News from the North

downcow

The North is awash with pretty grim footage and reports of sectarian behaviour at public events this weekend. I just watched RTE news (missed the first 10 mins) and not a mention of the goings on. I am wondering are you guys down South aware of the annual happenings? My reason for raising it is that I fear you may only hear of the disgraceful behaviour of isolated loyalists and not be aware of how widespread and normal republican sectarianism is.

in the last few days we have had:

irish rap band unveil mural of police officers being burnt in a police Land Rover with band member shouting ‘get the brits out’

belfast festival feile last night with widespread chants in support of the IRA

a professional footballer suspended by his club for wearing a t shirt at feile in support of Ira c/w Irish language in the shape of a rifle

etc etc etc

for balance I must mention that a unofficial stall at the apprentice boys parade was selling para regiment flags

I am sure you guys can’t wait to unite with us ?

downcow

….is this also the night the bonfires will be lit by republicans? in which they will try to outdo the loyalists who defame the 11th night with disgraceful displays on bonfires.

L1011

I'm not sure why anyone is surprised at pro-IRA chants a Wolfe Tones gig of all things - some of the pro IRA content might just have been their back catalogue being played. The real issue there is whether they should have been booked for that event at all.

gmisk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058258973/news-from-the-north

Yep aware of it.

Pretty sure the mural story was on the lunchtime news.

It is clear from your post you have an angle though "isolated loyalist"...BS.

I don't think people down here want a United Ireland....I am originally from the north but live in Dublin I don't want it. Northern Ireland is full of backward idiots and we already have our fair share.

maccored

is this a 'hey lookit what themuns is up to' thread?

downcow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119477718#Comment_119477718

more a 'hey are you aware what themums are up to?' thread. That actually would have been a better title

sometimes it seems looking from up here that there is such an effective republican PR machine, that no one has any idea what they are exposing people to day in day out up here

downcow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119477652#Comment_119477652

A fair challenge. I guess everyone has an angle on these issues

Dr Turk Turkelton

And today's news from the North:

Water is wet...

The sky is blue...

And loyalists are still a bunch of interbred, knuckle dragging, neanderthal fcuks.

And today's comedy news- The English think yous are all Paddies anyway😂

Furze99

No, not much of this sort of petty nationalism gets through on official media channels like RTE here. Or if it does, it's buried in 'regional news' which passes most people by. Trying to think - last election we had 'Up The Ra' from SF TD David Cullinane on being elected and this was well reported. For my sins, I've listened in to some of SF Ard Fheiseanna and the leaders speech - complete with expressions of best wishes to suspected bombers and so on and these are noted. There's the odd flare up in the Dail with government reps and SF TDs throwing allegations and insults back & forth. These get reported.

We tend to hear more stuff reported about loyalist violence and threats to the protocol and so on. We hear a lot about DUP intransigence. I suppose the likes of RTE mainly broadcast what they think their customer base wants to see & hear.

As the next election approaches, I'd expect to hear a whole lot more about Sinn Fein and their rise from the 'ballot box in one hand and the armalite in the other' to the ''ballot box in one hand and the armalite hidden behind the back'. A lot of questions about who really pulls the strings in SF and where the centre of gravity of the party lies.

The sort of stuff the OP lists off can be found in the Republic and many forms of social media. But we don't hear about much of it up north.

I'm expecting that those who were lining up to rightly condemn the tricolours being burnt on 11th night bonfires can't wait to similarly get their teeth into this

https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/image-of-the-queen-and-poppies-appear-on-bogside-bonfire-as-politicians-appeal-for-calm-41913128.html

buried

I got bad news for ya downcow, nobody knows or even cares what's going down in the south arse end of Kerry either.

Brucie Bonus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058258973/news-from-the-north

My reason for raising it is that I fear you may only hear of the disgraceful behaviour of isolated loyalists and not be aware of how widespread and normal republican sectarianism is.

