Are Mixed Marriages In Northern Ireland Increasing??

SharpshooterTom · 07-07-2012 09:21AM #1

It appears from my perspective that mixed marriages in Northern Ireland are on the increase, its still 1 in 10, if that which is way too low still. But I've noticed more cross community dating here particularly amongst younger people below the age of 30-35 etc. It seems to be a problem still however with the older generation, particularly amongst parents, a bit like interracial marriages.

You see I'm not from Northern Ireland originally so I'm not an expert, I was born in England and moved here at 14, my parents are Irish catholics (mum from Belfast, father from Dundalk) and I can sympathise with both sides, because with an English accent I was a brit/orange bastard to catholics and to family members that could be suspicious for a daughter to date, but similarly as soon as protestants know my background, regardless of my accent, I become a fenian bastard, and maybe a religious protestant parent, might have a problem with that too. A fenian disguised with an English accent if you like. :P

My mother spoke to a protestant women in Belfast who is a widow (husband was in the RUC, didn't ask how he died) and her son is dating a girl from Drogheda, and he's getting so much stick from the neighbours that he eventually got fed up with it and moved out.

But it does seem at least in Omagh that there is a better cross community feel and more mixed relationships. Will Northern Ireland ever become a country of tolerance where religion doesn't actually matter like it does in the south? Seems like a pipe dream since its being going on 400 years.

galwayrush · 07-07-2012 09:24AM

I prefer Dara o'Briain's definition of a proper mixed mariage.:p

deisedave · 07-07-2012 09:27AM

Marriages between catholic's and Protestants up the north have been common practice for the last fourty years at least. I think it is more Protestant men and Catholic women. I know a few Catholics that married Protestants.

mattjack · 07-07-2012 09:31AM

ThomasFlynn wrote: »

It appears from my perspective that mixed marriages in Northern Ireland are on the increase, its still 1 in 10, if that which is way too low still. But I've noticed more cross community dating here particularly amongst younger people below the age of 30-35 etc. It seems to be a problem still however with the older generation, particularly amongst parents, a bit like interracial marriages.

You see I'm not from Northern Ireland originally so I'm not an expert, I was born in England and moved here at 14, my parents are Irish catholics (mum from Belfast, father from Dundalk) and I can sympathise with both sides, because with an English accent I was a brit/orange bastard to catholics and to family members that could be suspicious for a daughter to date, but similarly as soon as protestants know my background, regardless of my accent, I become a fenian bastard, and maybe a religious protestant parent, might have a problem with that too. A fenian disguised with an English accent if you like. :P

My mother spoke to a protestant women in Belfast who is a widow (husband was in the RUC, didn't ask how he died) and her son is dating a girl from Drogheda, and he's getting so much stick from the neighbours that he eventually got fed up with it and moved out.

But it does seem at least in Omagh that there is a better cross community feel and more mixed relationships. Will Northern Ireland ever become a country of tolerance where religion doesn't actually matter like it does in the south? Seems like a pipe dream since its being going on 400 years.

You're posting in After Hours.Hence AH answers are all you will get.
Also the comment about 400 years of conflict is wrong.. we all know its being going on about 17 million years and my arm is broken in 109 different places , I'll have you know.

northernpower · 07-07-2012 09:34AM

deisedave wrote: »

I think it is more Protestant men and Catholic women. I know a few Catholics that married Protestants.

Takin our wimen :mad:

Fr_Dougal · 07-07-2012 09:37AM

A mixed 'marriage' is a marriage between protestants and catholics? Ah here, will you fast forward to the 21st Century.

Dyr · 07-07-2012 09:37AM

northernpower wrote: »

deisedave wrote: »

I think it is more Protestant men and Catholic women. I know a few Catholics that married Protestants.

Takin our wimen :mad:

they can't resist those beady protestant eyes, de sluts

Nodin · 07-07-2012 09:39AM

....well its not so much of a question of how many, but how many have to entirely leave where they live and be wary of visiting the in-laws after.

mattjack · 07-07-2012 09:39AM

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

A mixed 'marriage' is a marriage between protestants and catholics? Ah here, will you fast forward to the 21st Century.

Ah Father, will ya have a cup of tea ?

Cavehill Red · 07-07-2012 09:45AM

It's a legitimate term north of the border, given the history of sectarianism. Both my siblings are in mixed religion relationships, so clearly some fellas like those beady eyed protestant sluts too!
It's a trend definitely on the up, as the increase in civil marriages there indicates. All to the good. Now we just need to de-segregate schools and housing and we might begin to approximate a normal society.

awec · 07-07-2012 10:06AM

Been common enough for years, especially amongst the middle class.

Benny_Cake · 07-07-2012 10:10AM

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

A mixed 'marriage' is a marriage between protestants and catholics? Ah here, will you fast forward to the 21st Century.

Indeed, only in Ireland would such a marriage be considered "mixed".

forfuxsake · 07-07-2012 10:24AM

Living in Belfast I happily rid them all, Catholic, Protestant, Chinese, Polish. As long as they were pretty, young and wet then religion never came into it.

