Is there an implied xenophobia towards Northerners in Irish society

P_1 · 25-09-2013 06:55PM

I am pie wrote: »

Ah now, steak and chips is steak and chips. A curry chip is a curry chip and a gravy chip is....a gravy chip.

Pasties, I tend to think you are generally better off not getting to close to the detail of what actually goes into one. The tastiest ones have a pink hue to them. Victoria Hotspot in Carrickfergus (about the only reason to set foot in the place) is the finest version I have tasted.

That sounds both horrific and strangely appetising at the same time...

Karl Stein · 25-09-2013 06:57PM

awec wrote: »

Always have to bring some soda farls back down whenever I head up home.

Our crowd moved from the NW to the SW as kids and, unfortunately there was no Soda Bread or Potato Bread this far south for years until, I think, M&S started bring it in when they arrived here.

We had to have the poor-man's 'Irish Fry' instead of the connoisseur's choice Ulster one.

Another thing we used to get in the chippy where we came from, up north, was that delicacy of all chipper delicacies the Scotch Egg. Ne'er to be seen this far south unfortunately.

awec · 25-09-2013 06:58PM

I am pie wrote: »

Ah now, steak and chips is steak and chips. A curry chip is a curry chip and a gravy chip is....a gravy chip.

Pasties, I tend to think you are generally better off not getting to close to the detail of what actually goes into one. The tastiest ones have a pink hue to them. Victoria Hotspot in Carrickfergus (about the only reason to set foot in the place) is the finest version I have tasted.

They had to stop putting the pink dye in cause of apparent health concerns.

I am pie · 25-09-2013 07:09PM

awec wrote: »

They had to stop putting the pink dye in cause of apparent health concerns.

Am not sure that ruling has reached the depths of the jungle...aka Carrickfergus.

markomuscle · 25-09-2013 07:17PM

The funny thing is, most of the comments I have received in the past were from southerners with english surnames, i take no notice of the nonsense, all they want is for you to react and then say 'calm down nordie'

John Doe1 · 25-09-2013 07:41PM

I'm from east donegal roughly 10 mins away from derry city and feel very connected to northern ireland. I love the forthrightness of people which can be mistaken for being grumpy sometimes:P, the quick wit which through all the turmoil of the last 50 has stayed. I think people who dislike northerners are probably simple-minded folk who more than likely have never even visited the place.

Oh and ill just leave this here:P

George Best
Liam Neeson
Kenneth Branagh
CS Lewis
Alex Higgins
Eddie Irvine
Rory McIlroy
Seamus Heaney
Van Morrison
The Undertones
Stiff Little Fingers
Ash
Brian Friel
Pretty much every US presidents ancestors

johnr1 · 25-09-2013 08:34PM

Charlie Rock wrote: »

Our crowd moved from the NW to the SW as kids and, unfortunately there was no Soda Bread or Potato Bread this far south for years until, I think, M&S started bring it in when they arrived here.

We had to have the poor-man's 'Irish Fry' instead of the connoisseur's choice Ulster one.

Another thing we used to get in the chippy where we came from, up north, was that delicacy of all chipper delicacies the Scotch Egg. Ne'er to be seen this far south unfortunately.

"I come from the county Kerry, from the land of eggs and bacon, and if you think I'll ate your fish n chips, you're very much mistaken"

^^^^^^^ from 'McAlpines Fusileers' and so very true.

Btw, there is no such thing as an "Irish Fry". Its called a Full Irish Breakfast, and may be grilled or baked as an alternative.

Black puddings ftw.

K-9 · 25-09-2013 08:35PM

hidinginthebush wrote: »

What's different about an Ulster brekkie anyway? I've always wanted to know since one was mentioned in that Seamus Heaney poem, but the subtle differences between that, an Irish, and English fry was never specified.

Ulster Fry includes a potato farl AFAIK.

Some people have no appreciation or understanding of the historical and political differences, and tbh after the troubles and petty politics of the peace process I can understand that. Peter Robinson is in bother over a comment about a Unionist MLA selling land to Republicans, that's the type of mindset that is endemic in the North and bad and all as our politicians are, that sectarianism is long gone here. It was obviously a bit easier for Southerners to do that in fairness, and it still took a long time to get rid of it.

On an individual basis I've met some great people from there and some arseholes, same for anywhere really!

