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Time to rebrand GAA grounds? (As Gaelic hubs)

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I have often thought that the GAA needs to rebrand itself for the modern era. It is in competition now with Soccer and Rugby and Athletics. All these sports have grounds. Being an Irish "sport" is it not time to call GAA grounds what they are: Gaelic hubs. That is hubs or centres for Irish language, culture and sport. Croke park becomes Croke Hub. Pearse Stadium in Galway becomes the Pearse Gaelic Hub and so on. This move would help make it easier to sell the GAA and Irish culture.

galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2611 - 21/05/2016 17:01:29    1857046

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The word hub is more a metaphor in this sense as the word itself refers to a part of a wheel. Notwithstanding semantics, its probably a non-runner. Do you really think it would ever happen?

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 21/05/2016 21:05:55    1857122

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To survive into the future I think the GAA needs to tie into the Gaelic revival. That is Irish language, music and dancing should be included in the grounds.

galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2611 - 21/05/2016 21:46:47    1857143

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Replying To galwayford:  "To survive into the future I think the GAA needs to tie into the Gaelic revival. That is Irish language, music and dancing should be included in the grounds."
But what about the vast majority of people who don't speak Irish who love gaa games? Your idea would alienate them, (like myself) I'm also not into the music that much, apart from the folk music of Clancy's or fury's, how would these hubs help us?

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 22/05/2016 08:39:54    1857153

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Is there a Gaelic revival now, I thought that was 100 years ago.

I'm going to call a spade a spade here and say Croke hub sounds daft.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4505 - 22/05/2016 09:23:28    1857167

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Terrible idea to be honest.

If anything the GAA should be trying to disassociate form the Irish Language,Ceili Music etc.

It's more than likely those element would hold the GAA back as larges amounts of GAA members already only care about the sports and couldn't care less about any other aspects of Irish culture, why should the GAA waste time promoting stuff that isn't it's primary concern.

uibhfhaili1986 (Offaly) - Posts: 1296 - 22/05/2016 09:37:44    1857172

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Replying To uibhfhaili1986:  "Terrible idea to be honest.

If anything the GAA should be trying to disassociate form the Irish Language,Ceili Music etc.

It's more than likely those element would hold the GAA back as larges amounts of GAA members already only care about the sports and couldn't care less about any other aspects of Irish culture, why should the GAA waste time promoting stuff that isn't it's primary concern."
Nah mate, GAA means Gaelic Athletic Association. Not Saxon/French/American one. GAA needs the Irish language and Irish dancers. What other sports support our culture and music? Answer none really. All are "imports" from another culture.
Tír gan teanga tír gan anama.

galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2611 - 22/05/2016 17:21:27    1857383

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Replying To royaldunne:  "But what about the vast majority of people who don't speak Irish who love gaa games? Your idea would alienate them, (like myself) I'm also not into the music that much, apart from the folk music of Clancy's or fury's, how would these hubs help us?"
RoyalDunne I would advise you to learn Gaelic this Autumn. Do a night or evening class.

galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2611 - 22/05/2016 17:22:38    1857384

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Tír gan teanga tír gan anama.

galwayford (Galway) - Posts:538 - 22/05/2016 17:21:27   1857383 

Is dócha gurb "anam" an focal a bhí uait.

The GAA had always been linked with Gaelic culture (Gaeilge, dancing and music etc) and it could be argued that this link has both benefited and held it back in equal measure.

The whole "tír gan teanga, tír gan anam" thing is akin to talk of "na fíor Ghaeil" and looks to a very narrow view of our identity.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13794 - 22/05/2016 18:05:18    1857411

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Replying To galwayford:  "Nah mate, GAA means Gaelic Athletic Association. Not Saxon/French/American one. GAA needs the Irish language and Irish dancers. What other sports support our culture and music? Answer none really. All are "imports" from another culture.
Tír gan teanga tír gan anama."
Sport doesn't need to support culture and music .

The GAA finds it hard enough to run the sports it governs without putting more emphasis on other aspects of Irish culture.

uibhfhaili1986 (Offaly) - Posts: 1296 - 22/05/2016 18:17:37    1857416

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Replying To galwayford:  "RoyalDunne I would advise you to learn Gaelic this Autumn. Do a night or evening class."
Ahh no, I hated it in school and still do today, its a pointless language Imo, if its your thing fair enough, but I don't need it, I have never needed it in my work or life and have gone through life quote happily,
It doesn't make me any less Irish and I dont need it to reaffirm my irishness. . Also the gaa needs to be more inclusive not more exclusive tending to a minority, expand to entice more foreign nationals and different religions and those from LGBT groups. Not narrowing the appeal.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 22/05/2016 18:42:29    1857430

