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Stories Of Unique GAA Camaraderie?

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Trying to sum up the GAA to my friend who has moved here from Holland. Was telling her about the time my father was buying tics for a Roscomon- Mayo match.

Dad had good banter in the Q with a rival mayo fan who had driven from mayo as they were sold out there.
When the man approached the counter he was 10euro short for three tickets.

My dad gave him the 10er and told him not to worry sure they might meet in Croke Park.

Two days later my dad received a card in the post. There was a thank you card and 20euro note inside. That's GAA in a nutshell for you. Would love more story examples to show her what separates our sport?

SpaghettiCat (Galway) - Posts: 3 - 05/12/2024 11:17:11    2582448

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Was at the Cork v Ros match in Páirc Uí Chaoimh in 23.
Got the bus out.
At one stop a Ros man and 3 kids were struggling with getting cash out for the tickets etc.
A Cork fan got out his travel card and swiped it for their fares.
Thought it was a lovely gesture.

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 2005 - 05/12/2024 12:22:41    2582459

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Nothing to do with money but the 2017 Leinster final for the first time in 9 years. Parked in bray to get the dart and the lad on the PA system in the station put on boolavogue when he saw all the purple and gold on the platform. It was a beautiful moment. Didn't matter that we lost. The kids said it was the best day of their lives.

A friend of mine from Wales moved over and started following hurling. Couldn't get his head around the fact that supports sit together and never a row.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3228 - 05/12/2024 12:49:37    2582465

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "Nothing to do with money but the 2017 Leinster final for the first time in 9 years. Parked in bray to get the dart and the lad on the PA system in the station put on boolavogue when he saw all the purple and gold on the platform. It was a beautiful moment. Didn't matter that we lost. The kids said it was the best day of their lives.

A friend of mine from Wales moved over and started following hurling. Couldn't get his head around the fact that supports sit together and never a row."
Ya, she can't get her head around the supporters sitting together either. Love hearing these stories.

SpaghettiCat (Galway) - Posts: 3 - 05/12/2024 12:57:33    2582466

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Replying To SpaghettiCat:  "Ya, she can't get her head around the supporters sitting together either. Love hearing these stories."
Incidentally the same Welsh friend was alongside me for a round robin game. One of our players was working for me at the time. He got bursted and I said he better not ring in sick tomorrow.

The Welsh laid nearly fainted when he realised the players all had regular jobs and expected to turn up the Monday after a championship match.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3228 - 05/12/2024 14:22:17    2582492

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Replying To SpaghettiCat:  "Trying to sum up the GAA to my friend who has moved here from Holland. Was telling her about the time my father was buying tics for a Roscomon- Mayo match.

Dad had good banter in the Q with a rival mayo fan who had driven from mayo as they were sold out there.
When the man approached the counter he was 10euro short for three tickets.

My dad gave him the 10er and told him not to worry sure they might meet in Croke Park.

Two days later my dad received a card in the post. There was a thank you card and 20euro note inside. That's GAA in a nutshell for you. Would love more story examples to show her what separates our sport?"
When he gave the guy his address he obviously expected the money back…. had he bumped into him in Croker the story would have been a better example of the " GAA in a nutshell " as you put it…. but you got the ball rolling nonetheless….

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 3154 - 05/12/2024 15:46:12    2582506

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Replying To ForeverBlue2:  "When he gave the guy his address he obviously expected the money back…. had he bumped into him in Croker the story would have been a better example of the " GAA in a nutshell " as you put it…. but you got the ball rolling nonetheless…."
Nothing wrong with expecting to get the money back. Think the point is he trusted a stranger and that stranger didn't let him down?

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14127 - 05/12/2024 18:53:31    2582538

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Replying To ForeverBlue2:  "When he gave the guy his address he obviously expected the money back…. had he bumped into him in Croker the story would have been a better example of the " GAA in a nutshell " as you put it…. but you got the ball rolling nonetheless…."
Jesus you never stop moaning.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8191 - 05/12/2024 19:26:48    2582543

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Bernard Flynn and Dave Sinnott worked with each other and were good mates ended up marking each other in leinster final in 1988, the threw a few punches at each other then went on beer together in dublin city that night

dickie10 (UK) - Posts: 790 - 06/12/2024 23:02:00    2582685

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "Incidentally the same Welsh friend was alongside me for a round robin game. One of our players was working for me at the time. He got bursted and I said he better not ring in sick tomorrow.

