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McDowell calls for 12 July to be public holiday in Ireland

  • 21-07-2010 05:51PM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 86 ✭✭


    Former Minister for Justice and Progressive Democrats leader Michael McDowell has said that 12 July should be made a national holiday in the south as well as in Northern Ireland.
    Mr McDowell said that if we were genuine republicans and if the orange panel in the flag meant anything, then we had to consider building an inclusive society.
    He was speaking at the MacGill Summer School in Co Donegal.

    Seriously this had to be a late April Fools joke... As much as I applaud the idea of a day off! Celebrating the 12th and defeat at the Battle of the Boyne is surely a bit much.. given it led the way to years of oppression, the introduction of the Penal Laws and discrimination against catholics which lasted in Northern Ireland until recent decades.... a big PC step too far!


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Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 16 bdunne


    I liked the letter in Saturday's Irish Times, inviting McDowell and McAleese to apply for membership to one of the orders. Pair of eejits.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 62 ✭✭sundaypapers


    Shouldn't McDowell and co be calling for the 12th to be a national holiday in the rest of the UK?


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 10,250 Mod ✭✭✭✭flogen


    Moved to Politics.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,069 ✭✭✭✭LordSutch


    . . . GREEN . . . . . WHITE . . . . . ORANGE

    Irish_flag.gif
    ................................. ^
    . 17th March . . . .Peace . . . . . 12th July


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,487 ✭✭✭aDeener


    LordSutch wrote: »
    . . . GREEN . . . . . WHITE . . . . . ORANGE

    Irish_flag.gif
    ................................. ^
    . 17th March . . . .Peace . . . . . 12th July

    catholics do not have a monopoly on st. patrick, we would be better off trying to get rid of that silly misconception than celebrating a day in honour of bigotry


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,789 ✭✭✭✭maccored


    17th march? what's that got to do with anyone?

    Nationalists in the north dont view the 12th as a public holiday. you;d think mr mcdowell would realise that


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 24,612 ✭✭✭✭Sleepy


    TBH, it'd make more sense to do away with a religious holiday like St. Patricks day and replace it with Arthurs Day imho. ;)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    bombadil wrote: »
    Former Minister for Justice and Progressive Democrats leader Michael McDowell has said that 12 July should be made a national holiday in the south as well as in Northern Ireland.
    Mr McDowell said that if we were genuine republicans and if the orange panel in the flag meant anything, then we had to consider building an inclusive society.
    He was speaking at the MacGill Summer School in Co Donegal.

    Seriously this had to be a late April Fools joke... As much as I applaud the idea of a day off! Celebrating the 12th and defeat at the Battle of the Boyne is surely a bit much.. given it led the way to years of oppression, the introduction of the Penal Laws and discrimination against catholics which lasted in Northern Ireland until recent decades.... a big PC step too far!

    fwiw, I think you will find most of those marching were "Oppressed" just as much by the Penal Laws (if not more) than Roman Catholics were.

    Whilst I don't agree that the 12th should be a holiday, at least lets get some basic facts right.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,250 ✭✭✭✭Iwasfrozen


    The 12th of July should never be made a holiday in the south. I'm by no means a nationalist but celebrating the event which lead the introduction of the penel laws and, inevitably, the famine is a step too far even for me.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,604 ✭✭✭Kev_ps3


    Typical of that traitor.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,021 ✭✭✭Sulmac


    First of all, the thread title is incredibly misleading. It should be "McDowell calls for 12 July to be public holiday in the Republic/ROI" or something.

    Anyway, to the point - why would anyone support this? The Orange Order are a small, bigoted organisation which in no way represent all Irish Protestants, on either side of the border. It's not "inclusive" at all and never will be since non-Protestants can't even join the Order.

    It's not comparable to Saint Patrick's Day (in the Republic, at least) at all.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,175 ✭✭✭Red_Marauder


    Well to put things in perspective....

    McDowell is a Republican and is also in favour of a United Ireland. Many people on this island share his views.

    If there is ever to be a United Ireland, our willingness as Republicans and/ or as Nationalists (for those of us who may subscribe to these outlooks) must first be apparent to those in Northern Ireland who are not prepared for such a Union as things stand.

