08.28.06
Dublin lose to Mayo
Personally I was disappointed. I’ve never really forgiven Mayo for complaining so hard and so long that Meath beat them years ago. Also, I think its good if Dublin are good at something. They are the capital after all. Sadly my views are not shared here in Meath where the anti-Dublin meeja edge takes hold. I thought there might be some exaggeration but a quick perusal of the weekend papers did confirm a broadsheet consensus that Dublin would win.
However, since this is not just a Meath household but also a Fine Gael one, my father not only delighted in the Mayo win (expressing relief that the Mayo guys had something to show after years of slog) but it was also noted, in deadly serious tones, that politically it was much better since now Enda Kenny, and Pat Rabbitte, who is from Mayo, could hold their heads high in Croker and not let Bertie have the run of the place. A good omen for the opposition. Still, I remember Pat Rabbitte complaining about Meath.
Ray said,
August 28, 2006 at 4:57 pm
Irish bad, bogball good?
Daniel K. said,
August 28, 2006 at 5:28 pm
I’m kind of disappointed too. Still a hat tricks of wins for the Kingdom over Mayo in finals might make up for the semi-final loss in ‘96.
ben said,
August 28, 2006 at 7:19 pm
Dublin should be “good at something”? Like being a vibrant, interesting, cosmopoplitan city where people have jobs, and not some backwoods cabal of bitter, close-minded gombeenmen living off subsidies?
Sarah said,
August 28, 2006 at 9:32 pm
well Ben if they have 1/4 of the country’s population you think they could win an all-Ireland more than once in 20 years?
You need to go to Croke Park. Where are you really from? And don’t say Dublin. Hardly anyone is from Dublin. Their parents generally came from somewhere else.
faolain said,
August 28, 2006 at 9:40 pm
As we all know, most Dubliners have a Cork granny
faolain said,
August 28, 2006 at 9:40 pm
or they wish they had
Paul said,
August 29, 2006 at 9:13 am
I’ll echo your sentiments Sarah. As an all round sports fan ( not from Dublin).. the sense of occasion and entertainment that Dublin support bring to Croke park in the summer is superb and i too was disapointed to see them lose. Also, the games that they were involved were typically entertaining and exciting in comparison to a lot of GAA and Soccer matches i’v watched this summer. ..Ray, you’re an idiot.
Ray said,
August 29, 2006 at 9:25 am
“I am pleased to say that the GAA continues to receive substantial funding from the Government to create better opportunities for people to participate in the sport. In addition to €110m, which was provided towards the development of Croke Park, funding of €133m has been allocated under my Department’s Sports Capital Programme since 1998 for the development of GAA sports facilities in clubs and counties right throughout the country. ”
How much was spent on Irish translation again?
gerry said,
August 29, 2006 at 10:36 am
They are hardly comparable Ray. Sport is something almost everyone participates in at some time, it has huge benefits for society physically, it builds commmunities and generates general joy when the team, county, club or country does well. In Britain for example it is probably thte biggest contributor to the reduction of casual racism when black players started appearing for soccer teams. I expect similar benefits when Waleskas and Ofembes start appearing for Dublin and Leinster etc. And the direct funding of those that participarte in and spectate at sports far outstrips any government investment which I would consider woefully inadequate when considered in context witth the range of spending options that might actually improve people’s lives. This is hardly the same as spending on translating documents that no-one will read.
gerry
Ray said,
August 29, 2006 at 10:50 am
Irish doesn’t have the same set of benefits, sure. But the government fund the GAA at least partly because we think gaelic games are a fundamental part of Irish culture, that should be supported and promoted. People can get just as fit playing soccer, and you could have all the multi-cultural and community bonding benefits of sport in any sport. But pity the minister who said “Actually lads, it would be more cost-effective to just subsidise one sport, so footballs for everyone and no more sliotars”, or (god help him) “You know, people seem to be happy enough to pay for sport themselves, so good luck to them, we’ll just stay out of it. Let’s not be anti-competitive. Level playing field, and all that.”
