In response to the requests for an irish emigrants voew on the subject of the "granny rule", I thought that I would pot "pen to paper'. My wife and I are Irish born residents of the USA, having moved here in 1998. Our three children were born here. My son, while a big Irish soccer fan, is American and would obviously take the opportunity to play for the USA if offered. I have no idea how a grandchild of (very often) a single Irish grandparent could have the necessary passion to play for Ireland. We have had too may occasions of players makeing their first trip to Ireland to collect their first cap - this is not the right way to conduct interenational football - even if it means being starved of success. The rule should be native parents or at least two of the grandparents being native to ireland. This latest nonsense of having Northern Ireland born players declaring for the Republic is also wrong in my view. They are merely trading on a political lophole and making a political statement as to their loyalties. I respect these players and understand that growing up (presumably) in a republican household in NI, probably made them ROI suppporters anyway, but again it makes a mockery of international football. The idea is to represent YOUR country and not somebody elses - right?? The creation of a hard and fast rule is very difficult but starting with at least two grandparents and then completely excluding any player who has played at ANY level for another country might help.

gleannfleisce (Kerry) - Posts: 1 - 23/02/2010 15:31:26    570839

Due to immigration, we will always have players playing for us whose parents or grandparents are Irish. I dont have a problem with this most of the time, regarding the likes of Kilbane, McGeady, James McCarthy etc. Howver I wouldnt be hugely keen on the likes of Nolan or O' Hara who obviously would want to play for England (as they have stated) and therefore would only declare for Ireland as a last option.

Though of course the other side of the argument is, wouldnt they make a big difference, O' Hara and Nolan? Two very good players.

JPM1981 (Kildare) - Posts: 825 - 23/02/2010 15:43:04    570869

that of course should read, due to emigration!!!

JPM1981 (Kildare) - Posts: 825 - 23/02/2010 15:54:51    570890

gleannfleisce
County: Kerry
Posts: 1
This latest nonsense of having Northern Ireland born players declaring for the Republic is also wrong in my view. They are merely trading on a political lophole and making a political statement as to their loyalties. I respect these players and understand that growing up (presumably) in a republican household in NI, probably made them ROI suppporters anyway, but again it makes a mockery of international football. The idea is to represent YOUR country and not somebody elses - right??

How is it a nonsense. Having two teams on this island is a nonsense for a start. Players from the six counties hold Irish passports and this should entitle them to play for Ireland. What is also a nonsense is asking a player who is from the six counties to be asked whether or not they have Irish grandparents/parents. You don't get many lads from the 26 counties declaring for Northern Ireland, I wonder why.

mugsys_barber (Tyrone) - Posts: 2160 - 23/02/2010 15:56:15    570894

As I posted on another thread: "I don't have any sympathy for the IFA anyway. The Irish rugby team use Ireland's Call as their national anthem, but the IFA still use GSTQ. Neil Lennon was treated disgracefully by the "fans", so I can understand why players from a nationalist background would choose to play for us (not to mention we have a far better chance of actually qualifying for major tournaments)."

As regards foreign-born players who want to play for Ireland, I am okay with it as long as they feel Irish and choose us rather than seeing it as an opportunity to become an international and increase their transfer value. No thanks to Kevin Nolan and Joe Lapira (where is he now?!) etc., but James McCarthy whose grandfather is Irish and played for us at underage is fine.

nocky (Wexford) - Posts: 2059 - 23/02/2010 15:56:31    570895

I don't agree with some of the granny-rulers on an individual basis but overall I accept it.

Some countries benefit from immigration, others "benefit" from emigration, get over it.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12291 - 23/02/2010 16:04:59    570904

I'm with mugsy on this. Any Gael should appreciate, applaud and welcome any lad from teh 6 counties who wants to play for the republic. What next, an all ireland final without the 6 counties?

Puddersthecat (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1692 - 23/02/2010 16:10:13    570914

gleannfleisce
County: Kerry
Posts: 1

570839 This latest nonsense of having Northern Ireland born players declaring for the Republic is also wrong in my view. They are merely trading on a political lophole and making a political statement as to their loyalties. I respect these players and understand that growing up (presumably) in a republican household in NI, probably made them ROI suppporters anyway, but again it makes a mockery of international football. The idea is to represent YOUR country and not somebody elses - right?? The creation of a hard and fast rule is very difficult but starting with at least two grandparents and then completely excluding any player who has played at ANY level for another country might help.

