Is there an implied xenophobia towards Northerners in Irish society

P_1 · 25-09-2013 03:17PM #1

Just a thought that I realised when chatting to my Dad about the GAA over the weekend. He touched on the hypocrisy in the acceptance of Dublin's 'cynical' tactics and the criticism of the vary same tactics from teams from Ulster by the media and the dreaded r word was mentioned.

Moving away from GAA there is the United Ireland question. The opinion of 'fcuk that, we don't want THEM in our country' has been uttered by a good few people and the term 'Nordie' has almost become a derogatory one.

So my question is, are people from Northern Ireland viewed as some kind of second class citizen by a sizable section of society in the 26 counties, and if so, why?

Maybe 'xenophobia' might be a better word than 'racism' to use in the title, if a helpful mod could kindly change the title it'd be much appreciated

Sir Humphrey Appleby · 25-09-2013 03:18PM

I don't think they are viewed as second class, simply put a lot of people in this jurisdiction don't want a UI.

super_furry · 25-09-2013 03:19PM

P_1 wrote: »

Just a thought that I realised when chatting to my Dad about the GAA over the weekend. He touched on the hypocrisy in the acceptance of Dublin's 'cynical' tactics and the criticism of the vary same tactics from teams from Ulster by the media and the dreaded r word was mentioned.

What cynical tactics? Trying to hold onto a lead with 13 fit players in the last few minutes of a game is hardly up there with the 'puke football' of Tyrone.

dd972 · 25-09-2013 03:21PM

Think it's elastic to be honest, I see them as no different to Wexford or Kilkenny people as regards their Irishness, I tend to regard the Prods up there as 'Ulster Scots' yet still Irish, although even with them the likes of George Best, Eddie Irvine, James Nesbit exude a vibe that's comfortable with being regarded as Irish.

FatherLen · 25-09-2013 03:21PM

Are you trying to sneak a GAA thread into AH?

I am pie · 25-09-2013 03:21PM

Not racism. For the love of god can people stop using the term racism when they don't know what it means,

Ps. (Am from Belfast) Guns, bombs, marches and riots tend to get on people's tits.

Problem a bit of sectarianism and dislike of the noisy neighbours at play.

P_1 · 25-09-2013 03:22PM

FatherLen wrote: »

Are you trying to sneak a GAA thread into AH?

No not at all, it was just an anecdote that got me thinking about the subject.

Lando Griffin · 25-09-2013 03:22PM

Once in a while a day like this comes along...
First a Public Sector bashing thread, now a Norn Iron thread next has to be either Dole bashing or traveller thread.

o1s1n · 25-09-2013 03:22PM

Doesn't someone have to be of a difference race to bring in the term 'racism'?

Is the OP suggesting those from the north are of a difference race? Is that not in itself racist? :pac:

iDave · 25-09-2013 03:22PM

How can it be racism if they are the same race?

Mint Sauce · 25-09-2013 03:23PM

Are people from N Ireland a different race from people living on the rest of the island?

I am pie · 25-09-2013 03:26PM

I am pie wrote: »

Not racism. For the love of god can people stop using the term racism when they don't know what it means,

Ps. (Am from Belfast) Guns, bombs, marches and riots tend to get on people's tits.

Problem a bit of sectarianism and dislike of the noisy neighbours at play.

Sorry, I forgot: Ulster Taytos are best Taytos & Ulster Fry is best Fry.

Bit of jealousy involved in the fried potato snack & breakfast gluttony department too...

P_1 · 25-09-2013 03:26PM

o1s1n wrote: »

Doesn't someone have to be of a difference race to bring in the term 'racism'?

Is the OP suggesting those from the north are of a difference race? Is that not in itself racist? :pac:

Ouch you got me there :pac: Racist is perhaps the wrong word alright, the closest thing I can possibly think of is the opinions some West Germans had towards their Eastern fellow-Germans back around the time the Wall went down. I'm sure there's probably some fancy German word for it but basically it means do some people in the 26 counties believe themselves to be somewhat 'better' than those from the 6 Counties?

Manassas61 · 25-09-2013 03:28PM

People don't want more burden on the Irish state. What is wrong with that?

Cee-Jay-Cee · 25-09-2013 03:29PM

Why does it have to be labelled racism? Can't we just not like a certain group of people without labeling it in human rights BS terms. I don't particularly like NI people, at least the ones I encounter on a regular basis. Maybe the decent ones stay in NI and don't venture across the border much and so my opinion is clouded by the worst of the bunch I don't consider myself racist, I just don't like them just like I don't like nachos.

iDave · 25-09-2013 03:31PM

P_1 wrote: »

Ouch you got me there :pac: Racist is perhaps the wrong word alright, the closest thing I can possibly think of is the opinions some West Germans had towards their Eastern fellow-Germans back around the time the Wall went down. I'm sure there's probably some fancy German word for it but basically it means do some people in the 26 counties believe themselves to be somewhat 'better' than those from the 6 Counties?

