Fermanagh footballer/hurler

[Owenabue]

I came across this today: u.tv/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=83969&pt=n

The lads up North might be able to shed more light on the matter. I know a friend of mine who's brother played hurling and was a Protestant caused a bit of local interest, but nothing bad was ever said to the lad and the last time I checked he was still playing hurling. Surely in this day in age we should be encouraging everyone to take part in our games?

[inforthebreaks]

We should. and I wonder do the GAA in the north just pay lipservice or are they actually trying to really recruit people from other communities

[Owenabue]

The thing is, are the clubs down here, especially the city/town clubs doing anything to help recruit people from outside what is see as your typical GAA players. It's not just a Catholic Protestant issue. With issues of racism being pointed out after the Thurles incident, maybe something should be done about it on a national level rather than brushing it under the carpet.

[Dermot]

inforthebreaks said:

We should. and I wonder do the GAA in the north just pay lipservice or are they actually trying to really recruit people from other communities

This really sickens my sh1te ! The d1ckheads who gave this fella abuse should be banned for life.

I know a couple of protestant lads who played underage Gaelic and wish there was a lot more of it, but there never will be while these sort of tubes are around !

I seriously hope the GAA will do something about this but I seriously doubt whether there's really anything direct that they can do - Its up to the teams and clubs to sort out their own houses !

Hopefully in time perceptions will change up here anyway - Paisly & McGuinness laughing and joking together should certainly help.... But there will always be morons I suppose !

There is also a guy from Strabane (Tyrone) who is probably their best footballer and he is quitting GAA as he's getting too much stick from Referee's (would you believe) about playing Soccer as well ! (Sounds weird but apparently its true)

The GAA should certainly be able to do something direct about this though !

[Dermot]

owenabue said:

With issues of racism being pointed out after the Thurles incident, maybe something should be done about it on a national level rather than brushing it under the carpet.

What was that Owenabue ?

[Owenabue]

Dermot, it was part of the statement the 3 Cork players made:
archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2007/06/22/story35601.asp

[Dermot]

owenabue said:

Dermot, it was part of the statement the 3 Cork players made:
archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2007/06/22/story35601.asp

What was the racist abuse ?

(I think I can probably guess but ain't totally sure)

If my guess is right, then thats fairly sh1tty indeed - Some people are just scum ! ...simple as that !

[Mickmack]

I am not that surprised to be honest............

verbal abuse is now commonplace in GAA.......

[kerrygold]

verbal abuse on the field of play is a big part of the game,it shouldnt really bother fully focused players who are tuned into the game as it will run off their backs like rain of a duck,it looks uguly when taunted players react and shows a sign of weakness,i dont really know how you could iradicate verbal abuse as its mostly upclose and personal.

[tyroneperson]

Depressing news, it's more a fault of Northern Irish society than anything else, hopefully the culprits are dealt with properly.

[Mickmack]

Brian McGuigan ........ he is worse off

[chomp]

That is a disgrace; the worst thing is that the people who were doing it are probable well proud of them selves

[wayupnorth]

This was featured strongly on Radio Ulster's Talkback today.

www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/mainframe.shtml?http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/ulster.shtml

Darren Graham the player concerned and Deirdre Donnelly -Fermanagh County Board were interviewed.

I was working in Fermanagh when Darren's father was murdered. I hope the GAA is doing everything possible to sort this one out.

[Mickmack]

His club should be making the running on this.......standing by him

[Owenabue]

dermot said:

owenabue said:

Dermot, it was part of the statement the 3 Cork players made:
archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2007/06/22/story35601.asp

What was the racist abuse ?

(I think I can probably guess but ain't totally sure)

If my guess is right, then thats fairly sh1tty indeed - Some people are just scum ! ...simple as that !

With regards to Thurles it's self, I do not know what was said so I can't comment on that. But it is fairly common knowledge that Seán Óg has suffered from that kind of abuse in both club and county games, as has as far as I can remember so has Jason Sherlock. Other forms of abusive behavour have been directed at other players as well, be it from the terraces in Thurles or on forums like this. (but not this one I might add) Some of this stuff is of a very personal nature to these players and the people who behave like this are indeed scum. Someone else said that it shouldn't bother the players if they are focused, well maybe they don't hear it. But at any game young children are generally not too far away and is it right for them to hear these things?

[Aine]

It doesn't matter if the players hear it or not, it shouldn't be tolerated. A main problem is that people don't want to get involved or challenge the individual/individuals who sprout this rubbish through fear of retaliation.

[Attacking Wing Back]

In relation to the cork game some insults were thrown at donal og that sparked the whole thing

[Owenabue]

AWB, that has been said, but as none of us were there, it is hard to prove weather something was said or not.

[tyroneperson]

I hate the whole verbals thing generally, it's sneaky and cowardly and provocative etc

[Owenabue]

At Croke Park level you would think it would be easy to control, i.e. throw the culprit out, but at club level would prove more difficult. I presume the people shouting these things are easily identified by the supporters for the clubs, but I'm still not sure what a club can do. Not suggesting they do nothing, but what? Presume they shouldn't be getting Hogan stand tickets for the All Ireland anyway. Could clubs be fined for the behavour perhaps?

[sullyschoice]

I heard Dublin "fans" roaring abuse (of a racial nature) at Jason Sherlock a few years ago when he was having a dip in form. A week or two later he was scoring goals and he was great again in their eyes.

