Re a United Ireland > Would you be in favour of a new Flag & a new National anthem?

LordSutch

If you thought a new flag and a new anthem would swing the Unionist population in Northern Ireland, would you contemplate having a new National anthem composed & a new all Ireland flag designed, (to woo the Unionists over the line) into a so called United Ireland?

Or would that be one step too far? see poll . . .

Conmaicne Mara

No.

chopperbyrne

Wouldn't care at all if the flag and anthem were changed tomorrow, but do not want a United Ireland until it won't cause massive financial instability to this country.

Northern Ireland is a money pit that the UK would gladly get rid of if they could.

hyperborean

More chuckie rubbish

Brego888

Its irrelevant. A united Ireland is never going to happen.

DarkJager

No interest in having Northern Ireland as part of this country so no to your question.

Falthyron

Oh look! Another united Ireland thread.

Sub-forum needed, imo.

Latchy

I don't think any new national anthem is going to swing the unionists over to anything .These are people who are to far entrenched into who and what they are all about to change and anyhow , I'm still to fond of Amhrán na bhFiann .

davet82

fcukin flags and anthems and the north...

should have its own forum at this stage

castletownman

Only if the new official anthem is the Sunday Game theme tune

Dr. Nooooo!

It depends on what they would be but I am inclined to say no, I like the national flag and anthem. Just sing the proper version with laochra fáil.

Chuck Stone

Wouldn't have a problem with it myself. Btw Unionists won't 'swing'. It'll be by weight of majority that will set the gears of unification in motion - the great majority of Unionists will not want it but their patrons in England will so they'll kinda have to accept it.

tony 2 tone

castletownman wrote: »

Only if the new official anthem is the Sunday Game theme tune

Or "Jump Around" by House of Pain, we can have Des Bishop do it in Irish too!

Lenin Skynard

Quite happy with both tbh. I'd hate the thought of having to stand up for something as tacky as "Ireland's Call"

JohnMarston

Dissapointed that no-one posted this yet

Fratton Fred

Let's face it, as much as people may love it and identify with it etc, the tri colour is a bit crap.

Surely this is a good chance to have something different and easily identifiable like a harp or a shamrock or something.

endacl

Could we have this as the new anthem pleeeeeeeeeezzzzzeee!!!

I don't care about the flag, but am passionate about this tune!

Witcher

There's meaning behind the Tricolour. I don't see the attraction of harps etc. when I think of my country I don't think of harps. People just want to change things for the sake of changing them or be progressive or some crap.

iDave

If you gave unionists a free Ferrari, 70 virgins each and let them have their hate filled Orange parades in Croke Park they still wouldnt join a United Ireland. They want to be British regardless of the cost and not only that they want to be more British than the British themselves, hence the flags issue.

OCorcrainn

I would, if it was something like the Four Provinces Flag and possibly a new anthem like 'A Nation Once Again' or 'Mise Éire' by Seán O Riada.

statesaver

Would agree with a new flag but not a new National Anthem.

Alot of people don't even know the colours of the flag. Have heard people say it's green, white and GOLD ffs. :eek:

Watching soccer matches and you'll see flags that look green, white and YELLOW ( maybe too many times in the wash )

So fuk it get a new one.

locum-motion

The whole point of the Tricolour is that it signifies the two traditions/communities on the island (Green for the 'Nationalists' and Orange for the 'Loyalists') and peace (White) between them. It is intended as a symbol of a nation that is inclusive. It says "If you want to be Irish, we welcome you into our fold."

That, to me, is a major reason to keep the flag if unification ever happens. It is my wish that if unification does occur, it should be inclusive and welcoming, and that we would all make an effort not to antagonise/alienate those that are a bit different to the majority.

The colours of the Tricolour have a meaning, and that meaning is worth keeping.

(That's why it annoys me when people of a certain political ideology call the flag 'Green, White and Gold' or fly versions of it with a pale, washed-out yellow/gold colour in the fly. It's Orange, and it's Orange for a reason.)

Sergeant

I'm teary-eyed with emotion at the thought of it. Seeing that flag flutter in the wind as my chest swells with nationalistic pride.

Duckworth_Luas

I guess it's more efficient to have the weekly national anthem thread, the weekly flag thread and the weekly united Ireland thread merged into one!

