Dermot Ahern's comments on an all Ireland side

[Not Brazil]

I helped him out there:)

Cheers Gustavo - I don't know how to do that.

Much appreciated.

[galwayhoop]

i dont either. how do you quote multiple posts in a single post

[youngirish]

i dont either. how do you quote multiple posts in a single post

Quote them all individually and then copy them all into the one post and post that. This is the easiest way to do it.

[galwayhoop]

thanks. watch me attempt my new party trick at the earliest opportunity :D :D

[gustavo]

Looks like there will be economical use of diatribe on this thread in future:)

[galwayhoop]

all part of the new mindset of our envoirnment friendly suburban dewelling population :D :D

[EalingGreen]

Why do you bring Scottish players who declare for Ireland into the rant 'O'Connor And Kane Go To The Darkside, when are these bigoted w*nkers going to wake up and realise some of their neighbours want to be Irish'? What daf*ck has that got to do with the rights and wrongs of Gibson, Kane et al, playing for their country.

13% supporting England. 45% supporting Ireland. How many does that leave supporting your country (sic.)? :D :D :D

Re your first para, I've really no idea what that's meant to be about.

Re. your second, all I know is that support for NI is growing apace, such that we had 14k for the visit of Wales in a friendly on a ball-freezing night in February, with another 10k unable to get tickets (according to the IFA).
Of course, this number might not compare with many other countries, but it was still better than e.g. Belgium or Croatia achieved the following evening, in stadia with much greater capacity.

[EalingGreen]

Our side is called IRELAND. Not the Republic of Ireland, simply Ireland. Forget a united team, the name gives me all the proof I need, that we are the representative side of this island


Wonderful stuff, LH1.

Re your team's name, you can call yourself "The Masters of the Universe" for all I care or you matter. The fact is, it is FIFA who determine such things, and this is what they say:
http://www.fifa.com/en/organisation/confederations/associationdetails/0,1483,IRL,00.html?countrycode=IRL
And if you don't believe that, just take a look at what's printed on your match ticket, or on the programme cover. It will also be (or should be) on the new Scoreboard when they re-open Lansdowne. ;)

Also, you ask why I "persist at bringing politics into the discussion wherever possible", whilst in the self same post typing out the following:

"Northern Ireland may as well be a state. You are pretty much ruled from Westminster, your Stormont has no legislative powers whatsoever, you are poorly represented in Westminster, you are simply a puppet state and a state where the politicians will try out their policy ideas before implementing them on the masses. I could list examples but seeing as your name suggests Ealing, and you live in Northern Ireland, im sure you have seen this in action"

OR

"Well you have Michael Collins to thank for your 6 counties and your national side. Geography has damn all to do with it"

Every come across the concept of "irony"?

And we also had this classic:

"Whilst im on the subject, I have read on many occassions about a challenge in the courts or to fifa attempting to ban players from the North playing for us. Having studied EU law, there are provisions set aside that will continue to allow this to happen. Going to fifa is a waste of time, they would be better going to the European Courts"

You are not the only one who has studied European Law (;) ), but from the confused state of your argument, I can safely say that the others understood it rather better than you!

Quite simply, FIFA is the recognised authority in matters of footballing jurisdiction and arbitration. I should be most interested to see any examples you have found of where the EU has successfully overturned a FIFA ruling in any matter relevant to this thread. Oh, and if going to FIFA is such a "waste of time", why did the FAI seek their advice on Northern-born players' eligibility, in this much trumpeted, but never actually published FIFA letter they refer to?

P.S. If "Stan Staunton's Travelling Circus" is the 'representative side of this island', then God Help Poor Ireland is all I can say! :cool:

[EalingGreen]

I'd guess that Lennon's resolve to play at that time was already weakened by the loud booing at the Norway game, not to mention McIlroy's post match attempts to downplay it's significance.
AFAIK, Lennon has come out publically to give fulsome praise to the NI fans as regards to the changes made since then. The Lennon episode is not a stick to beat the NI fans over, it was barometer of how low things got and a point from where you measure on how far things have moved on since then.

Thank you for your reasoned analysis here, Geysir - it is in marked contrast to the more usual posts here on the NL affair.

