General Chat

The Americans don't realise what thoroughly nasty people the IRA are. They see themselves as Irish-Americans helping the noble Republican cause. What they don't know is that in 1922, the North voted to remain part of Britain. They don't see the knee-cappings and punishment beatings of teenagers. They don't see the carnage caused by bombs exploding in busy town centres. Since 2001 Americans have been barred from donating money to the IRA, which is why they are now taking hostages and robbing banks. I hope these woman manage to convince the US public that the IRA are not the folk heroes they imagine.

Kevin - thanks for the message. Will reply later. As for N Ireland being forgotten by the mainland, if you mean Scotland, England and Wales, then I don't feel you should feel that! Definitely in my mind! Happy St Patrick's Day everyone! Chloe

All para-military groups cause problems. Joy

i think u could all use an extra lesson or 2 as saint pat was actually born in bonny scotland and pls dont forget all wars have had a religous theme not just the irish

protestants and catholics in scotland aswell.but my question is do they have the same troublesxxxxxxxx(:

Kevin is very right about St Patricks origins he was born in Wales and later transferred to Scotland and he retired to County Down N.I where he is buried - some say in Saul which is 2 miles from Downpatrick and some say thanks to John De Courcey he is buried in down cathederal. To think he started off as a Pagan too...........happy days Much happiness Debi

I have been advised that MacDonalds support the I.R.A. Can anyone enlighten further on this?

I am from a Catholic family - origins in Ireland - I remember my Aunt being shocked when she realised that the IRA were a Catholic based organisation.....surely Catholics couldn't commit murder. My problem with the McCartney family is this.....regardless of their religion, for years they have been a Republican family - they have supported the IRA.....but now one of their own has been killed. Did they take to the streets and protest when a Protestant was killed.....there has been so much killing...too much killing Am I being cynical.....just think how many people have been killed or have disappeared...and as for the American support....we were the 'English' were the enemy and the 'Irish' were the freedom fighters and it was obvious who they would support. Our - the English - history in Ireland is not one to be proud of - we drained the country dry and we were Draconian in the measures applied to keep the Irish in order. We learn from history but surely sometimes this history has to become 'history' and we have to progress......this is the 21st century not the 16th.... I will be glad to see the back of the IRA - just the same way as I will be glad to see the back any extreme organisation in Ireland. Ireland deserves peace. As we all know, where America goes, we follow (Iraq springs to mind) so this could be the beginning of the end for Gerry Adams etc... I am sorry if this posting upsets anyone and, if it does, I will remove it.....

Vive la difference! and Roll on Devolution! For everyone! I am a real mixed bag - in every sense of the word - but I love the differences between each place. The more pronounced the better as far as I am concerned but not as far as the killing goes. I don't tend to think of the IRA as being irish, even though I have read up on the famine, etc ( which was absolutely wicked - imagine being a mother or father and digging up potatoes that you could neither feed your babies with nor sell to raise the rent?). I am married to a catholic whilst being protestant myself (oddly enough so is my mother and one of my brothers) but there is no conflict - sometimes in church I get confused as the questions are the same but the responses are different! Perhaps we should all keep the saints days out of respect for each other - then we would all get four extra days holiday per year, even for those who don't believe in god!!! Kevin, we were on holiday in Ireland last year, in Antrim and visiting friends in - is it Ballnahinch? It was breathtakingly beautiful and we are hoping to get chance to go down the west coast either this year or next. Funny how it is a place your soul yearns for even after only a week's visit. Abigail

Are you sure that they were unionists? Where did you hear this? I thought that they were people that just neutral about the situation until Robert was murdered.