Michael D Higgins insists he is President of Ireland, refuses to commemorate partition

17-09-2021 10:22PM

Michael D is the head of state for the Republic of Irleand. Fact

Yes. And his title as laid in the constitution of Ireland is President of Ireland.

ireallydontknow · 17-09-2021 10:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117906194#Comment_117906194

He asks, 'How is it political?' and proceeds to cite the Constitution, a political document, as evidence!

crazy 88 · 17-09-2021 10:34PM

Michael D was damned if he did, damned if he didn't. If he did attend sinn féin would be kicking him. Same news, different mob. People should just move on.

Tigerbaby · 17-09-2021 10:49PM

and when, perchance, can we remove the "Republic of Ireland" name from the FIFA listings?

its long time this was done. We are Ireland.

Montage of Feck · 17-09-2021 11:04PM

Fair play to the President, did the right thing in not going in spite of what queslings like Burton may say. The partition of Ireland was a disaster that created conservative and sectarian states, thankfully we in the south have mostly transcended all that, the north of course is a different story.

lawred2 · 17-09-2021 11:06PM

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2021/0917/1247297-michael-d-higgins/

Good man Michael.

Five Eighth · 17-09-2021 11:11PM

As many posters have noted, why would the President of Ireland attend an event that marks the partition of our island? A partition that was enforced by a militant minority supported by the then British government. That partition rejected the wishes of the majority of people living on the island and condemned many Irish men and women living in the north east of this country to live as second class citizens.

Kermit.de.frog · 17-09-2021 11:15PM

Further statement from President Higgins 😂

Shebean · 17-09-2021 11:21PM

Bruton made a tool of himself. I'd say the queen isn't too jazzed about going either.

Good man Michael D. 😎

I see sheep · 17-09-2021 11:38PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117905320#Comment_117905320

An event celebrating the partition of our country? Should we celebrate the troubles as well?

padd b1975 · 17-09-2021 11:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117904747#Comment_117904747

'The enemy of my enemy is my friend' seems to be the basis of most of the support around here.

Still, it's a change of scenery for them from the Zappone thread.

bazza1 · 18-09-2021 12:31AM

TBH I think Michael D should attend. He is our official head of state as the Queen is theirs. I think he could have used the opportunity to make a statement on the historical impact partition has made on the people and history of this island. An opportunity to show up the bigotry of the DUP et al, and the folly of extremists on both sides. To recognise the mistakes and events of the past, the suffering of all our people, especially those in NI, and to offer a better solution and future ahead for ALL of the people on our island. If the DUP want to politcise it, they have won by his non attendance. If he does attend , he diffuses their position and shows unionists that there may be a solution in a united Ireland. For those of us who would like to see a United Ireland, there is absolutely no chance unless the unionist community see a place for them in a workable society. If we continue to live in the past, and not learn from it, we prevent a life in the future where mutual trust is required to make a workable society where people, all our people, can prosper and thrive.

Tigerbaby · 18-09-2021 12:40AM

Aye

lets have the Jews commemorate the Holocaust as a shared experience too?

sure why not ?

Fair play President Higgins

Capt'n Midnight · 18-09-2021 12:48AM

How can the DUP realistically expect him to do something he didn't do for the other tribe ?

In 2016 Mr Higgins pulled out of a dinner at Belfast City Hall to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising because he said there was no longer cross-party support for the event and he did not want to become embroiled in “political controversy”.

Thomhic312 · 18-09-2021 01:02AM

Proud to call him Uachtarán . Proud.

JupiterKid · 18-09-2021 01:43AM

The President did the right thing.

This was a ploy by the DUP for their own political gain and to have another predictable go at the Republic.

It backfired on them. Good.

ittakestwo · 18-09-2021 03:16AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117905856#Comment_117905856

So your country is the UK. The majority of the UK are pleased or not bothered by UI. So the posters claim about Britain not caring about the North is true.

https://www.joe.ie/news/majority-english-people-pleased-not-bothered-prospect-united-ireland-714009

John Doe1 · 18-09-2021 05:14AM

Fair play to him.

