What’s your most controversial opinion? **Read OP** **Mod Note in Post #3372**

I have friends in Belfast who say its a new sport so it doesn't have a sectarian history. So that's one reason why it attracts people in Belfast.

I went to Whitley Bay Warriors a few times and it's a good evening out. I don't begrudge the fans who actually understand and follow it.

Fair point but there has been a lot more Jewish connection historically to Ireland than the Arabs. It is only in very recent history that it has become trendy for Irish people to do a 180 degree on it.

The Jewish history in Ireland goes back 100's of years.

I just feel that logically looking at history future back than the last 50 years Irish people should have more connection with Israel than Palestinian's. Personally I would not wrap a foreign flag around me to show support of another nation. I find it odd. But I think Irish people who wrap the Palestinian flag around them, should at least learn Irish/Jewish history.

There was a bit in the above video which states that Lionel de Rothschild (A Jew) donated handsomely for Relief in an Gorta Mór.

How many Irish people are aware of that today?

https://historyireland.com/lionel-de-rothschild-and-the-great-irish-famine/

That is before we get into the Jews in Ireland role in Irish independence and politics etc.

That's a cop out in my opinion as in my view a lot of Irish Palestinian flag waving people at marches etc have a very myopic one sided view of the conflict. Only looking at it through the prism of very recent history. With little knowledge of the full picture.

My main point is if anything the Irish people should have more affinity with The Jews and/or Israel than the Arabs. Jewish connection to Ireland = small thriving community (important individuals in Irish history/society despite the small numbers) going back 100's of years.

Arab Irish connection = only started around the 1960's - first Mosque in Ireland only in 1976 for example - first and only Muslim TD 1992.

I think one of the main issues the conflation of the NI issue with Palestinian issue among some Irish people, particularly emanating Irish Republican's. But it has now gone main stream as "the trendy" thing to do.

If a days comes where a LOI club draw Celtic in Europe it'll be interesting and also embarrassing at the same time as most of the people at it will more than likely be supporting Celtic! It was lucky when Dundalk played Arsenal it was during Covid and there were no fans there!

I've no issue with people supporting more than one team but i don't think there's any country where fans would support a team from another country when playing one from their own.

It's odd because Celtic rarely have that many Irish players. They have two regulars at the moment but in general they don't.

This is my point myopic. It does not look at the situation as a whole in a full historical context. Israel forced settlers to withdraw from the Gaza strip 2005 , it only led to Hamas taking control for example. Unlike the Britain/Ireland situation we have a two peoples who can claim to be "oppressed".

What did Hamas think the reaction of the Israeli's reaction would be to their violent attacks, kidnapping and murders? Raining rockets on Israel. Opening fire with machine guns on young people at a crowded festival etc. I believe that Hamas wanted this reaction. And they got it.

From an historical point of view I would again emphasise that I believe that Ireland has far more in common with the Jews be they in Israel, or not.

As Ireland has had close cultural and societal ties with the Jews for 100's of years. Added to the historical oppression.

Whereas Muslims have only arrived in Ireland in around the 1960's. It is a recently manufactured support in spite of the Hamas attacks, which have sparked the current situation.

There is obviously wrong on both sides, but the support for Palestine/Hamas by Irish people as I see it is a "look at me" pretence, and/or based on simplistic/naive/myopic view of history. And/or a false equivocation with NI/Britain / Palestine/Israel.

"I've no issue with people supporting more than one team but i don't think there's any country where fans would support a team from another country when playing one from their own."

With all due respect, that's nonsense.

You can be sure Celtic getting hammered 7-1 was the highlight of many's the Rangers fans week, despite both clubs being Scottish. And I'm sure Celtic fans were cheered up when Rangers got battered the next night by Ajax.

You can definitely be guaranteed Liverpool fans take glee in seeing United, City or Everton getting beaten in Europe (been a while for Everton though).

Fans of most soccer clubs would gladly see a team from their country beaten by a team from another country.

They haven't been doing a great job at the old ethnic cleansing have they!! Population continues to increase....

Not really.

Tomato Soup should be banned.

Its such a cop out for lazy chefs.

Supposedly used a lot for the base of tikka masala, back in the day.

id like this job!

There will be a lot of people talking about how great Liam Payne was in the next few days and how sad it is that he is dead but he seemed like a total twat and was a very unlikable character.