Religious Fanaticism in Ireland

BuilderPlumber · 09-09-2014 11:07PM #1

Now, we hear all about ISIS/ISIL, Taliban, al Shabaab, Boko Haram and al Qaeda and their wellknown intolerant brand of religion. All crazy fanatics from faraway places one can barely find on a map? All completely alien to Ireland? Right? Wrong!

I had the misfortune to be in the border village of Glenfarne on Sunday and some of Monday. Went out of the place into the country to visit a group of people I thought were friends and found I had almost gone to Afghanistan and not to Cavan or wherever this Glenfarne is (it is about 3 miles or so from the Northern Ireland border near Fermanagh: I think it is in Cavan, maybe Donegal). Sitting down, the family said the Rosary and then started talking about the parish priest being 'not one to trust' and 'too liberal'. I didn't take much notice. Then, later that evening, it was all IRA songs being sung along with some religious songs in the pub. A whole hatred of protestants banter seemed to be implied and one felt they were in dissident IRA land through and through. Very different to the Cavan town, Mohill, Killeshandra or Dromod just down a bit. There was talk about the showbands and how the 'f'ing prods all killed them' and the 'only good unionist was a dead one .. revenge for Miami'. Then, the most scary: one of my 'friends' said 'ISIS were the best thing to emerge in years and they will have those Brits running scared out of Iraq and out of London too'. This was not said in the pub but in a house and no one seemed to disagree other than me. They also said that 'Islam is the Arab's religion and they are entitled to kill those who disobey' and that 'In Ireland, we are Catholic and protestants are not welcome in any of the 32 counties of Ireland'. They accused a local priest who they did not name other than by initials of 'spying on people and that he was only interested in going after women and not being a priest'. They said he 'was a unionist spy and a traitor planted to corrupt the church'. All was said in a serious, soft northern style accent akin to the way Neven Maguire, the chef, talks (he is from next door in Blacklion which is nicer btw!).

This is precisely where ISIS can recruit others. The hatred and racism was here and these people are people I know who are educated and who I thought were more liberal. In their work lives, they hide their religious mania and their paranoid hatreds.

I got out of this place as soon as I could I do not want to ever go there again. I apologise to the majority of decent people who live there but Glenfarne is one town I will never visit again. These views are very very worrying and this deceptive village on the border harbours a fanaticism that dovetails with what ISIS, etc. stand for.

Gatling · 09-09-2014 11:10PM

Going to get some cherry coke

(This will be worth watching)

gandalf · 09-09-2014 11:11PM

Small minded bigots are not limited to any one religion. They all have them.

Hammar · 09-09-2014 11:13PM

Go home OP,you're drunk.

I live about 4/5 miles from the border with Fermanagh. Plenty of protestants around and no-one gives a sh1t about religion.
Glenfarne is in Laytrum as far as i know. You could at least get that point correct when you're making your short story up.

fryup · 09-09-2014 11:15PM

BuilderPlumber wrote: »

: I think it is in Cavan, maybe Donegal). Sitting down, the family said the Rosary and then started talking about the parish priest being 'not one to trust' and 'too liberal'. I didn't take much notice. Then, later that evening, it was all IRA songs being sung along with some religious songs in the pub.

ya gotta love the irish

like something out of Father Ted

curioser · 09-09-2014 11:17PM

BuilderPlumber wrote: »

Now, we hear all about ISIS/ISIL, Taliban, al Shabaab, Boko Haram and al Qaeda and their wellknown intolerant brand of religion. All crazy fanatics from faraway places one can barely find on a map? All completely alien to Ireland? Right? Wrong!