Civic duty is it?

lurleen lumpkin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058258973/news-from-the-north

You forgot to mention the UVF flags also for sale.

wotzgoingon

Why did the OP only mention nationalist stuff? 🤔

hamburgham

Sorry to say this but you have no idea how boring I find Northern Ireland. Grew up listening to it, just switched off in every sense. I have absolutely no interest in the place.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119477908#Comment_119477908

Interested enough to enter a thread titled "News from the North" and to post in it though.

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119477917#Comment_119477917

Why not? I came in thinking some interesting news was breaking. They're entitled to comment on their disinterest.

Personally I think we hear enough to know the score above.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119477624#Comment_119477624

Not a back catalogue. Have a listen to these aging republicans leading a roomful of teens - who have no idea what it likes to live among daily murders, bombings, riots and hate - in a Ra chant. Makes you proud.

https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/video-news/watch-pro-ira-chants-during-feile-wolfe-tones-concert-41911883.html

You're quite correct - you cant expect anything from a pig but a grunt, so once it's determined what the Wolfe Tones grunt is, the measure of the feile is if they re-hire them, year after year.

downcow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119477903#Comment_119477903

I think you’ll find I reported all the loyalist nonsense from the weekend and only some of the republican nonsense

buried

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119477969#Comment_119477969

I thought something interesting must have gone down too. Then I seen it was another downcow thread.

downcow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119477890#Comment_119477890

I also didn’t mention a load of stuff republicans got up to.

I think you will find the Uvf flags had 1912 clearly printed on them. That makes them perfectly legal in the same way as references to Michael Colin’s etc. but hey, I am not naive enough to think that a small minority of loyalists will link them to the terrorist organisation of the same name.

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119477876#Comment_119477876

Roundly condemned by SF and the SDLP and has been for years.

banie01

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119477890#Comment_119477890

And the Para flags for sale during the Derry March.

downcow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119477908#Comment_119477908

I appreciate your boredom. If only more were like you then we might sort ourselves out. Too many plastic republicans putting their tuppenceworth in is def not helping our people take responsibility for they mess we all created 👍

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119478054#Comment_119478054

Yes that's fair. I was thinking more of boards specifically though.

gmisk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119477876#Comment_119477876

Colum Eastwood the leader of the SDLP already has

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119478079#Comment_119478079

Most people here condemn sectarianism where ever it comes from. There are just a few people who only appear here to condemn anything they see as Irish commemoration or celebration and call it 'sectarian' when it isn't.

Maybe when the OP comes on here willing to get rid of everything the Irish find offensive and the sectarian stuff we might begin to get somewhere.

Nobody I know has any issue whatsoever with Unionism celebrating it's past or it's links with the British Army as long as it isn't sectarian or taunting.

downcow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119478054#Comment_119478054

So why do they keep funding it?

downcow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119478059#Comment_119478059

I think I did mention them. They were inappropriate and the Apprentice Boys have rightly distanced themselves from them.

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119478167#Comment_119478167

Who funds the bonfire? SF and SDLP?

downcow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119478124#Comment_119478124

Yes I appreciate he has but in one short sentence of condemnation he couldn’t resist whataboutery. An unequivocal condemnation would be good.

don’t hold your breath for sf condemnation. The future is bright

https://twitter.com/parodysinnfein/status/1559165011209101312?s=21

Irelandsnumberone

The main news in the North at the weekend was this

https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2022-08-13/thousands-gather-at-noah-donohoe-protest-in-belfast

Thousands gather at Belfast City Hall for Noah Donohoe protest

downcow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119478181#Comment_119478181

i was referring to the feile

https://twitter.com/impongo22/status/1559115796072304641?s=21

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119478231#Comment_119478231

Ah you are back to wanting to ban songs you don't like...well we know what will have to happen if you want that day to come.

Personally wouldn't be seen dead at Wolfe Tone gig but they have been playing that shite for years...whatever you are into I suppose.

So are you ready to discuss banning all songs and bands people find offensive?

downcow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119478223#Comment_119478223

that is a very tragic situation being manipulated by some politicians in an attempt to turn it into them and us also. You will note even parties like alliance are advising people to leave this to the judicial system

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119478186#Comment_119478186

If you Google "Sinn Fein condemn bogside bonfire" you'll find stuff from last year and other years.

cj maxx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058258973/news-from-the-north

I'm sure DC, unite was a typo. You obviously meant reunite.

