Mickey Harte getting involved in referendum in the Republic

jimd2

Does anyone else find it a bit disconcerting that northerner Mickey Harte who never gives interviews to RTE is now starting a campaign of GAA sports stars to get a NO vote in the republic?

I have to say, and I am still undecided in the vote, that I am not really impressed with him getting involved and pulling together sports stars to encourage a NO vote. He may influence quite a number in border counties.

amcalester

He should stick to writing references for sex attackers.

JMNolan

Would you feel the same if he was campaigning for the yes side?

johnnyyesno

amcalester wrote: »

He should stick to writing references for sex attackers.

What was he thinking?

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/womans-fury-as-sex-attacker-given-reference-by-gaa-boss-harte-is-jailed-for-twoandahalf-years-29102469.html

Raging_Ninja

jimd2 wrote: »

Does anyone else find it a bit disconcerting that northerner Mickey Harte who never gives interviews to RTE is now starting a campaign of GAA sports stars to get a NO vote in the republic?

I have to say, and I am still undecided in the vote, that I am not really impressed with him getting involved and pulling together sports stars to encourage a NO vote. He may influence quite a number in border counties.

Is your problem that he's getting involved? Or that he might influence people?

Jimbob1977

Plenty of emigrants will fly back to Ireland for the referendum.... and then fly out directly afterwards. Many will commit electoral fraud. It's unenforceable.

People only become outraged when the opposition bend the rules.... but if it occurs on their side, it's absolutely fine.

Mr. Harte is entitled to his opinion. So are all the people outside the jurisdiction that have a keen interest for the Repeal side.

KERSPLAT!

Jimbob1977 wrote: »

Plenty of emigrants will fly back to Ireland for the referendum.... and then fly out directly afterwards. Many will commit electoral fraud. It's unenforceable.

People only become outraged when the opposition bend the rules.... but if it occurs on their side, it's absolutely fine.

Mr. Harte is entitled to his opinion. So are all the people outside the jurisdiction that have a keen interest for the Repeal side.

Yep. I might not agree with him but he's free to campaign the same as anyone else on either side

duffman13

Jimbob1977 wrote: »

Plenty of emigrants will fly back to Ireland for the referendum.... and then fly out directly afterwards. Many will commit electoral fraud. It's unenforceable.

They really really won't. I dont think people overseas are as arsed with what happens in Ireland when they aren't living here. The effort of flying to Ireland to cast a vote

Hector Bellend

jimd2 wrote: »

Does anyone else find it a bit disconcerting that northerner Mickey Harte who never gives interviews to RTE is now starting a campaign of GAA sports stars to get a NO vote in the republic?

I have to say, and I am still undecided in the vote, that I am not really impressed with him getting involved and pulling together sports stars to encourage a NO vote. He may influence quite a number in border counties.

Isn't that the whole point?

P. Breathnach

I don't care if he publicly takes a position on the referendum.

The GAA should care if he associates them with it.

suicide_circus

I harte mickey

McMurphy

P. Breathnach wrote: »

I don't care if he publicly takes a position on the referendum.

The GAA should care if he associates them with it.

He's Mickey Harte, if he farted loudly on the bus people would automatically associate him farting with the GAA.

I've no problem with him taking a stance in the referendum that's happening on the island of Ireland, I'm sure he considers himself Irish after all, no more and no less than any of the rest of us.

GritBiscuit

Is he campaigning for the same ridiculous situation that they have in the North? Where the NI assembly can sit in fake moral smuggery while Westminster must fund and transport women who want an abortion to Wales, England or Scotland thus ironically making fewer financial and logistical burdens than in parts of the UK where abortion is allowed?


Or is he proposing the generous people of Ireland, a different tax state to the one he resides in, continue to pay reparations that the Human Right Committee have awarded to women forced to travel?

GhostyMcGhost

suicide_circus wrote: »

I harte mickey

#IHarteBabies

padd b1975

duffman13 wrote: »

They really really won't. I dont think people overseas are as arsed with what happens in Ireland when they aren't living here. The effort of flying to Ireland to cast a vote

Think of all the"likes" and retweets they'll get.

