British spys in Ireland

darkman2

Is it time for a credible counter intelligence agency to put an end to it once and for all? We all know its going on to this day. They listen in on everything. Maybe less so now due to the peace process but it still goes on. What do you think? Do you know of any particular examples of this?

pwd

huh? We don't all know it's going on. Can you support that claim?

darkman2

pwd wrote: »

huh? We don't all know it's going on. Can you support that claim?

Numerous books ive read make references to how they have moles in all relevant section of our departments.......how our British embassy is so badly bugged that diplomats speak in Irish just to make fun of them and how almost everything must be sent by diplomatic bag. Im going basically on what ive read and the conclusion is we are really badly penetrated. Paper wont refuse print of course but if you dont believe the Brits have us bugged to the hilt you must be living in cuckoo land anyway. We dont have credible counter intelligience so id imagine its very easy for them.

dresden8

GCHQ is designed to listen in on all electronic communications within it's range.

Rest assured, any Irish politician who ever made a dirty corrupt deal and was stupid enough to discuss it on a mobile phone is owned by British intelligence.

Fianna Fail as British agents. Vote no to Lisbon!

darkman2

Without making jokes I think this is actually a very serious issue. Other states have far more interesting ways of dealing with spys or intelligience finds. The former is open to speculation but I think they are literally treated ruthlessly. I dont think we should tolerate being spied on by our neighbour and I hope one day they get caught (they have already been caught numerous times of course) and it goes public and consequences also go public........a long, long jail term or whatever. I would support 'ruthless' consequences for British caught spying here. I think its time an example was made. But then GCHQ dont have the capacity, I believe, to stop this.

bunny shooter

I think you'll find Special Branch look after those kind of issues here

snortsider

RTE, tony oreillys papers, special branch....absoluty wont find any of them working there to be sure

darkman2

bunny shooter wrote: »

I think you'll find Special Branch look after those kind of issues here

Bull**** - do you know they know how to decipher by sound what key is pressed on a keyboard? Before it was a typewriter. 'Special Branch' - we dont have a 'special branch'.........these people operate freely. They know more about us then the Irish public. I dont think this is accecptable.

FruitLover

darkman2 wrote: »

Do you know of any particular examples of this?

Yes, but if I told you, I'd have to kill you...

darkman2 wrote: »

our British embassy is so badly bugged that diplomats speak in Irish

MI5 agents who operated during the troubles are trained in Irish, so this is pretty pointless.

darkman2 wrote: »

we dont have a 'special branch'.

Yes we do (SDU), and we also have a mil int department (G2).

darkman2

FruitLover wrote: »

MI5 agents who operated during the troubles are trained in Irish, so this is pretty pointless.

What bull****:pac::pac: Dont speak again:pac::pac: Seriously dont embarrass yourself any further.

Blazher

FruitLover wrote: »

MI5 agents who operated during the troubles are trained in Irish, so this is pretty pointless.

Thats all well and good but it was M.I 6 in charge of monitoring the troubles

dresden8

darkman2 wrote: »

What bull****:pac::pac: Dont speak again:pac::pac: Seriously dont embarrass yourself any further.

Yeah, dirty Brits could never comprehend the beauty and poetry of dear old darling Irish. Maybe they were bored to **** by Peig as well and gave up, like the rest of Oireland.

cushtac

Perhaps this site would be of use to people: http://zapatopi.net/afdb/

eroo

cushtac wrote: »

Perhaps this site would be of use to people: http://zapatopi.net/afdb/

BBWWAHAHAHAHA!!Thank you Cushtac!

G2 and SDU are,I would believe,quite competent!

Also,OP,do you believe everything you read??Just because someone says it's happening...doesn't mean it actually is!

arybvtcw0eolkf

Anyone interested in this subject should read SPYCATCHER by Peter Wright.

Cato

how do we know darkman2 isent a british spy trying to stir up some ****e for some secret agenda?

DublinDes

snortsider wrote: »

RTE, tony oreillys papers, special branch....absoluty wont find any of them working there to be sure

Agreed, why would they need spy's when they have the run of the state anyway.

Victor

"In Bosnia, the Americans spied on the Russians, the French spied on the Americans and the British spied on everyone."

Everyone watches everyone to some degree or other, even the Swiss do it.

DublinWriter

dresden8 wrote: »

Yeah, dirty Brits could never comprehend the beauty and poetry of dear old darling Irish. Maybe they were bored to **** by Peig as well and gave up, like the rest of Oireland.

