Everybody else in the family is at the Commonwealth Games, so why aren't we?

LordSutch · 26-07-2014 4:51pm #1

'Nearly' every country in the world who has even the slightest connection to Britain is there competing in every sport represented, from boxing to athletics, to karate, to rugby, horse riding, shooting, and swimming, yet the ROI is completly absent, leaving NI to go it alone as usual :mad:

Yes, I know the reasons well, and I know that I will probably get a massive backlash for even suggesting that we should be rubbing shoulders with the Welsh, the Scots, the English, Canadians, Aussies, Indians etc etc, but I still can't help thinking that here we are (the closest of all to Britain) yet still sulking & absent as usual since about 1959, when some drunken Dail politician decided on the spur of the moment that "Ireland had now left the commonwealth".

Personally I think we should rejoin for no other reason than to be able to participate in the games. There would of course be a lot of trade opportunities with other CW countries too, that might also come into play with such connections. I think its been a disgrace that we have been absent from the commonwealth family for so long.

What say you?

Sits in bunker with pith helmet on, waiting for the artillery shells to rain in

Lenin Skynard · 26-07-2014 4:53pm

France is just as close to Britain and they're not in it either.

LordSutch · 26-07-2014 4:56pm

France is not part of the Commonwealth family of Nations.

SEPT 23 1989 · 26-07-2014 4:58pm

We could have a Commonpoor Games with Spain,Portugal and Greece

26-07-2014 4:58pm

Pakistan left, then decided that they were better off in so rejoined.

Lenin Skynard · 26-07-2014 4:58pm

Tbh I doubt most people would have the slightest idea what the "family of commonwealth nations" is. Is it just something you made up? Ireland most certainly isn't in the commonwealth, so of course it's not in the commonwealth games. We're not in the African Cup of Nations either.

diomed · 26-07-2014 4:59pm

We have GAA, the greatest sports ever.

26-07-2014 4:59pm

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

We could have a Commonpoor Games with Spain,Portugal and Greece

Poor Span, can't even afford an "i" :P

FierceMild · 26-07-2014 4:59pm

We actually left the Commonwealth in 1949 with the implementation of the Ireland Act. It wasn't just a drunken Dail deputy.

Also, I quite like having a President instead of the Queen. Michael D is good craic.

7ofBrian · 26-07-2014 4:59pm

LordSutch wrote: »

France is not part of the Commonwealth family of Nations.

Neither is Ireland.

Sunnyisland · 26-07-2014 4:59pm

LordSutch wrote: »

'Nearly' every country in the world who has even the slightest connection to Britain is there competing in every sport represented, from boxing to athletics, to karate, to rugby, horse riding, shooting, and swimming, yet the ROI is completly absent, leaving NI to go it alone as usual :mad:

Yes, I know the reasons well, and I know that I will probably get a massive backlash for even suggesting that we should be rubbing shoulders with the Welsh, the Scots, the English, Canadians, Aussies, Indians etc etc, but I still can't help thinking that here we are (the closest of all to Britain) yet still sulking & absent as usual since about 1959, when some drunken Dail politician decided on the spur of the moment that "Ireland had now left the commonwealth".

Personally I think we should rejoin for no other reason than to be able to participate in the games. There would of course be a lot of trade opportunities with other CW countries too, that might also come into play with such connections. I think its been a disgrace that we have been absent from the commonwealth family for so long.

What say you?

Sits in bunker with pith helmet on, waiting for the artillery shells to rain in

I have been waiting for this thread since the games began, so let them start here.... Carry on :-)

Madam · 26-07-2014 5:00pm

Until about a week ago you would have needed your pith helmet around me. Now I've seen what it has brought to Glasgow I've changed my mind - the place has been transformed and the city is buzzing you just can't help but be upbeat about the whole thing. Yes perhaps it would do nothing but good for Ireland to re join the Commonwealth after all Scotland is staying in and I 'm sure it won't do this country any harm.

kneemos · 26-07-2014 5:01pm

The sporting worlds equivalent of the school sports day.

SEPT 23 1989 · 26-07-2014 5:01pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Poor Span, can't even afford an "i" :P

they are paying to get their name back in installments

diomed · 26-07-2014 5:03pm

We should get the Aran Islands into the Island Games.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_Games

Frank Lee Midere · 26-07-2014 5:03pm

Maybe the US should join the commonwealth and win everything.

Madam · 26-07-2014 5:05pm

kneemos wrote: »

The sporting worlds equivalent of the school sports day.

School sports days don't bring coffers to a countries pot!

Birneybau · 26-07-2014 5:06pm

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

We could have a Commonpoor Games with Spain,Portugal and Greece

Or, just 'common'

eyescreamcone · 26-07-2014 5:07pm

kneemos wrote: »

The sporting worlds equivalent of the school sports day.

More like the Special Paralympics!

kneemos · 26-07-2014 5:07pm

Madam wrote: »

School sports days don't bring coffers to a countries pot!

Thought sport was about competing against the best.Pardon me.

eyescreamcone · 26-07-2014 5:08pm

How about reforming the Tailteann Games 

26-07-2014 5:08pm

Barry mcguigan won a commonwealth gold for NI when he was 17.

Dunno how he qualified as i dozed off to sleep when he was talking about it.

Favourite event so far was this mornings triathlon mixed relay.

Madam · 26-07-2014 5:09pm

kneemos wrote: »

Thought sport was about competing against the best.Pardon me.

That too:o

Henwin · 26-07-2014 5:10pm

Madam wrote: »

Until about a week ago you would have needed your pith helmet around me. Now I've seen what it has brought to Glasgow I've changed my mind - the place has been transformed and the city is buzzing you just can't help but be upbeat about the whole thing. Yes perhaps it would do nothing but good for Ireland to re join the Commonwealth after all Scotland is staying in and I 'm sure it won't do this country any harm.

Scotland haven't voted yet

Nodin · 26-07-2014 5:10pm

LordSutch wrote: »

France is not part of the Commonwealth family of Nations.

"Family" me hole. It's more like a club for victims of abuse.

LordSutch wrote: »

when some drunken Dail politician decided on the spur of the moment that "Ireland had now left the commonwealth"..

Any other stereotypes you want to fire in there?

bilston · 26-07-2014 5:10pm

FierceMild wrote: »

Also, I quite like having a President instead of the Queen. Michael D is good craic.

You can be in the Commonwealth and not have the Queen as your head of state so that wouldn't change at all.

Madam · 26-07-2014 5:10pm

Strawberry Milkshake wrote: »

Barry mcguigan won a commonwealth gold for NI when he was 17.

Dunno how he qualified as i dozed off to sleep when he was talking about it.

Favourite event so far was this mornings triathlon mixed relay.

He changed his nationality - so I'm told.

Lenin Skynard · 26-07-2014 5:10pm

kneemos wrote: »

Thought sport was about competing against the best.Pardon me.

Come on now, sport doesn't get more elite than Sri Lanka playing a game of quiddich against Namibia.

bilston · 26-07-2014 5:11pm

Henwin wrote: »

Scotland haven't voted yet

Even if Scotland goes independent Alex Salmond has been pretty clear that the Queen will remain head of state, although even then that isn't a pre requisite of being in the Commonwealth.

Madam · 26-07-2014 5:12pm

Henwin wrote: »

Scotland haven't voted yet

Oops jumping ahead of myself:)

efb · 26-07-2014 5:12pm

It's kinda cr@p though even the best athletes don't compete ("injured")

Everybody else in the family is at the Commonwealth Games, so why aren't we?

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