For the record, when NL was booed by a significant, but nonetheless minority, section of the crowd in the Norway game, this did appear loud, since the whole crowd was only 7,502. Add to this the fact that we were 3-0 down at half-time and you can imagine why the general support was more demotivated than usual in the face of the knuckle-draggers who were booing.

Anyhow, NL simply cannot have been too discouraged by the booing, since he made himself available for the next three NI games, two of them at Windsor. Indeed, for the next game immediately after Norway (home v Czech Republic, just a month later), the crowd was 10,368 and I can honestly say that not only was there no booing, but on the contrary, Lennon was cheered every time he touched the ball. That to me reflected the sentiment of the "true" NI support.

In any case, the isolated booing v Norway should not be conflated with the death threat, since that was some months later and issued by person or persons unknown. As such, it is at least mischievous, if not malevolent, to try and lay that at the door of the NI support, the vast majority of whom were horrified, even ashamed, at being associated in any way with such a vile act.

However, in a silver lining to this dark cloud, most observers consider that the Lennon affair was the "last straw" which caused the true supporters to seize back the Agenda from the bigots and put our house in order.
And whilst things never should have got so bad in the first place, nor should it have gone unchallenged for so long, none of us can change history - though doubtless the begrudgers and naysayers will continue with their attempt, whilst the rest of us continue with trying to change the future.

[EalingGreen]

I must confess I did belt out a rendition of The Old Brigade in honour or foot.ie's 'Wanka of da Week' Ealing Green. Couldn't find the words for Long Way to Tipp Ayrie which is why that sectarian song was sung instead. Apologies to the easily offended...not!

You can try to attach all the offensive epithets you like to me, but in the end, you are the one who is proud to sing party political songs when your team plays, whilst I do not engage in such bigoted behaviour, nor have I ever.

Pathetic.

[livehead1]

yawn .

[sylvo]

[QUOTE=Not Brazil;621785]Remind me why that was?



Wasn't anything to do with the way your fakeweecountry was a shrine to civil rights and democracy, as for Linfield wasn't it something to do with their nice tolerent fans.

Am up their in Parc an Windsor for the Drogs game, will see for myself what its like.

[co. down green]

ealing spends more time here than he does over on 'Are we a Country'.

[ifk101]

Maybe someone should inform him that his roof is leaking. EalingGreen has been too busy with his misguided flag waving that his own house has gone into disrepair and a marital breakdown is on the cards. Once again your energies should be focused on looking after your own little wee family. You have been too busy conveting another man's family that your own wee family is being forced to seek refuge elsewhere. Shame on you.

[Not Brazil]

Wasn't anything to do with the way your fakeweecountry was a shrine to civil rights and democracy, as for Linfield wasn't it something to do with their nice tolerent fans.

Am up their in Parc an Windsor for the Drogs game, will see for myself what its like.


Northern Ireland had to play their "home" games in the UK during the early seventies because of "civil unrest" in Northern Ireland.

Linfield were forced to play "home" European games away in the aftermath of trouble in Dundalk in 1979. That fixture took place in a charged atmosphere - coming days after the murder of Lord Mountbatten (and a child) and the murder of 17 British soldiers at Narrow Water.

Thankfully, the political climate in Northern Ireland has somewhat changed since then.

I will be in Drogheda myself on the 26th.

I hope you enjoy the return fixture at Windsor Park.

[galwayhoop]

ealing spends more time here than he does over on 'Are we a Country'.

classic

[EalingGreen]

Maybe someone should inform him that his roof is leaking. EalingGreen has been too busy with his misguided flag waving that his own house has gone into disrepair and a marital breakdown is on the cards. Once again your energies should be focused on looking after your own little wee family. You have been too busy conveting another man's family that your own wee family is being forced to seek refuge elsewhere. Shame on you.

IFK101
1. Read again what you have just posted (above);
2. Read the title of the Thread;
3. Now remind me again who is "coveting" what and from whom?