Well, that didn't stop the plucky Israelis. They used to regularly sent MOSSAD agents over to the Gaelteacht areas during the summer months to learn Irish.

Why? Because Irish troops were deployed under a UN flag to keep the peace in the Lebanon and radio communications were conducted os gaeilge.

The Yom Kippur war must have seemed like a picnic to them in comparison to Peig.

As for British agents, arguably the most famous case south of the border was the outing of Garda Detective Sergeant Patrick Crinnion as an MI6 agent in the mid-70's.

As for British sigint, the infamous Capenhurst site in Wales was allegedly used to intercept all trunk calls between the ROI and mainland Britain.

eroo

Don't forget about G2.They are handled by Dept. of Finance and not Dept. of Defence..why?Because Michael Collins was Minister for Finance and Director of Intelligence.Our history with British Secret Service means that we will always be monitoring each other.Anyone who thinks Irish military intelligence aren't or have never monitored things in the North,and in mainland Britain,is a fool!

Hagar

Victor wrote: »

Everyone watches everyone to some degree or other, even the Swiss do it.

Swiss watches. Full marks for that one Victor, nicely worked in.

arybvtcw0eolkf

DublinWriter wrote: »

Well, that didn't stop the plucky Israelis. They used to regularly sent MOSSAD agents over to the Gaelteacht areas during the summer months to learn Irish.

Why? Because Irish troops were deployed under a UN flag to keep the peace in the Lebanon and radio communications were conducted os gaeilge.

.

Where did you get that one from?.

mikemac

Im not sure where you get your facts from DublinWriter.
It's true that Israel had people here learning Irish but that wasn't to listen in on Irish troops in the Lebanon. Some were signed up to courses in Trinity college

They used Irish code words in the Suez Crisis in 1956

I don't know when Ireland first sent troops for UN service in the Lebanon. But Isreal was using knowledge of Irish long before then for sure.
The fact that there were Irish troops in the Lebanon is only a coincidence, it wasn't the full reason they had agents and military staff learn Irish

guinnessdrinker

I heard a story one time of two electricians from RTE setting up a broadcast from Soviet Russia or some other country behind the Iron Curtain in the 70's or 80's.

They were assigned a local "electrician" to help them out. Anyway after a while the two Irish guys realised their local helper wasn't much of an electrician and one of them said to the other in Irish, "this fella doesn't have a clue what he's doing". Then the Russian guy answered back, also in Irish, "thats what you think".

Funny story, don't know how true it is though. But it's not beyond the bounds of possibility that if Mossad had agents learning Irish, then other agencies like the KGB had too!

MooseJam

You can bet they are reading this thread now - anyone want to say anything to them ?

arybvtcw0eolkf

MooseJam wrote: »

You can bet they are reading this thread now - anyone want to say anything to them ?

"KNOCK, KNOCK....Two, two... One, two ... KNOCK..

Ah, I'd like to say to Maggie Thatcher - DIE SCREAMING YOU EVIL BITCH".. :mad:

ex_infantry man

shur of course they all know irish!!!!! a girl that was in my platoon was sent on a russian interpreters course after passing out as a 3 star so you could be guarenteed that the same was done in other countries for our native tongue

tricky D

MooseJam wrote: »

You can bet they are reading this thread now - anyone want to say anything to them ?

Hi there,

Please add me to your Xmas card list. Some of my interests are listed below.

(Bugs Bunny is in there wtf??)