I had the misfortune to be in the border village of Glenfarne on Sunday and some of Monday. Went out of the place into the country to visit a group of people I thought were friends and found I had almost gone to Afghanistan and not to Cavan or wherever this Glenfarne is (it is about 3 miles or so from the Northern Ireland border near Fermanagh: I think it is in Cavan, maybe Donegal). Sitting down, the family said the Rosary and then started talking about the parish priest being 'not one to trust' and 'too liberal'. I didn't take much notice. Then, later that evening, it was all IRA songs being sung along with some religious songs in the pub. A whole hatred of protestants banter seemed to be implied and one felt they were in dissident IRA land through and through. Very different to the Cavan town, Mohill, Killeshandra or Dromod just down a bit. There was talk about the showbands and how the 'f'ing prods all killed them' and the 'only good unionist was a dead one .. revenge for Miami'. Then, the most scary: one of my 'friends' said 'ISIS were the best thing to emerge in years and they will have those Brits running scared out of Iraq and out of London too'. This was not said in the pub but in a house and no one seemed to disagree other than me. They also said that 'Islam is the Arab's religion and they are entitled to kill those who disobey' and that 'In Ireland, we are Catholic and protestants are not welcome in any of the 32 counties of Ireland'. They accused a local priest who they did not name other than by initials of 'spying on people and that he was only interested in going after women and not being a priest'. They said he 'was a unionist spy and a traitor planted to corrupt the church'. All was said in a serious, soft northern style accent akin to the way Neven Maguire, the chef, talks (he is from next door in Blacklion which is nicer btw!).

This is precisely where ISIS can recruit others. The hatred and racism was here and these people are people I know who are educated and who I thought were more liberal. In their work lives, they hide their religious mania and their paranoid hatreds.

I got out of this place as soon as I could I do not want to ever go there again. I apologise to the majority of decent people who live there but Glenfarne is one town I will never visit again. These views are very very worrying and this deceptive village on the border harbours a fanaticism that dovetails with what ISIS, etc. stand for.

Try having a good night's sleep. You'll feel the better for it.

BuilderPlumber · 09-09-2014 11:18PM

Hammar wrote: »

Go home OP,you're drunk.

I live about 4/5 miles from the border with Fermanagh. Plenty of protestants around and no-one gives a sh1t about religion.
Glenfarne is in Laytrum as far as i know. You could at least get that point correct when you're making your short story up.

Of course, the vast majority don't care about religion in that regard. That never stops the tiny minority though wrecking things. I am unsure where Glenfarne is and could be there and am unsure where the house i was in was. Never heard of it until last week when I was invited up. But definitely ROI and not NI. I'm sure Glenfarne is mostly good people and is a nice place but I had a bad experience with these people who seemed very different when I knew them when i was in college in Dublin a few years back.

groucho marx · 09-09-2014 11:21PM

Youve exceeded the word limit for an ah thread therefore I didnt read op

Nodin · 09-09-2014 11:21PM

BuilderPlumber wrote: »

Of course, the vast majority don't care about religion in that regard. That never stops the tiny minority though wrecking things. I am unsure where Glenfarne is and could be there and am unsure where the house i was in was. Never heard of it until last week when I was invited up. But definitely ROI and not NI. I'm sure Glenfarne is mostly good people and is a nice place but I had a bad experience with these people who seemed very different when I knew them when i was in college in Dublin a few years back.

What religious songs did they sing in the pub?

ArtyM · 09-09-2014 11:21PM

Sweet Jesus, did you just grab handfuls of letters and throw them at the page?
Ain't nobody got time fo that!

catallus · 09-09-2014 11:23PM

I hope it was the full rosary they said, and not that new-fangled liberal one with only 10 verses.

Tail Docker · 09-09-2014 11:23PM

ISIS are in Cavan? I knew they were mad into the ISas, but this is a new development. Happily, they will be too mean to share their views with anyone else.

Donkey Oaty · 09-09-2014 11:24PM

Glenfarne

Sounds like Lidl own brand turkey slices.

dxhound2005 · 09-09-2014 11:26PM

Glenfarne is not in either Donegal or Cavan. Guess again.

Hammar · 09-09-2014 11:26PM

BuilderPlumber wrote: »

Of course, the vast majority don't care about religion in that regard. That never stops the tiny minority though wrecking things. I am unsure where Glenfarne is and could be there and am unsure where the house i was in was. Never heard of it until last week when I was invited up. But definitely ROI and not NI. I'm sure Glenfarne is mostly good people and is a nice place but I had a bad experience with these people who seemed very different when I knew them when i was in college in Dublin a few years back.