Mrsmum

jimd2 wrote: »

Does anyone else find it a bit disconcerting that northerner Mickey Harte who never gives interviews to RTE is now starting a campaign of GAA sports stars to get a NO vote in the republic?

I have to say, and I am still undecided in the vote, that I am not really impressed with him getting involved and pulling together sports stars to encourage a NO vote. He may influence quite a number in border counties.

I think the question you have to ask yourself is would you be ok with it if a group of prominent GAA players came out yesterday for Repealing the 8th ?

Littlehorny

Spots people hate when politics gets involved in any shape or form in their game and rightly so, now you have this eejit who doesn't even live here trying to use his influence gained from sport to influence a political topic.
Comes across as being a bit of a hypocrite to be honest and he is also known for being very religious so his stance on the issue is onlt going to go one way.

WHIP IT!

Mrsmum wrote: »

I think the question you have to ask yourself is would you be ok with it if a group of prominent GAA players came out yesterday for Repealing the 8th ?

Personally, No. As a GAA man all my life, I do not want our sports associated with the current debate. It has no place.

The Repeal Debate, on both sides, has been - and I'm sure will continue to be - an absolute sh*tshow.

Pauliedragon

I don't understand why people can be influenced so easily these days anyway. Are we really just sheep? Who cares what a footballer, athlete, Kardashian, various social media "influencers" (whatever that is) tell us to do. We are supposed to be intelligent, self aware and independant beings. Do your research and make up your mind based on that. The world really is starting to remind me of a silly movie I saw years ago (Idiocracy I think it was called). Anyone who votes based on what facebook or some celebrity tells them should be taken off the register for life.

Mrsmum

WHIP IT! wrote: »

Personally, yes. As a GAA man all my life, I do not want our sports associated with the current debate. It has no place.

The Repeal Debate, on both sides, has been - and I'm sure will continue to be - an absolute sh*tshow.

I agree, I just wondered if the op is bothered for the reason you are, which I agree with, or because MH might influence people to the side he may disagree with.

Fann Linn

Mrsmum wrote: »

I agree, I just wondered if the op is bothered for the reason you are, which I agree with, or because MH might influence people to the side he may disagree with.

I'd say that's the real problem there which you've highlighted.

Vojera

Jimbob1977 wrote: »

Plenty of emigrants will fly back to Ireland for the referendum.... and then fly out directly afterwards. Many will commit electoral fraud. It's unenforceable.

It's legal to come home to vote if your total stay abroad is going to be less than 18 months.

bucketybuck

Littlehorny wrote: »

Comes across as being a bit of a hypocrite to be honest and he is also known for being very religious so his stance on the issue is onlt going to go one way.

How is it being hypocritical? Everybody and their dog knows that Harte is hugely devout as a christian, I would imagine it would be more hypocritical for him to stay quiet on an issue he feels strongly about.

I don't agree with him, but at least I can respect that his opinions on this are consistent with his beliefs.

McMurphy

Littlehorny wrote: »

Spots people hate when politics gets involved in any shape or form in their game and rightly so, now you have this eejit who doesn't even live here trying to use his influence gained from sport to influence a political topic.
Comes across as being a bit of a hypocrite to be honest and he is also known for being very religious so his stance on the issue is onlt going to go one way.

He is from Tyrone, and still lives there as far as I know.

It might not suit some folks narrative, but Tyrone part of the island of Ireland, and this referendum could affect folk up there just as much as legalizing abortion up there might affect people here.

It is my suspicions that people who are protesting against Hartes stance based on where on the island he lives wouldn't have any such protestations if his stance was different, ie possibly aligned with their own?

Huntergonzo

I completely disagree with his stance and personally I think his opinions are dangerously religious but he is entitled to them.

As for campaiging/protesting outside of his jurisdication, well I can't imagine that's uncommon at all, I'd say people on all sides do this all the time.

For example, didn't people in the Republic only very recently march against a decision taken by a jury up north!

