Our upcoming match with Armagh, combined with recent developments in rugby, compels me to issue another cry in the wilderness about the GAA’s ongoing refusal to adopt a consistent approach to playing strips, one that would fully take into account the very real problems that those of us who are colour-blind encounter all too often.
The basic problem in the GAA is that too many counties have similar playing strips, featuring dark tops, coloured red or green or blue or maroon or whatever, combined with white shorts. When two counties play each other dressed in similar attire then colour-blind people find it all but impossible to tell the teams apart.
Our recent match with Galway (see the photo above) is a good example of this. The similar playing strips, along with the low winter sun, made it an extremely hard view from my standpoint. And that was even before Galway starting banging over all those two-pointers.
This Saturday Ireland play Wales in the Six Nations. Explicitly recognising the problems of colour-blind people, Ireland will play in a changed strip of white when they trot out at the Principality Stadium. The change is due to new regulations from World Rugby, stating that “to minimise the risk of a clash, one team should play in a dark kit and the other in a light kit.”
Up at the Athletic Grounds that evening, meanwhile, us colour-blind folk are once again going to be left struggling trying to tell two teams who are dressed very similarly apart. I can still recall the difficulties I faced when we last played there in 2023, as the photo below illustrates.
It’s so maddening because the solution is so maddeningly simple, as the rugby’s initiative proves. But, for whatever reason, the GAA simply refuses to see a problem that impacts an estimated 8% of the male population and one in 200 women as an issue that needs to be addressed.
To be honest, the GAA’s inaction on colour-blindness feels like just one more example of an organisation that’s becoming ever more unmoored from its supporters. As attendances at matches continue to plummet, one can only hope that the lights – on this and other issues of concern to fans – will eventually come on at GAA HQ, though I won’t be holding my breath that this will happen anytime soon.
Rock says:
February 20, 2025 at 8:18 pm
Couldn’t agree more.
I see Jarlath is making big claims today about having the perfect game. Long way to go before he can stand over that!
JoeG says:
February 20, 2025 at 8:38 pm
I’m not colour blind but do struggle at times when players are far off and particularly when the sun is shining. So it must be a nightmare for anyone suffering from the condition and it’s so easily rectified.
Sticks for the Reek says:
February 20, 2025 at 8:53 pm
Well put Willie Joe but unfortunately the GAA is now all about money and spin with supporters we'll down the list unfortunately. Rugby will be a more popular game in Ireland in 10 years. Look how they filled Croke Park and Mayo Dubs was less than half full. Keep the pressure on and maybe you could get a petition going and eventually they might see the light. Maybe a motion to Congress and get onto the Minister for Sport. It's amazing what can happen when an organisation that gets State funding gets a letter from a Minister. It's such a simple solution that will only mean an extra set of jerseys. Maybe JP might have a few extra quid and it would be a good initiative to sponsor 32 extra jerseys.
Fw says:
February 20, 2025 at 9:03 pm
Fair play WJ for continuing to bang this drum.
I'm colour blind like yourself and have just come to expect that in nearly half the games I watch this is going to be an issue.
Funnily enough I find it a bigger issue when watching rugby,however now they are trying to do something to help.
It's such an easy fix,a nice PR win for the GAA without much effort or expense.Exaxtly the kind of thing I'd expect Jarlath Burns to be all over.
Gizmobobs says:
February 20, 2025 at 9:16 pm
Sticks for the reek, Rugby be doing well to get insurance in 10 years time the way things going. See MLR have as good as done away with scrum.
As a sport it's dying in Wales due to lack of money etc. and Scotland also not going well underage.
Take away Leinster school system and the imports and for all the talk it's not that highly participated in at a meaningful level. Despite the IRFUs best efforts in fairness to them.
Nephin says:
February 20, 2025 at 9:52 pm
Fair play WJ for once again highlighting this issue. I’m in the same boat as yourself and I find it impossible to differentiate between certain team colours and ours. Galway, Cork Louth come to mind along with Armagh. It’s always worse if the sun is shining or if it’s raining, as the wet jerseys appear to change colour. I was on holidays when we played Louth in Castlebar and watched it in a pub with large group of people following a wedding. I was actually cheering for the wrong team for a while and had to pretend I was messing to save embarrassment. It’s even worse on TV.
Micheal Moran says:
February 20, 2025 at 10:00 pm
Armagh V Derry 2023 Ulster final red V orange strip pure gold.
No counties were fined either.
GlasagusDearg. says:
February 20, 2025 at 11:08 pm
It seems to me WJ, that the simplest solution would be for one team to change to dark shorts. Would that help much?
Willie Joe says:
February 21, 2025 at 7:27 am
It would help a small bit, GlasagusDearg, but the shirts are still too similar from a colour-blind perspective. The Derry game last summer, for example, was a complete nightmare too. (Not just from a colour clash point of view, come to think of it!)
For Saturday the simplest solution would be for us to use our new all navy blue alternative strip. That would solve it.
highorlow says:
February 21, 2025 at 3:19 pm
Keep banging the drum WJ, I don’t even think you need to be badly colour blind for some games, I struggle myself and I’m just shortsighted.
Rock says:
February 21, 2025 at 5:07 pm
This is no game for the middle aged!
Daveslad says:
February 21, 2025 at 7:55 pm
As a some with they seme promlems re color blindness i am Watching ireland v Wales u20s .ireland in white Wales in their traditional red. Common sense applied.