As for the OP and GAA, traditional counties never engaged in cynical tactics, ever, and Ulster counties have ruined the beautiful game enjoyed by everybody in the 70/80's, good honest football played by Pat Spillane and Colm O'Rourke. Kerry, Meath, Dublin and the rest of the elite would never besmirch the game with negative tactics that those Ulster counties use!

grenache · 25-09-2013 08:36PM

I work with a lad from Derry, real salt of the earth type guy. We've go for pints sometimes and have discussed Southerners attitude towards Northerners. Even though he has a lot of time for his Munster cousins, he finds some of the negative attitudes towards Northerners disgraceful, and puts it down to ignorance/lack of education. Even worse is when he has the very odd (and very stupid) customer ask him what part of England/Scotland he is from!

That winds him up no end!

I'd probably consider a nationalist like himself to be a better Irishman than me - he has had to fight to assert his Irishness, unlike me south of the border.

Femme_Fatale · 25-09-2013 08:38PM

Some awful dickish attitudes down here towards people from Northern Ireland, whether unionist or nationalist, yes.

grenache · 25-09-2013 08:41PM

K-9 wrote: »

As for the OP and GAA, traditional counties never engaged in cynical tactics, ever, and Ulster counties have ruined the beautiful game enjoyed by everybody in the 70/80's, good honest football played by Pat Spillane and Colm O'Rourke. Kerry, Meath, Dublin and the rest of the elite would never besmirch the game with negative tactics that those Ulster counties use!

Meath were quite a cynical football team in the 80s! The likes of O'Rourke, Martin O'Connell and Mick Lyons were never afraid to dish it out.

I am pie · 25-09-2013 08:54PM

johnr1 wrote: »

"I come from the county Kerry, from the land of eggs and bacon, and if you think I'll ate your fish n chips, you're very much mistaken"

^^^^^^^ from 'McAlpines Fusileers' and so very true.

Btw, there is no such thing as an "Irish Fry". Its called a Full Irish Breakfast, and may be grilled or baked as an alternative.

Black puddings ftw.

Baked breakfast!

Get ta fvck. Mentalist.

johnr1 · 25-09-2013 09:04PM

Femme_Fatale wrote: »

Some awful dickish attitudes down here towards people from Northern Ireland, whether unionist or nationalist, yes.

Yes, but equally, lots of Northern Irelanders don't like us or respect us very much either.

I've spent quite a bit of time in all parts of Northern Ireland, I've done business with people from all communities there, and I've dated a gal from there in the past. I have not experienced such discrimination from people anywhere else in Euorope. I've had my car keyed there more than once, I've been blanked in a shop, refused b&b, had to listen to the most bigoted remarks about the "Roman Catholic Free State", and cheated in business deals there.

I am obliged in my current job to go there multiple times for extended periods. Along with most of my colleagues, I can't stand the place or many of its inhabitants.

What's your experience of the place been like?

bohsboy · 25-09-2013 09:14PM

Have to laugh at the innocence of this nordie love in. The majority of them despise us down here and would have no problem letting you know about it.

I am pie · 25-09-2013 09:17PM

bohsboy wrote: »

Have to laugh at the innocence of this nordie love in. The majority of them despise us down here and would have no problem letting you know about it.

Nah, it's just you.

bohsboy · 25-09-2013 09:22PM

I am pie wrote: »

Nah, it's just you.

Says the Argentinian. :pac:

markomuscle · 25-09-2013 09:23PM

johnr1 wrote: »

Yes, but equally, lots of Northern Irelanders don't like us or respect us very much either.

I've spent quite a bit of time in all parts of Northern Ireland, I've done business with people from all communities there, and I've dated a gal from there in the past. I have not experienced such discrimination from people anywhere else in Euorope. I've had my car keyed there more than once, I've been blanked in a shop, refused b&b, had to listen to the most bigoted remarks about the "Roman Catholic Free State", and cheated in business deals there.

I am obliged in my current job to go there multiple times for extended periods. Along with most of my colleagues, I can't stand the place or many of its inhabitants.

What's your experience of the place been like?

out of interest, what towns/cities do you stay in? i grew up going to the hardcore loyalist town of ballymena on the weekends and i never received any form of abuse, though it would be impossible for anyone to know you're a nationalist

grenache · 25-09-2013 09:41PM

johnr1 wrote: »

Yes, but equally, lots of Northern Irelanders don't like us or respect us very much either.