Hardonraging · 07-07-2012 10:26AM

I don't discriminate tbh ... although i do find protestant girls are were more fun ..

getz · 07-07-2012 10:29AM

Benny_Cake wrote: »

Indeed, only in Ireland would such a marriage be considered "mixed".

before ireland became a free state is was very common is the south,excepted by both the catholic and protestant communities,families would have both protestant and catholic children,once ireland became independent,the catholic church stepped in and banned the so called mixed marriages

Jester252 · 07-07-2012 10:43AM

Marriage between Catholics and Protestants. What next a man can marry his dog?

07-07-2012 10:43AM

forfuxsake wrote: »

Living in Belfast I happily rid them all, Catholic, Protestant, Chinese, Polish. As long as they were pretty, young and wet then religion never came into it.

you got rid of them all? bit violent

forfuxsake · 07-07-2012 10:45AM

getz wrote: »

before ireland became a free state is was very common is the south,excepted by both the catholic and protestant communities,families would have both protestant and catholic children,once ireland became independent,the catholic church stepped in and banned the so called mixed marriages

prothelic
cathestant
grange + oreen?

getz · 07-07-2012 10:48AM

forfuxsake wrote: »

prothelic
cathestant
grange + oreen?

your a colour matcher, well done

forfuxsake · 07-07-2012 11:17AM

getz wrote: »

your a colour matcher, well done

my bad, you meant schizo children 'I am a member of the Catholic faith and I protest fervently against it as they are condemned to hell for worshipping false idols'

or perhaps you meant that they alternated one catholic, one protestant etc

People generally didn't have Catholic and Protestant children, they had either/or. Usually Catholic as this was a condition of marrying a Protestant but really wgaf?

forfuxsake · 07-07-2012 11:18AM

bluewolf wrote: »

you got rid of them all? bit violent

More than a bit sometimes but I did what I had to do and I slept easier for it.

getz · 07-07-2012 12:00PM

forfuxsake wrote: »

my bad, you meant schizo children 'I am a member of the Catholic faith and I protest fervently against it as they are condemned to hell for worshipping false idols'

or perhaps you meant that they alternated one catholic, one protestant etc

People generally didn't have Catholic and Protestant children, they had either/or. Usually Catholic as this was a condition of marrying a Protestant but really wgaf?

you are in for a shock.look up THE PALATIN PACT,a irish thing, born from a catholic father and a protestant mother, whereby in mixed marriages,the boy would be raised as catholics while the girls would be raised as protestant,

IrishAm · 07-07-2012 12:07PM

If any of my sisters brought home a northern prod, she would be cut off permanently.

I am not a forgiving man.

IrishAm · 07-07-2012 12:16PM

Try and lose your virginity first, bud. Before you venture forth and comment on other peoples mating habits, eh?

EdenHazard · 07-07-2012 12:20PM

I was gonna post along the same lines as 'only in ireland would this be considered a mixed marriage' but in ireland there has never been any racial segregation(mainly because there was nobody of any other colour in any great numbers) so the connotations aren't the same as they would be in places like the US, France, UK, South Africa, the only reason it would get any looks here is because its so rare to see.

This is probably the worst piece of English ever written on here but hopefully you see what I'm saying, found it hard to explain properly.

Oh and I see the OP actually stated Northern Ireland as well, would it be more 'progressive' if the argument was about mixed race marriages

IrishAm · 07-07-2012 12:26PM

EdenHazard wrote: »

there has never been any racial segregation

Oh, but there is. Walk through Blanch, Clondalkin, Lucan or Tallaght. All very racially mixed working class areas. Then walk through a few housing estates in upper class South Dublin. Not a non white to be seen. And the residents there tend to profess their love for all things multicultural.

But lets not talk about that.....

mattjack · 07-07-2012 12:28PM

IrishAm wrote: »

Oh, but there is. Walk through Blanch, Clondalkin, Lucan or Tallaght. All very racially mixed working class areas. Then walk through a few housing estates in upper class South Dublin. Not a non white to be seen. And the residents there tend to profess their love for all things multicultural.

But lets not talk about that.....

And this all before a 'sup' of alcohol has been taken of a weekend ...

arybvtcw0eolkf · 07-07-2012 12:28PM

IrishAm wrote: »

If any of my sisters brought home a northern prod, she would be cut off permanently.

I am not a forgiving man.

You ARE messing, right?.

IrishAm · 07-07-2012 12:30PM

Myles Ashy Armada wrote: »

You ARE messing, right?.

Nah,man.

IrishAm · 07-07-2012 12:30PM

mattjack wrote: »

And this all before a 'sup' of alcohol has been taken of a weekend ...

Low blow. No need for that.

mattjack · 07-07-2012 12:32PM

IrishAm wrote: »

Low blow. No need for that.

Now I've to disperse a mob armed with pitchforks and flaming torch's.. and their not happy I tells ya.

Are Mixed Marriages In Northern Ireland Increasing??

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