Sarah said,
August 29, 2006 at 11:45 am
ah c’mon Ray. The GAA is actually not about “Irish culture” – it’s a competitive sport which because of its amazing organisation at parish and county level draws in anyone and everyone. We were talking before about planners trying to engineer communities. The GAA does more for community and county identity than any other organisation AND its sport so its good for you. I know they get a load of dosh off the government but don’t forget how much the supporters have poured in too..I think the money that the government gives has a mandate. Unlike the Lotto money that was handed out to exclusive golf clubs. Now, of course, in my house,on the “cultural” level the GAA was the fourth corner stone of the despicable grouping of the Catholic Church, the IRA and Fianna Fail, but feckit, they’ve delivered a hell of a lot more that those other three.
And Croke Park is AMAZING. Although, the upper decks are a bit too high. You are a bit faraway from the play. I did like the old Hogan Stand. But still, progress is progress and that stadium puts the entire UK Premiership in the shade. 90,000 people on how many Sundays in August/September? Its a phenomenon.
Ray said,
August 29, 2006 at 12:40 pm
The GAA is not about Irish culture? That would be news to the GAA – “The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) was founded on November 1st 1884, by a group of spirited Irishmen who had the foresight to realise the importance of establishing a national organisation to revive and nurture traditional, indigenous pastimes.”
The Gaelic League, the Celtic Revival, and the GAA were all born of the same cultural/polical period, and all were concerned with the (re)creation of an Irish identity. (which makes me wonder how much cash the Arts Council gets… oh, 80 million).
tom said,
August 29, 2006 at 1:26 pm
The GAA is funded as a sporting organisation, not a cultural one, and one way or another the Government funds all sorts of sports organisations, even most ‘un-Irish’ ones like cricket or hockey.
Ray said,
August 29, 2006 at 1:53 pm
There’s a considerable overlap between sport and culture.
(coincidentally, a few months ago I wrote part of a tourism programme for Failte Ireland, and they definitely considered sport, particularly Gaelic games, to be part of Irish culture. The GAA themselves say their museum commemorates “the GAA’s enormous contribution to Irish sporting, cultural and social life since its foundation”, and I’m sure I could find some relevant quotes from government ministers if I went digging)
Sarah said,
August 29, 2006 at 5:05 pm
what I mean is, people don’t go to GAA matches because they think are supporting Irish culture. They go to GAA matches because they want to see their county/parish win. It’s competition and identity. Not “culture”.
Ray said,
August 29, 2006 at 7:27 pm
But the people who set up the GAA, the people who fund the GAA, and I’m sure some of the people who run it, think that by doing so they help to maintain a distinctly Irish culture.
As you say, it’s competition and identity. You support your local GAA team because you’re local, you support the GAA because you’re Irish.
faolain said,
August 29, 2006 at 8:45 pm
Excuse me, I’m both local and Irish – I don’t support my local team, nor (definitely) the GAA. My Logic teacher would have had a huge problem with your premise.
Or were you talking specifically to Sarah?
Sarah said,
August 29, 2006 at 9:05 pm
hmm I’ve kinda forgotten what Ray’s point is? The government shouldn’t spend money on the GAA? Ray, why don’t you just back track
Seamus Ryan said,
August 29, 2006 at 10:49 pm
Well done Mayo. Lets hope that Pat Rabbitte will be as successful!!!
Darren Mac an PhrÃora said,
August 30, 2006 at 12:20 am
Unlike other organisations that were sert up during the late 19th century to promote our culture, the GAA continued to grow and is the greatest success story.
Conradh na Gaeilge, on the other hand, passed a motion after the 1916 rebellion saluting the the rebellion, which made a lot of people leave the organisation for its political stance. The GAA never took a political line and so attracted people from across Irish society.
Ray said,
August 30, 2006 at 8:40 am
My point is, supporting the GAA and supporting the Irish language are two things that people and governments do to support (or create) an Irish identity. (and so is supporting the creation of Irish art, for that matter). Both are funded because they are unique elements of Irish culture, that people think should be preserved.
Now, I don’t think you have to be involved in the GAA or speak Irish to be Irish (nor do you have to be an artist or a drunk). I don’t do either. But I am amused by the coincidence of “Irish – what a waste of time and money – doncha hate it?!?!” and “the GAA – isn’t it brill!” within, what, a week of each other?
(Darren – heard of rule 21?)
Sarah said,
August 30, 2006 at 9:17 am
Perhaps this shows that either I have no agenda and take each issue as it comes, or that I lack consistency, or perhaps both. Anyway. here’s the major difference – people choose to go to GAA matches – they aren’t forced to. So any top up money from the government is backed by a mandate of sorts.