Nailz

To be fair, if there was ever to become a United Ireland, it should in no way effect the pre-existing national identity of the Republic Of Ireland; therefore a United Ireland would effectively become an extension of the republic. Otherwise it would just undermine the historical integrity of Ireland outside of the 6 counties.

It would be an interesting thing to see, but if anyone has to die over it or if it causes constant unrest then I'd rather see it not happen, the progress that has been made in the North on both sides has been great up until now and it would be a catastrophe to see that progress undone.

Max Manus

LordSutch wrote: »

If you thought a new flag and a new anthem would swing the Unionist population in Northern Ireland, would you contemplate having a new National anthem composed & a new all Ireland flag designed, (to woo the Unionists over the line) into a so called United Ireland?

Or would that be one step too far? see poll . . .

depends op, what's your agenda?

2ndcoming

A lot of the progress has been an acceptance of Irishness. I was in Belfast for the first time in about 15 years recently and there's a tangibly more Irish feel to the place.

There's even a Carroll's Gift Shop in the city centre, you would have been brave to work there 20 odd years ago.

That said, drove through Short Strand and needless to say there's a ways to go yet.

Agree with the earlier poster, the flag is symbolic of diversity in the first place.

A return to the original navy with gold harp would probably have Munster fans up in arms as much as Unionists anyway.

locum-motion

locum-motion wrote: »

.....(That's why it annoys me when people of a certain political ideology call the flag 'Green, White and Gold'.....

What political ideology would that be? I hear lots of people, from all walks of life call the tricolour green, white & gold.

statesaver

Why would unionists be up in arms over the navy with gold harp flag when it's already on the British Royal Standard

ConstantJoe

Strawberry Milkshake wrote: »

What political ideology would that be? I hear lots of people, from all walks of life call the tricolour green, white & gold.

Its not really a political ideology. It's just incorrect.

Fratton Fred

Strawberry Milkshake wrote: »

What political ideology would that be? I hear lots of people, from all walks of life call the tricolour green, white & gold.

I think that was more an attempt by a certain archbishop to make the flag green for Ireland with the white and gold of the papal flag rather than any political party or persuasion.

Chuck Stone

locum-motion wrote: »

The whole point of the Tricolour is that it signifies the two traditions/communities on the island (Green for the 'Nationalists' and Orange for the 'Loyalists') and peace (White) between them. It is intended as a symbol of a nation that is inclusive. It says "If you want to be Irish, we welcome you into our fold."

You're not considering the Unionist/Loyalist mindset. They associate the ROI tricolour with Republicanism of the northern sort. They couldn't give a fuck if the tricolour had King Billy on his horse trampling Gerry Adams to death on the white bit, they'd probably still not like it.

The union fleg is the only fleg the vast majority of unionists give a **** about and even if there was a UI the UF will be highly visible in certain parts of Ireland for many many generations.

MadYaker

Falthyron wrote: »

Oh look! Another united Ireland thread.

Sub-forum needed, imo.

Hahaa I wonder what the admins would say if we put in a request for a United Ireland sub forum..

MetalDog

Only if the new anthem is the Benny Hill Theme

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK6TXMsvgQg

armaghbhoy

I'm not quite sure what to answer, but my answer is probably no for now.

The British didn't offer us a new flag in the north, there is no green in the union jack and while I think it would be nice of us to offer I still don't think unionists would accept it. Generally speaking, they are like the only people to go on about being ''British'' more than the English themselves. While the Scottish are Scottish the Irish are Irish and so on.

mackerski

The anthem should be changed without any external stimulus to something non-soldiers can relate to. As to the flag - it's design was specifically intended to be inclusive. Much as unionists might not like the tricolour, I think their main difficulty is likely to lie with the country for which it stands.