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Ahh no, I hated it in school and still do today, its a pointless language Imo, if its your thing fair enough, but I don't need it, I have never needed it in my work or life and have gone through life quote happily,
It doesn't make me any less Irish and I dont need it to reaffirm my irishness. . Also the gaa needs to be more inclusive not more exclusive tending to a minority, expand to entice more foreign nationals and different religions and those from LGBT groups. Not narrowing the appeal.
royaldunne (Meath) - Posts:8795 - 22/05/2016 18:42:29 1857430


Interesting point. The GAA has the church as a patron. Do you think they should be removed as patron? I for one would be strongly in favour of that. We don't need a patron and though there are many cases where sport and identity are linked, it doesn't have to be this way in Ireland in the 21st century.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 22/05/2016 19:19:06    1857451

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Replying To bennybunny:  "Ahh no, I hated it in school and still do today, its a pointless language Imo, if its your thing fair enough, but I don't need it, I have never needed it in my work or life and have gone through life quote happily,
It doesn't make me any less Irish and I dont need it to reaffirm my irishness. . Also the gaa needs to be more inclusive not more exclusive tending to a minority, expand to entice more foreign nationals and different religions and those from LGBT groups. Not narrowing the appeal.
royaldunne (Meath) - Posts:8795 - 22/05/2016 18:42:29 1857430


Interesting point. The GAA has the church as a patron. Do you think they should be removed as patron? I for one would be strongly in favour of that. We don't need a patron and though there are many cases where sport and identity are linked, it doesn't have to be this way in Ireland in the 21st century."
I would be very in favour of the church being removed as a patron.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4505 - 22/05/2016 20:19:57    1857475

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Replying To bennybunny:  "Ahh no, I hated it in school and still do today, its a pointless language Imo, if its your thing fair enough, but I don't need it, I have never needed it in my work or life and have gone through life quote happily,
It doesn't make me any less Irish and I dont need it to reaffirm my irishness. . Also the gaa needs to be more inclusive not more exclusive tending to a minority, expand to entice more foreign nationals and different religions and those from LGBT groups. Not narrowing the appeal.
royaldunne (Meath) - Posts:8795 - 22/05/2016 18:42:29 1857430


Interesting point. The GAA has the church as a patron. Do you think they should be removed as patron? I for one would be strongly in favour of that. We don't need a patron and though there are many cases where sport and identity are linked, it doesn't have to be this way in Ireland in the 21st century."
Yes I do also think the church should not be a patron, in 2016 I don't see the point tbh.
I believe it should stand alone as a sporting organization, not hand in hand with any religion, language, or dance.,
It doesn't need them and again I think it would only act as a distraction without any obvious benefits to the games themselves,

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 22/05/2016 20:26:23    1857483

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How would these GAA hubs promote the Irish language? Woukd they promote it to every age group? Who are the target market that the GAA hubs are going to sell the GAA and Irish culture to ? We could definitely do with promoting our language amongst our youth, many don't think it's cool. Feck being cool. We're Irish, it's our native language, sets us apart from other nations. I can see why many have no interest in speaking in the language but we can't just let it die.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7919 - 22/05/2016 21:54:13    1857549

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Gaelic Games not American, British, Saxon, Anglo Australian, Russian games!!!

galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2611 - 23/05/2016 19:38:11    1857923

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Replying To galwayford:  "Gaelic Games not American, British, Saxon, Anglo Australian, Russian games!!!"
They're not Mongolian either.

What's your point?

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13794 - 23/05/2016 21:10:22    1857961

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Ahh no, I hated it in school and still do today, its a pointless language Imo, if its your thing fair enough, but I don't need it, I have never needed it in my work or life and have gone through life quote happily,
It doesn't make me any less Irish and I dont need it to reaffirm my irishness. . Also the gaa needs to be more inclusive not more exclusive tending to a minority, expand to entice more foreign nationals and different religions and those from LGBT groups. Not narrowing the appeal."
Couldn't agree more with this. Certainly beats the idea of a few (traditional) dancing and some bloke with a tin whistle.

MedwayIrish (Wexford) - Posts: 2324 - 24/05/2016 10:30:03    1858023

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Replying To MedwayIrish:  "Couldn't agree more with this. Certainly beats the idea of a few (traditional) dancing and some bloke with a tin whistle."
The recent 1916 show in Croke park after the League final was fairly good and got good reviews. Asaonta or something like that.
Is é mo thuairm go bhfuil clár seo an clár is fear ar na CLG.

galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2611 - 24/05/2016 11:29:46    1858054

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Replying To galwayford:  "The recent 1916 show in Croke park after the League final was fairly good and got good reviews. Asaonta or something like that.
Is é mo thuairm go bhfuil clár seo an clár is fear ar na CLG."
That is a little bit different though. You're talking about a high profile centenary event before a showpiece game. Now imagine what Leitrim v Sligo might be treated to?

MedwayIrish (Wexford) - Posts: 2324 - 24/05/2016 12:10:01    1858069

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