Seems Lizzy's on the way...

[Magicme]

I hate green so wouldn't mind a new flag....

[Eminence Grise]

I agree with parts of Backtowalsall’s post regarding partition and the desirability of a united island with a single team representing it in the Commonwealth Games. But I’d stress again that we could rejoin the Commonwealth of Nations (not the British Commonwealth as it was previously called) as a republic, without having to recognise the Queen as anything other than the head of the associational structure. A bit like von Rompuy in the EU, similarly unelected, but without the periodic change of leadership.


The national anthem and flag is a red herring. But copyright on the anthem runs out soon, so who knows? It was never a popular choice. It was adopted witih no formal announcement or legislation, and even Tomás Derrig (FF minister for Education in the 1930s) twice declined in the Dáil to have it taught in schools....


It’s all moot, really. We’re unlikely to apply, and perhaps it would be best if, in the run-up to 2016, we first decided what kind of republic we wanted. Because, God knows, we’ve made a poor fist of this one.

[awec]

I agree with parts of Backtowalsall’s post regarding partition and the desirability of a united island with a single team representing it in the Commonwealth Games. But I’d stress again that we could rejoin the Commonwealth of Nations (not the British Commonwealth as it was previously called) as a republic, without having to recognise the Queen as anything other than the head of the associational structure. A bit like von Rompuy in the EU, similarly unelected, but without the periodic change of leadership.


The national anthem and flag is a red herring. But copyright on the anthem runs out soon, so who knows? It was never a popular choice. It was adopted witih no formal announcement or legislation, and even Tomás Derrig (FF minister for Education in the 1930s) twice declined in the Dáil to have it taught in schools....


It’s all moot, really. We’re unlikely to apply, and perhaps it would be best if, in the run-up to 2016, we first decided what kind of republic we wanted. Because, God knows, we’ve made a poor fist of this one.

Forgive my ignorance, but what is in 2016? Am I missing something obvious?

[Spudulika]

Euroepan Championships in France I think. Or it could be the Easter Resurrection.

[mypost]

Have to say my thinking on this issue has changed dramatically on this issue in a week. But Last week I could only ever see the British monarchy as a force for division in Ireland. The visit has certainly proved me wrong on that one, and I'm happy to think again based on that.

In my opinion the single greatest problem faced by the Irish people today is the partition of the island. It causes one problem after another, and although I accept the point about how much of the cost of Northern Ireland is actually paid for by the people of Northern Ireland, the fact remains that an island of 6m people runs 2 government's with all the expense and duplication of expenditure that comes with that.

With that in mind, if Ireland is to join the commonwealth, I would hope that it would be a means of uniting, rather than dividing the people of the island. If joining the Commonwealth means a Northern Ireland team running against a Republic of Ireland team in the 4 x 100ms relay in the Commonwealth Games, I'd say thanks, but no thanks to that arrangement. It will only end with a boxing final on a Saturday evening turning into a running battle on the Malone Road after a feed of drink in the Bot.

Similarly, I think I would now be quite prepared to see a return of the Monarch as head of state, but again only if that unites people, rather than dividing them. Presumably if we were to become a commonwealth realm, we would have a Govorner General. But in the 21st century there is no reason why all the people of the island couldn't elect someone to live in Aras, perform all the same functions as the President, but technically be performing those functions on behalf of the monarch.

Can't see it happening in the short term though.

Don't want to see it happening in the short, medium, or long term. Our future is in the European Union, not the Commonwealth. We are Irish and Europeans, not here to serve the UK's interests, in any form. We did it for long enough.

[Eminence Grise]

Forgive my ignorance, but what is in 2016? Am I missing something obvious?

326th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne. Going to be sponsored by Mazda, for obvious reasons. Already republicans are planning a boycott because their inferiority complex (Chippus Epaulettues Hiberniae) cannot accept the fact that there is no Irish car manufacturer since Ford and Volkswagen departed these shores.

[backstothewall]

Don't want to see it happening in the short, medium, or long term. Our future is in the European Union, not the Commonwealth. We are Irish and Europeans, not here to serve the UK's interests, in any form. We did it for long enough.

Jaysus. Who said anything about serving the UKs interests. The only interests being discussed are our own.

There's no reason why we can't be in the commonwealth and EU. The point is if we are to join, we will be doing it on our own terms

Exactly, steady on boys - jeez people already talking about the commonwealth! Will be about changing the flag and anthem next!

The state has a flag and anthem that aren't going anywhere. The nation has Irelands call. What we lack is an agreed flag for the nation, so we have this daft situation where there is a tricolour and an Ulster flag at rugby games. A new agreed flag would probably be worth having.

[strangeirish]

New flag, joining a commonwealth...meh! We may have our own Queen soon enough...

[SkStu]

David Norris stroking a pussy? Now theres a first.


sorry...

[bennocelt]

The state has a flag and anthem that aren't going anywhere. The nation has Irelands call. What we lack is an agreed flag for the nation, so we have this daft situation where there is a tricolour and an Ulster flag at rugby games. A new agreed flag would probably be worth having.

Thats awful to be fair

[Eminence Grise]

It's very charitable of you to leave it at just awful....

[backstothewall]

Its awful without a doubt. But at least we have it. And in fairness Amhrán na bhFiann isn't great either.

[awec]

Its awful without a doubt. But at least we have it. And in fairness Amhrán na bhFiann isn't great either.

Not least because nobody seems to know the words.

Sing the first line and a big roar at the end and you're grand.

[backstothewall]

In 1936, James Dillon, later leader of Fine Gael, proposed that A Nation Once Again should be the Irish national anthem.

Why is it they always get rid of the good policies?

[Hurt Locker]

Not least because nobody seems to know the words.

Sing the first line and a big roar at the end and you're grand.

Know it off by heart was hammered into us in national school our teacher was a great gaeilgeoir.