Rewson, SAFE, Waihopai, INFOSEC, ASPIC, MI6, Information Security, SAI, Information Warfare, IW, IS, Privacy, Information Terrorism, Terrorism Defensive Information, Defense Information Warfare, Offensive Information, Offensive Information Warfare, The Artful Dodger, NAIA, SAPM, ASU, ASTS, National Information Infrastructure, InfoSec, SAO, Reno, Compsec, JICS, Computer Terrorism, Firewalls, Secure Internet Connections, RSP, ISS, JDF, Ermes, Passwords, NAAP, DefCon V, RSO, Hackers, Encryption, ASWS, CUN, CISU, CUSI, M.A.R.E., MARE, UFO, IFO, Pacini, Angela, Espionage, USDOJ, NSA, CIA, S/Key, SSL, FBI, Secert Service, USSS, Defcon, Military, White House, Undercover, NCCS, Mayfly, PGP, SALDV, PEM, resta, RSA, Perl-RSA, MSNBC, bet, AOL, AOL TOS, CIS, CBOT, AIMSX, STARLAN, 3B2, BITNET, SAMU, COSMOS, DATTA, Furbys, E911, FCIC, HTCIA, IACIS, UT/RUS, JANET, ram, JICC, ReMOB, LEETAC, UTU, VNET, BRLO, SADCC, NSLEP, SACLANTCEN, FALN, 877, NAVELEXSYSSECENGCEN, BZ, CANSLO, CBNRC, CIDA, JAVA, rsta, Active X, Compsec 97, RENS, LLC, DERA, JIC, rip, rb, Wu, RDI, Mavricks, BIOL, Meta-hackers, ^?, SADT, Steve Case, Tools, RECCEX, Telex, Aldergrove, OTAN, monarchist, NMIC, NIOG, IDB, MID/KL, NADIS, NMI, SEIDM, BNC, CNCIS, STEEPLEBUSH, RG, BSS, DDIS, mixmaster, BCCI, BRGE, Europol, SARL, Military Intelligence, JICA, Scully, recondo, Flame, Infowar, FRU, Bubba, Freeh, Archives, ISADC, CISSP, Sundevil, jack, Investigation, JOTS, ISACA, NCSA, ASVC, spook words, RRF, 1071, Bugs Bunny, Verisign, Secure, ASIO, Lebed, ICE, NRO, Lexis-Nexis, NSCT, SCIF, FLiR, JIC, bce, Lacrosse, Flashbangs, HRT, IRA, EODG, DIA, USCOI, CID, BOP, FINCEN, FLETC, NIJ, ACC, AFSPC, BMDO, site, SASSTIXS, NAVWAN, NRL, RL, NAVWCWPNS, NSWC, USAFA, AHPCRC, ARPA, SARD, LABLINK, USACIL, SAPT, USCG, NRC, ~, O, NSA/CSS, CDC, DOE, SAAM, FMS, HPCC, NTIS, SEL, USCODE, CISE, SIRC, CIM, ISN, DJC, LLNL, bemd, SGC, UNCPCJ, CFC, SABENA, DREO, CDA, SADRS, DRA, SHAPE, bird dog, SACLANT, BECCA, DCJFTF, HALO, SC, TA SAS, Lander, GSM, T Branch, AST, SAMCOMM, HAHO, FKS, 868, GCHQ, DITSA, SORT, AMEMB, NSG, HIC, EDI, benelux, SAS, SBS, SAW, UDT, EODC, GOE, DOE, SAMF, GEO, JRB, 3P-HV, Masuda, Forte, AT, GIGN, Exon Shell, radint, MB, CQB, TECS, CONUS, CTU, RCMP, GRU, SASR, GSG-9, 22nd SAS, GEOS, EADA, SART, BBE, STEP, Echelon, Dictionary, MD2, MD4, MDA, diwn, 747, ASIC, 777, RDI, 767, MI5, 737, MI6, 757, Kh-11, EODN, SHS, ^X, Shayet-13, SADMS, Spetznaz, Recce, 707, CIO, NOCS, Halcon, NSS, Duress, RAID, Uziel, wojo, Psyops, SASCOM, grom, NSIRL, D-11, DF, ZARK, SERT, VIP, ARC, S.E.T. Team, NSWG, MP5k, SATKA, DREC, DEVGRP, DSD, FDM, GRU, LRTS, SIGDEV, NACSI, MEU/SOC,PSAC, PTT, RFI, ZL31, SIGDASYS, TDM. SUKLO, Schengen, SUSLO, TELINT, fake, TEXTA. ELF, LF, MF, Mafia, JASSM, CALCM, TLAM, Wipeout, GII, SIW, MEII, C2W, Burns, Tomlinson, Ufologico Nazionale, Centro, CICAP, MIR, Belknap, Tac, rebels, BLU-97 A/B, 007, nowhere.ch, bronze, Rubin, Arnett, BLU, SIGS, VHF, Recon, peapod, PA598D28, Spall, dort, 50MZ, 11Emc Choe, SATCOMA, UHF, The Hague, SHF, ASIO, SASP, ****, Colonel, domestic disruption, 5ESS, smuggle, Z-200, 15kg, DUVDEVAN, RFX, nitrate, OIR, Pretoria, M-14, enigma, Bletchley Park, Clandestine, NSO, nkvd, argus, afsatcom, CQB, NVD, Counter Terrorism Security, Enemy of the State, SARA, Rapid Reaction, JSOFC3IP, Corporate Security, 192.47.242.7, Baldwin, Wilma, ie.org, cospo.osis.gov, Police, Dateline, Tyrell, KMI, 1ee, Pod, 9705 Samford Road, 20755-6000, sniper, PPS, ASIS, ASLET, TSCM, Security Consulting, M-x spook, Z-150T, Steak Knife, High Security, Security Evaluation, Electronic Surveillance, MI-17, ISR, NSAS, Counterterrorism, real, spies, IWO, eavesdropping, debugging, CCSS