    It seems perfectly clear to me, or anyone else who has read what McDowell actually said, that this is all he was implying. I'm not sure if another public holiday is exactly what we need, but I certainly do think that more inclusivity could be shown towards loyalists/ unionists and the Protestant and Orange traditions in this Republic in many different ways.

    Such alliances also serve to copperfasten peace between both traditions.

    One particularly striking quote by McDowell during his address was
    we Republicans cannot remain as passive spectators when we are called on to be friends
    Link to article


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,353 ✭✭✭✭jimmycrackcorm


    Sulmac wrote: »
    First of all, the thread title is incredibly misleading. It should be "McDowell calls for 12 July to be public holiday in the Republic/ROI" or something.

    Anyway, to the point - why would anyone support this?

    Because I'd like the day off.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,252 ✭✭✭Dr. Baltar


    I would have no problem with us celebrating a holiday for Irish Protestants. After all, many of the famous Irish Nationalists were Protestants themselves such as Robert Emmet.

    However, I will not support a holiday for the Orange Order which is nothing but a bigoted organisation. Let us acknowledge and befriend Ulstermen, but the Orange Order has no place in the Republic.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,607 ✭✭✭✭sceptre


    I've changed the thread title for accuracy and usefulness:)

    /mod


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 240 ✭✭pablo_escobar


    Orange order aren't really a bigoted organization, anyone of any color or religion can join or start their own orange lodge.

    togo.jpg

    even mohawks in canada are orange members

    mohawks.jpg

    irish people should embrace the orange order.
    think about it...imagine if everyone on the whole island marched on the 12th..forget about what we perceive it to be about. dress up in orange, get your drum out and march! dance like a mohawk! end of story!!!

    LAMBEG3.JPG

    don't forget the ray bans!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,607 ✭✭✭✭sceptre


    Orange order aren't really a bigoted organization, anyone of any color or religion can join or start their own orange lodge.
    Not Roman Catholics or Mormons (for example, there are others - all non-trinitarian and non-creedal denominations are excluded). That's just considering the Christian religions incidentally - the non-Christian ones are excluded as well due to a lack of "a humble and steadfast faith in Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind, believing in Him as the only Mediator between God and man" with the non-Christian religions (er, obviously). I suggest selecting a different foundation for that house you're building.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,175 ✭✭✭Red_Marauder


    Am I missing something?

    The 12th of July is not solely a day for the Orange Order, people.

    It's a day of celebration (if at all) for British and Irish Protestants who wish to celebrate it. It is not the sole property of the orange lodge.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6,485 ✭✭✭Denerick


    I fully agree with McDowell and am glad that someone has had the guts to say something so patriotic.

    Ireland will never be a united nation so long as it continues to treat her lost tribe in the north as a pariah.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 240 ✭✭pablo_escobar


    sceptre wrote:
    Not Roman Catholics or Mormons..

    I've no evidence the majority of Irish people are devout Roman Catholics who attend mass early on a sunday morning and follow the 10 commandments.

    I'd be doubtful Protestant members of the Orange Lodge pray to their God every day just as much as Roman Catholics.

    Irish people, ALL irish people really need to let go of this religion malarky...

    OK, it's currently known as a day of marching by Protestants...but are we led to believe these so-called "protestants" are genuinely religious people?

    Let's just say I go dressed as Muhammad with my sandles, foot long beard, ray bans and lambeg drum..

    Are so-called "protestants" or "roman catholics" going to attack me for that?

    What if I dress up like the pope and march with a sash around my neck? would i get attacked for that too?

    How far has Ireland really moved on? if at all...

    If i'm attacked, does that not prove how shallow, weak and insecure people in Ireland really are?

    And would my actions if replicated in mass numbers, protected by the state police not demoralize the the hardcore orange order members?

    Of course it would..that's the whole idea, so let's do it.

    Because I agree it's silly to even argue about, let Irish people embrace this day and soon it will be forgotten about, in history where it belongs.

    possibly some orange members have homosexual tendencies but i can't speculate.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,487 ✭✭✭aDeener


    Dr. Baltar wrote: »
    I would have no problem with us celebrating a holiday for Irish Protestants. After all, many of the famous Irish Nationalists were Protestants themselves such as Robert Emmet.

    However, I will not support a holiday for the Orange Order which is nothing but a bigoted organisation. Let us acknowledge and befriend Ulstermen, but the Orange Order has no place in the Republic.

