downcow wrote: » They do burn union flags in Belfast on st Patrick’s day, but that was not the point I was making. I was wondering how many people are out in the pubs thinking I must party because Christianity came to Ireland. I am showing you that nobody is out on the 12th thinking let’s celebrate a battle 300 years ago.
Seth Brundle wrote: » The protocol is an international agtrement and although it has been ratified by the UK side, it has not yet been ratified by the EU. They are not discussing arrangements which will go against the treaty. They may however make adjustments which abide by the terms of the agreement. As for my point which you conveniently ignored but continue to make incorrect claims about: the Irish sea border is a creation of the government of the UK. Nobody else! I also make the valid claim that the DUP and other unionist parties were happy in the past to have customs checks in the Irish sea. Why is it completely unacceptable now?
briany wrote: » If a border between NI and the UK undermines the GFA, how would a border between RoI and NI undermine it any less?
FrancieBrady wrote: » They are sitting down discussing changes that can be made within the Protocol...the mechanisms that were always there. The Protocol nor the border will be changing.
nullzero wrote: » It's a celebration of the patron saint of Ireland, who was of course Welsh and was instrumental in introducing Christianity to this island. We have parades and drink too much and act the eejit on St Patrick's day. We don't erect huge bonfires and burn effigies of Unionist politicians or burn Union jack flags etc...
downcow wrote: » I think there are a lot on here who think it is done and dusted and the current arrangements around an Irish Sea border will not change. Never say never!
downcow wrote: » Do you think St paddy’s day is a celebration of Christianity arriving in Ireland?
Seth Brundle wrote: » Meaning?
downcow wrote: » To quote my Donegal father. ‘It’s a long road, that has no turning’
nullzero wrote: » Of course the unionists would be annoyed by that as the 12th is a celebration of their victory over Catholicism. The 12th should in their eyes only be seen as a celebration of their superiority over all Irish and or Catholic people, not some namby pamby means of creating an inclusive progressive society in a United Ireland. The 12th as a national holiday in a United Ireland is akin to Nazi Germany celebrating the Passover.
briany wrote: » I wouldn't object at all to the 12th of July being a nationwide bank holiday in the event of a UI. Would mean an extra bank holiday, or else one being moved from elsewhere in the year. Either would be fine, but I'd prefer the former. The only thing is that I could see Orangemen getting annoyed as the day is slowly co-opted into being essentially St. Patrick's day 2, but in the height of summer, with tourists walking around Dublin wearing big plush orange Leprechaun hats.
Seth Brundle wrote: » The UK government were the ones that proposed, agreed it with the EU and then ratified the NIP which solidified the border in the Irish sea. The UK government wanted to be able to complete a trade deal with the EU. They also wanted to be able to complete trade deals with the USA. The UK government therefore knew that they could not impose a hard border on the island of Ireland as there woukd be no trade deals if that was the case. They therefore chose to place a border in the Irish sea. It has nothing to do with Leo, thenurish government or the EU. The UK decided on where to put this border. The EU then accepted that choice. If unionists and loyalists want to blame the EU and Ireland and Leo and whoever else for it then fine but they do so in ignorance. The border is completely down to PM Johnson and his desire to ensure that Brexit got done. Has the unionists and loyalists wanted to ensure that there would continue to be no border in the Irish sea then they should have pulled the DUP up on what they did to PM May. But they didn't so we are here now. As for the current rejection of the border in the Irish sea, maybe downcow, you as a unionist can tell us why a border is unacceptable there now when unionists had been happy with one there in the past?
trixi001 wrote: » Naomi Long is not a unionist, any more so than SDLP or SF are..they support the GFA, and therefore the status quo that is NI is in the UK until such times as the people of NI decide otherwise... Naomi and the AP are the party for all of NI, they want Northern Ireland to prosper, regardless of if the authority comes from London or Dublin Naomi Long is an excellent politician, and both Nationalists and Unionists find it hard to accept that there are people here who aren't either..they are neutral.. and don't identify as either - she may be a protestant, but isn't a unionist or loyalist I have voted for the AP most of my life, and i am a Nationalist, and in the event of a border poll will vote for a UI, but until that day comes or I will continue to vote for non-aligned parties, as i don't believe the division does any good, as both sides are too busy arguing over petty things instead of the important things that matter, like Education, the HSC, unemployment etc if the non-aligned parties were the major parties in Stormont, more might be done to make NI an economic success and a fair and peaceful society. This is an excellent article explaining the position of the Alliance Partyhttps://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/alliance-party-leader-naomi-long-16400764
downcow wrote: » My point is that there is no clean definition. I actually don’t see any significant difference. Same as nationalist and republican.
downcow wrote: » So you think supporting a border through the middle of the UK supports the gfa?