DublinWriter

MooseJam wrote: »

You can bet they are reading this thread now - anyone want to say anything to them ?

Yes - In Prague, they say the snow falls at this time of year.

MooseJam

where did you get that list tricky

guinnessdrinker

MooseJam wrote: »

where did you get that list tricky

Meta tags off a spy website?

Fratton Fred

micmclo wrote: »

Im not sure where you get your facts from DublinWriter.
It's true that Israel had people here learning Irish but that wasn't to listen in on Irish troops in the Lebanon. Some were signed up to courses in Trinity college

They used Irish code words in the Suez Crisis in 1956

I don't know when Ireland first sent troops for UN service in the Lebanon. But Isreal was using knowledge of Irish long before then for sure.
The fact that there were Irish troops in the Lebanon is only a coincidence, it wasn't the full reason they had agents and military staff learn Irish

Surely the links between Militant Irish republicanism and Militant Palestinians would be the reason rather than any great desire to converse in Irish.

Boston

DublinWriter wrote: »

Well, that didn't stop the plucky Israelis. They used to regularly sent MOSSAD agents over to the Gaelteacht areas during the summer months to learn Irish.

Why? Because Irish troops were deployed under a UN flag to keep the peace in the Lebanon and radio communications were conducted os gaeilge.

The Yom Kippur war must have seemed like a picnic to them in comparison to Peig.

I'd heard this as well, however given that radio communications are carried out in English, it seems unlikely to be the reason they where learning Irish.

segaBOY

MooseJam wrote: »

You can bet they are reading this thread now - anyone want to say anything to them ?

Yea, just to the MI5 lads...I forgot my password in my old hotmail account you wouldn't be able to PM me the password?? Sound

bangersandmash

tricky D wrote: »

Hi there,

Please add me to your Xmas card list. Some of my interests are listed below.

(Bugs Bunny is in there wtf??)