We in NI certainly have our problems, but right now, I don't think we'd swap our problems for yours. Staunton? Delaney? San Marino? No thanks...;)

[geysir]

Northern Ireland had to play their "home" games in the UK during the early seventies because of "civil unrest" in Northern Ireland.
Linfield were forced to play "home" European games away in the aftermath of trouble in Dundalk in 1979. That fixture took place in a charged atmosphere - coming days after the murder of Lord Mountbatten (and a child) and the murder of 17 British soldiers at Narrow Water.
Thankfully, the political climate in Northern Ireland has somewhat changed since then.
Murder? rather emotive language to describe the assassination of Mountbatten or British army in uniform killed after a well planned ambush.
Whether you like that language or not, that's how it's described in the history books.
History also records that Linfield's "trouble" in Dundalk all those years ago was not quite a bit of jaywalking, spilled pints et.c.
trouble is a mild word to describe a night of vicious riots which Linfield fans were held totally responsible for instigating and the club was properly dealt with by UEFA
I would applaud Linfield fc for their efforts to change the political climate in sanitising their support and for the opening declaration that can be read before entering their website,
"Linfield Football Club is an equal opportunities club and will not tolerate any form of sectarianism or racially offensive behaviour or chanting. As part of our on-going commitment to the IFA's "Football for All" campaign, "Kick it out" and to equality, anyone caught making racist or sectarian comments, may be arrested, prosecuted and banned from the club."

[gustavo]

Murder? rather emotive language to describe the assassination of Mountbatten or British army in uniform killed after a well planned ambush.
Whether you like that language or not, that's how it's described in the history books.
History also records that Linfield's "trouble" in Dundalk all those years ago was not quite a bit of jaywalking, spilled pints et.c.
trouble is a mild word to describe a night of vicious riots which Linfield fans were held totally responsible for instigating and the club was properly dealt with by UEFA
I would applaud Linfield fc for their efforts to change the political climate in sanitising their support and for the opening declaration that can be read before entering their website,
"Linfield Football Club is an equal opportunities club and will not tolerate any form of sectarianism or racially offensive behaviour or chanting. As part of our on-going commitment to the IFA's "Football for All" campaign, "Kick it out" and to equality, anyone caught making racist or sectarian comments, may be arrested, prosecuted and banned from the club."


So if the killing of Mountbatten was not murder but rather asassination , what about the child involved , what term would you use for that?

[livehead1]

Just saw this on the Ulster Council Website!! The IFA's attitude to all things irish has been in the past:

1906: The Irish Federation of Association Football donate £50 to promote soccer in Fermanagh and "combat GAA activities there, which have become unpleasantly popular of late."

[gustavo]

Jeez what chance do the IFA have if you are going to bring up events more than 100 years old.

[EalingGreen]

Murder? rather emotive language to describe the assassination of Mountbatten or British army in uniform killed after a well planned ambush.
Whether you like that language or not, that's how it's described in the history books.

Oh dear, I had feared this thread might degenerate along such lines - if the Mods wish to delete or move this post to another section, I will gladly understand.

Anyhow, for a reasonably neutral (American) take on the Mountbatten bombing, anyone interested might like to read the following:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,920606-4,00.html

Since it is lengthy, I would highlight the following excerpts:

The troubles"in Ulster take a terrible toll

It was a brilliantly sunny, almost windless day at the little fishing village of Mullaghmore overlooking Donegal Bay on Ireland's northwest coast. Lord Louis Mountbatten, 79, the distinguished war hero, diplomat and elder statesman of Britain's royal family, was summering as usual at his turreted stone castle, Classiebawn, in the green hills. Dressed in faded corduroys and rough pullover, Mountbatten was a beloved and folksy figure around Mullaghmore, where he had vacationed for 35 years. He could sometimes be seen standing knee-deep in the waters offshore, fishing for shrimp, and occasionally took local children for a ride on his 27-ft. fishing vessel, Shadow V. This day he pulled up to the boat dock around 11:30 a.m. for what promised to be a superb day of cruising. Joining him were his daughter, Lady Patricia Braourne, 55, her husband Lord Brabourne, 54, their twin sons Timothy and Nicholas, 14, and Lord Brabourne's mother, the Dowager Lady Brabourne, 82. An Ulster schoolboy, Paul Maxwell, 15, whom Mountbatten had given the coveted summer job of boat boy, cast off the moorings, and the Shadow V, powered by a three-cylinder diesel engine, slowly eased beyond the harbor's protecting stone walls until it cleared the long jetty.

