British Forget to Attend Famine Memorial

OhNoYouDidn't · 17-05-2010 02:48PM #1

From the Indo

Politicians bemused by UK diplomats' no-show

AT BEST it was an insensitive diplomatic gaffe.

The tutting was growing apace at the National Famine Commemoration ceremony yesterday after there was no appearance by any representative of the British government.

About 1,000 attended the impressive ceremony at the Murrisk Millennium Peace Park at the foot of Croagh Patrick.

Fourteen other nations and even the European Parliament's man made the effort to gather at the foot of the mountain for the ceremony in memory of the 1.6 million or so who either starved to death under British rule or fled the country in a desperate effort to keep body and soul together.

Article.

What do you reckon? A snub or an embarrasing gaffe?

[MOD]Don't cut and paste whole articles - it's lazy, impolite, and a breach of copyright.[/MOD]

anymore · 17-05-2010 02:55PM

OhNoYouDidn't wrote: »

From the Indo

Politicians bemused by UK diplomats' no-show

By Brian McDonald
Monday May 17 2010

AT BEST it was an insensitive diplomatic gaffe.

The tutting was growing apace at the National Famine Commemoration ceremony yesterday after there was no appearance by any representative of the British government.

About 1,000 attended the impressive ceremony at the Murrisk Millennium Peace Park at the foot of Croagh Patrick.

Fourteen other nations and even the European Parliament's man made the effort to gather at the foot of the mountain for the ceremony in memory of the 1.6 million or so who either starved to death under British rule or fled the country in a desperate effort to keep body and soul together.

What do you reckon? A snub or an embarrasing gaffe?

Well if Cowen and Madam President couldnt be bothered, why should the British Gov be present ?
I think we have outgrown this sort of 'Outrage' anyway.

OhNoYouDidn't · 17-05-2010 02:57PM

anymore wrote: »

Well if Cowen and Madam President couldnt be bothered, why should the British Gov be present ?
I think we have outgrown this sort of 'Outrage' anyway.

The Taoiseach and President were represented, as were a host of countries and the EU.

It was bad form for them not to send anyone. The question is why did they not send anyone?

Winty · 17-05-2010 02:59PM

Lets wait until we get their side of the story, maybe the Ash played a part.
Also is the journalists use of "brits" just a bit rude

ruthies · 17-05-2010 03:02PM

I wish people would stop calling it famine.There was no famine!!!!!!
It was potato blight.
Were by the British were exporting the other food supplies and Irish only allowed to eat Potatoes.

And who cares if they turned up or not.

Cavehill Red · 17-05-2010 03:04PM

The Irish genocide of the 1840s is the only one on Earth denied by those targetted by it.

OhNoYouDidn't · 17-05-2010 03:06PM

ruthies wrote: »

I wish people would stop calling it famine.There was no famine!!!!!!
It was potato blight.
Were by the British were exporting the other food supplies and Irish only allowed to eat Potatoes.

And who cares if they turned up or not.

So it was a deliberate genocide?

I actually care, and its worthy of debte. If it was a snub or they forgot, its not good enough.

Winty · 17-05-2010 03:07PM

The Irish are by no means diplomatic angels

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3855939,00.html

Remember councilmen in Monaghan voted to rip out page of town's visitor's book signed by Israel's Ambassador Zion Evrony

OhNoYouDidn't · 17-05-2010 03:07PM

Winty wrote: »

Lets wait until we get their side of the story, maybe the Ash played a part.
Also is the journalists use of "brits" just a bit rude

If the Chinese and Nigerian nations could be represented, ash is not a factor.

kravmaga · 17-05-2010 03:07PM

Maybe the British government representatives were not made aware of the ceremony.

Anyway whats the big deal here, who cares if they did not attend.

We have bigger worries in this country to worry about than this....ffs

OhNoYouDidn't · 17-05-2010 03:08PM

blueeyedboy wrote: »

Maybe the British government representatives were not made aware of the ceremony.

Anyway whats the big deal here, who cares if they did not attend.

We have bigger worries in this country to worry about than this....ffs

They were invited.