Rewson, SAFE, Waihopai, INFOSEC, ASPIC, MI6, Information Security, SAI, Information Warfare, IW, IS, Privacy, Information Terrorism, Terrorism Defensive Information, Defense Information Warfare, Offensive Information, Offensive Information Warfare, The Artful Dodger, NAIA, SAPM, ASU, ASTS, National Information Infrastructure, InfoSec, SAO, Reno, Compsec, JICS, Computer Terrorism, Firewalls, Secure Internet Connections, RSP, ISS, JDF, Ermes, Passwords, NAAP, DefCon V, RSO, Hackers, Encryption, ASWS, CUN, CISU, CUSI, M.A.R.E., MARE, UFO, IFO, Pacini, Angela, Espionage, USDOJ, NSA, CIA, S/Key, SSL, FBI, Secert Service, USSS, Defcon, Military, White House, Undercover, NCCS, Mayfly, PGP, SALDV, PEM, resta, RSA, Perl-RSA, MSNBC, bet, AOL, AOL TOS, CIS, CBOT, AIMSX, STARLAN, 3B2, BITNET, SAMU, COSMOS, DATTA, Furbys, E911, FCIC, HTCIA, IACIS, UT/RUS, JANET, ram, JICC, ReMOB, LEETAC, UTU, VNET, BRLO, SADCC, NSLEP, SACLANTCEN, FALN, 877, NAVELEXSYSSECENGCEN, BZ, CANSLO, CBNRC, CIDA, JAVA, rsta, Active X, Compsec 97, RENS, LLC, DERA, JIC, rip, rb, Wu, RDI, Mavricks, BIOL, Meta-hackers, ^?, SADT, Steve Case, Tools, RECCEX, Telex, Aldergrove, OTAN, monarchist, NMIC, NIOG, IDB, MID/KL, NADIS, NMI, SEIDM, BNC, CNCIS, STEEPLEBUSH, RG, BSS, DDIS, mixmaster, BCCI, BRGE, Europol, SARL, Military Intelligence, JICA, Scully, recondo, Flame, Infowar, FRU, Bubba, Freeh, Archives, ISADC, CISSP, Sundevil, jack, Investigation, JOTS, ISACA, NCSA, ASVC, spook words, RRF, 1071, Bugs Bunny, Verisign, Secure, ASIO, Lebed, ICE, NRO, Lexis-Nexis, NSCT, SCIF, FLiR, JIC, bce, Lacrosse, Flashbangs, HRT, IRA, EODG, DIA, USCOI, CID, BOP, FINCEN, FLETC, NIJ, ACC, AFSPC, BMDO, site, SASSTIXS, NAVWAN, NRL, RL, NAVWCWPNS, NSWC, USAFA, AHPCRC, ARPA, SARD, LABLINK, USACIL, SAPT, USCG, NRC, ~, O, NSA/CSS, CDC, DOE, SAAM, FMS, HPCC, NTIS, SEL, USCODE, CISE, SIRC, CIM, ISN, DJC, LLNL, bemd, SGC, UNCPCJ, CFC, SABENA, DREO, CDA, SADRS, DRA, SHAPE, bird dog, SACLANT, BECCA, DCJFTF, HALO, SC, TA SAS, Lander, GSM, T Branch, AST, SAMCOMM, HAHO, FKS, 868, GCHQ, DITSA, SORT, AMEMB, NSG, HIC, EDI, benelux, SAS, SBS, SAW, UDT, EODC, GOE, DOE, SAMF, GEO, JRB, 3P-HV, Masuda, Forte, AT, GIGN, Exon Shell, radint, MB, CQB, TECS, CONUS, CTU, RCMP, GRU, SASR, GSG-9, 22nd SAS, GEOS, EADA, SART, BBE, STEP, Echelon, Dictionary, MD2, MD4, MDA, diwn, 747, ASIC, 777, RDI, 767, MI5, 737, MI6, 757, Kh-11, EODN, SHS, ^X, Shayet-13, SADMS, Spetznaz, Recce, 707, CIO, NOCS, Halcon, NSS, Duress, RAID, Uziel, wojo, Psyops, SASCOM, grom, NSIRL, D-11, DF, ZARK, SERT, VIP, ARC, S.E.T. Team, NSWG, MP5k, SATKA, DREC, DEVGRP, DSD, FDM, GRU, LRTS, SIGDEV, NACSI, MEU/SOC,PSAC, PTT, RFI, ZL31, SIGDASYS, TDM. SUKLO, Schengen, SUSLO, TELINT, fake, TEXTA. ELF, LF, MF, Mafia, JASSM, CALCM, TLAM, Wipeout, GII, SIW, MEII, C2W, Burns, Tomlinson, Ufologico Nazionale, Centro, CICAP, MIR, Belknap, Tac, rebels, BLU-97 A/B, 007, nowhere.ch, bronze, Rubin, Arnett, BLU, SIGS, VHF, Recon, peapod, PA598D28, Spall, dort, 50MZ, 11Emc Choe, SATCOMA, UHF, The Hague, SHF, ASIO, SASP, ****, Colonel, domestic disruption, 5ESS, smuggle, Z-200, 15kg, DUVDEVAN, RFX, nitrate, OIR, Pretoria, M-14, enigma, Bletchley Park, Clandestine, NSO, nkvd, argus, afsatcom, CQB, NVD, Counter Terrorism Security, Enemy of the State, SARA, Rapid Reaction, JSOFC3IP, Corporate Security, 192.47.242.7, Baldwin, Wilma, ie.org, cospo.osis.gov, Police, Dateline, Tyrell, KMI, 1ee, Pod, 9705 Samford Road, 20755-6000, sniper, PPS, ASIS, ASLET, TSCM, Security Consulting, M-x spook, Z-150T, Steak Knife, High Security, Security Evaluation, Electronic Surveillance, MI-17, ISR, NSAS, Counterterrorism, real, spies, IWO, eavesdropping, debugging, CCSS

They better not be spying on that!!

tricky D

MooseJam wrote: »

where did you get that list tricky

Back when I was....;)

Just Google 'echelon keywords'. Prolly a few versions doing the rounds. That wasn't a full list. Once upon a time (late nineties) there was a geekish/nerdish trend to sow these keywords into shedloads of emails to add noise.

