Ireland won't be united so let loyalists fly flag – Seamus Heaney

davet82 · 29-01-2013 11:28AM #1

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/ireland-wont-be-united-so-let-loyalists-fly-flag-seamus-heaney-3369083.html

"They (the loyalists) have an entitlement factor running: the flag is part of it. There's never going to be a united Ireland. So why don't you let them fly the flag?"

He has a point I guess, would you agree?

After a few weeks reflection what is your opinion on the flying of the union jack?

Also will there never be a united Ireland? I always thought maybe in my lifetime but I'm not so sure when i see such a stink kicked up over flags.

Chips Lovell · 29-01-2013 11:30AM

I don't give a toss what flag they fly. It's a piece of cloth. Far too many people getting exercised about whether it is or isn't flying.

BraziliaNZ · 29-01-2013 11:32AM

Apart from a few non educated delinquents up there throwing petrol bombs in Norn Iron does anyone really give a sh*t? Just leave them to it and forget the place ever existed.

super_furry · 29-01-2013 11:33AM

Respect the democratic decision made and keep it to designated days. If subsequently Unionists do well at the next election and hold the balance of power they can reverse the decision.

MJ23 · 29-01-2013 11:36AM

Vladimir Kurtains wrote: »

I don't give a toss what flag they fly. It's a piece of cloth. Far too many people getting exercised about whether it is or isn't flying.

I couldn't care less. There'll never be peace up there. All they seem to do is antagonise each other up there, Orange men marching down some road, flying a flag etc. Plus the accent is the worst of all, can't stand it.

Agricola · 29-01-2013 11:39AM

He would have probably have said the same thing about the peace process 20 years ago.

They way things move forward up there is if people respect democratic decisions. If theres a vote that says fly it on certain days, fly it on certain days. If the vote says fly it all the time, fly it all the time. If the vote says fly the skull and crossbones, fly that. End of.

iDave · 29-01-2013 11:40AM

Ok no United Ireland then. Fine ok, so if thats the case bring NI into line with the rest of the UK for these things. I.e. fly it on designated days like all of the UK. Or is being in the UK not enough for loyalists? Perhaps being even more British than actual British and lording it over nationalists is what they really want. Protestant state for Protestant people etc.

BraziliaNZ · 29-01-2013 11:41AM

But why does anyone care if they're British or Irish anyway?

davet82 · 29-01-2013 11:43AM

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

But why does anyone care if they're British or Irish anyway?

because being Irish is way cooler :cool:

Agricola · 29-01-2013 11:44AM

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

But why does anyone care if they're British or Irish anyway?

The problems of the North will be solved when its populated by people like you. Could take a while though!

Rhys Essien · 29-01-2013 11:49AM

Belfast is now a 50/50 population city,so the loyalists need to get over it.

BraziliaNZ · 29-01-2013 11:51AM

davet82 wrote: »

because being Irish is way cooler :cool:

Well the Brits have the NHS at least

davet82 · 29-01-2013 11:54AM

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

Well the Brits have the NHS at least

but we make better looking corpses cause we'll die younger... thanks HSE!

Tiddlypeeps · 29-01-2013 11:56AM

I voted let them fly it but I think I misunderstood the options. What I meant was let them fly it if they want to fly it. So pretty much the decision should be made democratically, apparently it was so I voted wrong.

listermint · 29-01-2013 12:02PM

Problem here is, people listening to Seamus Heaney

Crooked Jack · 29-01-2013 12:12PM

MJ23 wrote: »

I couldn't care less. There'll never be peace up there. All they seem to do is antagonise each other up there, Orange men marching down some road, flying a flag etc. Plus the accent is the worst of all, can't stand it.

I'm sorry are you under the impression that as soon as you set foot across the border everyone has the same accent?
I think what you're referring to is a Belfast/North Down/South East Antrim accent (which I'd take any day over the likes of the nasal whine you get in Coleraine.)
Or is it just all accents from across the border? In which case I suppose you also hate the accents of people in border areas of Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Cavan and Louth.

There will indeed be peace in Ireland one day but it will only happen when all the people work for it. Ignorance and apathy the likes of which you are displaying will get us nowhere.

davet82 · 29-01-2013 12:16PM

Crooked Jack wrote: »

I'm sorry are you under the impression that as soon as you set foot across the border everyone has the same accent?
I think what you're referring to is a Belfast/North Down/South East Antrim accent (which I'd take any day over the likes of the nasal whine you get in Coleraine.)
Or is it just all accents from across the border? In which case I suppose you also hate the accents of people in border areas of Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Cavan and Louth.

I don't mind any northren accent except for wherever nadine coyle comes from, genocide would be only way to exterminate that assault on the eardrums

donvito99 · 29-01-2013 12:18PM

Soups123 · 29-01-2013 12:31PM

Can they not just fly both flags every fcukung day and then everyones happy

up for anything · 29-01-2013 12:31PM

Rhys Essien wrote: »

Belfast is now a 50/50 population city,so the loyalists need to get over it.

But surely as it is part of the UK they should be allowed to fly the UK flag whenever they want?

lertsnim · 29-01-2013 12:35PM

up for anything wrote: »

But surely as it is part of the UK they should be allowed to fly the UK flag whenever they want?

If it is in the UK then fly the flag on the same days as the rest of the UK.

Ghandee · 29-01-2013 12:39PM

This will probably shock some.

I too couldn't care less what they fly from a mast, as already stated its a piece of cloth is all.