You say you respect these players and understand they are supporters of ROI but yet you say it is nonsense?
Well which is it?
The Republic of Ireland represent those lads best from a nationalist background, they fly their flag, and play what they see as their national anthem.
Standing in front of a 6 county ulster flag while god save the queen is played, id imagine, is not what they see as representing them. Not to mention the nice songs they sing in Windsor Park as well, real welcoming to someone of the nationalist persuausion.
Id play no international football before i played for Norn Iron.

bosch (Derry) - Posts: 873 - 23/02/2010 16:16:42    570925

Playing for Ireland should be an honour, not a second choice. I'd be disgusted if Nolan et al pulled on an Irish top

pplocal (Tyrone) - Posts: 5878 - 23/02/2010 16:18:05    570927

Lapira is playing in the Norweigan second tier last I heard.

JuanVeron (Westmeath) - Posts: 1866 - 23/02/2010 16:28:36    570947

According to the paper today, Jamie O'Hara will declare for Ireland when the red tape is sorted out.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12291 - 23/02/2010 16:30:17    570951

How is it a nonsense. Having two teams on this island is a nonsense for a start. Players from the six counties hold Irish passports and this should entitle them to play for Ireland. What is also a nonsense is asking a player who is from the six counties to be asked whether or not they have Irish grandparents/parents. You don't get many lads from the 26 counties declaring for Northern Ireland, I wonder why.

mugs_barber some players from the six counties also hold British passports, does that mean they should be allowed to play for Scotland, England or Wales then, or should players from the aformentioned countries be then able to play for Northern Ireland as they also hold British passports. Anyway the answer to those questions is no, so even if you hold a British passport, you cannot play for a country unless you or your parents/grandparents were born there, and the same should apply to players from the North looking to play for the South

gilly0512 (Galway) - Posts: 1176 - 23/02/2010 17:06:01    571017

my ipinion on this thread.
first of all toma007 is 100per cent right on what he is saying, i would totally agree with, what would irish immigrants feel if they read this thread.
the people that had 2 leave this country 4 one reason or another , and now across the sea are just as much irish as we are.
its with great pride i see these people keep their idenitys alive, without the support of their parishes , communities back home,they still keep a great sense of irishness about them ,and bring their children up knowing were their loyaltys lie. so please everyone their is another irish community out there , thinking of home every day as they go 2 work in cities of england, u.sa, australia.
thats all i have 2 say , again well done toma007.

ta32 (Tyrone) - Posts: 4907 - 23/02/2010 17:16:55    571032

When I listen to the British media laughing and being condescending about the Irish granny rule I send them texts and e-mails about THEIR South African ENGLISH cricket team. I think there are now 4 or 5 South Africans playing for England, it soon shuts them up.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9816 - 23/02/2010 17:31:07    571060

the rule is there for all

hipster (Dublin) - Posts: 2509 - 23/02/2010 17:46:28    571088

It's an absolute disgrace if Trap selects O'Hara but won't select Andy Reid. Also he was quoted in the paper today saying he couldn't pick players who weren't playing for their clubs (he was talking mainly about Steven Reid), then how come he was able select Liam Lawrence, Liam Miller etc. in previous squads, and how come Kilbane is in this squad?



Ulsterman, you could also mention Owen Hargreaves to our English friends. Born in Calgary to an Welsh mother and English father, spent his childhood in Canada before moving to Germany. Then there's Greg Rusedski, Riki Flutey, Lesley Vainikolo, etc., etc.

nocky (Wexford) - Posts: 2059 - 23/02/2010 17:53:34    571098

i dont know why we always have to compare ourselves with england , they have always used the rule but never made a big deal about it i think they have used 70 to 80 players and ireland only about 48 and sure michael owen was born and raised on the welsh side of their boarder with england , all countries use the rule and why not

hipster (Dublin) - Posts: 2509 - 23/02/2010 18:03:22    571114

Mike Catt, Matt Stevens, Stuart Abbott, Mark Van Gisbergen, Dylan Hartley, the new lad Shontayne Hape, Irish lad Paul Doran-Jones, the English rugby and cricket teams are mad for granny-rulers or whatever the rule is!

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12291 - 23/02/2010 18:26:18    571144

Ulsterman
County: Antrim
Posts: 1611

571060 When I listen to the British media laughing and being condescending about the Irish granny rule I send them texts and e-mails about THEIR South African ENGLISH cricket team. I think there are now 4 or 5 South Africans playing for England, it soon shuts them up.

Is that you Rupert Murdock? not many other people could keep a whole countries media quite.

paddyogall (Mayo) - Posts: 5110 - 23/02/2010 18:48:28    571181

Agree Big sam. Its quite silly to be honest. The country you grow up in you should represent!!

Lofty (Monaghan) - Posts: 727 - 23/02/2010 18:49:06    571184