Ireland rejoining the British Commonwealth

Sheeps

The Blue Shirt's had their party conference today and invited their allies from Northern Ireland down to it, where DUP member Jeffrey Donaldson to suggest Ireland join the British Commonwealth.

Do you think Ireland should become a Commonwealth country?

Avatar MIA

Sheeps wrote: »

The Blue Shirt's had their party conference today and invited their allies from Northern Ireland down to it, where DUP member Jeffrey Donaldson to suggest Ireland join the British Commonwealth.

Do you think Ireland should become a Commonwealth country?

What's the British Commonwealth?

Mike Oxlong

Oh just for the hell of it, I'll say Yes!

Abel Ruiz

Not a chance.
They are leaving. Bye bye pals

RustyNut

Avatar MIA wrote: »

What's the British Commonwealth?

Its a sorta club for britain's various victims.

yerwanthere123

Your Face

No and Norn Iron shouldn't join the Republic either.

Avatar MIA

RustyNut wrote: »

Its a sorta club for britain's various victims.

Not all of them were even former colonies.

Besides, we should be very welcome since we did a lot of the soldiering.

Stephen15

Fine Gael are an openly anti Irish party nothing new there

SEPT 23 1989

Nobody over 40 finds this funny

We remember

pleas advice

let's see how brexit plays out before we go making any rash decisions....

Franz Von Peppercorn

Avatar MIA wrote: »

Not all of them were even former colonies.

Besides, we should be very welcome since we did a lot of the soldiering.

Lots of the colonies did a lot of the grunt work soldiering. We’d be welcome but we don’t want to join.

The Rape of Lucretia

If Ireland can overcome its inferiority complex and chip on its shoulder re the British, then, rejoining the Commonwealth is a undoubtedly a good step. Its like an old boys club. Ireland would be reforging links with fellow countries from the age when we were all in the Empire. It doesnt add up to that much, but every little helps. Its a heads Ireland wins, tails it doesnt lose anything. And is a nice early link up to Brejoining the UK if we should ever need that option as well.

McMurphy

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

If Ireland can overcome its inferiority complex and chip on its shoulder re the British, then, rejoining the Commonwealth is a undoubtedly a good step. Its like an old boys club. Ireland would be reforging links with fellow countries from the age when we were all in the Empire. It doesnt add up to that much, but every little helps. Its a heads Ireland wins, tails it doesnt lose anything. And is a nice early link up to Brejoining the UK if we should ever need that option as well.

It's late, and admittedly I was out with friends earlier for a meal where a few (no more than 3) drinks have been consumed.

However I've a clear head when I say that I don't believe that I've ever seen you enter a thread on this site where you don't start posting stuff that is always the minority view on things , and always a little bit more than controversial.

T.R.O.L


You're a WUM, and a crap one at that.

Stephen15

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

If Ireland can overcome its inferiority complex and chip on its shoulder re the British, then, rejoining the Commonwealth is a undoubtedly a good step. Its like an old boys club. Ireland would be reforging links with fellow countries from the age when we were all in the Empire. It doesnt add up to that much, but every little helps. Its a heads Ireland wins, tails it doesnt lose anything. And is a nice early link up to Brejoining the UK if we should ever need that option as well.

Not against British influence in Ireland in particular as I am against any sort of forgein influence. I fail to see any sort to joining the commonwealth. We all talk about the effects of Brexit but less face it Brexit is turning out to be a complete and utter farce as most people in Ireland expected that is unlikely to happen.

Some say with Brexit looming we need to strengthening ties with the UK to prevent a border on the island and the effects on Irish trade with Britain. In the unlikely event of Brexit actually happening it will be the EU who impose a border and put up barriers to trade not Britain so absolutely no need to try to strengthen ties with Britain it's a waste of time and does not act in the national interest as we have enough forgein influence already.

Auguste Comte

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

If Ireland can overcome its inferiority complex and chip on its shoulder re the British, then, rejoining the Commonwealth is a undoubtedly a good step. Its like an old boys club. Ireland would be reforging links with fellow countries from the age when we were all in the Empire. It doesnt add up to that much, but every little helps. Its a heads Ireland wins, tails it doesnt lose anything. And is a nice early link up to Brejoining the UK if we should ever need that option as well.

