The changing face of the GAA ...

While advocating support for the return to eminence of Cavan football I was hit in the face this evening by a rather large and wet kipper. It suddenly struck me that the Dubs are fast heading into Breffni territory as one year borrows another and there is still no sign of Samuel bobbing about on an open top bus in the city's main street! Even Jim Larkin throws his arms up in exasperation. The Spire is the only 'silverware' the famous thoroughfare has seen in recent years and the only cups are those which gaze enticingly from the window of Ann Summers. Many things have changed in Dublin since 1995 - but there is one constant ... no Sam!

Shops have closed - famous shops, and been replaced by other shops, maybe infamous shops (clue elsewhere)! The street has turned its back on cars unless they are PSV licence accompanied - while buses are more than welcome. A clue that perhaps the city fathers refuse to turn their back on the two-hued blue open top - yet anyway! A huge proportion of the population have never experienced the Ardagh chalice imposter wending its way past the GPO - still drunk from its over indulgence on the Sunday night - but happy not to have been left in the boot of somaeone's car. This inexperience is partly borne of the youth of the populace but is also borne of the hugely changing ethnic fabric of the city in recent years and the explosion of multiculturalism.

And if we glance through the papers at schools finals time or visit our local GAA clubs to see the underage games we see the burgeoning talent coming through. The Eastern European lads who can field like Mick O'Connell, the African boys who solo like Michael Donnellan or the Asian lads popping frees with the aplomb of Peter Canavan. Our games may never have gone fully international (yet) but the influx of foreign nationals to Ireland means that an international aspect has come to our games. Our clubs and schools have served as a massive - and too often overlooked - means of integration for those who have arrived in Ireland from foreign shores. We look with admiration at the international GAA community all over the world where our sports are played and our culture is celebrated. And on our own doorstep the reverse is happening where people are coming to our country, embracing our culture and our games like never before in the 125 year history of the GAA. It is an exciting development and the outlet of the GAA offers an excellent opportunity for integration and social intercourse.

So maybe things are not that bleak or so very far away. Yes I still look forward to that long-awaited Sam. I look forward to the bus ride past Larkin - whose arms are now raised in exultation. And I have no doubt that somewhere in distant shores a grandfather or grandmother will celebrate the achievement of their own child's child - and watch the DVD with great pride and awe. And it will only be good. For one and all.

Welcome to my delima by the way where is my poll time to get it up me thinks. sorry forgot to read the post

JimWexford wrote:Welcome to my delima by the way where is my poll time to get it up me thinks. sorry forgot to read the post

Are you still on the dry?

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

JimWexford wrote:Welcome to my delima by the way where is my poll time to get it up me thinks. sorry forgot to read the post

Are you still on the dry?

Just after doing about 30 hours straight trying to wear my self out to hit he sack.
Yep still on that dry until Sydney March 18th, and then a session.
down to Melbourne another session have to behave at this one best man sh1t, other one is only a sister getting rid of here.
Then heading to port Douglas for a while and then down to Brisbane,
And if all works out over to Perth to visit the godmother

Not exactly sure what your getting at Jayo because the GAA if its to prosper will be forever changing and other than the fact that their just not as good as the noospapers might lead them to believe they are, Dublin are no different to any other county in that regard.

Don't know the winners are coming from a small few select counties and I cant see that changing. Dublin should be one of them. Likes of Cavan, Wexford etc coming through to win sam is not existent for the for see able future. so maybe the post has more relavence than you think

mossbags wrote:Not exactly sure what your getting at Jayo because the GAA if its to prosper will be forever changing and other than the fact that their just not as good as the noospapers might lead them to believe they are, Dublin are no different to any other county in that regard.

Absolutely not Mossbags! The likelihood is that a county to win Sam or Liam in the next 10 years (max I believe) will have a lad of ethnic origin. I just long for a Dub win in either and if it is the case that some young lad who is relatively new to this country was aboard it would be great in every way. But it could as easy happen in Cork or Galway. Equally good.

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

mossbags wrote:Not exactly sure what your getting at Jayo because the GAA if its to prosper will be forever changing and other than the fact that their just not as good as the noospapers might lead them to believe they are, Dublin are no different to any other county in that regard.

Dublin are very different they have nearly two million wasters to get 15 the rest of us have only between 60k to 200k people

Absolutely not Mossbags! The likelihood is that a county to win Sam or Liam in the next 10 years (max I believe) will have a lad of ethnic origin. I just long for a Dub win in either and if it is the case that some young lad who is relatively new to this country was aboard it would be great in every way. But it could as easy happen in Cork or Galway. Equally good.

sorry don't buy into this johnny will do it for me foreigner ****. How many blacks, blues greens, yellows, rainbow kids are they playing (I never mentioned figi-ians)

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

mossbags wrote:Not exactly sure what your getting at Jayo because the GAA if its to prosper will be forever changing and other than the fact that their just not as good as the noospapers might lead them to believe they are, Dublin are no different to any other county in that regard.

Absolutely not Mossbags! The likelihood is that a county to win Sam or Liam in the next 10 years (max I believe) will have a lad of ethnic origin. I just long for a Dub win in either and if it is the case that some young lad who is relatively new to this country was aboard it would be great in every way. But it could as easy happen in Cork or Galway. Equally good.

In Galway city I see little black lads(african american galwegiens, for want of a better term ), Asian lads , even the odd little Wexican or Leitrim lad with a hurl and its beautiful. Really is.