Did anyone see Sir Terry Wogan's programme on Ireland last night?

chosen1 · 24-01-2011 07:23PM

iamwhoiam wrote: »

No , they wernt , what he meant was you had to do Irish as a subject and you had to pass it in your Leaving , failing Irish meant you failed the Leaving regardless of what you passed .

Sorry my mistake. Had family in school in the 40's and all their subjects were taught through Irish. Not near a Gaeltacht either. Thought it was a national policy.

InTheTrees · 24-01-2011 07:23PM

Eamo71 wrote: »

The term British Isles has long been removed from Irish Geography books. It's an outdated term since we are no longer in the British Empire.
The more correct term is "These Islands".

These Islands???

What if you're in Bali chatting with a norwegian? What would you say "those islands"?

Them thar islands yonder...

InTheTrees · 24-01-2011 07:28PM

mosesgun wrote: »

Thought it was a great advert for Ireland as a tourism destination. A full hour of prime time British television solely dedicated to Ireland. Should be a great boost for tourism now when we need it most. Fair dues to you Terry.

This time of year is prime holiday booking time and god help us we need the money so I havent even seen the programme but if it moves some sterling across to this Island then its all good.

Sunnyisland · 24-01-2011 07:34PM

I thought it wasn't bad, great for Irish tourism as the scenery was magnificent, re the British isles as far as i know its still the term used when speaking about Ireland in a geographical sense.

Amazotheamazing · 24-01-2011 07:38PM

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

He has spent the past decades pretending he is British

How did you end up following a British football team?

Like it or not, Ireland has close links with Britain, it's given good jobs and good lives to millions of Irish people from Roy Keane and Terry Wogan right down to brickies and sparkies.

Wogan has always been proud of his Irishness.

FlutterinBantam · 24-01-2011 08:08PM

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

How did you end up following a British football team?

Like it or not, Ireland has close links with Britain, it's given good jobs and good lives to millions of Irish people from Roy Keane and Terry Wogan right down to brickies and sparkies.

Wogan has always been proud of his Irishness.

Stop it man!!!

Don't you know these types don't respond to raw logic.

They like to wallow in a 'put upon' attitude which harks back to long before they were born, but it seems to give them a reason for existence, which of course they seem to think makes them more patriotic than the rest of us.

Unfortunately they exist,and I suppose the rest of us can only hope that the light of reality eventually dawns on them and they finally realise that they are nothing but misguided air heads.

Micky Dolenz · 24-01-2011 08:13PM

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

Stop it man!!!

Don't you know these types don't respond to raw logic.

They like to wallow in a 'put upon' attitude which harks back to long before they were born, but it seems to give them a reason for existence, which of course they seem to think makes them more patriotic than the rest of us.

Unfortunately they exist,and I suppose the rest of us can only hope that the light of reality eventually dawns on them and they finally realise that they are nothing but misguided air heads.

Easy tiger.

epgc3fyqirnbsx · 24-01-2011 08:17PM

Did no one see when he was in Powerscourt at the beginning?
I think he told it as it was, said these landlords lived in splendour on the sweat of the Irish people whom they made tenants in their own land.
And then he talked about his own experiences in Ireland, I couldnt see any problems with it
(Though it did get pretty boring when he went to look at his old house)

Wolfe Tone · 24-01-2011 08:19PM

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

How did you end up following a British football team?

Like it or not, Ireland has close links with Britain, it's given good jobs and good lives to millions of Irish people from Roy Keane and Terry Wogan right down to brickies and sparkies.

Wogan has always been proud of his Irishness.

How is my supporting Manchester Utd even slightly relevant to this discussion?

Metallergy · 24-01-2011 08:20PM

missed it. where's mike murphy these days? lemme guess.. down with dementia in an old folks home

Amazotheamazing · 24-01-2011 08:25PM

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

How is my supporting Manchester Utd even slightly relevant to this discussion?

Just pointing out people are free to enjoy British things if they want, there's no harm in it.

Imagine a world where someone said you were less Irish for following a British team and then ask yourself if anyone has the right to call another Irishman (like Wogan) less Irish just because of the choices they make. Wogan is still an Irishman, just like Geldof, whether he's Sir or not. You may disagree with their choices but you've no right to determine if they are less Irish.

