Should Ireland apologize for its role in the creation of the British Empire?

Cold War Kid · 07-09-2015 01:09PM

REXER wrote: »

Are you nuts? The British Empire dragged millions of people out of the stone age, created workable infrastructures in countries all around the world and provided the first real medicine to people that up to that point had been totally dependent on witch craft and the local witch doctor and education that helped bring light and food to these people!

If anything the Ireland should be ashamed of their roll in how the de-colonisation and destruction of the British Empire and other European empires was done as that is one of main the causes of the current chaos that has resulted in the flood of refugees and migrants in the Med!

Always one.

Edgy thread OP - edgy.

Old Jakey · 07-09-2015 01:12PM

Nodin wrote: »

Poverty, idealism, and the words of one the great arseholes of Irish history, John Redmond.

No forced them to join the army and many signed up to defend Ireland after what they had seen happen to Belgium. Many were fighting for Home Rule, they too were doing their bit for independence.

OwaynOTT · 07-09-2015 02:06PM

Reiver wrote: »

"The British Empire was wanted by the English, fought for by the Scots and Irish. Ran by the Welsh"

The army, traditional escape from poverty, no surprise so many Irish joined it, just as the highlanders in Scotland did. But a part to empire building? Absolute bollocks, I very much doubt despite our representation in the British armed forces that we had many work their way up to the higher echelons of command.

Irish people were heavily involved in the British Empire, whether through the military, missions , the admin of colonies or other means.

If we just look at India, Robert Gregory was a director of the East India Company and there was even Irish governors-generals, such as the Irish-born Marquess Wellesley.
A lot of Irish graduates found work in India, with 30% of engineers educated at Trintiy having gone to India by the 1860s.

Irish people were heavily involved in the education sector of the colonies and after the various legal changes there was a boom of new orders setting up missions abroad from 1840 on.
The Christian Brothers, the Brothers of St. Patrick & the Presentation Sisters from Ireland established schools that are still recognised today as some of the finest educational institutions on the sub-continent.

And Irishmen did often find themselves in the higher echelons of the British Army Lieutenant Colonel Eyre Coote was also an Irishman and he was captain of the first British regiment to be sent to India in 1754.

whisky_galore · 07-09-2015 02:08PM

REXER wrote: »

Are you nuts? The British Empire dragged millions of people out of the stone age, created workable infrastructures in countries all around the world and provided the first real medicine to people that up to that point had been totally dependent on witch craft and the local witch doctor and education that helped bring light and food to these people!

If anything the Ireland should be ashamed of their roll in how the de-colonisation and destruction of the British Empire and other European empires was done as that is one of main the causes of the current chaos that has resulted in the flood of refugees and migrants in the Med!

They may have had positive side effects but the idea of colonialism is to exploit another country for monetary gain, plain and simple, and after that perhaps a program of 'betterment' of the natives... but don't make them too smart or put them on a par with their colonial masters, mind. They may get ideas above their station.

wakka12 · 07-09-2015 02:10PM

Many Irish men took up jobs in the British army as there were not many better employment opportunities going here. Also they were not given any respect in the British ranks and were always first to die, always on the frontlines like pawns. So to answer your question, no

LordSutch · 07-09-2015 02:20PM

Wakka12, you really need to read post #63 and #64 again, specially the last paragraph of #64.

OwaynOTT · 07-09-2015 02:42PM

Actually there was a high percentage of officers from Ireland in the british Army in India but one of the possible causes for this, was that Army postings in the sub-continent didn't have as much prestige associated with them as those elsewhere.

Peregrine · 07-09-2015 02:44PM

After Hours isn't the place to discuss this. Feel free to start a thread in the appropriate forum. I'm not too sure which that is.

Edit: History & Heritage, perhaps? PM their mods first to make sure.

Should Ireland apologize for its role in the creation of the British Empire?

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