As a Donegal protestant, the partition of this country was criminal and deserves no commemoration. It was a state set up by people who considered "Ulstermen" racially superior to the Irish and was not a whole lot different than Apartheid South Africa.

James Craig (1st prime minister of NI)

It would be rather interesting for historians of the future to compare a Catholic State launched in the South with a Protestant State launched in the North and to see which gets on the better and prospers the more. It is most interesting for me at the moment to watch how they are progressing. I am doing my best always to top the bill and to be ahead of the South.[9]

A catholic majority in the coming years and barely any indigenous economy in NI, I think its fair to say the South won the battle...

downcow · 18-09-2021 05:23AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117906802#Comment_117906802

Do facts just not matter to some posters here. The dup had absolutely zilch to do with this event. It was the four all-Ireland churches.

downcow · 18-09-2021 05:26AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117906126#Comment_117906126

Agreed. Nail in head. “They were so confident NI wouldn't survive it wasn't an issue in the Dail Treaty Debates,”

100 years and counting.

downcow · 18-09-2021 05:35AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117906863#Comment_117906863

What is interesting is that a clear majority in ni, including an increasing number of catholics, do not want to unite with your prosperous state - the facts are a bit awkward again for you

downcow · 18-09-2021 05:39AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117906628#Comment_117906628

Where have you been living. There is not a week passes up hear that the shinners don’t do just that as well as the GAA and my local council. Some (on both sides) spend huge energy marking the troubles.

John Doe1 · 18-09-2021 05:48AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117906872#Comment_117906872

Haha doesnt really matter if its 1 year, 2 years, 50 years, its going to happen is the main thing. Add in the whole Scotland leaving thing which will cause the breakup of the UK in any case.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pWWj86HU1o- An interesting discussion on this topic.

I was born in an Ulster Scots area of East Donegal where Catholic, COI and Presbyterian all get on great and it will be great to welcome you East Ulstermen back into the fold.

18-09-2021 05:59AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117906872#Comment_117906872

Clear majority? When did this happen?

When the UI referendum happens and it coming soon, you'll find it what a majority is!

eggy81 · 18-09-2021 06:21AM

Not my ring keeper

francois · 18-09-2021 08:00AM

He's pissing off the correct people, so he must be doing something right.

Darc19 · 18-09-2021 08:06AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117906628#Comment_117906628

sinn fein celebrate their murderous members regularly and attend the funerals of convicted bombers and murderers at every opportunity.

McMurphy · 18-09-2021 08:11AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117906948#Comment_117906948

Do Sinn Fein invite the president to attend these commemorations, and pretend to take a strop when he politely declines?

No? Relevance with the president not celebrating partition so?

McMurphy · 18-09-2021 08:16AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117906675#Comment_117906675

Indeed - like that time the blueshirts became besties with the gay hating, taig hating, evolution denying creationists, inviting them to their conference, and applauding their suggestions to "rejoin the commonwealth".

But sure they dislike the shinners too - so the "enemy's enemy is my friend" is an excellent synopsis pad well done.

https://www.independent.ie/incoming/fine-gael-audience-applauds-as-dups-donaldson-says-ireland-should-join-the-commonwealth-37944279.html

A SUGGESTION from the DUP’s Jeffrey Donaldson that Ireland should join the Commonwealth was met with applause at Fine Gael’s National Conference.

The Northern Ireland politician said Ireland would benefit from part of the group which is primarily made up of former territories of the British Empire.

“I do hope we can come to a day when the Republic will join with many other nationals in the Commonwealth nations recognising that we have overcome a lot of adversity.

“It would be good, the Commonwealth is a place where Ireland’s voice should be heard and I would like to see that happen,” Mr Donaldson said.

18-09-2021 08:26AM

I see this tread has descended into the usual

My 2c ,Higgins was right to decide not to go

I wouldn't be in favour of celebrating the creation of that 6 County gerrymandered theft of land bastard statelet either

Michael D Higgins insists he is President of Ireland, refuses to commemorate partition

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