clones. Well "You, me and Marley" was filmes in West Belfast. What does that tell you?

samin10 (Armagh) - Posts: 2434 - 27/02/2009 09:15:06    219779

Ah people give over what is the arguments about?? everyone knows that casement is a hole why would you bring an international match their show the gaa off in a bad light!!!!!! anyway people want to be able to get home after the games, so the games need to be played somewere were your car wont be stolen by DLA seeking joyriders

fiannablue (Tyrone) - Posts: 326 - 27/02/2009 10:08:20    219842

Casement Park is a great ground and the surface is always immaculate, even at this time of year and the floodlights make it look even better.

stranmillis29 (Antrim) - Posts: 788 - 27/02/2009 10:30:55    219876

Drove past Casement yesterday and there's not a whole pile wrong with it from what I seen. The area it's close too doesn't look half as bad as some of the area's close to Croker , specially Summerhill.

dubupnorth (Dublin) - Posts: 1897 - 27/02/2009 10:45:19    219894

It's typical of our nortern neighbours to ask for the game to be played in casement. When the irish economy is in deep trouble they ask for more revennue boosting events to be moved up north. firstly you have all the southern shoppers going up there paying Vat to the british govt , the 6 counties pay there taxes to the queen & now ya want all the gaa sporting events to be held in a sub standard second rate stadium. International rules stay in Ireland to give some revennue back to the economy

theknow (Cavan) - Posts: 42 - 27/02/2009 11:46:07    220004

theknow
County: Cavan
Posts: 41

220004 It's typical of our nortern neighbours to ask for the game to be played in casement. When the irish economy is in deep trouble they ask for more revennue boosting events to be moved up north. firstly you have all the southern shoppers going up there paying Vat to the british govt , the 6 counties pay there taxes to the queen & now ya want all the gaa sporting events to be held in a sub standard second rate stadium. International rules stay in Ireland to give some revennue back to the economy

Its not all about money. Ulster GAA deserves a home international as much as the other provinces. I hope you didn't go to Newry or Enniskillen over Christmas cos if you did that would make you a RAGING HYPOCRITE.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12291 - 27/02/2009 11:59:51    220038

'Patrique (the west belfast man who got a bit of sense and got out of there) Clonard is less than a mile from Casement Park, now i am not saying you would park there to go to Casement i was just basically saying this is the sort of thing happens in west belfast. You have clearly been out of Belfast to long, it must be Stockmans lane at the Malone end you are refering to, because he lives in a 3 bedroom bungalow and works in a shop on bouchure road. It takes about 5 paces from his gate to his front door. About 100 meters from motorway and Kennedy Way. Took you years trying to explain it because you were talking *****. If you had of been talking any sense it would have taken two minutes.' Hilarious post again genius, I think padraig might just have been speaking tongue in cheek. On the other hand then again maybe you have mastered that art as well considering you wouldnt know what sense meant. Heres a question for you, why do you visit Lenadoon/Clonard/Stockmans Lane so frequently?(now thats a question mark not an exclamation mark, hence i require a reply unlike in the earlier post) Seemingly you detest the area and the surrounding community('but I dont want to run the place down to(o) much') and secondly or maybe more to the point you are actually looking to get your car stolen to claim the insurance. If so just park it in Lurgan, they'll burn if for you as well !!

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 27/02/2009 13:19:42    220193

THE KNOW, thats right, cause the economy up here is goin great.

Ill travel to Limerick so, buy my Euros for a quid, eat in your expensive restaurants, takeaways and Drink your expensive beer. Cos there is so much money floating around here these days I dont know what to do with it all.

Derry_ledd (Derry) - Posts: 2093 - 27/02/2009 14:00:40    220261

here derry-ledd don't knock it, a euro for a quid's not a bad deal anymore!

stranmillis29 (Antrim) - Posts: 788 - 27/02/2009 15:23:48    220408