President Connolly

And only those who normally use 'Derry' are being intentionally insulting. Never those like Campbell who exclusively use Londonderry.

Did you just say those killings took place in Derry? You didn't mention Londonderry at all.

Disgraceful carry on Campbell would be disgusted.

Neither do I, nor do so own or brandish a Union Jack. You”d probably be horrified on behalf of poor old Campbell on that attrosity also. Such a bowl of shite this argument has become.

i think you are just “overly sensitive” on this issue. Given your background it is unsurprising. Only seeing one side as the “right” one. To me as a broader observer it is more nuanced. In fact to me the love of theatrical symbolism and hyper awareness of place names etc. Binds the two traditions in NI/Ulster together.

I always think the two traditions have more in common with each other than the larger attachment they wish to “belong” to; be it the UK or the ROi.

Because there is a heightened sense of self and need to show identity in NI/Ulster. They have to either try and have the symbolism of being either “more Irish” than the ROI or “more British” than the UK.

It all ends up being pedantic symbolism: in sporting terms to me. The mindset on both far sides is like the player “throwing shapes” but is ultimately ineffective in practical terms.

In other words performative politics, is the preferred politics in NI. On the two main divides. It is easy for me to see because I stand back from it, and observe. Comical a lot of it is. No sincerity to it.

But you are correct on one thing which we agree on, Connolly handled it well.

However, in my view she needs to be hyper aware of the importance of performative politics in a place like NI. The likes of PBP in the ROI have it off to an art form

If I was her I would study them. Plus study SF NI as opposed to SF ROI (different approaches with policy and approach with the electorate).

And of course study the DUP etc. Make note of all the sound bites and what exercises the NI electorate.

Then she might sprinkle in a bit of symbolism the next time she travels “up there”. But in a manner that understands, rather than give an opening to show her lack of awareness of the NI bubble.

Dear me.

The upshot of all your patronising is - it's Connolly needs to change.
Did it ever occur to you that you are a part of a self deprecating Irish cohort or tradition who cannot stand up for themselves because they are paralysed by inferiority? Which was a key component of what colonisation tried to instil and achieve. It clearly has generational effects.

Here is our President with Lord William Hay of the DUP. They apparently got on very well.

Your posts on this topic are beyond embarrassing.

That's an interesting suggestion, but not necessarily true.

In the past it was often said that the unionists were loyal to the half-crown rather than to the crown - given the way Britain has been tearing itself apart internally over the last decade or more, some of the half-crown loyalty could very easily shift towards the Euro. Those who find the tricolour distasteful of course won't make that shift, but plenty will be willing to put a peg on their noses if their bread is sufficiently buttered.

Unionists?? ehh extremely doubtful

There are two types of Unionist, the moderate Unionist who, while they wish to stay in the UK for now, has no issues with their Irishness, Passports etc and who accepts a majority will decide. Then you have the Campbell, Allister Bryson belligerent brand of Unionism. The moderate is far more common.

= Hostile and aggressive.

Belligerent Unionists are hostile and aggressive to anything Irish - anything they deem as interference from the Irish government (even though the GFA accepts and provides for the role of the Irish government) hostile to equality, and Irish culture.

Defending?

Yeh, defending what they had for most of the last century, a bigoted sectarian statelet with a veto.

Still aggressively trying to invoke that veto by use of mechanisms not designed for it (call ins and Petitions of Concern) and reminding all and sundry whose country they are in.

It’s not self depreciating when if like me you view that subset on this island as “other” . A side who once viewed the administration in the ROI in recent history as “legitimate targets” and that is just the Republican side!

The supposed side who like all the theatre and bells and whistles of Irishness but yet murder their own. The special brand NI republicanism doesn’t represent me (nor people like me) never has never will. That is the truth of it. Yet they now want to be part of the Republic as if the previous years were just.a misunderstanding. Or worse necessary.

Different mindsets - they are hyper sensitive over identity. I am very relaxed in mine. You get a few working class areas in Dublin etc with identity insecurities. But they latch on to republicanism to mask their own inadequacies in life. Making them feel important. That is as near as it gets outside NI. Identity wise. The reasons are slightly different.

NI Republicanism is a very distinct flavour to even other Republicanism. There is a real hardened edge to it. And it ironically is also an acquired taste like the Protestant drink - Guinness.

It is why (dare I say) NI is so “foreign” to someone like Connolly.the mindsets (on all sides) are different shaped by years of conflict. What is viewed as “normal” behaviour in NI is either a mixture of odd/laughable/even sinister in the majority of the ROI.