Jay P, historically Ballymun never really went and looked to get youngsters in.
Now they are really putting the ground work in, getting buses out to take the kids from the centre of Ballymun out to the grounds for training and they are really improving at juvenile.

GAAHattrick (Dublin) - Posts: 278 - 25/06/2014 18:38:37    1609094

Im not a Ballymun lad. Leahy had a falling out with the club....I got that right! And Byrne I wasnt sure about. I know slightly more than you rubywalsh!

I thought the O'Donovan lad was from Cork. But fair enough.

So basically you agree that Ballymun arent hunting players. I was just commenting that its unfair saying they have loads of country lads. Especially when lots of them were young when they joined the club, and from what I know, they werent exactly bought in! Just young lads who want to play many of which were in college in DCU or Pats.

No Seanie Johnstons in that panel. And most lads that start and come on are local boys. As I said, Ballymun are a small enough club. Seems well run though. Lots of those local boys are sniffing around Dublin panels too.

JayP (Dublin) - Posts: 1772 - 25/06/2014 18:41:32    1609097

GAAHattrick....

Not actually true. I have cousins in Poppintree who say the club were always in their primary school. And Paddy Christie is Principal in one of the schools on the Ballymun Road. Also the club are only up at the airport 20 years. They played out of Poppintree Park for years. Central to the Community.

They have done lots, as I said. Nurseries and primary schools are the forward. Gotta win hearts and minds early

JayP (Dublin) - Posts: 1772 - 25/06/2014 18:56:42    1609108

TheMaster
County: Mayo
Posts: 11429

1609065
I appreciate your point gleebo, but surely your point about what I believe, works exactly the same way for you and Westport? I know of the two brothers you speak of. I also know of two Westport brothers, one is the best half back in the country, the other is a standout player for westport utd. May I ask, why those lads, who represented mayo at minor level as you say, have prioritised soccer? Choosing to line out for the junior gaa team only. Isnt that far more of a soccer first mentality than a family where 2 brothers play one each, to a very high level? Any place where county minor standard players, to the level mayo would be at (didn't one of them pay in an AI minor final?), who would subsequently choose soccer over gaa would suggest that the area they hail from would be pro-soccer would it not?

Your point about Westport supporting castlebar isn't really gaa vs soccer, it is just a club supporting their neighbours. They weren't doing it in spite of the gaa club...

I suppose we'll have to agree to disagree. In my case, most of my father's family represented Westport United through the decades (my grandfather was their President for a while, has a annual summer tournament named after him), so I am very familiar with that neck of the woods. I would say that the Westport presence at those games shows the depth of support for soccer there; I can't imagine it happening for a gaa fixture.

It would be difficult to speak on behalf of the lads from Castlebar, but they were representing the soccer club at senior from an early age ( both played LOI football) whereas I think it was more difficult for them to break into the Mitchels senior side, which was fairly settled by then. They did win a county under 21 title, which shows that they persisted with it for quite a while. If you know the lads in question, they are of slight build, which is an obstacle in senior gaelic football (more so than in association football). Both of them appeared in that All-Ireland loss to Down. Their decision to put soccer first was less down to any soccer-mad leanings so much as pragmatism, IMHO. They also won county hurling medals at underage, incidentally.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 26/06/2014 08:55:32    1609215

Jay P this may sound snobbish but a lot of the better/decent kids from South and West Finglas go to schools in the catchment areas for Kickhams and Fianna. Naturally a lot of them then play for those clubs. Vincents is great school for hurling and I see a fair few young fellas from Finglas with sticks coming and going from there. It is also true that Isles don't seem to actively seek players. Very much a club based on a core of families.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 26/06/2014 11:47:31    1609299

Hurlingdub....

Not snobbish at all. I know what you mean. The current Ballymun team would have 6 or 7 starters who are from Poppintree. Similar to areas in Finglas considered less affluent. I think Isles aren't getting kids from these areas. They need to get a drive on to get these kids into their club. A weak Isles isn't good for Dublin football long term.

JayP (Dublin) - Posts: 1772 - 26/06/2014 12:42:11    1609333

Leixlip

LilySavage (Kildare) - Posts: 114 - 26/06/2014 13:13:29    1609353

Soccer is the Number 1 sport in Catholic areas of North Belfast by a large margin particularly amongst the youth. There are only 2 GAA clubs in North Belfast and 1 just outside it but many more amateur soccer clubs and players. This is the legacy of the Troubles and the GAA there being ignored and marginalised by the Ulster Council and Croke Park over the past 40 years. In the late 60's and early 70's Antrim had a very strong underage football set up but killings, emigration, prison and harrassment/attacks from the British Army/RUC/Loyalists virtually destroyed the GAA in North Belfast. There has NO major effort to rectify this by the GAA authorities since and soccer has filled that void.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9817 - 26/06/2014 15:07:01    1609402

The Townies don't get to excited about Slashers here in Longford. But then they are not really flocking to see the Town in the League of Ireland either.They enjoy following Man U on the box. Strange lot really, when you are talking to them they keep referring to Man U as WE. Like we won today or we are going to sign this fellow or that fellow.

bullring (Longford) - Posts: 204 - 26/06/2014 19:07:58    1609545

Lilysavage

Leixlip really?

Aren't there 2 GAA clubs in Leixlip?

