keeper7

i agree with the idea behind your post Antrim should plan for the future,

however as someone who hurled while at QUB in the '90's, Belfast is a very complex soc iety and a hurley is something which is not readily acceptable in all areas of the city,

things are improving and the ulster council should take great credit for the work of introducing the game into east belfast into staunchy loyalist areas, but the reality is that elected individuals block or hinder the develpment of the gameby:
1. not granting Belfast council funds for gaa pitches while at the same time belfast is coming down with rubgy, hockey and soccer pitches
2. the council has provided 'funded' summer schemes and developed a number of coaching officiers in hockey , rugby, soccer, etc and 1 for gaa
3. the media while improving has a long way to go,

now can you think of a local representative in Longford or Dublin refusing to support an inititive to improve hurling,

as much as it pains me to say it but the future prospects of the game are inter-linked with the political situation, a good marching seaon and the hurley is ok, a troubled season and do you want it out of the kit bag

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1691 - 18/08/2011 12:45:47    1013822

I won't pretend to understand the intricacies involved but these are obviously some of the major challenges which any such plan would have to face. How come Gaelic football seems to prosper in Belfast under the same conditions?

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 18/08/2011 13:16:32    1013856

gaelic football doesn't prosper in belfast, take st. john's and st. galls out, and the gaelic football has its problems,

good article in today's irish news describing the problems facing derry hurling

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1691 - 18/08/2011 21:43:16    1014289

I don't know exactly "who developed" Dublin Hurling or whether it was copied or modifed and then copied, its a bit irrelevant to where it is now. And Dublin 9 is not Dublin 4 nor is it Balbriggan, nor is it West Belfast nor are they Keady or Kiltyclogher etc
I do know when I played hurling in Dublin it was about as fashionable as being an altar boy or wearing shorts to school. I also know and can say when I joined my current club "a powerhouse of dublin juvenile hurling" it was also to play football and the football coach broke my hurley and told me I wouldn't be needing that here.
So by all means throw up the obstacles, a great idea if you want to break them down but if its an excuse for doing nothing, just get out of the way and don't stop those that want to give it a go.
It requires hard work and dedication and maybe that alone eliminates the majority of counties. But you'll not receive a pot of gold, a template and roadmap and in ten years have provincial county winners if you don't have the volunteers, workers, grafters, and leaders to pave the way and unock the potential of this game. I think Cahill is correct in what he says.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4956 - 19/08/2011 10:30:12    1014367

Couldn't get my hands on that Irish News article. There's hardly an online link, is there?

I think Dinny Cahill, while not a native, is long enough connected with Antrim hurling to know the in's & out's of how the land lies within the county & indeed within Belfast. If government funding for Gaelic games is being opposed, why don't nationalist politicians oppose grants for non-Gaelic sports? I know that would obviously be "unsporting" but you might only have to make the point once that two can play that game...er, pardon the pun! Without getting too much into it, there's always a way where there's a will (or verse vice!).

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 19/08/2011 13:43:48    1014534

I see were the newly formed coalislanf H.C. are appearing in their first ever tyrone senior county final

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1691 - 20/08/2011 12:23:12    1015058

Snuf:

Think cuchulainn35 answeared that question for me look at their success at under age from the late 90's on and how that continued with success in the senior... start investing in coaching and coaching kids at a young age!!! sound firmilar??

Hag_and_Cheese (Tipperary) - Posts: 6103 - 20/08/2011 19:29:48    1015261

RIP Development of hurling in the weaker counties after the move to chanmge the league format, i have not seen one positive comment from Posters here. But the response will be a bit like a comment from Euro Politicans , sure we voted for the wrong think or we dont understand, feel sick today after this move. Limerick players and fans couldn wait for the League next year and now we have this mess instead.

freetaker1 (Limerick) - Posts: 758 - 21/08/2011 12:48:54    1015498

http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/league-revamp-will-kill-hurling-in-smaller-counties-2827344.html

freetaker1 (Limerick) - Posts: 758 - 21/08/2011 13:27:20    1015510