IT'S probably the last place on earth that you would expect to find Gaelic games being promoted. But Glasgow Rangers are now helping the GAA to promote the nationalist sports of Gaelic football and hurling. The rivalry in Glasgow between the traditionally Protestant Rangers and Catholic Celtic has been among the most bitter in the sporting world for the last 120 years. Both clubs have made serious efforts in recent years to stamp out the sectarianism that too often has been a blight on the clashes between the blue and green halves of Glasgow. And both clubs have signed up to the Sense Over Sectarianism campaign in an attempt to break down the religious barriers. But in a move that would have been unthinkable 10 years ago, Rangers are helping the GAA spread the Gaelic games and hurling gospel across Britain. The GAA's outgoing president in Britain, John Gormley, said: "It would have been unthinkable a few years ago, but it is happening and it is working.

tomaoo7 (Dublin) - Posts: 5896 - 02/03/2009 16:28:27    222189

Serious? Wonderful news. Where did you see it?

My God with Tyrone and Glentoran getting together and now Glasgow Rangers and the GAA in Britain we won't know ourselves.

Great news. Well done again lads.

Real Louth fan (Louth) - Posts: 3157 - 02/03/2009 17:35:35    222271

may'be they'l come over and help the Dubs too tomato you's need all the help you's can get

Rahilly_Man (Tyrone) - Posts: 361 - 02/03/2009 17:37:13    222273

Call me a cynic but that post did not include any details as to how exactly Glasgow Rangers are helping the GAA. It seems very vague, are there any reports containing more information?

fear aontroma (Antrim) - Posts: 94 - 02/03/2009 17:46:36    222287

Real Louth fan
County: Louth
Posts: 692

222271 Serious? Wonderful news. Where did you see it?

My God with Tyrone and Glentoran getting together and now Glasgow Rangers and the GAA in Britain we won't know ourselves.

Great news. Well done again lads. Irish indepentant rlf,a little shocked myself hope they don't get 2 serious could you imagaine,rangers in croker

tomaoo7 (Dublin) - Posts: 5896 - 02/03/2009 17:49:52    222296

I'm surprised to hear of this but I'm with fear aontroma on this, what kind of help are they giving?

men_of_49 (Meath) - Posts: 2003 - 02/03/2009 17:58:13    222307

It is a way for Rangers to help get rid of sectarianism and it is opening up a whole new area to the GAA".

Rangers have an extensive network of community workers across Glasgow and access to these areas has been granted to the GAA officers by the club.

Now some youngsters in Scotland's biggest city are being taught football and hurling as well as soccer and other sports.

Mr Gormley said GAA officers were working across the UK. He said: "In Cardiff, one school has replaced rugby with Gaelic football as its primary sport. The work of the games development administrators is opening the GAA up to a whole new generation."

tomaoo7 (Dublin) - Posts: 5896 - 02/03/2009 17:59:10    222308

Grahame Souness tried to change the clubs policy when he signed my hero Mo Johnson, and then a host of Italians, Chilians and Gazza who in the old days could not have played for the 'Gers due to their perceived faith.

The supporters however have not really moved on.

And of course, Mo was never abused by the Celtic supporters, they do not do such things.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 02/03/2009 18:16:29    222317

Rahilly_Man
County: Tyrone
Posts: 184

222273 may'be they'l come over and help the Dubs too tomato you's need all the help you's can get ;;; You made me laugh there haha ,aslong as there dubs they can play for us.It's tomaoo7 not tomato can't u ulster men read.

tomaoo7 (Dublin) - Posts: 5896 - 02/03/2009 18:21:55    222322

If anyone has some genuine info on this one they should post it to Rangers Supporters website called WWW.FOLLOWFOLLOW.COM You would of course need to sign on to get access to the site. Just post it and sit back and wait for the reaction. It should be fun.