Wogan was made a freeman of Limerick a few years back and he was very proud of the honour. He's as Irish as you or me and it's not up to us to decide otherwise.

D1stant · 24-01-2011 08:37PM

Tordelback wrote: »

Has Terry Wogan ever been anything less than honest about where he came from, and where he's called home for the last 40-odd years (after being dropped by RTE, I might add)? Must all emigrants eschew citizenship and acclaim of the countries they end up in to make the stay-at-homes happy? I'm not a fan by any means, but he's never been anything less than a positive factor in how British people see this country, and that's right through some very dark times. Anyway, anyone who doesn't think that this country still has a unique pub culture, plus an unhealthy smattering of statue-botherers and gombeens mustn't get out much.

+1

We should be thanking him not slagging off his character

Dostoevsky · 24-01-2011 08:54PM

Has anybody ever heard an Irish person use the term "British Isles" to describe Ireland? I certainly haven't.

Maybe - and it's a big maybe - it was commonly used in the 19th century by Irish people, but nowadays even most British people avoid it. It generally is used by jingoistic types trying to make a political point.

The British historian Diarmaid MacCulloch, a deacon of the Church of England, in his brilliant History of Christianity (2008) says this about why he avoids using the term "British Isles" and instead uses "Atlantic Isles":

"the collection of islands which embraces England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales has commonly been known as the British Isles. This title no longer pleases all the inhabitants of the islands, and a more neutral description is 'the Atlantic Isles'"

There's a long list of academics who now avoid using the term "British Isles" and instead use "Atlantic Isles", "Atlantic Archipelago" "Britain and Ireland", "Iona" among other terms. They can be found here. Those of you who think "British Isles" is "the name" of this archipelago need to update your knowledge banks, and look at the sort of people who use that term today.

Paparazzo · 24-01-2011 09:01PM

Some of the posters here are funny. As if there's something wrong with going over to England to accept the "queens shilling".

InTheTrees · 24-01-2011 09:16PM

Dostoevsky wrote: »

There's a long list of academics who now avoid using the term "British Isles" and instead use "Atlantic Isles", "Atlantic Archipelago" "Britain and Ireland", "Iona" among other terms. They can be found here. Those of you who think "British Isles" is "the name" of this archipelago need to update your knowledge banks, and look at the sort of people who use that term today.

I agree. I use "britain and ireland" when I have to. Easy enough.

"Atlantic Islands" sounds a little strange, my first thought would be the Azores. Or the Canaries. Or bermuda. Or all of them.

Latchy · 24-01-2011 09:32PM

Stinicker wrote: »

He's spot on, Tralee is like the hybrid child of Ballymun and Moyross together. They should rename it Tra-veller-lee

Ahhh...

Debthree wrote: »

I enjoyed it. But I did notice when he was in The Gaeltacht he told the students that when he was young he didn't enjoy Irish because it was compulsary at the time. But it's the same these days so I thought it was odd that they left that in.

The difference back then was (and as Wogan mentioned ) you were punished if you didn't get you gaeilge up to scratch and as well all know , learning through fear will put you off any subject for life

realies wrote: »

re the British isles as far as i know its still the term used when speaking about Ireland in a geographical sense.

Yes , and as I remember always was .

Nodin · 24-01-2011 09:35PM

Paparazzo wrote: »

Some of the posters here are funny. As if there's something wrong with going over to England to accept the "queens shilling".

'Sure if it wasn't for the few bob raised by informin, we would have all starved to death durin the famine...or worse, your father would have to go pole dancin for the Christian brothers again...'

strokemyclover · 24-01-2011 09:36PM

It wasn't bad tbh! He couldn't have very well done this during the troubles now could he?

*Trademark Wogan faux stupid shocked look into the camera*

COYW · 24-01-2011 10:09PM

Dostoevsky wrote: »

Has anybody ever heard an Irish person use the term "British Isles" to describe Ireland? I certainly haven't.

Plenty of times. Anyway, the programme shed a positive light over the country for 1 hour on prime time british tv. It will attract tourists and in turn bring money into the country. Given the current state of the country, I can only see this as a positive.

Will be interesting to see how NI comes accross next week.