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119478302#Comment_119478302

And have actually worked actively on the ground to get rid of a lot of bonfires.

downcow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119478302#Comment_119478302

Oh I am very aware they will condemn the bonfire. The bonfire is not really the issue as everyone knows it is young people mirroring the worst loyalist bonfires. That may not be comfortable but it’s understandable. That’s easy for both sides politicians to condemn. It should also be easy to condemn the sale of Ira merch and singing support to Ira at a council funded event, on the anniversary of the Omaha bomb, but I don’t hear them condemning it.

the problem is an event that leads professional footballers not even from here to think this is an appropriate dress

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/larne-fc-suspends-player-with-immediate-effect-for-wearing-top-that-appears-to-show-pro-ira-slogan-41912650.html

downcow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119478317#Comment_119478317

Call it what you like. You were the guys left. Yeah I’d love to seed yous back into the fold

buried

See, this is what happens downcow when you set up a sectarian statelet with an Apartheid regime to back it up for 70 years, you get nothing but trouble. You'd be better off leaving, now that you've finally twigged that trouble is happening.

downcow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119478373#Comment_119478373

It wasn’t us were first to separate. but that’s off topic.

downcow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119478330#Comment_119478330

Oh I absolutely agree with that. It has not history or attachment in republican circles. Would be like unionists calling for an end to morris dancing

buried

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119478382#Comment_119478382

But you are the one that's most vocal on all the trouble that is happening there now. Sounds like you don't like living there at all. If I was in your predicament I'd be gone. Life is too short. Easy to move nowadays, If I didn't like the place I was living in I'd be gone the hell out of there.

gmisk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119478186#Comment_119478186

How long did it take the DUP leader (who seems obsessed with showing deference to Jamie Bryson bizarrely) to condemn the bonfires which included hanging effigies of three female political leaders? And the Kill All Taigs signs (oh and face painted kids with same message)

Other unionist leaders like Jim Allister surprise surprise used the opportunity to target the alliance...which do you think is worse? Honestly? Yeah an unequivocal condemnation would be good....

https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/politics/jim-allister-says-he-has-no-apologies-for-the-alliance-party-over-his-statement-condemning-effigies-on-loyalist-twelfth-of-july-bonfire-3768287

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119478345#Comment_119478345

SF supported the IRA downcow, did you not know this?

Unionists supported the BA. Unionists politicians to this very day are seen to fraternize with and look for support from Loyalist paramilitaries.

Are you ready to discuss no mention of either?

downcow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119478395#Comment_119478395

I stand to be corrected but I believe Belfast has a much lower crime rate than Dublin. Just a pity about the poison of sectarianism that is a legacy we have to deal with.

downcow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119478405#Comment_119478405

I never suggested no mention. I am questioning events billed and funded as open to all chanting ooh aah up the ra. You clearly don’t have a problem and that’s your prerogative.

gmisk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119478223#Comment_119478223

Exactly and any wonder the nationalist community are sceptical when it comes to the PSNI.

Given the rumoured links in this case....and a lot of others.

But don't worry one of the officers involved in the below have been suspended on full pay for two years that will teach him.

https://m.independent.ie/news/two-northern-ireland-police-officers-investigated-for-sharing-photos-of-man-who-died-by-suicide-41824693.html

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119478428#Comment_119478428

So how many Unionists were turned away from the multiple events at Féile?

How many wanted to go to a Wolfe Tones concert?

buried

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119478408#Comment_119478408

I never hear you screaming about crime rates downcow, just sectarianism, crime is everywhere, especially in actual big global city centres such as Dublin. At least you wouldn't have to worry about sectarianism in Dublin, they got Europe's biggest obelisk dedicated to the Duke of Wellington down in the park, you'd be grand in Dublin man. You could tent up beside the obelisk, you'd be totally safe.