corkcelt (Cork) - Posts: 4388 - 02/03/2009 18:38:20    222339

Get Paul Le Guen back as their manager and we'll be set

Duffy89 (Wexford) - Posts: 3320 - 02/03/2009 18:49:26    222354

Very Commendable- NOT. This is a small token and yet again people come on here talking about how much Rangers are trying to stamp out secetaranism. FACT- Aiden McGeady and James Mccarthy (Hamilton Accies and Scotish born Irish international) are racially abused by Rangers and indeed many Scotish fans for being of Irish Catholic discent. FACT- Rangers fans continue to sing the vile racsist song 'The famine Song' asking all the Irish in Scotland to go back as the famine is over. WAKE UP- another Scottich media lead pro-Rangers article. When these issues are dealt with by the powers-to-be at that soccer club then we can give them positive feedback as irish people. I'm not so one-sided to dismiss issues with Celtic fans but their reputation is unquestionable throughout Europe!!!!

Ed (UK) - Posts: 156 - 02/03/2009 19:31:41    222386

patrique Souness admitted later that he signed Mo Johnson to wind up the Celtic Supporters not to change anything, Ed What you have said is perfectly true.

corkcelt (Cork) - Posts: 4388 - 02/03/2009 19:44:46    222396

Does anyone remember the aptly named "Catholic University of Chile" Rangers Supporters Club? Started up after they signed some lad called Martin De Pores Seamus, Patrick Boliva or something. Even the Rangers Fanzine" saw the funny side.

But please, do not post here about abuse as though Celtic "fans" didn't do such things.

Don't take my word for it, ask Mo or Kenny Millar.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 02/03/2009 19:47:27    222397

Duffy89
County: Wexford
Posts: 349

222354
Get Paul Le Guen back as their manager and we'll be set


Funny you should mention that. To be trendy I had just learnt to sing;

"'ello,'ello, nous sommes les garcons de Willy"

and then they sacked him.

Spoil sports.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 02/03/2009 19:49:21    222399

really ed?forgive me for being cynical but do celtic have such an amazing reputation across europe?maybe i am missing something here but the celtic fans are every bit as bad as the rangers crowd in my opinion.in relation to this topic about rangers and the gaa the only thing i can see coming out of it is an increase in the number of hurley related attacks in glasgow

der_bomber (Kildare) - Posts: 149 - 02/03/2009 19:51:19    222400

Kind of reminds me of that old joke about Paisley waking from a coma and hearing the news of Linfield's win

Maroonatic (Galway) - Posts: 1066 - 02/03/2009 20:04:26    222412

Ed, that's true. Even European politicians have got involved in an attempt to stamp out racism there. They are well known in Europe for their infamous nazi salutes at Euro away games.

Let's hope though that this is a step (a small one albeit) in the right direction. Laws can change quite quickly but attitudes usually take a lot longer. It's all about time.

Real Louth fan (Louth) - Posts: 3157 - 02/03/2009 20:09:24    222417

It's nice to see tomaoo7 actually post something on here instead of 'tagging' a comment on end of someone elses, however judging by the standard of the grammar and general body of the thread methinks that my favourite WUM is guilty of some plaigerism, would I be right in saying so?

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 02/03/2009 20:59:36    222452

der_bomber really ed?forgive me for being cynical but do celtic have such an amazing reputation across europe?maybe i am missing something here but the celtic fans are every bit as bad as the rangers crowd in my opinion.in relation to this topic about rangers and the gaa the only thing i can see coming out of it is an increase in the number of hurley related attacks in glasgow ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Celtic do actually have an amazing reputation across Europe highlighted by the UEFA and FIFA fairplay awards won by the fans after the UEFA Cup final in Seville in 2002. Contrast that with the rioting of rangers fans in Manchester before, during and after the UEFA cup final last year. That's just one stark comparision, i could provide more if necessary but that should suffice. Celtic fans are in no way as bad a rangers fans, nowhere near it.

monaghan_ultra (None) - Posts: 213 - 02/03/2009 21:22:36    222468