Confey and St. Marys I thought?

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13796 - 26/06/2014 19:44:39    1609562

Sure are two clubs.Confey take from all the estates around Captains Hill and St Marys all the estates around Catletown/Ryevale etc.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 26/06/2014 20:18:38    1609574

You should visit Naas bullring! They do not even show Kildare matches there! Myself and Da made terrible mistake of looking to see league semi finals (Kildare/Tyrone and Dubs/Mayo) there last year. Tried half pubs in town before found one that would put on the matches. "We" were playing "them" apparently. So Naas is definitely not a stronghold!

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 27/06/2014 10:31:56    1609738

In Galway we have the opposite. The county is largely all GAA, there's rugby and soccer clubs around the place but there is always a GAA club close by with good support.

Problem we have is a bitterness between hurling and football folk. Galway is probably the finest divide between the two. A razor sharp fine runs down the middle of the county. The city is only area where its 50-50.

Connemara and north Galway are all football the only hurling club of notable rank is Moycullen at Intermediate. South Galway is all hurling. Shame to some of the stronger hurling clubs are actually making every effort to destroy juvenile start up football in hurling areas. In a county our size I count about 5 proper dual clubs where both games are on a par.

crossfieldball (Galway) - Posts: 650 - 27/06/2014 11:46:15    1609803

How are gaelic games doing Galway city, crossfieldball? My impression is that soccer and rugby are stronger in the city itself, with maybe some stronger clubs like Salthill/Knocknacarra on the outskirts.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 27/06/2014 12:44:21    1609865

Within the city there is

Football:

St.James, St.Michaels, Salthill/Knocknacarra (Senior)
Fathergriffen Eire Og (Underage and maybe lower Junior ranks)

Salthill were in the co.final last year and they have the very strong soccer club of Salthill Devon on their doorstep. James's were semi finalists last year and Mervue are across the road from them so their both going very well. Michaels have a strong little pocket of football for themselves too around Westside.

Hurling:

Liam Mellowes, Castlegar (Senior)
Rahoon Newcastle (Intermediate)
Salthill/Knocknacarra, Menlo Emmetts, St.Columbus (Junior)

Hurling is struggling in the city. Liam Mellows have been in relegation for the past 3 seasons and this year Cashel have joined them.
Rahoon and Salthill have amalgamated at under age and won both U21 and Minor titles last year. When the younger players get to Senior there appears to be a big drop off.

crossfieldball (Galway) - Posts: 650 - 27/06/2014 12:58:32    1609878

Derry city is somewhere where the GAA has struggled to get a foothold. Soccer is still the main interest but there have been some improvements over the last while and there is now one senior, one intermediate and two junior teams in football. Only one hurling club in the city. Even though soccer is top it's not because everyone supports Derry city. English premiership support is where it's at for most. I'm not sure if those who can have an influence at county or Ulster GAA level really have the belief that sustained advancements can be made. Yes it's up to local people but without the coaching, promotion and games structure then it's going to be only scraping the surface of the potential of the largest population base in the county. Then again it's not as if we need any other lads to help boost our minor or senior hopes for the future!

RoverTin (Derry) - Posts: 228 - 27/06/2014 13:39:00    1609906

Your're right MesAmis. Two in Leixlip.

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 3027 - 27/06/2014 13:47:52    1609918

It is a bit strange that some of the strongest pockets of republican support (as measured by SF vote) are urban areas in Belfast, Derry and Dublin where the GAA is relatively weak. As Derry chap above says it is not even that people are playing other sports, they are not playing any sports. Surely that is something that should be tackled by those community's political representatives?

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 27/06/2014 13:51:55    1609921

22/06/2014 21:54:55
cuchulainn35
County: Armagh
Posts: 1020

1607382
this is an interesting post and demonstrates how the GAA hasn't or can't get a footing

In Armagh we have Markethill, Hamiltonsbawn, Richill , and Tangragee ( where Tayto crisps r made) are some of the places where there is no GAA

However County Down have the strongest example of this with no GAA activity:-
Bangor pop 60,000
Newtownards 27,000
Dundonald 14,000
Ballynahinch 6,000
Comber 9,000
Donaghadee 6,000
Ballgowan
Saintfield 3,000
Hillsborough 4,000
Warringstown 2,500
Killyleigh 2,500
Clough
Crawfordsburn
Groomssport
Killough
Killincy
Loughbrickland
Scrava
Millisle
Crossgar


The Crossgar and Saintfield area is catered for by Darragh Cross GAC, Killyleagh have the club up and running again after tough times in the past with sectarianism and vandalism in the area, and Killough is part of Bright parish, another Junior club. Loughbrickland would be catered for by Clann na banna (Banbridge) for any GAA minded people in the area.
North Down is most definitely not a GAA oreintated area, with St Pauls of Holywood, outside east Belfast, the only club that can be considered to be in that general region.
The areas with the largest populations you mentioned are Protestant dominated, with the rest being very small townlands and villages.

icantshoot (Down) - Posts: 64 - 27/06/2014 15:32:28    1609999

Naas claims to be one of the biggest gaa clubs in Ireland with over 90 teams so its not exactly a non-gaa stronghold.

11jm11 (Kildare) - Posts: 367 - 27/06/2014 17:06:42    1610063