The party proceeded along the coast, still only a stone's throw from shore, for a few hundred yards, then stopped to inspect Lord Mountbatten's lobster pots.

Suddenly, an enormous explosion shattered the summer stillness of the harbor. The blast blew the boat "to smithereens," in the words of one eyewitness, and hurled all seven occupants into the water. Nearby fishermen raced to the rescue. Still breathing, Lord Mountbatten was pulled into one of the boats. He died, his legs nearly blown off, almost immediately. Two Belfast doctors on holiday hastily set up a makeshift aid station on the wharf, using old doors for stretchers, broken broomsticks for splints and ripped-up sheets to bind up wounds until ambulances arrived to rush the victims to Sligo General Hospital. Both Mountbatten's grandson Nicholas and the Maxwell youth had been killed in the blast. After a nightlong struggle to save her life, the Dowager Lady Brabourne died the next morning.

A few hours after the explosion came the dreaded confirmation of what many already suspected. "The I.R.A. claim responsibility for the execution of Lord Louis Mountbatten," said a statement issued by the Provisional wing of the Irish Republican Army in Belfast. "This operation is one of the discriminate ways we can bring to the attention of the English people the continuing occupation of our country."



Late last week, as plans were laid for the ceremonial funeral in Westminster Abbey this Wednesday, the bodies of Mountbatten, his grandson and the Dowager Lady Brabourne were flown to Broadlands, his Hampshire estate, to lie in state in the white porticoed mansion. Britons would not soon forget that the distinguished old sea dog, when asked not long ago if he feared an I.R.A. attack, gruffly replied: "What would they want with an old man like me?" A man of civility and simplicity who tried to build bridges instead of exploiting divisions, he could not conceive that his death could be twisted into a violent statement. "I am a man plump in the center," he told TIME'S Frank Melville last year. "I loathe all manifestations of extremism, and I believe we should strive, above all else, for the dignity and human rights of mankind, regardless of race, color and creed."

A 79 year-old war hero, who had holidayed in the Republic for 35 years, without ever uttering a single word on Irish politics, but whose death inspired a week's mourning in India. An eighty two year old woman. A married couple in their fifties. Twin fourteen year old boys and their friend, a 15 year old Irish lad on holiday with his family (who heard the explosion from the beach).

We can call it an "assassination", or "well-planned", but Heaven forbid we should call it "murder"...:mad:

[Andyh]

Jeez what chance do the IFA have if you are going to bring up events more than 100 years old.

Well knowing the IFA, they're still debating over how best to spend the £50. Either that or they all went on a nice holiday.

[youngirish]

So if the killing of Mountbatten was not murder but rather asassination , what about the child involved , what term would you use for that?

I'd call it murder but our friends the British government and the Americans call it collateral damage when it happens frequently in Iraq and Afghanistan (the few times they bother even commenting on it). It's no different to what has happenned in wars throughout history.

[Not Brazil]

Murder? rather emotive language to describe the assassination of Mountbatten or British army in uniform killed after a well planned ambush.
Whether you like that language or not, that's how it's described in the history books.

I would applaud Linfield fc for their efforts to change the political climate in sanitising their support and for the opening declaration that can be read before entering their website,


1. You call it whatever you like. I just wonder do members of of the organisation who perpetrated Mountbatton/Narrow Water refer to events in Loughall as "assassination...after a well planned ambush".

2. Linfield Football Club have taken enormous strides in recent times, and I am proud to be a part of those chages.

Livehead1,

As a member of the most politically exclusive "sporting" organisation in the world, it does you little favour to be throwing stones in the direction of any other organisation.

This is 2007, not 1906.

These days even Linfield Football club have been known to open their facilities for usage by ladies who like to camogie.

[Andyh]

Just saw this on the Ulster Council Website!! The IFA's attitude to all things irish has been in the past:

1906: The Irish Federation of Association Football donate £50 to promote soccer in Fermanagh and "combat GAA activities there, which have become unpleasantly popular of late."

Bit of a contradiction there don't you think? The Irish Football Association's attitude to all things Irish? Especially in 1906 when we could all agree we were Irish:D

[gustavo]

I think its fair to say that this debate has run its course and any pertinent points that were to be raised , have been raised so I think I will close this thread. If you have any objections PM me or eirebhoy and they will be taken on board.