Tchaikovsky · 24-01-2011 10:59PM

Stinicker wrote: »

I watched it on BBC1 HD as it was ony after Top Gear and I just spotted it then. In fairness it was quite a neutral show, making no references to Fianna Fail or the economic depression, alot of it was about Terry retracing his childhood roots and then going on a quaint Irish tour, the Ring of Kerry was dissapointing as it was raining and foggy, although this is the reality for alot of tourists so it is a good reflection I suppose.

He made Limerick actually look normal and not like downtown baghdad. There was no mention of Catholics or Protestants (besides the ejits at Ballinspiddal) and he only made reference near the end about how for the 1st time in 15 years Emigration has resumed normal service. Part two is on next Sunday night and he goes up the West coast into Ulster and Belfast.

A good documentary and makes for positive viewpoints on Ireland besides the International headlines zanu-FF have been causing. Although I would admit that it made Irish people look like diddly eyed gombeens.

No room for 'Misery Porn' on the BBC.
Good to see him speaking a bit of Irish too!

yosemite_sam · 24-01-2011 11:08PM

phasers wrote: »

Terry Wogan took British citizenship so people would call him "sir" Terry...

Hate him, he's so smug and he clearly thinks he's hilarious.

I didn't see the programme though so can't comment on whether it was good or not.

8 million people a day found him entertaining, his knighthood was well earned and well deserved. He is a credit to Ireland

Nodin · 24-01-2011 11:09PM

Tchaikovsky wrote: »

No room for 'Misery Porn' on the BBC.
....

....Eastenders?

yosemite_sam · 24-01-2011 11:14PM

Paparazzo wrote: »

Some of the posters here are funny. As if there's something wrong with going over to England to accept the "queens shilling".

The queen's shilling was given to soldiers and sailors, nothing wrong with stirling

HyperSkypeWiper · 24-01-2011 11:17PM

Sonovagun wrote: »

This imagine of Ireland sells. If it gets tourists over here then i am all for it.

A crowd of drunk village idiots, crowding around moving statue, won't bring any tourists to Ireland. Especially English ones. Which is the audience the program was aired to.

He may as well have thrown in a few Leprachauns.

It was stereo-typical in every way. I've experienced enough paddy bashing to know that a lot of English people would have found it funny.

Tchaikovsky · 24-01-2011 11:36PM

Nodin wrote: »

....Eastenders?

Real-life Misery Porn, ala 'Prime Time'

Tchaikovsky · 24-01-2011 11:39PM

HyperSkypeWiper wrote: »

A crowd of drunk village idiots, crowding around moving statue, won't bring any tourists to Ireland. Especially English ones. Which is the audience the program was aired to.

When did he mention they were drunk?
The programme will bring tourists to Ireland, it's just not that many will go to Ballinspittle. I mean, how many Irish people have ever gone specifically to Ballinspittle!?

OPENROAD · 24-01-2011 11:51PM

Jesus wept a show that showed the fantastic landscape of Ireland, a promotion for our Tourist industry that money could not buy in a time when the country is in the complete ****s, Jesus wept and to think some people have a go at the likes of the Mail etc...in AH.

nosey rosie · 25-01-2011 12:07AM

He's an Englishman now... and he has kept up interest in Ireland, as much as the average English person has... thats what the programme, seemed to show

Pity the Irish weather didn't blow his toupe off... he must have some glue!

Latchy · 25-01-2011 12:25AM

nosey rosie wrote: »

He's an Englishman now... and he has kept up interest in Ireland, as much as the average English person has... thats what the programme, seemed to show

Making a programme for tv ( 72 hrs of footage to work with but had to be edited into two hrs ) showing the beauty of your native country and some of it's quirks , while checking out your roots at same time is a quite a bit of interest no ? Maybe a 4 hr programme covering a few more towns of interest , with chat from the locals and historians alike might have being a better idea .

nosey rosie · 25-01-2011 12:50AM

Latchy wrote: »

Making a programme for tv ( 72 hrs of footage to work with but had to be edited into two hrs ) showing the beauty of your native country and some of it's quirks , while checking out your roots at same time is a quite a bit of interest no ? Maybe a 4 hr programme covering a few more towns of interest , with chat from the locals and historians alike might have being a better idea .

The country is going through a crisis...us and Greece, we are the most disfunctional European economies.., thats what I meant Terry should mention. Not local towns... and small town detail... f.g.s.

Latchy, just a suggestion... how about you read posts before you reply?

Did anyone see Sir Terry Wogan's programme on Ireland last night?

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