I've spent quite a bit of time in all parts of Northern Ireland, I've done business with people from all communities there, and I've dated a gal from there in the past. I have not experienced such discrimination from people anywhere else in Euorope. I've had my car keyed there more than once, I've been blanked in a shop, refused b&b, had to listen to the most bigoted remarks about the "Roman Catholic Free State", and cheated in business deals there.

I am obliged in my current job to go there multiple times for extended periods. Along with most of my colleagues, I can't stand the place or many of its inhabitants.

What's your experience of the place been like?

Sounds like you've run into a few bigots from the Red/Blue/White community. These bigots don't represent all Northerners.

Pug160 · 25-09-2013 09:53PM

Could be a fear of the unknown (on both sides of the border). Very few people actually travel down south or up north, despite the fact this is a relatively small island.

cornee · 25-09-2013 10:13PM

I work in the services industry and I find that Northern Irish think they are superior to Southerners

markomuscle · 25-09-2013 10:18PM

cornee wrote: »

I work in the services industry and I find that Northern Irish think they are superior to Southerners

all in your head fellow

tdv123 · 25-09-2013 10:19PM

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.

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

Yes there is. No real reason why its just in freestaters & west brits blood streams.

guttenberg · 25-09-2013 10:30PM

littlelambchop wrote: »

Interesting discussion. In my experience as this topic has come up a lot in work the nordies aren't liked&are described as a different breed along the lines of they have a persecution complex, think thats what southerners dislike the over the top vigilance that everyone is trying to wipe their eye was one remark ive heard along with they aren't considered irish. Thats just the remarks ive heard over the years but on the whole yes i would say notherners aren't like i think southerners find the accent very intimidating

I presume your referring to a Belfast accent? there is a lot more than just one accent in NI

SoulandForm · 25-09-2013 10:30PM

markomuscle wrote: »

all in your head fellow

Thats not true- plenty of northerners believe they are totally superior to southerners. You even see that attitude on here sometimes. Personally I often find people from the south a little too laid back but over all I think its a far healthier place all around.

.jacksparrow. · 25-09-2013 10:33PM

They are a sarcastic bunch, but their sarcasm is quite hilarious at times!

markomuscle · 25-09-2013 10:35PM

SoulandForm wrote: »

Thats not true- plenty of northerners believe they are totally superior to southerners. You even see that attitude on here sometimes. Personally I often find people from the south a little too laid back but over all I think its a far healthier place all around.

the only comments i've ever heard are jokes about 'the pale' but only used in defence when someone has tried to make a witty comment about northern ireland and being british

johnr1 · 25-09-2013 10:38PM

grenache wrote: »

Sounds like you've run into a few bigots from the Red/Blue/White community. These bigots don't represent all Northerners.

More than a few, sadly, and while some were no doubt of the brand you describe, the cheating in business particularly was by Nationalists and the vandalism happened in a Nationalist area the last time.

To answer another poster: Belfast, Derry, Carrickfergus, Bushmills (particularly bad) Portadown, Armagh City, Colerain, Limavaddy, Enniskillen, Antrim Town, Larne, anywhere in Tyrone.

There are very few places where a southerener is really welcome up there, maybe in the Glens of Antrim, Newcastle, Ballintoy, Ballycastle, parts of Armagh, in my experience.

mfceiling · 25-09-2013 10:43PM

bohsboy wrote: »

Have to laugh at the innocence of this nordie love in. The majority of them despise us down here and would have no problem letting you know about it.

B*llocks....

markomuscle · 25-09-2013 10:44PM

johnr1 wrote: »

More than a few, sadly, and while some were no doubt of the brand you describe, the cheating in business particularly was by Nationalists and the vandalism happened in a Nationalist area the last time.

To answer another poster: Belfast, Derry, Carrickfergus, Bushmills (particularly bad) Portadown, Armagh City, Colerain, Limavaddy, Enniskillen, Antrim Town, Larne, anywhere in Tyrone.

There are very few places where a southerener is really welcome up there, maybe in the Glens of Antrim, Newcastle, Ballintoy, Ballycastle, parts of Armagh, in my experience.

Tyrone? any abuse there i could only imagine being based around gaelic football.

timthumbni · 25-09-2013 10:51PM

markomuscle wrote: »

Tyrone? any abuse there i could only imagine being based around gaelic football.

Tyrone, where the evolution from ape to man can still be viewed at first hand. ;-)

Is there an implied xenophobia towards Northerners in Irish society

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