Irish Current Affairs

Saddleworth2 said:
Good post. Heartening too to hear the views of youth. Something that puzzled me when I was over last month, on the road out of Belfast, heading South, I must have counted maybe a dozen Union Jacks. At the road side, in Gardens. More than you would expect to see in England. Is that usual?
Click to expand...
Yep and in different areas you'd see tricolours. Down here it's just GAA flags.
 
Saddleworth2 said:
Hey, what’s wrong with the Scots?
Click to expand...
Nothing at all, love the place. I I do think they'll eventually go independent though and what then for Irish Unionists? Their loyalty is to the crown, to the United Kingdom but in reality, their kin is the west of Scotland Presbyterians. Would they prefer a political alignment with an independent Scotland or a Britain made up of England and Wales? I'm not sure that's debated considerably within Unionism, you just tend to feel there's a head in the sand mentality that things won't change from the DUP.
 
Big news today after the Irish government admitted that the integrity of the European single market is more important than an open border, this will cause a lot of anger in border communities. It'll give Sinn Fein a chance to reassert itself also.
 
Saddleworth2 said:
Good post. Heartening too to hear the views of youth. Something that puzzled me when I was over last month, on the road out of Belfast, heading South, I must have counted maybe a dozen Union Jacks. At the road side, in Gardens. More than you would expect to see in England. Is that usual?
Click to expand...

Oh yeah absolutely normal...many areas have union flags and bunting up all year round although many places only put them up during "marching season" and then take them down again.

Its pretty common in the country and certain "border" areas (the border that doesnt exist ;-) )....likewise you will get tricolours too
 
blue_paul said:
Nothing at all, love the place. I I do think they'll eventually go independent though and what then for Irish Unionists? Their loyalty is to the crown, to the United Kingdom but in reality, their kin is the west of Scotland Presbyterians. Would they prefer a political alignment with an independent Scotland or a Britain made up of England and Wales? I'm not sure that's debated considerably within Unionism, you just tend to feel there's a head in the sand mentality that things won't change from the DUP.
Click to expand...
We could form a Celtic tiger.
 
AlexWilliamsGloves said:
Oh yeah absolutely normal...many areas have union flags and bunting up all year round although many places only put them up during "marching season" and then take them down again.

Its pretty common in the country and certain "border" areas (the border that doesnt exist ;-) )....likewise you will get tricolours too
Click to expand...
I saw loads of flags on the Irish side. I think some of them were County Hurling team flags. Btw, that game is mental.
 
I coach kids' hurling and football ( Gaelic) as do a huge number of dads. As someone who didnt play much at all as a kid it truly is an awesome experience for me. It's a great combo of sports for kids. They are learning the values of being rough and tough and the amount of practice needed to gain enough skill to be decent. Almost all of the kids love soccer more though for its simplicity and the trendiness of it. But I'd say almost all the parents prefer the GAA for their kids. It just oozes character.

I love how the GAA knits together families and communities. It really is miles ahead of soccer in that sense, at least in Cork.

That said there is an element of older GAA heads that are alien to the likes of us "dad coaches" and just about tolerate us but that's a generation that's phasing out just as dads no longer race to the pub after work.
 
mancity2012_eamo said:
That game is pure skill.
Click to expand...
It certainly is. I couldn't believe the distance they get with those thin 'paddles'. I was in a pub in Kilkenny watching them win the semi of the all Ireland. Fantastic atmosphere and evening. They took pity on the knownowt and tried to explain the intricacies of the game. I really enjoyed it.
 
TonyM said:
I coach kids' hurling and football ( Gaelic) as do a huge number of dads. As someone who didnt play much at all as a kid it truly is an awesome experience for me. It's a great combo of sports for kids. They are learning the values of being rough and tough and the amount of practice needed to gain enough skill to be decent. Almost all of the kids love soccer more though for its simplicity and the trendiness of it. But I'd say almost all the parents prefer the GAA for their kids. It just oozes character.

I love how the GAA knits together families and communities. It really is miles ahead of soccer in that sense, at least in Cork.

That said there is an element of older GAA heads that are alien to the likes of us "dad coaches" and just about tolerate us but that's a generation that's phasing out just as dads no longer race to the pub after work.
Click to expand...

For me its rugby...tbh im probably a bigger rugby fan than football (soccer)...dont ban me!...i watch my some play every week, and i just made a (stupid) return myself.

Football has a lot to learn from GAA and rugby
 
TonyM said:
I coach kids' hurling and football ( Gaelic) as do a huge number of dads. As someone who didnt play much at all as a kid it truly is an awesome experience for me. It's a great combo of sports for kids. They are learning the values of being rough and tough and the amount of practice needed to gain enough skill to be decent. Almost all of the kids love soccer more though for its simplicity and the trendiness of it. But I'd say almost all the parents prefer the GAA for their kids. It just oozes character.

I love how the GAA knits together families and communities. It really is miles ahead of soccer in that sense, at least in Cork.

That said there is an element of older GAA heads that are alien to the likes of us "dad coaches" and just about tolerate us but that's a generation that's phasing out just as dads no longer race to the pub after work.
Click to expand...
The GAA are certainly far better on the ground in Dublin, in now what is predominantly a middle class sport. Better organised, better facilities and social activities than your average soccer club. My kids play both, be interesting to see what they stick with when they're older, soccer is my first love so I hope it's that.
 
Spotlight on BBC NI tonight; A secret history of the troubles.

Should be very interesting. Recording it now. Well worth a watch.
 
bluethrunthru said:
It was - am now watching squaddies on the frontline.
Click to expand...
Yes same here.
Wow. That was both compulsive and uncomfortable viewing. I knew pretty much the history of how it started but there’s a lot of uncomfortable truths in that program.

I just hope things are allowed settle up North now and the British government have learned from mistakes of the past.
It’s a delicate balance up there and they’ve been let down so badly from all sides.
 
mancity2012_eamo said:
Yes same here.
Wow. That was both compulsive and uncomfortable viewing. I knew pretty much the history of how it started but there’s a lot of uncomfortable truths in that program.

I just hope things are allowed settle up North now and the British government have learned from mistakes of the past.
It’s a delicate balance up there and they’ve been let down so badly from all sides.
Click to expand...

Yes. I thought it was sad that former soldiers don't really know what effect that was positive their presence there gave - certainly they seemed to be of the opinion that the politicians let them down and allowed the conflict to continue for longer than it should have.

It looked to me in equipment and attitude that there was a sort of colonial approach to the deployment in Operation Banner and that didn't really change so inevitably soldiers that were welcomed as peace keepers at the outset soon became enemies and targets. Can't help but wonder if UN troops would have been able to defuse stuff earlier with their Blue Helmets?

The overwhelming take away from the soldiers stories was one of sadness at lives lost and destroyed for no gain felt by the said soldiers.
 
bluethrunthru said:
an upturn in dissident Republican violence.....hmmm.... I wonder why? What could make them think that their goal of a united Ireland is back on the agenda?
Click to expand...
I’d be equally afraid of Unionist violence if they see themselves as sold out, depending on what Boris’s next step is.
He’d sell out his own granny for his own aims. DUP shouldn’t be under any illusion.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top