The butchers apron hanging from Belfast city hall still doesn't convince me that Belfast is a British city any more than I'm unconvinced its an Irish one.

If they need to hoodwink themselves and convince themselves that they're more British than the folk in England Scotland and Wales(who also only fly it on selected days), let them tear away tbh.

Tombo2001 · 29-01-2013 12:41PM

Vladimir Kurtains wrote: »

I don't give a toss what flag they fly. It's a piece of cloth. Far too many people getting exercised about whether it is or isn't flying.

So are you saying let them fly it then? or not let them fly it?

Tombo2001 · 29-01-2013 12:46PM

My view on this would be....

People in the Republic of Ireland dont really care whether it flies or not.

People in Great Britain dont really care if it flies or not.

People in Northern Ireland do care if it flies or not.

This is another example of how Northern Ireland is a unique distinct place with its own unique distinct issues.

Maybe what they need up there is a Northern Ireland flag that they can all get behind, and stop worrying about if they are part of this lot or part of that lot.

Step up and be a nation in your own right Northern Ireland. Get your own brand new flag and stop flying Union Jacks and Tricolours.

As wee Rory (I think) said, I'm not British, I'm not Irish.....I'm Northern Irish.

Lapin · 29-01-2013 12:52PM

Rhys Essien wrote: »

Belfast is now a 50/50 population city,so the loyalists need to get over it.

Thats a silly comment.

Belfast is a city of the United Kingdom regardless of the population breakdown.

Nationalists need to accept that.

Iwasfrozen · 29-01-2013 12:56PM

Tombo2001 wrote: »

My view on this would be....

People in the Republic of Ireland dont really care whether it flies or not.

People in Great Britain dont really care if it flies or not.

People in Northern Ireland do care if it flies or not.

This is another example of how Northern Ireland is a unique distinct place with its own unique distinct issues.

Maybe what they need up there is a Northern Ireland flag that they can all get behind, and stop worrying about if they are part of this lot or part of that lot.

Step up and be a nation in your own right Northern Ireland. Get your own brand new flag and stop flying Union Jacks and Tricolours.

As wee Rory (I think) said, I'm not British, I'm not Irish.....I'm Northern Irish.

That would be great if they would, get their own flag and stop relying on us and Britain to solve all their problems.

gallag · 29-01-2013 01:04PM

Ghandee wrote: »

This will probably shock some.

I too couldn't care less what they fly from a mast, as already stated its a piece of cloth is all.

The butchers apron hanging from Belfast city hall still doesn't convince me that Belfast is a British city any more than I'm unconvinced its an Irish one.

If they need to hoodwink themselves and convince themselves that they're more British than the folk in England Scotland and Wales(who also only fly it on selected days), let them tear away tbh.

Ding ding we have a winner, who had post 22 for "butchers aprine" in tired cliché bingo?

Deedsie · 29-01-2013 01:15PM

Lapin wrote: »

Thats a silly comment.

Belfast is a city of the United Kingdom regardless of the population breakdown.

Nationalists need to accept that.

That's also a silly comment, and a dangerous opinion. Belfast is a shared city between two distinct identities! The democratic will of the people is to have it flown on designated days... I think it's fair to say the vast majority of the UK would agree that it should be up to the people of Belfast what flag is flown and when on their city council building.

Northern Ireland has different regulations on many things compared to the rest of the UK. Gay marriage is a current one being discussed. To say Belfast is a city in the UK is accurate, but to imply all cities and countries within the UK are treated and governed the same is a nonsense.

Democracy was the chosen will of the people of Northern Ireland from the GFA... The flag coming down is the democratic will of the people of Belfast.

That may change at the next election and if it does let them put it back up! Democracy was the chosen route to peace... Lets stick with it!

Here Come The Pretzels · 29-01-2013 01:15PM

"They (the loyalists) have an entitlement factor running: the flag is part of it. There's never going to be a united Ireland. So why don't you let them fly the flag?"

That quote reads like a haiku-esque poem...

Lapin · 29-01-2013 01:37PM

Deedsie wrote: »

but to imply all cities and countries within the UK are treated and governed the same is a nonsense.

I didn't imply that.

Deedsie wrote: »

Democracy was the chosen will of the people of Northern Ireland from the GFA... The flag coming down is the democratic will of the people of Belfast.

That may change at the next election and if it does let them put it back up! Democracy was the chosen route to peace... Lets stick with it!

I agree the decision taken was democratic.

But I question the motives behind the move to table such a motion in the first place. The flag over City Hall was hardly a pressing priority for Belfast City Council. It smacks of truimphalism on the part of nationalists.

I'm all for sticking with democracy but it sickens me to see it being abused.

Crooked Jack · 29-01-2013 01:43PM

Lapin wrote: »

I didn't imply that.

I agree the decision taken was democratic.

But I question the motives behind the move to table such a motion in the first place. The flag over City Hall was hardly a pressing priority for Belfast City Council. It smacks of truimphalism on the part of nationalists.

I'm all for sticking with democracy but it sickens me to see it being abused.

So flying a contentious flag 365 days a year doesnt smack of triumphalism, but wanting it to be taken down so as to create a neutral, shared space and then even compromising on that reasonable demand and allowing the contentious flag to be flown on designated days is somehow triumphalism. Seems you have an odd view of what constitutes triumphalism.

Look at all those nationalist bastards. Walking around like they have equal rights. Bloody being alive and living in their home city. Triumphalist bastards

Ireland won't be united so let loyalists fly flag – Seamus Heaney

The British flag... 321 votes

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