But wtf with bugs bunny?? - What a maroon, what an ultramaroon!!:pac:

One of the boardsies gets xmas cards from the CIA... allegedly.

darkman2

So we get to the crux of this thread - why dont we have a credible counter intelligence agency? BTW I advocate we invade Isreal based on what we have seen on this thread:p

arybvtcw0eolkf

darkman2 wrote: »

So we get to the crux of this thread - why dont we have a credible counter intelligence agency? BTW I advocate we invade Isreal based on what we have seen on this thread:p

Here's a better reason to invade Israel..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMe1HfPNq7Y

:pac:

cp251

So we get to the crux of this thread - why dont we have a credible counter intelligence agency? BTW I advocate we invade Isreal based on what we have seen on this thread

What makes you think we don't have a credible counter intelligence agency? But even if it exist why do we need one? It's not as if we are of any strategic interest to the British or anyone else frankly. We have a miminal military, no defence industry to speak of and in general we have a friendly and mutual cooperative attitude with Britain in relation to the last hold out republican terrorists who still persist in the fantasy and our few Islamic fundmentalists.

Why the emphasis on the British anyway? I'm sure many countries have a small interest in our doings.

As for putting a stop to spying once and for all. I'm quite sure that if it was possible, MI5 the CIA, FSB et al, would all go out of business.:D

Cato

cp251 wrote: »

It's not as if we are of any strategic interest to the British or anyone else frankly.

i would have to disagree 800 years thereabouts of ocupation says otherwise, you dont think they were here for the nice weather?there have been numerous attempts to defeat Britain by attacking its arse through Ireland which all narrowly failed by the smallest of margins, it was in germanys best interest to arm IRA during WW1 as well, if it were not for the imense intelligence network of britain what would stop germans from sending over tonnes of munitions and enough arms to arm the country?

DublinWriter

cp251 wrote: »

What makes you think we don't have a credible counter intelligence agency?

If you define the term counter-intelligence in it's strictest possible sense, then we do have one of the most effective counter-intelligence agencies in the world - it's called the Government.

mikemac

Fratton Fred wrote: »

Surely the links between Militant Irish republicanism and Militant Palestinians would be the reason rather than any great desire to converse in Irish.

As I posted, the Israeli's learned Irish for codewords for communciation purposes during the Suez Crises . Not exactly something the Egyptians or Palestians would instantly realise or decipher.

Using obscure (don't flame me ) languages for codes isn't new.
The Nicolas Cage film Windtalkers was based on a true story. Native Americans spoke their own language so the US forces could communicate in WWII

I'm aware that Irish Repulblicans sympathize with Palestians but that that's irrelevant here, nothing to do with this

cp251

Not now Cato:p

i would have to disagree 800 years thereabouts of ocupation says otherwise,

It didn't take long for someone to work in the 800 years of occupation cliche.:rolleyes:

I can only think of three attempts to get at Britain from Ireland. A shambolic attempt at Kinsale, a half hearted laissez faire attempt by Napoleon in 1798 and a few guns to Sinn Fein from Germany. All failed by the widest of margins. What history books have you been reading? I would ask for a refund.

But all that is ancient history to most people except those few of us tin foil cap conspiracists who still think Britain wants us back in the fold. The don't want us back OK? In fact many English people are coming round to the idea of making Scotland independent whether the Scots want it or not:D

Why are people even worried about the British spying on us? What have we got that they want?

This thread belongs in the Walter Mitty forum.:(

mikemac

cp251 wrote: »

I can only think of three attempts to get at Britain from Ireland. A shambolic attempt at Kinsale, a half hearted laissez faire attempt by Napoleon in 1798 and a few guns to Sinn Fein from Germany. All failed by the widest of margins. What history books have you been reading? I would ask for a refund.

You, my friend need to ask for a refund.
1601, the Irish and Spanish could have won but they blew it.

You've given three examples and you forgot Bantry Bay in December 1796. 15,000 French troops failed to land only because of a freak storm. I don't know how long 15,000 troops could hold out for but it could have made a huge difference, especially if another landing followed it up.

If you are only referring to landing that actually happened, then my apologies

Fratton Fred

micmclo wrote: »

You, my friend need to ask for a refund.
1601, the Irish and Spanish could have won but they blew it.