OhNoYouDidn't · 17-05-2010 03:09PM

Winty wrote: »

The Irish are by no means diplomatic angels

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3855939,00.html

Remember councilmen in Monaghan voted to rip out page of town's visitor's book signed by Israel's Ambassador Zion Evrony

That was a democraitic decision, regardless of whether you approved or not.

Entirely different to yesterday's no-show.

Winty · 17-05-2010 03:10PM

OhNoYouDidn't wrote: »

If the Chinese and Nigerian nations could be represented, ash is not a factor.

They are based in Dublin, maybe the British were in England trying to get over?
I am sure the Chinese did not fly all the way to Mayo for one day

kravmaga · 17-05-2010 03:12PM

OhNoYouDidn't wrote: »

They were invited.

How do you know they were.

May I ask why this is an issue for you ?

Even if they were invited maybe they just could not be bothered......

anymore · 17-05-2010 03:15PM

OhNoYouDidn't wrote: »

They were invited.

Would the Chinese Gove attend a ceremonu commerating the invasion and subjugation of Tibet ?
As for the Nigerian Gov, we are accepting Nigerian refugees here so why are we inviting the Nigerian Gov Reps ?

gandalf · 17-05-2010 03:15PM

Who cares, if they were invited and didn't reply stating they weren't able to attend then its rude to the organisers of the event.

Then again I am sure they have their hands full with the ash situation and the fact a new government has just been sworn in as well.

Bloody hell when are we as a country going to stop living in the past and look forward and not worry about what our next door neighbour is and isn't doing :rolleyes:

OhNoYouDidn't · 17-05-2010 03:16PM

blueeyedboy wrote: »

How do you know they were.

May I ask why this is an issue for you ?

Even if they were invited maybe they just could not be bothered......

Any chance you could have the manners to read the article?

They were invited.

Its an issue to me because I have an interest in politics and international affairs, a crazy thought on a politics forum I know.

If they 'could not be bothered' that is a major diplomatic snub and will be a huge story.

ruthies · 17-05-2010 03:16PM

OhNoYouDidn't wrote: »

So it was a deliberate genocide?

I actually care, and its worthy of debte. If it was a snub or they forgot, its not good enough.

If you read up on it,It was very deliberate.

HOWEVER, MANY PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW THAT, AT THE SAME TIME, IRISH FARMS WERE PRODUCING PLENTY OF OTHER FOODS INCLUDING CORN, WHEAT, BARLEY, AND BEEF. THIS FOOD WAS CARTED AWAY BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT PAST THE STARVING MILLIONS OF MEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND THEN TAKEN TO WEALTHY ENGLAND.
SOME PROTESTANT CHURCH MISSIONS IN ENGLAND SOUGHT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION BY TRYING TO "PROSELYTIZE" THE STARVING CATHOLICS.

THE STARVING VICTIMS WERE OFFERED FOOD IN RETURN FOR RENOUNCING THEIR CATHOLIC FAITH AND CONVERTING. DURING THE FAMINE THERE WERE MORE THAN 125 MISSIONS IN IRELAND FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONVERTING CATHOLICS

http://www.noraid.com/Holocaust.htm

pwd · 17-05-2010 03:17PM

The British government allowed over a million people to die horribly during the famine. They did not provide sufficient aid. They allowed food to still be exported from Ireland. They restricted Irish immigration to Canada.
They were banned from Croke Park until very recently because their army killed 14 civilians there...Perhaps they felt it would be inappropriate to send someone to a memorial for over a million deaths they were largely responsible for.

OhNoYouDidn't · 17-05-2010 03:17PM

deadtiger wrote: »

Bloody hell when are we as a country going to stop living in the past and look forward and not worry about what our next door neighbour is and isn't doing :rolleyes:

A bit naive when it comes to the subject in hand though, isn't it.

Anglo Irish reconciliation works both ways, not just us doffing our caps.

