What is sectarian about it? It is the most popular sport in Ireland by a country mile. North and south.
he means when a promising young Gaa player signed forms this week to play soccer with a sectarian association football club.
An Ulster Prod accussing anyone or anything of being sectarian is laughable. They think there has to be a ying to their sectarian yang.
Tyrone playing well at the minute. michael murphy playing far too deep to be effective. Derry would beat both on current form
Maybe the ban on British security forces or that the few members of the unionist community that do play it are often singled out and bullied because of their religion or political persuasion. Doesn't really wash with me the close association with Irish terrorists too.
Yes terrorists were banned from playing it until fairlyl recently. Since they changed and became inclusive they are now allowed to play.
Donegal playing like they have done in the last couple of games. They don't have the smarts to change it from their boring defensive style. you really picked a terrible game to be telling newcomers to have a look at. I got asked by the club if i was up for doing a level one coaching course under the urban regeneration scheme thingy. lots of energy gone into football and not much to hurling, so i said i'd give it a lash. they need coaches for the underage teams, so if i can do it, why not.
- Live in Belfast - Rangers supporter - Obsessed with sectarianism - Thick as horse **** All the signs are there
Every conversation you engage in seems to veer to religion. It's boring as ****. No one cares ffs. Grow up man.
Protestant quits Gaelic football accusing fellow players of bigotry For much of his life sport has been Darren Graham’s only religion, but in recent years his biggest challenge on the pitch has been religious bigotry. Last week, the 25-year-old joiner decided that he could no longer take the constant sectarian abuse he received as a Protestant Gaelic football player and walked off during a game for his club, Lisnaskea Emmets. Graham is the only non-Roman Catholic player of Gaelic games in Fermanagh, and his departure is a blow to the efforts by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) to recruit Protestants. His story is a salutary reminder of just how far Northern Ireland still has to travel before its wounds heal. Graham’s mother is Catholic. His father, Cecil, a member of the Ulster Defence Regiment, was murdered by the Provisional IRA in 1981 as he visited his wife, who was staying with her parents in a Republican area because Darren was premature and needed constant attention. Two of Graham’s uncles were also killed by the Provisional IRA. The Province has a deeply ingrained sporting code in which Catholics play Gaelic football and hurling and Protestants play rugby and hockey. Catholics support Glasgow Celtic while Protestants cheer for Rangers. Graham began playing Gaelic Games at 12, but it was only when he began to show a real talent that the sectarian abuse began. He said: “I’ve been getting it from opponents and supporters. It was not really bad until I got to senior level, when I was 18. It’s definitely because I’m a Protestant. I’ve been told Protestants shouldn’t be allowed in the GAA.” The final straw came Sunday last week. He said: “I told my club I was quitting and I’m not going back until something is done about it.”He said that he could name up to a dozen players who had subjected him to verbal hatred and referees who failed to protect him from taunts. It was not until 2001 that the GAA lifted its ban on members of Northern Ireland’s security forces joining. The rule banning anyone who played “foreign” games such as rugby or football was also dropped. The last great taboo was broken earlier this year when England played Ireland in the Six Nations Rugby Championship at Croke Park in Dublin, the home of Gaelic games. Graham said: “The GAA is asking for Protestants to get more into the sport. But what’s the point if they are going to listen to stuff like that? Unless there’s a formal apology by the County, I won’t be back.” Deirdre Donnelly, a spokeswoman for Fermanagh County Board, said: “If Darren has an issue he should go through his club. We are awaiting a referee’s report from the game. Abuse of any description is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.” Nickey Brennan, president of the GAA, said: “I’d be more than happy to meet the young man and invite him to Croke Park to one of the big games and let him see that we want all religions to be part of the GAA.” Graham said that the offer was a positive move, but only if the real problem was dealt with. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article2204039.ece
That's the only line you need to read out of that article to understand how ignorant and out of touch the journalist who wrote the piece is.
i can see no reason this lad would have been abused wait a minute... Ciaran, what was the faith of the person after whom your county ground was named?
The journalist is now ignorant and out of touch. Do you think he fabricated the story of sectarian abuse? And didn't you yourself label me a protestant because I come from Belfast and support Rangers?