Peter Whitnell (Down) is a Protestant and I believe his mother got a load of abuse on the terraces from some crowd in Derry a number of years ago.

It is a disgrace, but GAA fans are not the only ones guilty. It happens everywhere sadly. I cant see too much changing in the near future though unfortunately

[buck02]

I read a bit in the paper about this over the weekend. The player in question told how when he first got called "a black c%^&", one of his teammates "sorted the other guy out" or words to that effect.

So verbal abuse assault shouldnt be tolerted but physical assault is grand?

[Owenabue]

From the Examiner today:
Farrell questions GAA’s response to sectarian controversy
Wednesday, 08 August 2007

By Brendan O’Brien
DESSIE FARRELL has questioned whether the GAA responded strongly enough to last week’s revelation that a Protestant inter-county player from Fermanagh was quitting the game after years of sectarian abuse.
GAA President Nickey Brennan responded to the decision by Linaskea’s Darren Graham by condemning sectarian abuse and inviting the player to a major match in Croke Park for discussions.

However Farrell feels more could, and should, be done.

“There needs to be strong line taken on it and you would have to ask the question as to whether there was a strong enough stand taken on it by the GAA. I don’t know. It remains to be seen as to what happens as a result of the complaint.

“It needs to be eradicated. Things have moved on in this day and age and you can’t have players turning their back on the game because of sectarian or racial abuse.”

The GPA is a partner of the ‘Show Racism the Red Card’ programme while the players’ body has come across some anecdotal evidence of racist abuse elsewhere in the country.

The Lisnaskea Emmets club and Fermanagh county board joined in the condemnation of the alleged sectarian abuse but said Graham had not made them aware of the matter.

However, Farrell feels that other channels should be made available to voice their concerns.

“The situation involves sensitivities on both sides. Maybe the club mightn’t be the best advocate of support for a particular individual. Maybe there should be an independent commission set up centrally by the GAA.

“There needs to be a role where a body could investigate such incidents. To be fair, the case last week was highlighted as an issue and the reaction from players and supporters was that it shouldn’t be happening.”

Meanwhile, the GPA is set to meet up with Sports Minister, Seamus Brennan, next month with the proposed €5m in grants for inter-county players to be top of the agenda.

Monday’s ‘Irish Examiner’ carried an editorial supporting the GPA’s efforts to secure the grants for its members but questioning why the funds should come from the taxpayers’ pocket at a time when the GAA is making vast sums through Croke Park every weekend.

“I’m sure the GAA would have something to say about that as well,” said Farrell. “It’s a no-no from the GAA’s perspective. They seem to have issues even with them administering the grants scheme.”

With the GAA still refusing to distribute the funds themselves, Farrell reiterated his opinion that the Sports Council could be utilised in much the same way as the Arts Council is in issuing funds to artists.

“It has dragged on five years now. What can you do except keeping pushing the boundaries and ensure that it comes to fruition eventually. If we had a magic wand it would be implemented straight away.”

[Owenabue]

KerryNorth, nothing is impossible! Clubs or counties could be fined for some behavour. If you behaved that way in work (well in any normal place of employment) you'd be fecked out on your ear. If you treated the person behind the bar like that you'd be kicked out of any reasonable class of an establishment. So why should you not be kicked out of Croke Park for behaving like that?

[kerrygold]

i cant see mark vaughan an darren rooney sitting in a room in croker in fairness discussing what went on between them in the leinster final analysing how each others comments and actions hurt each other.

i dont really see how you are going to stop a corner back or corner forward mouthing at each other during a game.

[Owenabue]

Well, why state it on the back of every ticket for Croke Park and do nothing about it so?! I know they actually aren't, but they seem to be able to enforce the rule about going onto the pitch without too much difficulties.

[Aine]

Im not so sure about that owenabue, how many times have we heard Plan B, Plan B called out at the end of All Irelands. That being said I agree with you 100% that something should be done.

[Owenabue]

Áine, I only follow football so it's been a while since I was at an All Ireland. Actually 2004 hurling final or the ladies football last year come to think of it.
The point is that they do something about keeping people off the pitch, were as I have yet to see them throwing someone out for abusive behaviour either towards other people in the stand or the people on the pitch. You'd wonder like...

[meadhbh]

interesting topic actually.
It raises other questions too in my opinion.
A few years ago when i was about 15, my camogie coach verbally abused me in front of my team. It was a definite form of bullying and he shouldn't have been allowed to get away with it. My parents did not take kindly to what happened, and indeed wrote letters to the county board and to croke park HQ. The way the GAA dealt with it was disgraceful - i ended up moving clubs, and got no support whatsoever. A few weeks ago, the same happened in my current club. Even though I love GAA and am a good hurler, i have now stopped playing the game. I don't see why i, as a player, should have to put up with uncalled for abuse from anyone. Challenging those who have the power is something not many are willing to do, and i feel that the GAA should be much more supportive of players like myself. Why is there not a process or a system which can help resolve issues such as this?
It sickens me that people can allow themselves and others to put up wit abuse, rather than stand up for themselves.

Anyway i'd just like to say that everyone has the right to dignity and no one should be treated badly in the GAA or any organisation. Bullying is dealt with in schools - it is just as important to deal with it on the pitch