General Chat

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.

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

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.....

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

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

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

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

All para-military groups cause problems. Joy

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

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.

I'm ENGLISH living the last four years near Downpatrick which is in Northern Ireland. It's claimed that St Patricks body is buried there and there is a grave to mark it so at Down Cathederal. There will be a whole long weekend of celebrations marking St Patricks day - today a huge big parade and both community's of catholic and Protestants ( I dare say if we have any Muslims, hindu's Jehovah witnesses and Mormons they will enjoy the craiac too ) will have come together and enjoy the day. This is because regardless of MEDIA HYPE these people sharing this small Island are warm & friendly and aren't at all like the people they are portrayed. Now as you all know with our family tree we are a little bit of all nationalities. Northern Ireland has a long history rooted with the people of Scotland and England and perhaps they are more British than those on the Mainland today ........ now there is food for thought people!! Thinking back to the Roman Invasion and then the Saxon invasion I wonder how much of our blood we can say is of English etc. The Northern Ireland people consider themselves to be forgotten by the mainland , they are a majority who like to be considered British as their ancestors were from British soil here in the NORTH. Natraully there are some that want to be part of the SOUTH . It's a hard line to smudge - hence it's political troubles. Happy St Patricks Day Much happiness Debi

Thankyou kevin for your nice reply. Have a good time next week. regards Em.

Kevin, could i just pull you back to the comment you made about St Patricks day being a holy day... So are St George, Andrew and St David. they are all in the ecumenical calender, and observed as such within the anglican church. I am not trying to be smart kevin... just that my father isn an anglican vicar. regards em.

Thats fair enough Kevin,every one is entitled to their opinion and has the right to express it ,just as we all have the right to agree or dissagree, i love a good discussion my self even if i dont know a lot about the subject i always come away learning somthing Tina

Kevin I'm sorry if you feel hard done by today but it probably seems to a lot of people that you have double standards - does to me anyway. You posted a thread generalising about all GR members without any reasoned argument at all (so it ain't going to start a reasoned debate is it?) and then object to other people making jokes generalising about Irish people! David

Hi Kevin, as you do like to express your opinon which is your right and long may you have it, i just wondered if there are any more subjects apart from the ira that you dont care to debate, having read this through it looks a bit sarkybut i dont mean it to be. Tina

Fair enough, Kevin. No not got much more info. Thanks for asking.

It was funny, but a little bit below the belt for me. I don't understand WHY there is such a problem between Catholics and Protestants in Ireland (both North and the Republic). I want to. Are you saying that the IRA are not terrorists? Are their bombings and killings justified? Surely no killing should be justified.

kevin all saints days should be celebrated and respected in the same wayxxxxxxxx(:

Kevin - you know nothing about my education or me. Please do not imply that I know nothing. You'll be surprised what I do know.