During Oktobrefest a few years ago a local girl said she called them West Poles. So how about ...errr....West Brits.

Winty · 25-09-2013 03:36PM

dd972 wrote: »

Think it's elastic to be honest, I see them as no different to Wexford or Kilkenny people as regards their Irishness, I tend to regard the Prods up there as 'Ulster Scots' yet still Irish, although even with them the likes of George Best, Eddie Irvine, James Nesbit exude a vibe that's comfortable with being regarded as Irish.

Stopped reading after prods, I can't imagine you have anything intelligent to say

dd972 · 25-09-2013 04:15PM

Winty wrote: »

Stopped reading after prods, I can't imagine you have anything intelligent to say

Jeff Bridges killed off folk like you back in 98

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWdd6_ZxX8c

Have you also heard that there's people in NI who don't regard themselves as Irish btw ?

wp_rathead · 25-09-2013 04:22PM

dd972 wrote: »

Think it's elastic to be honest, I see them as no different to Wexford or Kilkenny people as regards their Irishness, I tend to regard the Prods up there as 'Ulster Scots' yet still Irish, although even with them the likes of George Best, Eddie Irvine, James Nesbit exude a vibe that's comfortable with being regarded as Irish.

sweet jesus
"The Prods" sounds like a fecking dodgy folk band

Karl Stein · 25-09-2013 04:27PM

The people who use the term 'nordies' in a derogatory way are, as a rule, dim-witted.

Hankmarker · 25-09-2013 04:28PM

Not a big fan of Northern Ireland myself, I'd prefer it if we cut it off and pushed it across to England.

Rothmans · 25-09-2013 04:29PM

Winty wrote: »

Stopped reading after prods, I can't imagine you have anything intelligent to say

Bet you didn't.

Karl Stein · 25-09-2013 04:29PM

wprathead wrote: »

sweet jesus
"The Prods" sounds like a fecking dodgy folk band

Prog rock band, shirely?

Prod - prog..

I'll get my coat.

awec · 25-09-2013 04:30PM

I have no problem being called nordy. :cool:

biko · 25-09-2013 04:31PM

I'm so xenophobic I don't even like people from the next village.

chopper6 · 25-09-2013 04:34PM

I actually don't like Nordies...i dunno whether they always seem to be whinging or that they seem to be largely humorless and miserable.

And there seems to be an inordinate number of them on ads and television....that lipless bloke off the UPC ads is particularly annoying.

Karl Stein · 25-09-2013 04:36PM

chopper6 wrote: »

I actually don't like Nordies...i dunno whether they always seem to be whinging or that they seem to be largely humorless and miserable.

And there seems to be an inordinate number of them on ads and television....that lipless bloke off the UPC ads is particularly annoying.

Exhibit A. Dumb prejudice.

old hippy · 25-09-2013 04:36PM

Hankmarker wrote: »

Not a big fan of Northern Ireland myself, I'd prefer it if we cut it off and pushed it across to England.

If I had a dollar for every time I heard that old chestnut. Most people, bar the uberpatriots in the UK don't want it, either.

I'd rather see the 6 counties independent of the Republic and the UK.

Whatever the majority of the people of NI want, really. I have nothing against people from the north, I have family still there

Hankmarker · 25-09-2013 04:40PM

old hippy wrote: »

If I had a dollar for every time I heard that old chestnut. Most people, bar the uberpatriots in the UK don't want it, either.

I'd rather see the 6 counties independent of the Republic and the UK.

Whatever the majority of the people of NI want, really. I have nothing against people from the north, I have family still there

Fair enough, maybe we can push them
over to Iceland or set them adrift in the atlantic. Northern Irish people creep me out generally speaking, don't know if it's the annoying accent or something else.

enda1 · 25-09-2013 04:40PM

A lot of people feel they don't share as much commonality with those from Northern-Ireland. Its rather normal seeing as they live in a different country, spend a different currency, vote in different elections, etc. I think it's rather factually accurate to say there are more commonalities between a Kerry and Donegal man than a Kerry and Derry man. So from that point of view it's understandable.

The there's the fact that nationally as a country we voted that we could give up our constitutional hold on Northern-Ireland and allow the land to determine it's own direction thus accepting it as a part of the UK. So it's therefore understandable that people from Ireland are more likely to be fans of Irish (the country) teams than Northern Irish teams.

These aren't necessarily my beliefs nor do they preclude the fact that most if not all Northern Irish players are Irish citizens.

enda1 · 25-09-2013 04:42PM

Hankmarker wrote: »

Fair enough, maybe we can push them
over to Iceland or set them adrift in the atlantic. Northern Irish people creep me out generally speaking, don't know if it's the annoying accent or something else.

Imagine you replaced Northern Irish with "black" in the above post. It wouldn't be long before you were banned...

Is there an implied xenophobia towards Northerners in Irish society

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