Ireland AM viewers divided after complaints about crying child

Extra.ie​

8 hours ago

Ireland AM viewers were left divided over a debate about bringing children to events following an incident at a tennis tournament.
Emma Raducanu was playing in the Cincinnati Open last week, when she remarked to the umpire that a crying child had been going on 'for 10 minutes' during the third set of her loss to Aryna Sabalenka.
While the umpire was in disbelief at what Emma was implying, some members of the crowd were in agreement and wanted the child to be removed — with the question surrounding small children being brought to events being raised on Ireland AM. Emma Raducanu (GBR) during her second round at the 2022 Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, AUSTRALIA, on January 20, 2022. Photo by Corinne Dubreuil/ABACAPRESS.COM View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Ireland AM (@irelandamvmtv)
Actor and father of eight Gerard Jordan said that if there aren't rules in place saying children shouldn't be allowed — pointing to a rule at Wimbledon that says children under five aren't allowed on the main court — then they should be allowed in, saying that the crying child was allowed in in the first place.
'I know in Wimbledon, they have rules where children under five are not allowed on the main court, [but] in this situation, children were allowed in. So I'm of the opinion that it's not the mother's fault or the child's fault, or the father's fault, it's the organiser's fault.'
Gerard went on to say that circumstances also played a role in perhaps why the child was brought to the tournament in the first place, hypothesising 'the mother might have had no help, she loves tennis, wanted to go to the match.' Pic: Ireland AM/Instagram
Ireland AM presenter Tommy Bowe, himself a father of two, said that surely a parent could leave to settle the child if they began crying, adding that something like that is 'like what you'd do at a funeral, or a wedding, at mass,' with Gerard saying that a stadium is different as it's a long way in and out.
Gerard did point out that he wouldn't bring his kids to a city centre restaurant, opting instead for something with music and high chairs, but Tommy wasn't sure if a tennis match was the most appropriate place — wondering if it was wise to bring a child that may very well cry during a sport 'where you know you're meant to be quiet.'
'Let's say for example you really wanted to go to the tennis,' Gerard countered, with Tommy immediately responding, 'I would try and find a babysitter.'
Gerard then asked what if the babysitter let him down last minute, with Tommy bluntly responding, 'I wouldn't go.' Emma Raducanu complained to an umpire about a crying baby during her set at the Cincinnati Open. Pic:'As a parent, I would know that it would be too stressful for me to take my child in there to be put in that situation. So I'd decide, no, I don't think it's worth upsetting the other people who are watching it and me being put under the stress of doing it. I'll watch it on the telly.'
People were divided in the comments of the debate, with one commenting, 'I'm with Tommy Bowe on this one. Being a parent is also thinking about the kids' needs. It's not fitting to go to a tennis match for them. Go when they are 10 and interested in going. We have to respect the players we are going to see too.'
'It all depends on the circumstances, in this case, a tennis match is a definite no as the players are concentrating on their game and need concentration, not listening to a child being fussy,' another commented.
Others understood where Gerard was coming from, with one commenting, 'Disappointed in these comments. No compassion for that mom. Gerard Jordan is just trying to inspire people to put themselves in someone else's shoes for two seconds but y'all can't even do that,' while another added 'if children/babies are a distraction rather than causing upset to the parent, make it a point & place of Children Not allowed. If children are allowed, at least accommodate them with child-friendly facilities.'
Tommy and his wife Lucy share two kids together, daughter Emma, seven, and son Jamie, four.