You've given three examples and you forgot Bantry Bay in December 1796. 15,000 French troops failed to land only because of a freak storm. I don't know how long 15,000 troops could hold out for but it could have made a huge difference, especially if another landing followed it up.

If you are only referring to landing that actually happened, then my apologies

This one happened, one of my favourites this... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_invasion_of_Britain

The Last Invasion of Britain was a French attack on Britain in 1797. A French force of 1,400 troops (making up "La legion noire", or the Black Legion) in four warships, under the command of the Irish-American Colonel William Tate landed on 22 February 1797 at Carregwastad Head (or possibly Llanwnda), near Fishguard, Wales.

Their aim was to start an uprising against the English and march onwards to Bristol and London. The initial plan was to land near Bristol but adverse weather and tides forced the fleet to turn around and attempt a landing on the coast of Wales. On their way through the Bristol channel the fleet was spotted from Ilfracombe. The fleet was spotted off the coast of Pembrokeshire as it attempted to enter Fishguard harbour. A single shot from the cannons at Fishguard fort was all that was needed to turn the fleet around and it landed on a nearby beach instead, as Tate did not know that the defenders had hardly more ammunition than this. [1]

Many of the French troops carried for the invasion were conscripted prisoners and discipline and morale were low. The invasion soon lost momentum when the convicts discovered the locals' supply of wine (a Portuguese ship had just grounded locally with alcohol) and was concluded with little harm done on either side - a few fatalities and some looting. The local heroine of the invasion was Jemima Nicholas, who with her pitchfork single-handedly rounded up 12 invaders.[1] It is thought the French troops may have mistaken local women like her, in their tall black hats and red cloaks, for British grenadiers.

The surrender took place on 25 February, signed in the Royal Oak pub in Fishguard and conducted on Goodwick sands. The Frenchmen were soon exchanged for British prisoners of war, there was a run on the pound,[2] and George III patriotically sacked his French chef.[2]

A shipwreck believed to be belonging to the invasion fleet was found in 2003 and lies off Strumble Head.[3]

Basically, a load of French troops turn up to invade Britain, find a load of wine, get pissed and surrender to a few local women.

My, hasn't the French Military progressed a lot in 200 years

Victor

Of course the IRA and Sinn Féin had little if anything to do with Germany in WWI, so please check your history books.

And don't forget that Germany in WWII and Libya in the 1980s gave support to the IRA to get at Britain. I'm sure there have been other instances.

guinnessdrinker

Victor wrote: »

Of course the IRA and Sinn Féin had little if anything to do with Germany in WWI, so please check your history books.

Well the Germans did send 20,000 rifles and ammunition on board the ill fated Aud which never reached it's intended destination in 1916 which was halfway through WWI. The German captain and crew scuttled the ship.

Victor

guinnessdrinker wrote: »

Well the Germans did send 20,000 rifles and ammunition on board the ill fated Aud which never reached it's intended destination in 1916 which was halfway through WWI. The German captain and crew scuttled the ship.

At which time the IRA didn't exist and Sinn Féin wasn't involved in plans for rebellion.

guinnessdrinker

No but the Irish Volunteers would evolve into the IRA and have almost the same members.

Cato

back on subject though, Ireland is/was of huge importance in military/strategic to Britain, saying things like "why would they want to stay here we have no importance to them" is crap and i was using the old 800 year cliche to illustrate my reason, that in fact we are england is an island nation like us and would be very hard to attack from Europe especially back in the days of the empire, without a sizable fleet.

Britans enemy's could land in Ireland and attack its western flank secure Ireland and use it as a base to launch an attack, the Irish would have been only to happy to help thats why they held onto Ireland and we were very important in that respect.

I would imagine intelligence would be a very paranoid sort and continue monitoring Irish politics in case something of the sort should happened again..
and maybe some other reasons i couldent tell ya

guinnessdrinker

I think since the end of the Cold War, Britian's strategic interest in Ireland have diminished but not completely dissapeared. They will still want to keep a close eye on their neighbour.

I have heard an argument put forward in the past, that if Ireland reunifies, the British would push for Ireland to enter NATO which would ensure that Ireland would lose it's neutrality. This would mean that if an aggresser tried to use Ireland as a back door to get to Britian it would have to face a NATO force which means Britians interests would still be safeguarded.