And we could put a little union jack in the corner of our flag too, wouldn't that be nice.

Plumbthedepths

I always get the impression that most FG'ers are heartbroken they are not British born. Just me I guess.

The high horse brigade

We've had a nice old time being away from the commonwealth. We've had no genocides or famines

questionmark?

Stephen15 wrote: »

Fine Gael are an openly anti Irish party nothing new there

Ah go on I'll bite for ****es and giggles. Why?

Plumbthedepths

questionmark? wrote:

Ah go on I'll bite for ****es and giggles. Why?

Because they're clearly a bunch of w**kers.

BuboBubo

No fcukin way.

The British plundered every single country they invaded, enslaved the natives and carried out unspeakable atrocities. And the blueshirts/westbrits suggesting we go cap in hand back to them asking to join the commonwealth is akin to Stockholm Syndrome.

The poll results at the top of this thread suggests many agree with me here.

questionmark?

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

Because they're clearly a bunch of w**kers.

Well that settles it then!

road_high

Sheeps wrote: »

The Blue Shirt's had their party conference today and invited their allies from Northern Ireland down to it, where DUP member Jeffrey Donaldson to suggest Ireland join the British Commonwealth.

Do you think Ireland should become a Commonwealth country?

I don’t think they're “allies” they’ve been at loggerheads with the Taoiseach pretty much since he cane into office. FG are a bizarre mix of nationalism, a traditional softness towards the UK, the party of southern prodestants, free market economics, social liberalism also mixed with conservatism. DUP are much more resulote on their stances

FrancieBrady

The wet dreams of Fine Gael need to dry up. This Donaldson guy and his party cannot bring themselves to recognise our celebration/commemoration of independence.

road_high

If rejoining the Commonwealth was a sop to northern unionists as we head towards a United ireland then its of no real consequence to me- if there ever is a United ireland there’ll have to be that space for people of British allegiance. I don’t think it’s something people in the south can quite grasp and not sure we’re ready to share that space at all as were so used to seeing things simply in Irish terms

road_high

FrancieBrady wrote: »

The wet dreams of Fine Gael need to dry up. This Donaldson guy and his party cannot bring themselves to recognise our celebration/commemoration of independence.

I doubt it’s their wet dreams they’re just trying to mend a few bridges after this whole divisive Brexit episode. Nothing wrong with that, northern unionists are not going to disappear so there’s little point in ignoring them.
Varadkar is the most nationalistic Taoiseach I’ve experienced, definitely more hardline with the UK than any I can remember.

FrancieBrady

road_high wrote: »

If rejoining the Commonwealth was a sob to northern unionists as we head towards a United ireland then its of no real consequence to me- if there ever is a United ireland there’ll have to be that space for people of British allegiance. I don’t think it’s something people in the south can quite grasp and not sure we’re ready to share that space at all as were so used to seeing things simply in Irish terms

There is a negotiated future and then there is pointless appeasement. What integrity would we have if we bend too far? I understand the flag and anthem stuff (who cares if they change) but joining an organisation with a monarch as the head is a step too far. Ireland and a new united Ireland will be a republic because that is what the majority will want. Just as the DUP claim they are Brexitting because the majority want to.

prinzeugen

BuboBubo wrote: »

No fcukin way.

The British plundered every single country they invaded, enslaved the natives and carried out unspeakable atrocities. And the blueshirts/westbrits suggesting we go cap in hand back to them is akin to Stockholm Syndrome.

The poll results at the top of this thread suggests many agree with me here.

Yet I bet you have no problem with the French, who did more murdering and plundering than the British.

At least Britain gave its territories their own governments. France did not. Thats why you have the back of a €20 or €50 note cluttered with French acquisitions worldwide.

Frances longest land border is with... Brazil. Google it.

Anyone that slags the British over their past but not the French, Dutch, Spanish Japanese etc are clueless hypocrites.

road_high

FrancieBrady wrote: »

There is a negotiated future and then there is pointless appeasement. What integrity would we have if we bend too far? I understand the flag and anthem stuff (who cares if they change) but joining an organisation with a monarch as the head is a step too far. Ireland and a new united Ireland will be a republic because that is what the majority will want. Just as the DUP claim they are Brexitting because the majority want to.