Grab All Association

Didn’t he come last in Eurovision?

🎵We’ve got the world tonight!🎵

Jimbob1977

Vojera wrote: »

It's legal to come home to vote if your total stay abroad is going to be less than 18 months.

That's fine. The problem is the enforceability. It's very easy to say that you intend your stay to be < 18 months... in the full knowledge that you are emigrating for good.

bucketybuck

Huntergonzo wrote: »

For example, didn't people in the Republic only very recently march against a decision taken by a jury up north!

Exactly. Funny how jurisdiction didn't seem to matter when opinions about that case were being thrown about everywhere.

The real point is that these are issues that don't really respect jurisdictions. People in the south felt strongly about matters relating to sexual assault, some people in the north feel strongly about matters relating to what they see as the killing of babies. Is it really any surprise that they would feel strongly enough about it to speak up?

Summer In the City

He's a an absolute scumbag but he's entitled to his opinion. Anyone listening to him is worse.

Hande hoche!

duffman13 wrote: »

They really really won't. I dont think people overseas are as arsed with what happens in Ireland when they aren't living here. The effort of flying to Ireland to cast a vote

Know of someone who set up a go fund me to pay for a flight home from Asia to take part in the referendum.

whisky_galore

Hande hoche! wrote: »

Know of someone who set up a go fund me to pay for a flight home from Asia to take part in the referendum.

Go fund yourself, cheapskate.

Hande hoche!

whisky_galore wrote: »

Go fund yourself, cheapskate.

That would have been a smart comment together with a one euro donation. Already funded though.

Get Real

Hande hoche! wrote: »

Know of someone who set up a go fund me to pay for a flight home from Asia to take part in the referendum.

If you go to the go fund me website and put in "referendum" in the search bar, other people are also looking for money for a flight home too.

Regardless of what side you're on, I'm unsure of using the referendum as a reason and painting it as a noble thing in order to get money off people.

I understand people may be short of money, but be an adult and get it off family and pay it back maybe?

One post looking for 180 euro to fly from a particular city in Spain. This has been funded by 19 people. Person was seeking 180 to go "halfsies". Yet a return flight on skyscanner for that particular city to Dublin is 150 the day before the referendum, or 180 the day of.

pitifulgod

He did same during marriage referendum if I recall correctly. Have zero respect for him after his character reference for a rapist.

gctest50

Ask him about Runbane if he calls canvassing

Runbane House has a notorious reputation for clerical sex abuse; Fr. Brendan Smyth was sentenced to ten years for his crimes in the 1990s, while charges against Brother Florence (real name Joseph Scally) were eventually dropped.

Harte has previously claimed that he was oblivious to abuse that went on in Runbane House


https://www.joe.ie/uncategorized/police-questioned-tyrone-manager-over-assault-claims-13592

end of the road

i don't particularly like the man but i see no issue here.

GritBiscuit

bucketybuck wrote: »

Exactly. Funny how jurisdiction didn't seem to matter when opinions about that case were being thrown about everywhere.

Just as those men wore a shirt representing those in the South, the outcome of the referendum will likely have enormous ramifications in the North - particularly if a Yes thus making their current stance all the more untenable - so I'd be more surprised if Nordies don't weigh in on both sides of the debate.

Debate is good. Informed choice is good. Let everyone have their say and let all who want to, rebut. Democracy in action.

end of the road

gctest50 wrote: »

Ask him about Runbane if he calls canvassing

Runbane House has a notorious reputation for clerical sex abuse; Fr. Brendan Smyth was sentenced to ten years for his crimes in the 1990s, while charges against Brother Florence (real name Joseph Scally) were eventually dropped.

Harte has previously claimed that he was oblivious to abuse that went on in Runbane House


https://www.joe.ie/uncategorized/police-questioned-tyrone-manager-over-assault-claims-13592

why. it's not as if he is going to discuss it, and nor should he given it's irrelevant to the referendum.

jimd2

Raging_Ninja wrote: »

Is your problem that he's getting involved? Or that he might influence people?