I'm going to regret this,but you know what i'll indulge your ramblings
How are they wrecking things??? You start a thread about "Religious fanaticism in Ireland", and then compare the bigoted views of these individuals(if they do exist) to how ISIS recruit. If this group of people do exist, are they advocating violence against Protestants? Do they wish to wipe all Protestants/Unionists(about 750,000 on this island) out?
Have they attacked any Protestants?
If you believe they do pose such a threat that you try comparing them to the Taleban/ISIS, Contact the Gardai and we will see some action taken.

BuilderPlumber · 09-09-2014 11:27PM

Tail Docker wrote: »

ISIS are in Cavan? I knew they were mad into the ISas, but this is a new development. Happily, they will be too mean to share their views with anyone else.

LOL, would not count on that. I know these are the socalled armchair fanatics but it takes only one few steps for them to get out of their chairs, buy a gun and shoot someone just because of their race or religion. I don't tolerate any racist or religious fanaticism and felt out of place. Apologies to the vast majority of decent people who comprise Glenfarne and Cavan. In no way, does this minority represent the views of all and that needs to be stated.

kingchess · 09-09-2014 11:30PM

Nodin wrote: »

What religious songs did they sing in the pub?

a few decades of the rosary really puts the locals in a good mood down our neck of the woods followed by gallons of porter,my feet are tapping away as I write this true story(well,the bit about the porter is true anyway)

Nodin · 09-09-2014 11:30PM

BuilderPlumber wrote: »

LOL, would not count on that. I know these are the socalled armchair fanatics but it takes only one few steps for them to get out of their chairs, buy a gun and shoot someone just because of their race or religion. I don't tolerate any racist or religious fanaticism and felt out of place. Apologies to the vast majority of decent people who comprise Glenfarne and Cavan. In no way, does this minority represent the views of all and that needs to be stated.

What religious songs did they sing in the pub?

Shakespeare's Sister · 09-09-2014 11:32PM

If the OP saw it, he saw it. It's nasty stuff. Thankfully a minority, but still nasty stuff. I'm not a Northern Ireland basher (have great time for the place/people) but I'd imagine a conflict/former conflict area like NI/its border is prone to this in pockets, on both sides of the divide.

fryup wrote: »

ya gotta love the irish like something out of Father Ted

The handful of people the OP is referring to = "the Irish"?

fryup · 09-09-2014 11:36PM

Shakespeare's Sister wrote: »

The handful of people the OP is referring to = "the Irish"?

well, some irish ...redneck irish

BuilderPlumber · 09-09-2014 11:36PM

Hammar wrote: »

I'm going to regret this,but you know what i'll indulge your ramblings
How are they wrecking things??? You start a thread about "Religious fanaticism in Ireland", and then compare the bigoted views of these individuals(if they do exist) to how ISIS recruit. If this group of people do exist, are they advocating violence against Protestants? Do they wish to wipe all Protestants/Unionists(about 750,000 on this island) out?
Have they attacked any Protestants?
If you believe they do pose such a threat that you try comparing them to the Taleban/ISIS, Contact the Gardai and we will see some action taken.

As said, these are armchair republican/religious bigots. These people unfortunately DO exist very much and I will have nothing to do with them in the future. Do I think they will go out and kill protestants really? No. Do I think they hate protestants? Yes. I know they think Michael McKevitt is a hero and that bin Laden and the 'caliph' (Baghdadi) are too.

Ireland thank god is peaceful now. That's why they don't act on their views. But if a war or revolution broke out, no doubt in my mind these people would turn from armchair to real activists. Wars is what provided fanatics from Hitler to Pol Pot with space to implement their hatreds. ISIS and al Qaeda the same. If Ireland's infrastructure broke down, fanatics would take over in places too. Afterall, it is within our lifetime that violence and hatred based on religion existed in Ireland and this has no entirely gone.

Nodin · 09-09-2014 11:37PM

BuilderPlumber wrote: »

As said, these are armchair republican/religious bigots. These people unfortunately DO exist very much and I will have nothing to do with them in the future. Do I think they will go out and kill protestants really? No. Do I think they hate protestants? Yes. I know they think Michael McKevitt is a hero and that bin Laden and the 'caliph' (Baghdadi) are too.