The Welsh laid nearly fainted when he realised the players all had regular jobs and expected to turn up the Monday after a championship match."
You wouldn't even give the man the day off!!

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2097 - 07/12/2024 13:50:42    2582716

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Replying To ForeverBlue2:  "When he gave the guy his address he obviously expected the money back…. had he bumped into him in Croker the story would have been a better example of the " GAA in a nutshell " as you put it…. but you got the ball rolling nonetheless…."
Must have been from Caaan if he expected the money back.

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1066 - 07/12/2024 15:27:49    2582721

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Replying To TheFlaker:  "Jesus you never stop moaning."
Not a moan…. Just pointing out that the same thing could happen at a soccer match, a rugby match or even down at the shops or pub if someone was caught short.. unlikely to be just a GAA thing…!

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 3154 - 08/12/2024 12:34:52    2582764

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Replying To ForeverBlue2:  "Not a moan…. Just pointing out that the same thing could happen at a soccer match, a rugby match or even down at the shops or pub if someone was caught short.. unlikely to be just a GAA thing…!"
Would it happen at a Cricket match, basketball match or a hockey match?

Ollie2 (Louth) - Posts: 938 - 08/12/2024 13:59:39    2582770

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Replying To ForeverBlue2:  "Not a moan…. Just pointing out that the same thing could happen at a soccer match, a rugby match or even down at the shops or pub if someone was caught short.. unlikely to be just a GAA thing…!"
Tbh you are right it's more an Irish thing than a GAA thing. Equally Irish would be to give out about the lad not bringing enough money later the same week :-D

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14127 - 08/12/2024 14:10:38    2582772

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Replying To Ollie2:  "Would it happen at a Cricket match, basketball match or a hockey match?"
Probably

ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 3154 - 08/12/2024 19:39:04    2582806

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Replying To Ollie2:  "Would it happen at a Cricket match, basketball match or a hockey match?"
I've never played or been involved with Hockey Ollie, but I know people that are and I belive the camaraderie is incredible. I have however played basketball and am still involved with cricket! And I can assure you a scenario as described would definitely happen in both these sports! You see! That's the issue that creates anti gaa feeling with a lot of people. The organisation and a lot of the supporters are like the Catholic church! One thinks it's the one true religion and the other thinks it's the one true sport! And as we all know some top GAA players have played Basketball, Hockey and Cricket!

Onion_Sack (Dublin) - Posts: 267 - 08/12/2024 20:12:00    2582809

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Replying To Onion_Sack:  "I've never played or been involved with Hockey Ollie, but I know people that are and I belive the camaraderie is incredible. I have however played basketball and am still involved with cricket! And I can assure you a scenario as described would definitely happen in both these sports! You see! That's the issue that creates anti gaa feeling with a lot of people. The organisation and a lot of the supporters are like the Catholic church! One thinks it's the one true religion and the other thinks it's the one true sport! And as we all know some top GAA players have played Basketball, Hockey and Cricket!"
But the Catholic church is the one true religion and gaa, or more specifically hurling is much more than sport. It is our identity. It preserved our rich culture and heritage at a time when being Irish was made illegal by an alien government. To compare GAA to any other sport is an appalling insult to everything that makes us who we are. Being and Gaelic games is being anti Irish.

There are some fine sports out there. Basketball, hockey and soccer all good fun I'm sure. If we didn't have them we'd still be Irish.

If we didn't have GAA who would we be? I'm genuinely asking you that question in spite of the fact that I believe I know the answer.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3228 - 08/12/2024 21:04:23    2582815

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "But the Catholic church is the one true religion and gaa, or more specifically hurling is much more than sport. It is our identity. It preserved our rich culture and heritage at a time when being Irish was made illegal by an alien government. To compare GAA to any other sport is an appalling insult to everything that makes us who we are. Being and Gaelic games is being anti Irish.

There are some fine sports out there. Basketball, hockey and soccer all good fun I'm sure. If we didn't have them we'd still be Irish.

If we didn't have GAA who would we be? I'm genuinely asking you that question in spite of the fact that I believe I know the answer."
No hurling where I come from.
Wonder what nationality am I?

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 2005 - 08/12/2024 23:04:30    2582827

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Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "No hurling where I come from.
Wonder what nationality am I?"
A terrible tragedy. The greatest success of our oppressors.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3228 - 09/12/2024 08:41:29    2582845

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Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "No hurling where I come from.
Wonder what nationality am I?"
That's a crying shame lad. It really is.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14127 - 09/12/2024 09:17:13    2582853

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