    I somehow think Robert Emmett wouldn't have much time for the OO


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 205 ✭✭hitbit


    Well to put things in perspective....

    McDowell is a Republican and is also in favour of a United Ireland. Many people on this island share his views.

    If there is ever to be a United Ireland, our willingness as Republicans and/ or as Nationalists (for those of us who may subscribe to these outlooks) must first be apparent to those in Northern Ireland who are not prepared for such a Union as things stand.

    It seems perfectly clear to me, or anyone else who has read what McDowell actually said, that this is all he was implying. I'm not sure if another public holiday is exactly what we need, but I certainly do think that more inclusivity could be shown towards loyalists/ unionists and the Protestant and Orange traditions in this Republic in many different ways.

    Such alliances also serve to copperfasten peace between both traditions.

    One particularly striking quote by McDowell during his address was

    Link to article

    Why should we appease these bigoted people. You don't see them trying to appease us. All they do is make demands of us while their moto remains Paisleys " No Surrender ". I for one do not want a united Ireland. I'd build a Berlin wall between us.

    hitbit


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 778 ✭✭✭Essexboy


    The man is an ass with no knowledge of Northern Ireland.

    His suggestion is reminiscent of those who claimed that introduction of divorce in the Republic would strengthen ties with Unionists. It did not make a blind bit of difference: neither would making 12 July a national holiday.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 9,823 Mod ✭✭✭✭Manach


    Whilst normally I'd not argue against an extra holiday, the 12th of July has historically been linked to Protestant cultural domination.
    Perhaps a neutral day which celebrates a common shared heritage, for instance an Armistice day to commemerate WWI which Martin McGuinness had stated was a wound shared by nationalist and unionists.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,228 ✭✭✭bobbysands81


    Orange order aren't really a bigoted organization, anyone of any color or religion can join or start their own orange lodge.

    togo.jpg

    even mohawks in canada are orange members

    mohawks.jpg

    irish people should embrace the orange order.
    think about it...imagine if everyone on the whole island marched on the 12th..forget about what we perceive it to be about. dress up in orange, get your drum out and march! dance like a mohawk! end of story!!!

    LAMBEG3.JPG

    don't forget the ray bans!

    You're mental if you believe your own words.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,072 ✭✭✭PeterIanStaker


    perhaps McDowell should stay out of politics like he said he would in 2007?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 240 ✭✭pablo_escobar


    You're mental if you believe your own words.

    Only because you can't see past your own foolishness and ignorance over the issue.

    I'm certain that if all Irish people celebrated this day, the hardcore element of orange order would be demoralized so much, they would never insist on marching through so-called "Roman Catholic" neighborhoods again.

    Why? ...did you learn nothing growing up?
    Did your parents never insist your kid brother or sister play with a toy until they became bored?

    Most of the people involved in marching are not religious people, they're not "protestant" they're just bored little kids with nothing better to do.

    The individuals who identify themselves as "protestant" march because they see how foolish so-called "Roman Catholics" like you get annoyed.

    It's satisfying to see you get all emotionally upset about a stupid march, that's why they do it, there's no other reason.

    You're simply too easily annoyed and that's the joy in marching..

    If you people had any brains, there would be no problem at all.

    Now, if you enjoyed the march just as much as they did, they would think "oh my god, they like marching...what will i do now?" get it?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,934 ✭✭✭OhNoYouDidn't


    Denerick wrote: »
    I fully agree with McDowell and am glad that someone has had the guts to say something so patriotic.

    Ireland will never be a united nation so long as it continues to treat her lost tribe in the north as a pariah.

    THEY are the sectarian bigots, not us....


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 240 ✭✭pablo_escobar


    You know what i'd do if I saw an Orange March? I'd laugh my balls off at how stupid they look, that's what I'd do.

    Amazing..truly amazing how so many people could get emotionally upset about a bunch of tossers with orange ribbons around there necks banging a lambeg drum....lol :D

    It's nothing!! what the fck is anyone even complaining about?


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,069 ✭✭✭✭LordSutch


    Dr. Baltar wrote: »
    However, I will not support a holiday for the Orange Order which is nothing but a bigoted organisation. Let us acknowledge and befriend Ulstermen, but the Orange Order has no place in the Republic.

    And yet our flag aspires to include the Orange.


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