There are very few people out there with ten inter-county Leinster titles and four inter-county All-Irelands to their name…
That is the case for Wexford’s Ursula Jacob though. But despite her credibility to work as a GAA analyst in the public eye, she has come in for some criticism online over the last few weeks as a pundit on RTÉ’s The Sunday Game.
The criticism was amplified after the sports website, Benchwarmers, published an article highlighting the abuse she was receiving from people online, further amplifying the matter to their large social media following.
Her Wexford accent is one of the major criticisms that often appears online when Jacob is working as an analyst on The Sunday Game.
Writing on Twitter on Monday evening, the former Wexford camogie player and four-time All-Star award winner said: ”Enough is enough.”
“Usually I never entertain and give keyboard warriors an ounce of time or thought but sometimes enough is enough and standing up for yourself is more important than constantly just putting up with nasty, tasteless comments from faceless cowards.
“Firstly, I am a proud female and proud Wexford woman, who just happens to have a Wexford accent too. Shock horror!
“I am and will always be forever proud of where I come from so I’m not going to start now or try changing my accent anytime soon.
“I’m well aware that being on a public platform you are always open to debate and discussion not everyone will always like you.
“I’ve also no problem with anyone disagreeing with any comments I make while working with RTE or on the Sunday Game, that’s part and parcel of the job.
“What I do have a problem with is an anonymous person/ people setting up a page trying to create headlines out of nothing, facilitating nasty personal attacks and one again targeting another female pundit or presenter.
“Have we seriously not just moved on with the times at all or are we still stuck in the past?
“I have always and will be proud of what I have achieved as a player but also know that I can back myself working as a pundit who is knowledgeable in both hurling and camogie.
“I’m not into tokenism or making up numbers. I am there because I have a voice and can give an informed and educated opinion.
“Lucky for me I am a strong woman who has a brilliant support network who always have my back and are super proud of me but I would seriously encourage anyone who thinks about writing something nasty, tasteless or personal about anyone on a social media platform to think before you type.
“At least I am brave enough to stand by my opinion on national TV whereas some faceless coward has to hide behind a keyboard to try promote nothing but pure nastiness and bullying.
“But as my wise mother has always said to me ‘if they’re talking about you, they must be worried about you!’
“Lastly, I’d like to thank the overwhelming number of people who have continued to support me, their positivity will always outside the few narrow-minded individuals.”
Ursula’s brother and former Wexford hurler, Michael Jacob, said he is “proud” of his sister. Speaking on the matter yesterday, he said:
“I’m always proud of my sister. She knows her stuff which kills these clowns. The only thing these keyboard warriors, who never hurled a game in their life, can comment about is her accent. These clowns have too much time on their hands. Their biggest problem is that she is a woman,” he said.
Jacob has received a lot of support online from those within GAA circles and beyond who enjoy her opinions and analysis on our national sport.
Sports website, Benchwarmers, has today apologised for “reposting comments and opinions online that might have been negative to any of the RTE panel.”
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