Ray said,
August 30, 2006 at 9:42 am
Which is relevant for the teaching of Irish, yes, but not the particularly for the funding of TG4 and the Gaeltacht, or the translation of documents. (Much less of a mandate, much less money involved)
I realise that in this post you were commenting on a particular match, not examining the GAA and all it stands for, so you weren’t looking for the similarities and differences and trying to be consistent. It stood out for me because I’m not really interested in the results of matches, any interest I have in the GAA is as a cultural/political phenomenon. Which is about the same as my interest in Irish.
Mol said,
August 30, 2006 at 9:46 am
I couldn’t help but notice your title for this topic “Dublin lose to Mayo”. That’s why some people don’t like Dublin, because it’s all about them once they are in a match. The fact is that Mayo were real underdogs going into this game yet if you look at the majority of papers on Monday, it was alll Dublin this and Dublin that. Mayo beat them, well done!
gerry said,
August 30, 2006 at 10:19 am
but they are they opposite case. money is given (I wouldn’t say poured in the figures you are quoting are not large) on the basis that it is popular and people participate whereas the opposite is the case in Irtish where it more equivalent to spending all thee money on handball, the forgotten third Gaelic sport. There is no inconsistency on Sarah’s part not that she needs me to speak for her. She is applaiudingg money being spent where it makes a positive difference and booing it where it is spent and makes little or none or certainly not proportinate to the spend. You’re just being difficult Ray.
Sarah said,
August 30, 2006 at 12:33 pm
hee hee.
I’m telling you Ray…back track time
Ray said,
August 30, 2006 at 12:58 pm
Gerry, if the government say they give money to the GAA in part because gaelic games are part of Ireland’s cultural heritage, and the GAA say they should get money in part because gaelic games are part of Ireland’s cultural heritage, and Failte Ireland tells tourists “Come and look at gaelic games, part of our rich cultural heritage”, and ex-pats play gaelic games because they see it as part of their heritage, but you find none of this convincing, what exactly would it take?
Treacey said,
August 30, 2006 at 1:45 pm
As a Mayo woman living in London I would say the GAA and Irish Culture are very much linked, playing the National Anthem and standing to attention, singing in irish symbolises pride and the common thread between the counties playing.
However thats where it ends. Within culture people choose identities, i might love GAA and hate irish music or speaking in irish. Why on earth should the tax payer fund equivalent amounts to translation as to sport when it does not represent the wishes of the majority, we’re still in a democracy right?. As with most departments its normally the wastage of resources rather than lack of them thats the problem.
Finally Mayo played a blinder on Sunday and absolutely deserved to win that match. Yes we sometimes have a go at Meath and vice versa but thats all part of the culture also
gerry said,
August 31, 2006 at 10:29 am
But Ray there is no contradiciton in agreeing that GAA is part of our culture and arguing that this is not the reason the Gov are so generous in funding it. The reasons for the levels of spending are the popularity or the sport and the benefits it gives. the fact that it is uniquely Irish and all that guff is a value add no question but this is not some Sltalinist intervention to support an “approved activity”. The translation services are.
gp said,
August 31, 2006 at 12:02 pm
[That's why some people don't like Dublin]
“Some people”. Ha! Anything at all which involves Dublin being taken down a peg or two in some way is always greeted with great delight around the country.
gp said,
August 31, 2006 at 12:07 pm
^^If the Dublin Football team were playing Mongolia’s GAA team in an alternate universe the rest of Ireland would be cheering on the Mongolians!
Sarah said,
August 31, 2006 at 12:47 pm
well, they always said Meath played against 31 counties when they went out…..
Ray said,
August 31, 2006 at 12:59 pm
“But Ray there is no contradiciton in agreeing that GAA is part of our culture and arguing that this is not the reason the Gov are so generous in funding it.”
I’m not saying it’s the only reason, just that it’s a contributing factor.
AdamMaguire.com - Blog » Archives » That was the week that blogged (28th August - 3rd September) said,
September 4, 2006 at 11:49 pm
[...] Sarah Carey at GUBU, feeling somewhat alienated by the Meath media that surrounds her, instead highlights the political implications the win has, no matter how symbolic they may be; “it was also noted, in deadly serious tones, that politically it was much better since now Enda Kenny, and Pat Rabbitte, who is from Mayo, could hold their heads high in Croker and not let Bertie have the run of the place. A good omen for the opposition.” [...]