This kind of musing always reminds me of the way some people will quiz a vegetarian over whether they eat chicken, fish or whatever...

irishfeen

Wouldn't mind a change in National Anthem, a brand new constitution with input from all sides is something which I think would be needed and most people might actually welcome it. Changing the flag would be a different matter, the flag was hijacked by people claiming to represent the general Irish public for decades who committed atrocities in its shadow... that should not have been allowed to happen but it still can't take from the fact that the flag actually represents something truly good, an aspiration of the future.

mattjack

How about a rotating system , each month the flag and anthem could change.
We could even have a design a flag competition for kids and Eurovision stlye competition for the anthem,

666irishguy

The British can have the North and we will keep our flag. If the unionist's don't like our anthem or flag that's too bad as far as I am concerned. Be interesting to see what flag they would have to adopt if the UK dissolves. Then again they might just keep the Union Jack and Perhaps remain as they are as a living museum/tribute to Britain.

pablomakaveli

No, I like our current flag and anthem.

Its disappointing to see that there are quite a few people who would be happy to get rid of them as well.

jobeenfitz

If it would improve chance of continued peace I'd be in favour of having a compromise flag and national anthem. To be honest couldn't give a crap if we had no flag/anthem. Them things are all about ego and nostalgia. Bit like religion people willing to die for them and slaughter anyone who dissagrees with with them.

armaghbhoy

666irishguy wrote: »

The British can have the North and we will keep our flag. If the unionist's don't like our anthem or flag that's too bad as far as I am concerned. Be interesting to see what flag they would have to adopt if the UK dissolves. Then again they might just keep the Union Jack and Perhaps remain as they are as a living museum/tribute to Britain.

Its no longer a case of ''what unionists want, unionists get'' in the north as Nationalists are now almost the majority if not already the majority. Plus, theres alot of people who don't bother voting and I reckon if more people actually voted they would be miles ahead.

mattjack

armaghbhoy wrote: »

Its no longer a case of ''what unionists want, unionists get'' in the north as Nationalists are now almost the majority if not already the majority. Plus, theres alot of people who don't bother voting and I reckon if more people actually voted they would be miles ahead.

Ohh ohh ..... I've got an anthem for you ...

Ooh ah ,up the 'Ra , I say , ooh ah up the 'Ra.

Galwayguy35

No I wouldn't be in favour of changing either the flag or anthem.

I don't see why down here we should be expected to change anything just to suit Unionists/Loyalists who let's face it don't like us or our traditions.

If it hapens sometime in the future that there is a vote for a UI and it passes then if they don't like it they can go back to Scotland.

Iwasfrozen

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

No I wouldn't be in favour of changing either the flag or anthem.

I don't see why down here we should be expected to change anything just to suit Unionists/Loyalists who let's face it don't like us or our traditions.

If it hapens sometime in the future that there is a vote for a UI and it passes then if they don't like it they can go back to Scotland.

Or if you don't like it you can petition for Galwegian independence. :rolleyes:

Galwayguy35

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

Or if you don't like it you can petition for Galwegian independence. :rolleyes:

I'm happy with things as they are, you can move up to the Shankhill road and make new friends with Frazers mates if ya want.

Iwasfrozen

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

I'm happy with things as they are, you can move up to the Shankhill road and make new friends with Frazers mates if ya want.

Don't get me wrong I'm happy with the way things are too. The North can go stuff itself for all I care.

locum-motion

Strawberry Milkshake wrote: »

What political ideology would that be? I hear lots of people, from all walks of life call the tricolour green, white & gold.

There are two types of people who call it green, white and gold:
1. People who don't know any better, and don't even realise that they're wrong.
2. Republicans who quite deliberately refuse to acknowledge the orange in the flag or the ideal for which it stands.

tdv123

If Willie Frazer & dissident armed Loyalist/Republicans are exiled from the Island then yes, I would be in favor of it.

locum-motion

Fratton Fred wrote: »

I think that was more an attempt by a certain archbishop to make the flag green for Ireland with the white and gold of the papal flag rather than any political party or persuasion.

Mmmmm...

I think you might be missing something there...

Firstly, the papal flag is white and yellow, not white and gold, but even so, given that only one side of the Catholic/Protestant divide acknowledges the Pope, and that one side of the political divide wants to get rid of the orange, it is naive in the extreme to think that there would be no political thought behind any such attempt by a bishop.

woodoo

Fratton Fred wrote: »

Let's face it, as much as people may love it and identify with it etc, the tri colour is a bit crap.
.

True the tricolour is crap. I like the simplicity of the Swedish flag or something fancy like the Christmas Island flag. The Brazil one is good too.