What was the worst event in modern Irish history?

BuilderPlumber · 22-07-2014 7:26am

There's a LOT to choose from.

For Northern Ireland, it definitely is pretty much a lot to choose from out of the 1969 to 1998 (Omagh bombing) period.

For the Republic, it is a choice from:

-Overspill of the former into our territory.
-The disgusting emphasis on unemployment-creating cutbacks as a response to saving corrupt banks and political elites in the 2008 to date period.
-The exaggerated media emphasis on Brian Cowen being 'drunk' back in September 2010 which in effect made up the minds of the Rating agencies to pull the trigger on us and thus allow in the IMF. Cowen was not even drunk by the way! Total and harmful media exaggeration.
-Exaggerated negative media stuff in general: selfserving to every so-called 'economist' wanting to make a quick buck.
-Gangland killings of gardai and Veronica Guerin in 1996.
-Other gangland events.

Honourable mentions goes to these 'lighter' events too that also show us in a poor light:

-The canvas bag representing us in the Eurovision in 2008.
-The current Garth Brooks fiasco.
-Our performance in the 2012 European cup.

Dr Bob · 22-07-2014 7:27am

RTE commissioning 'Upwardly Mobile'.

comongethappy · 22-07-2014 7:29am

Zamboni wrote: »

It was Brian Lenihan's bank guarantee that consequently led to recapitalisation and the IMF program.
The OP asked for the worst event. That single event has led to the downfall of the state.

The subsequent recapitalisation was not related to the guarantee.... One was not a direct or inevitable consequence of the other.
Many countries had a deposit guarantee scheme without associated recapitalisation schemes.

As also the Anglo bailout & wind-down was a separate process & decision to the DGS.

All 3 were linked but not interdependent.

The IMF loan existed because the state could pay for its day-to-day running..... simple as that.

LostDamo · 22-07-2014 7:34am

thegills wrote: »

The murder by the British of our great leaders in 1916. What would Ireland be like now if they lived?

To be fair the murders were a turning point. They (the "great leaders") didn't have much support from people on the street. So i'ld hazard if not murdered they'ld have wasted away in prison & no one would have bat an eyelid

BuilderPlumber · 22-07-2014 7:34am

comongethappy wrote: »

The subsequent recapitalisation was not related to the guarantee.... One was not a direct or inevitable consequence of the other.
Many countries had a deposit guarantee scheme without associated recapitalisation schemes.

As also the Anglo bailout & wind-down was a separate process & decision to the DGS.

All 3 were linked but not interdependent.

The IMF loan existed because the state could pay for its day-to-day running..... simple as that.

All that 2008 to date stuff relating to this was and is collectively among the worst events in the history of this state. But also of course one of the worst events in global history and one that goes back much further than 2008. You can trace the world economic collapse back to September 11th 2001 and the costly escapades in Iraq that squandered billions unnecesarily and to the general risk taking emphasis and culture of the 1990s and 2000s where everything from being unemployed and being encouraged to borrow millions to start up a business to going to war were done on a whim by mostly brainless zombie politicians and bankers.

padd b1975 · 22-07-2014 7:45am

Dr Bob wrote: »

RTE commissioning 'Upwardly Mobile'.

......and casting a 'RA head in one of the leading roles.

Ten of Swords · 22-07-2014 7:53am

Irish Free State troops killing republican prisoners during the civil war. In Ballyseedy Co. Kerry 9 men were tied to a landmine which was set off, they were then machine gunned.

anheneti · 22-07-2014 8:07am

foggy_lad wrote: »

The bank guarantee and all those responsible for selling Ireland down the river. The founding of the fianna fail party. The ban on corporal punishment in schools. Removal of the height requirements for entry to the Gardai.

How was the ban on corporal punishment a bad thing?

Potatoeman · 22-07-2014 8:34am

John Doe1 wrote: »

There has been quite a few but DeValera signing a book of condolence for Hitler and the treatment of those who fight in WW2 when they returned home has got to be up there.

Also, The Omagh bombing was the most pointless waste of life on this island.