Five Eighth wrote: » My post, if you reread it, clearly recognises that Naomi Long is of a unionist persuasion. My point is that neither of the main Unionists parties (Official/Ulster Unionist or DUP) has produced a leader of her calibre. In fact, Naomi's party (Alliance) has previously been accused in NI by unionists has being part of the 'Pan Nationalist Front'.
Atlantic Dawn wrote: » Here they are on the approach and exit of Newry on each side of the road...https://www.google.com/maps/@54.1427843,-6.3427581,3a,75y,203.37h,91.28t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sGuBUuoRwjv5KUr_wfkzZSA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
jimmycrackcorm wrote: » Donegal has the only annual Orange Order 12th of July parade in the ROI. You'd never find anyone objecting to it or the marching route. In a UI scenario, the twelfth would also become a national holiday for the entire Island and we'd all be spending the day in the pub, just like Paddys.
downcow wrote: » There are number plate recognition cameras. Sorry to bring you out of your innocent world thinking no border exists
downcow wrote: » Oh my goodness, you say bigotry! You needed that off your chest. My father was from Donegal. He loved his roots and instilled a love for Donegal in all his family. I’ve enjoyed holidays in Donegal, Shankill (Dublin). I’ve walked in Kerry, Connemara, Wicklow and Donegal. Rosnowlagh is beautiful. Unionists gripe with Ireland (well mine anyway) was around a few things. You harboured terrorists who were killing my people (then that was sorted when you started extraditing - thank you) You laid a very aggressive claim over my country (then that was sorted and you removed it - thank you) You started grooming our footballers and tried to get them to switch to you (that’s ok now as none seem to want to go - thanks for not being an attractive option) You played fast and lose with our identity, peace and future by using the threat of violence and supporting the Eu intransigence to get the temporary border in Irish see - I trust I will thank you one day for rising up on that So I don’t hate you or your country and I certainly don’t hate Catholics. We have the most advanced equality legislation re religion in the world. I hate what your country has done to us - eg the few examples above but I don’t hate you or your country. I hate the actions not the people. We were building an inclusive society until you and boris and the Eu screwed us over. But we faced a murderous sectarian campaign for 30 years by what many claim was most effective terrorist organisation in the western world. It done nothing but unite and strengthen us. Sometimes the more that are against you the stronger you get. So I have no (long term) fear for the people of ni Catholic, Protestant, nationalist, unionist. We will come through this
Frank Bullitt wrote: » Give me a break, the fake outrage in this post gave me a smile. There are no cameras on that road for the purpose of a boarder, maybe speed cameras, but that is your lot. We are seeing a group already kick up a big fuss with the use of violence over a boarder, so just imagine that but the roles reversed. You might well like that though so you wouldn't have to do this revisionist history and blame republicans. Again though, what "thousand hoops" would you have to jump through. Please, tell us.
Angler1 wrote: » UK and EU need to grow up. No piece of land is going to drift away. We will be neighbours for as long as humans exist. Bad neighbours result in a lose lose situation. Whenever a poll takes place Ireland will reunite. I hope we have the sense to accommodate Unionist sensitivities when that happens. Take a century long view
downcow wrote: » Well here we go. Anyone who doubts who is being unreasonable just read that post again.This guy won’t even tolerate a few cameras on the road (they are already there) but he wants me to jump through a thousand hoops to move within my own nation. I am glad you posted that. It will let those who think it’s the unionist who are intransigent to see the truth
Del.Monte wrote: » The more things change, the more they stay the same - from my 1972 press cuttings archive.