Ireland thank god is peaceful now. That's why they don't act on their views. But if a war or revolution broke out, no doubt in my mind these people would turn from armchair to real activists. Wars is what provided fanatics from Hitler to Pol Pot with space to implement their hatreds. ISIS and al Qaeda the same. If Ireland's infrastructure broke down, fanatics would take over in places too. Afterall, it is within our lifetime that violence and hatred based on religion existed in Ireland and this has no entirely gone.

What religious songs did they sing in the pub?

BuilderPlumber · 09-09-2014 11:40PM

Nodin wrote: »

What religious songs did they sing in the pub?

Be not afraid with reference to 'wicked protestant men' was one. Ag criost an sile, Amazing grace. The others I never heard before and don't want to again.

Nodin · 09-09-2014 11:44PM

BuilderPlumber wrote: »

Be not afraid with reference to 'wicked protestant men' was one. Ag criost an sile, Amazing grace. The others I never heard before and don't want to again.

Yep, they closed out their sectarian night with a hymn by a Protestant.

You're making it up, and rather transparently so. Why you'd want to is beyond me, but you certainly are.

dxhound2005 · 09-09-2014 11:44PM

BuilderPlumber wrote: »

Be not afraid with reference to 'wicked protestant men' was one. Ag criost an sile, Amazing grace. The others I never heard before and don't want to again.

History doesn't stop. Never mind talking about the B Specials people in rural border areas still remember the Plantation. Not literally of course but it's effects are very real in their lives.

fryup · 09-09-2014 11:48PM

^^^^^^^^^^^

"the british never remember the irish never forget"

The Backwards Man · 09-09-2014 11:48PM

Strange if true.

I've lived on the border all my life and its my experience that there is far less of that sectarian bullcrap here than anywhere else.

Then again, up here we are a very tolerant people.

BuilderPlumber · 09-09-2014 11:51PM

dxhound2005 wrote: »

Glenfarne is not in either Donegal or Cavan. Guess again.

It is in Leitrim. I looked it up. Don't know if the people i knew lived in Leitrim or Cavan as it was towards Blacklion. But just outside of Glenfarne. This is the Glenfarne official site's map:

http://www.glenfarne.com/about/locationmap/

Weird that they have all the counties right here except for Cavan. Is this deliberate or what!?!?! I have another map and Cavan goes up as far as Glenfarne (I thought it was in Cavan) and had gone via Boyle, Carrick, Leitrim village and Drumshanbo to get to Blacklion and then Glenfarne so know I was not in NI on this journey.

Annasopra · 09-09-2014 11:53PM

Tail Docker wrote: »

ISIS are in Cavan?

It's their biggest recruiting ground in Ireland.

Tail Docker · 09-09-2014 11:55PM

BuilderPlumber wrote: »

As said, these are armchair republican/religious bigots. These people unfortunately DO exist very much and I will have nothing to do with them in the future. Do I think they will go out and kill protestants really? No. Do I think they hate protestants? Yes. I know they think Michael McKevitt is a hero and that bin Laden and the 'caliph' (Baghdadi) are too.

Ireland thank god is peaceful now. That's why they don't act on their views. But if a war or revolution broke out, no doubt in my mind these people would turn from armchair to real activists. Wars is what provided fanatics from Hitler to Pol Pot with space to implement their hatreds. ISIS and al Qaeda the same. If Ireland's infrastructure broke down, fanatics would take over in places too. Afterall, it is within our lifetime that violence and hatred based on religion existed in Ireland and this has no entirely gone.

I think you need to dig a bunker, fast, and stock up on tinned goods. Start watching Bear Grylls. They could turn feral at any moment. Hai.

BuilderPlumber · 09-09-2014 11:56PM

Nodin wrote: »

Yep, they closed out their sectarian night with a hymn by a Protestant.

You're making it up, and rather transparently so. Why you'd want to is beyond me, but you certainly are.

No I am not making it up. I wish i was. Yes, some of these songs are probably protestant in origin, Likewise some of these will support English soccer clubs, etc. They probably haven't got fluent Irish. They sing about Wolfe Tone and Robert Emmett, and forget they were .... protestants!! They prob watch Corrie St and Eastenders! That's the hypocrisy of such people.

Religious Fanaticism in Ireland

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