I do see the point of not allowing people that served in the British army public service jobs given that independantance was only won a short time before and the potential for spying.

As much as Hitler is hated now he was a national leader at the time and signing a book of condolence does not mean you support that persons ideologies.

Herb Powell · 22-07-2014 8:34am

Seasan wrote: »

Joining the EU.

Really?

Joining the EU has benefitted Ireland enourmously. Yes, there are some issues, such as the fishing quotas meaning Spaniards come and steal our fish, but overall I think the effect has been extremely positive.

Reformed Character · 22-07-2014 8:39am

The Whiddy Island disaster in 1979, when the oil tanker Betelgeuse exploded killing 50 people.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiddy_Island_Disaster

Santa Cruz · 22-07-2014 9:02am

The rejection of the Sunningdale Agreement by Paisley and Co which resulted in another 20 years of slaughter before they agreed to Sunningdale 2

Muahahaha · 22-07-2014 9:30am

I think one crucial decision that affected Ireland was the decision of the Irish Labour Party not to contest the 1920 General Election. As a result Ireland never grew up politically with tradition left-right cleavages, instead we settled into pro and anti treaty politics.

Our inability to move on from the Treaty has been like a millstone round the neck of the country for too many years. It's not such a huge issue today but right throughout the 1920s up until recently many Irish people voted along civil war lines which is daft when you think about it.

We'll never know for sure regarding the Labour Party in Ireland, but Ireland is the only country in the EU who political scientists deem not to be split on left-right cleavages. We didn't have industrialisation like the UK, which brought about a strong left wing political tradition, with politicians coming from the ranks of trade union leaders in factories up and down the country. Instead in Ireland 1920 Sinn Fein split into Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil and we ended up with two right wing parties who are basically two cheeks of the same arse.

Mackas_view · 22-07-2014 9:40am

For me nothing's worse than civil war. Irish men spilling Irish blood

vitani · 22-07-2014 9:41am

Surprised nobody has mentioned Linda Martin singing 'Get Lucky' yet...

As for the worst event, I'd have to say the Civil War. What should have been a moment of triumph - (some of) Ireland finally achieving independence - turned into a horrible, bitter conflict that divided people for generations.

cerberos · 22-07-2014 9:43am

The birth of the Provos...............the civil rights movement would have prevailed in the end (through US and public opinion) and lots of lives saved.

Wossack · 22-07-2014 9:44am

that boyzone dance on the late late

Dyr · 22-07-2014 10:00am

Muahahaha wrote: »

I think one crucial decision that affected Ireland was the decision of the Irish Labour Party not to contest the 1920 General Election. As a result Ireland never grew up politically with tradition left-right cleavages, instead we settled into pro and anti treaty politics.

Because the labour party bottled it, quelle suprise. The lack of a left wing alternative had more to with the anti treaty side losing plus the sky pilots being worried about reds under the bed for most of the ensuing decades

foxy farmer · 22-07-2014 10:09am

Hundreds of thousands of people believing that a plaster cast of a religious icon was dancing jigs on the side of a hill down in Ballinaspittle in Cork.

Ash.J.Williams · 22-07-2014 10:19am

Un Croissant wrote: »

Probably shíte. Wasn't it the executions of these fellas that gained the whole thing support? So if they had lived....

When ya think about, the 1916 we all think of and will celebrate in 2016 isn't actually the rising. The executions WERE the rising, the actual rising was a bit of a joke. If those leaders were not executed the rising would have been a farce. THe politicians are lining up to celebrate 1916 because it symbolises the birth of Fr. Paddy gombeen politics.

lazygal · 22-07-2014 10:21am

The passing of the eighth amendment. As a woman I feel as though my rights are always subservient to those of a foetus.

Muahahaha · 22-07-2014 10:26am

Bambi wrote: »

Because the labour party bottled it, quelle suprise. The lack of a left wing alternative had more to with the anti treaty side losing plus the sky pilots being worried about reds under the bed for most of the ensuing decades

Yeah for sure but I guess by 1920 James Connolly was dead and Jim Larkin had emigrated so the Labour Party's two founders and leaders were gone off the scene.