Yes, I think he should stay out of it.

KERSPLAT!

jimd2 wrote: »

Yes, I think he should stay out of it.

Why?

McMurphy

jimd2 wrote: »

Yes, I think he should stay out of it.

He obviously has strongly held opinions/views on the matter, we live in a democracy, people are free to express them opinions/views, regardless if they may or may not differ to our own.

pitifulgod

Johnny Dogs wrote: »

He obviously has strongly held opinions/views on the matter, we live in a democracy, people are free to express them opinions/views, regardless if they may or may not differ to our own.

And people are equally entitled to criticise him, this is the second time where he has tried to influence a referendum here. His motivation both times was religious fundamentalism. Think it's good to highlight what sort of individual he is. He is concerned about abortion but good with character references for rapists...

Shadowstrife

It is scary to think the appeal and influence GAA stars will have on undecided voters.

At least not all GAA stars are supporting 'No'. Eamonn McGee in Donegal is on the 'Yes' campaign.

AllForIt

It's not the voicing his opinion that's the problem which he's perfectly entitled to do...it's the starting a campaign with other GAA sports stars part, as if to create the impression that collectively the entire GAA says no. Nothing to stop another GAA group doing the same for the opposing side I suppose.

jimd2

Mrsmum wrote: »

I agree, I just wondered if the op is bothered for the reason you are, which I agree with, or because MH might influence people to the side he may disagree with.

Mrsmum, I am undecided at this stage. I was slightly on the NO side if anything but want to appraise myself of some more information but i wouldnt let individuals like Mickey influenec me either way. You might think I am a bit anti religion / pro life etc. I am sure that a simple check of my posting history would show you that I have stuck up for religious people in the past here.

I just dont think he should be getting involved.

There were thousands and thousands of our citizens campaigning and marching over the legitimate decision of a verdict in another district only a few weeks ago. This is one man having an opinion on the other side of the border, leave him off.

end of the road

AllForIt wrote: »

It's not the voicing his opinion that's the problem which he's perfectly entitled to do...it's the starting a campaign with other GAA sports stars part, as if to create the impression that collectively the entire GAA says no. Nothing to stop another GAA group doing the same for the opposing side I suppose.

the GAA just state that they are remaining nutral, job done.

KERSPLAT!

jimd2 wrote: »

Mrsmum, I am undecided at this stage. I was slightly on the NO side if anything but want to appraise myself of some more information but i wouldnt let individuals like Mickey influenec me either way. You might think I am a bit anti religion / pro life etc. I am sure that a simple check of my posting history would show you that I have stuck up for religious people in the past here.

I just dont think he should be getting involved.

Why do you think he should not get involved?

jimd2

Mrsmum wrote: »

I think the question you have to ask yourself is would you be ok with it if a group of prominent GAA players came out yesterday for Repealing the 8th ?

Just to answer this, yes I would also be uneasy with Mikey Harte getting involved with this on the YES side also.

jimd2

KERSPLAT! wrote: »

Why do you think he should not get involved?

As I said earlier, I dont think he should be getting involved in a referendum down here and using his GAA position and fame to get involved in a referendum that is in another jurisdition. Just the same as Brian Cody getting involved in a soial referendum in the North, I wouldn think that's right either.

Remember this is the same guy that wont gove an interview to the national broadcaster down here.

I am not expecting everyone to agree, it's just my own opinion.

McMurphy

pitifulgod wrote: »

And people are equally entitled to criticise him, this is the second time where he has tried to influence a referendum here. His motivation both times was religious fundamentalism. Think it's good to highlight what sort of individual he is. He is concerned about abortion but good with character references for rapists...

Yes they are, and I don't see anyone trying to silence them, as I said, Harte obviously has strong opinions on the subject, the OP has stated that even if those views were the opposite of the ones he has now, he'd still prefer Harte to keep them to himself.

We live in a world where public figures have rowed in behind various contentious campaigns since forever, that's just the reality of it.

People are free to disregard his views, or get fully behind them.