The commonwealth is purely a symbolic talk shop. If we rejoined it would make zero difference to any of our lives. If there was to be a United ireland in the future then part of the agreement would have to include commonwealth membership I’d think

road_high

prinzeugen wrote: »

Yet I bet you have no problem with the French, who did more murdering and plundering than the British.

At least Britain gave its territories their own governments. France did not. Thats why you have the back of a €20 or €50 note cluttered with French acquisitions worldwide.

Frances longest land border is with... Brazil. Google it.

Anyone that slags the British over their past but not the French, Dutch, Spanish Japanese etc are clueless hypocrites.

The French were pretty brutal in places like Vietnam from what I’ve read.

Yamanoto

For those who are serious about realising a united Ireland, there would have to be moves to make unionists feel comfortable with the prospect of having their security blanket pulled from beneath them.

The Commonwealth seems both a political and economic anachronism & I'd be doubtful as to what if any tangible benefits it delivers. But in a way, it's the optics that matter and if rejoining was a condition of agreeing a new Ireland, I don't think it'd be the stumbling block some might make it out to be.

FrancieBrady

road_high wrote: »

The commonwealth is purely a symbolic talk shop. If we rejoined it would make zero difference to any of our lives. If there was to be a United ireland in the future then part of the agreement would have to include commonwealth membership I’d think

If a majority north and south vote for a UI then it is a done deal.
Appeasing somebody for the sake of it would be a huge mistake. A republic cannot be aligned and subordinate to a monarchy, that is ridiculous. (and I know so called republics are)
I have no problem accommodating unionist/British identities, but not if it makes me doffing my hat to a monarchy

prinzeugen

road_high wrote: »

The French were pretty brutal in places like Vietnam from what I’ve read.

If you compare ex British territories with those that were or still are ruled by France. The ex British ones are advanced and normally civilised.

The French ones are civil war torn ****-holes most cases.

Plumbthedepths

prinzeugen wrote:

If you compare ex British territories with those that were or still are ruled by France. The ex British ones are advanced and normally civilised.

India and Pakistan enough said.

FrancieBrady

prinzeugen wrote: »

If you compare ex British territories with those that were or still are ruled by France. The ex British ones are advanced and normally civilised.

The French ones are civil war torn ****-holes most cases.

Oh great, we are playing the great Coloniisation Competition again. :rolleyes:

ArchXStanton

FG delegates actually applauded this... I wonder how preppy boy Varadkar and Co. will talk their way out of this one..

feargale

prinzeugen wrote: »

Yet I bet you have no problem with the French, who did more murdering and plundering than the British.

At least Britain gave its territories their own governments. France did not. Thats why you have the back of a €20 or €50 note cluttered with French acquisitions worldwide.

Frances longest land border is with... Brazil. Google it.

Anyone that slags the British over their past but not the French, Dutch, Spanish Japanese etc are clueless hypocrites.

Furthermore, to this day the French are treating their African ex-colonies in appalling fashion, having first refusal on raw materials and naming their own price for them. Haiti fought for and won its independence in 1804, and then the French beggared it, forcing it to pay "reparations" until 1947.

Plumbthedepths

ArchXStanton wrote:

FG delegates actually applauded this... I wonder how preppy boy Varadkar and Co. will talk their way out of this one..

Put a fish in front of a Seal and you will get the same response.

BuboBubo

prinzeugen wrote: »

Yet I bet you have no problem with the French, who did more murdering and plundering than the British.

At least Britain gave its territories their own governments. France did not. Thats why you have the back of a €20 or €50 note cluttered with French acquisitions worldwide.

Frances longest land border is with... Brazil. Google it.

Anyone that slags the British over their past but not the French, Dutch, Spanish Japanese etc are clueless hypocrites.

So we should join the commonwealth because the French were worse? Ok.

steves2

Stunned that a DUP knuckledragger came out with something so ridiculous and a roomful or Fine Gaelers applauded that..really I am lost for words. I am in the live-and-let-live camp when it comes to Irish and British relations, I have no interest in a united Ireland and think should the time come that they want to go for it then we could all see if it will be good for us all. But defo not now, they are all far too interested in each others religion and flegs etc.
That a room of Irish people would applaud the DUP, given the rubbish and utter lies they've been peddling the last couple years, is embarrassing.

