- fone wrote:
- the people in croke park do not worry about the fans they just wanted your money .lads its just amateur sports . wonder if they where dubs fans would they take banner away
To answer your Queries Fone & O Neill
As this is a "KILDARE FORUM" , I will do my best to follow concenus on here " all things kildare" , so i will do my best to keep it in that context , but to answer your question or accertation as you have slightly stepped out of the "all things kildare circle" by referance to the "dubs banners " .i shall give you a view from dublin perspective and attending kildare match in croke park on 22nd & 29th respectively.
My experience has been ,the powers to be are a hell of a lot more stringent on match days involving the dubs , i know the numbers are larger ,and possibly warrant a even more overhyped search as dublin are the majority supporter using that facility on any particular day, but to be honest these banners regardless of content are confisigated regularly , even down to small flags carried by children , so your lucky to get in with the shoes on your feet and the clothes on your back .
In the course of the hightened security operation undertaking only for dublin patrons , which incorporates the checking of your ticket 7 times from the top of clonliffe road to turnstile ,any dubs banners or flags are confisgated as you approach the hill outside the ground by stewards and gardai , thats not to say other items like soft drinks and small flags held by children , almost anything is percieved as a weapon and is confisgated by over zealous gardai and spotty faced stewards , its seem only the well established banners / flags ie : banners/flags which have been there since the 70/80/90s are permitted with great difficulty , which lately have been few and far between. And you wonder why we are delayed on the way into the match by 15 mins
But dont think you are the only county who has fallen foul last Sunday , Down had a massive banner confisgated also in the exact same area as those two kildare lads afterwards, they highlighted this on BBC1 NI news on wednesday gone , the down lad who had a ticket had to leave in order to get there banner back , its so clearly apparent its seems to be the content on the flag and its vague referance to the prized fence that warranted the immediate interception by the political correct police , the strong arm been the stewards , to protect the credibility of the perspex mirror / fence .
Why shouldnt supporter engage in highlighting the distain for this eye sore of a fence ,its a fabricated H&S actions, only backing the GAA justification to inhibit access from the hill , which is only 1/4 the problem on provincal final and all ireland final days . what amazes me is the GAA forget THAT access from other entry points in the staduim is considerable easier ,Its great to see other counties highlighting the, ill feeling to the fence , are we all mad thinking this is a backwards step , and a disaster waiting to happen in the same contexts as bradford & hysel staduim.
To be honest i thought that banner the kildare lads displayed was considerable VERY tame , there were other banners and flags intercepted on the hill that were not highlighted here contain unsuitable content in the eyes of the gaa police force (stewards) , as these banners gained access uncontested onto the hill , due to the farcical low key security operation in place for non dublin patrons on match days , Now thats through no fault of kildare or down supporters. Thats not to saying anything contentious was on display by kildare nor down patrons , anything displayed was in the spirit of fun and completely harmless, sure without it ,the atmosphere would be drab and boring ,
When you make a comparsion to what banners has graced the hill in years gone by ALL counties , its seem the buearucrates have gone on high alert on the basis of HEALTH & SAFETY warpath and agenda , to justify there actions , it will be interesting come sunday to see what arises , what banners are permitted and what banners are not , lets hope these supporters shall continue to highlight the countrys objection to this perspex mirror / fence
But when we have a winner on sunday , likely kilkenny , this so called H&S measure will be tested fully as kilkenny are usually like a herd of elephants when trying to get on a pitch , i can see more people been hurt in the attempting to hurdle this fence and the likely event to herd people from the hill , with this so called plan C action , dont be surprised to see a ambulance of two , trying to access through the swarms caught behind the fence on the hill/nally with difficulty !!
But it shall be the elephants in the stands which will swing plan B into action when they invaded from the stand , so dont be surprised if the perspex mirror will encompass the whole staduim next May
Maybe the two kildare lads should highlight this on KFM / TODAY FM or Tv3 / RTE as i am sure they would love anyone to continue highlighting the continuing disatisfaction thoughtout the country
I know the content is prodominately dublin ,but it a view and my experience from match days involving dublin and match days involving kildare and other counties in croke park