Winty · 17-05-2010 03:20PM

ruthies wrote: »

If you read up on it,It was very deliberate.
HOWEVER, MANY PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW THAT, AT THE SAME TIME, IRISH FARMS WERE PRODUCING PLENTY OF OTHER FOODS INCLUDING CORN, WHEAT, BARLEY, AND BEEF. THIS FOOD WAS CARTED AWAY BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT PAST THE STARVING MILLIONS OF MEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND THEN TAKEN TO WEALTHY ENGLAND.
SOME PROTESTANT CHURCH MISSIONS IN ENGLAND SOUGHT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION BY TRYING TO "PROSELYTIZE" THE STARVING CATHOLICS.

THE STARVING VICTIMS WERE OFFERED FOOD IN RETURN FOR RENOUNCING THEIR CATHOLIC FAITH AND CONVERTING. DURING THE FAMINE THERE WERE MORE THAN 125 MISSIONS IN IRELAND FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONVERTING CATHOLICS

http://www.noraid.com/Holocaust.htm

History as written by Noraid, British, Irish and United States governments have accused Noraid of being a front for the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA)

Would you say the article is one sided

Overheal · 17-05-2010 03:22PM

Good Awl' Ireland. Still having a gripe 270 years later.

dlofnep · 17-05-2010 03:22PM

Winty wrote: »

History as written by Noraid, British, Irish and United States governments have accused Noraid of being a front for the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA)

Would you say the article is one sided

It's historically accurate, according to any historian - that there were sufficient food supplies in Ireland during the famine - and that many food sources were exported to Britain.

anymore · 17-05-2010 03:22PM

OhNoYouDidn't wrote: »

A bit naive when it comes to the subject in hand though, isn't it.

Anglo Irish reconciliation works both ways, not just us doffing our caps.

I grew up in Ireland in the 60's and 70's - noone in the repuboc gave a rats ass about the famine then.

dlofnep · 17-05-2010 03:23PM

Overheal wrote: »

Good Awl' Ireland. Still having a gripe 260 years later.

It's actually 1 day later. If Nigeria can make sure that they are represented, then so can Britain. 1 million people die under the rule of Britain - and they can't find one person out of 60 million to represent them?

I'd say it's a valid gripe.

OhNoYouDidn't · 17-05-2010 03:23PM

Winty wrote: »

History as written by Noraid, British, Irish and United States governments have accused Noraid of being a front for the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA)

Would you say the article is one sided

Regardless of the source, there is quite a large and varied movement to have the famine redesignated as a holocaust or genocide. Its out there.

kravmaga · 17-05-2010 03:23PM

OhNoYouDidn't wrote: »

So it was a deliberate genocide?

I actually care, and its worthy of debte. If it was a snub or they forgot, its not good enough.

Have you ever lived in the UK as an Irish person?

I have always found the English to be a very tolerant nation especially towards us Irish considering certain homeborn terrorist elements took a very nasty terror campaign to the UK in the 1970's .

Lets hear what the representative or DCM has to say from the British Embassy before we nail them to the cross, fair enough?

orourkeda · 17-05-2010 03:23PM

anymore wrote: »

Well if Cowen and Madam President couldnt be bothered, why should the British Gov be present ?
I think we have outgrown this sort of 'Outrage' anyway.

I don't think we have. If we had we wouldnt be discussing it in a thread like this.

Having said that. They probably should have at least acknowledged it, even in a small way.

gandalf · 17-05-2010 03:24PM

anymore wrote: »

I grew up in Ireland in the 60's and 70's - noone in the repuboc gave a rats ass about the famine then.

Exactly at this stage it is ancient history.

Overheal wrote: »

Good Awl' Ireland. Still having a gripe 260 years later.

Isn't it 270 years?

OhNoYouDidn't · 17-05-2010 03:24PM

Overheal wrote: »

Good Awl' Ireland. Still having a gripe 260 years later.

The gripe isn't over the famine. The gripe is over the diplomatic snub yesterday.

danbohan · 17-05-2010 03:25PM

Winty wrote: »

History as written by Noraid, British, Irish and United States governments have accused Noraid of being a front for the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA)

Would you say the article is one sided

Would you say the article is one sided[/QUOTE]
no , but reading your coments i would say you are !, perhaps people find it easy to forget that the british directly or indirectly were responsible for the death or emigration of 2 million irish people.

British Forget to Attend Famine Memorial

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