Sheeps

Fine Gael are cosying up to the DUP now so that in the event there is a united Ireland, they'll win unionist votes. They know the 6 counties would be predominantly Sinn Fein, and that would change the status quo so long as Fine Gael and Fianna Fail (unless you count this disaster alliance with the SDLP) don't have a real presence up there.

Plumbthedepths

steves2 wrote:

Stunned that a DUP knuckledragger came out with something so ridiculous and a roomful or Fine Gaelers applauded that..really I am lost for words. I am in the live-and-let-live camp when it comes to Irish and British relations, I have no interest in a united Ireland and think should the time come that they want to go for it then we could all see if it will be good for us all. But defo not now, they are all far too interested in each others religion and flegs etc. That a room of Irish people would applaud the DUP, given the rubbish and utter lies they've been peddling the last couple years, is embarrassing.

It's quite odd but FG have a special hatred to the Irish electorate and yet the Irish electorate have a Stockholm syndrome to these clowns.

Sheeps

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

It's quite odd but FG have a special hatred to the Irish electorate and yet the Irish electorate have a Stockholm syndrome to these clowns.

If you look at the demographics, Sinn Fein has a clear majority of the under 35's, and Fianna Fail the over 60s. I think the electorate is completely split three ways.

prinzeugen

BuboBubo wrote: »

So we should join the commonwealth because the French were worse? Ok.

Ireland does not have to join the commonwealth. I am just pointing out how hypocritical it is to say no "because of British brutality" etc when you have no issue with the murderous French.

If you were that bothered about the past them you should demand Ireland leaves the EU as its a club of countries (in most cases) with equally murderous pasts. (Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Holland, Austria, Hungary, France, Belgium all have murderous colonial pasts).

Itssoeasy

Under no circumstances should Ireland rejoin the commonwealth. The fact FG members applauded this is taking the piss.

RustyNut

I wonder how a dup crowd would react to leo telling them they should consider joining the 26 counties.

Duckworth_Luas

We're already members of la Francophonie, that's enough.

Joining the Commonwealth would only be useful if we were allowed to bash the Fuzzy-Wuzzies, or even just the natives in Matabeleland, again.

Avatar MIA

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

It's quite odd but FG have a special hatred to the Irish electorate and yet the Irish electorate have a Stockholm syndrome to these clowns.

What are you talking about, do you really... Ah, hang on, this is AH... Carry on :rolleyes:

Avatar MIA

From Wiki...

"The current Commonwealth of Nations was formally constituted by the London Declaration in 1949, which modernised the community, and established the member states as "free and equal".

The human symbol of this free association is the Head of the Commonwealth, currently Queen Elizabeth II, and the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting appointed Charles, Prince of Wales to be her designated successor, although the position is not technically hereditary. The Queen is the head of state of 16 member states, known as the Commonwealth realms, while 32 other members are republics and five others have different monarchs"

As someone who has no truck with monarchy, I'd have no problem with Ireland being a member of the commonwealth if a demand by unionists.

Duckworth_Luas

Avatar MIA wrote: »

From Wiki...
The human symbol of this free association is the Head of the Commonwealth, currently Queen Elizabeth II

How can a 6ft lizard be the human symbol of anything?

Anteayer

I'm just in from a late night out but even though my slightly drink induced haze : ABSOLUTELY NOT.
Also FG must be intent on destroying their support as this kind of stuff will not fly with most of the electorate. We've been striking out our own path, and own identity since 1949 when we left the Commonwealth.

If the UK or the Unionists want to strike up a friendly relationship, let's just evolve the British–Irish Council into something more like the Nordic Council. That gives both sides equal status and there's no imperial baggage. I've no issue with a proper relationship with the 21st century UK, but I think we could all do without the hundreds of years of notions of supremacy that tends to go with their historical identity.

I'm all for having an excellent relationship with our nearest neighbour, but I think that's quite possible without bowing and scraping to a monarch of joining a functionless, symbolic club for former colonies who have some kind of Stockholm syndrome.

If FG suggest joining the Commonwealth, I will be suggesting voting for anyone but FG.