How do you mean that a lack of a left wing alternative was due to the anti treaty side losing ?

I personally think the main reason left wing politics never took off here like every other country in Europe was because Ireland never industrialised in the same way other European nations did. We never had a culture of manufacturing here which would have brought about factories and trade unions and all that goes with it. Sure there were TUs but that was largely a city thing in a time when Ireland was very rural. The traditional cleavage in European politics is Labour Vs Capital, I.e the interests of factory workers Vs the interests of factory owners which brought about a traditional left-right dichotomy. Ireland never had that and the failure of the Labour Party to assert itself at a crucial juncture in 1920 was a major factor in Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil dominating Irish politics for the next 80 years.

I do take your point re:the Church. Labour and left wing politics was always going to struggle to get a foothold when the men with the keys to heaven were telling everyone voting for those godless communists will defintely send you to hell. The Roman Catholic Church has typically been a very right wing organisation so given the grip that they had in Ireland at the time it is probably no surprise that we ended up with two right wing parties.

Ash.J.Williams · 22-07-2014 10:27am

Zamboni wrote: »

It was Brian Lenihan's bank guarantee that consequently led to recapitalisation and the IMF program.
The OP asked for the worst event. That single event has led to the downfall of the state.
If you think Lenihan had no choice on the guarantee, fair enough.

the downfall of the state would mean no ATM's ....no wages....looting, looking to street gangs for protection, famine and death. .....we're doing ok

foxy farmer · 22-07-2014 11:25am

Allowing a love ulster march in dublin in 2006.

TV3 believing it was in the national interest to publicise the fact that Brian Lenihan had cancer.

gugleguy · 22-07-2014 11:30am

Omagh Bombing August 1998.

Ash.J.Williams · 22-07-2014 11:30am

foxy farmer wrote: »

Allowing a love ulster march in dublin in 2006.

TV3 believing it was in the national interest to publicise the fact that Brian Lenihan had cancer.

hardly a national disaster by tv3...rude maybe

Dyr · 22-07-2014 11:32am

Muahahaha wrote: »

Yeah for sure but I guess by 1920 James Connolly was dead and Jim Larkin had emigrated so the Labour Party's two founders and leaders were gone off the scene.

How do you mean that a lack of a left wing alternative was due to the anti treaty side losing ?

Labour didnt stand back from the election to give the shinners a clean run of it, they were more concerned that they'd lose the support of loyalist trade union members if they came down on one side or the other so they abstained

Most of the radical/progressive elements in the IRA and Sinn Fein were anti treaty, after the civil war they either left the country or wound up disenfranchised from political life by being opposed to the new state. Which left the decidedly conservative elements running the county.

smellmepower · 22-07-2014 11:42am

The state turning a blind eye (at best) to decades of kiddy fiddling and torture of vulnerable children and single mothers by the catholic church.And then not having the bottle to make the church pay either financially or legally for their crimes once the true scale of the abuse emerged.

That scumbag Michael Noonan bullying the woman who was dying from infected blood products,on her deathbed and then issuing a mealy mouthed apology.

Bertie Ahern's three terms as taoiseach.

Roger_007 · 22-07-2014 11:52am

Independence!........can anyone think of even one way in which it made us better off, or healthier, or more contented, or better governed?.....I can't.

Ash.J.Williams · 22-07-2014 11:53am

Roger_007 wrote: »

Independence!........can anyone think of even one way in which it made us better off, or healthier, or more contented, or better governed?.....I can't.

It was unfortunate that a minority of muck savages were handed the keys to the country

22-07-2014 12:04pm

Easy, cancellation of Garth Brooks concerts :pac:

Starscream25 · 22-07-2014 12:05pm

Letting Paul mcshane play on the international team leading to Henry's handball moment...... Seriously though there's so much to choose from, I would say the Omagh bombing aswell as the church cover ups, Having said that the amount of corruption and wrong doings from some of the people in 'powerful' positions is sickening to the bone (golden handshakes, brown envelopes etc) and I'm sure we only hear of a fraction of this kind of stuff.
I'm only in my late 20's and I often find myself feeling completely uninspired and full of despair for this country to the point that I find comfort in ignorance.

MayoSalmon · 22-07-2014 12:09pm

Roger_007 wrote: »

Independence!........can anyone think of even one way in which it made us better off, or healthier, or more contented, or better governed?.....I can't.

Feel free to emigrate whenever

realdanbreen · 22-07-2014 12:11pm

Panthro wrote: »

the success of Mrs Brown's boys.
I heard there's a second film in the pipeline.

Dear.
God.
No.

Say it ain't so,PLEASE say it aint so!!

realdanbreen · 22-07-2014 12:13pm

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

It was unfortunate that a minority of muck savages were handed the keys to the country

Yeah,they should have allowed a real 'howya' Dub like Bertie to rule on!!

Harry Palmr · 22-07-2014 12:17pm

Roger_007 wrote: »

Independence!........can anyone think of even one way in which it made us better off, or healthier, or more contented, or better governed?.....I can't.

MayoSalmon wrote: »

Feel free to emigrate whenever

Oh the irony within that reply!

whupdedo · 22-07-2014 12:21pm

[QUOTE=foxy

TV3 believing it was in the national interest to publicise the fact that Brian Lenihan had cancer.[/QUOTE]

Would he still be alive if they hadn't ???

Roger_007 · 22-07-2014 12:23pm

MayoSalmon wrote: »

Feel free to emigrate whenever

Since independence, 6 million have chosen do exactly that. Whether they felt free or not is open to question. Emigration is the the most obvious example of how this state has failed. There are now twice as many people who were either born in Ireland, or have parents who were born here, living outside the the country as live inside it. Hardly a vote of confidence by Irish people in their motherland!

Ash.J.Williams · 22-07-2014 12:30pm

realdanbreen wrote: »

Yeah,they should have allowed a real 'howya' Dub like Bertie to rule on!!

bertie was a product of it

Agricola · 22-07-2014 12:34pm

Was going to say the complete collapse of the economy, following years of mismanagement by government, banks etc. Then I remembered the Garth Brooks thing.

4Sticks · 22-07-2014 1:16pm

Roger_007 wrote: »

Independence!........can anyone think of even one way in which it made us better off, or healthier, or more contented, or better governed?.....I can't.

I can't recall the exact quote but Brendan Behan said that Irish Independence was a chance to swap British rack renting landlords with Irish rack renting landlords.

Today we have a mortgaged independence relying on the credit facilities of others to keep our bloated public and political life intact while the rest of either scatter across the globe or scrimp by here waving our kids off to do so.

LizzieJones · 22-07-2014 1:19pm

That time it rained and that time it got hot.

cantdecide · 22-07-2014 1:24pm

1979 Fastnet Race tragedy deserves a mention.

To much groaning I'm, the collapse of the economy has devastated so many in my circles.

snaphook · 22-07-2014 1:41pm

Linda Martin 'singing' Get Lucky on the Saturday Night Show.

Oh the Humanity!!!!

Chinasea · 22-07-2014 2:06pm

Salvita Halapparavan's death and the distain her poor husband and family were treated to by some of the people, HSE involved in this atrocity.

WesternZulu · 22-07-2014 2:09pm

The amazing ability of the Irish public to constantly forgive and forget Fianna Fail of their numerous f**k ups since the formation of the state.

RandomName2 · 22-07-2014 2:11pm

For me?

By far the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand by Gavrilo Princip

Think about it

Idbatterim · 22-07-2014 2:11pm

the blanket bank guarantee! Has done incalculable damage in numerous aspects!

Ash.J.Williams · 22-07-2014 2:16pm

RandomName2 wrote: »

For me?

By far the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand by Gavrilo Princip

Think about it

that's using irish history loosely there!! It affected Irish history but it was an external factor.

Ash.J.Williams · 22-07-2014 2:18pm

cantdecide wrote: »

1979 Fastnet Race tragedy deserves a mention.

To much groaning I'm, the collapse of the economy has devastated so many in my circles.

why does the fastnet tragedy need a mention?

What was the worst event in modern Irish history?

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