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Come on, apart from voting differently and going to different churches, there are few broad differences between Catholic/ nationalist and Protestant/ unionist Sunday cultural behavior. Both groups go shopping at Sprucefield before sitting time to watch Man U on TV, and so on.Quote:
Originally Posted by Janey Mac
You might have mentioned the IFA's long-term (and embarrassing) unwillingness to sanction Sunday matches. There are a few dinosaurs about, of course.
As a "Unionist", I can assure you I know exactly who and what I am - I can't speak for other Unionists though.Quote:
Originally Posted by janeymac
I genuinely don't mean to be disrespectful, but I don't give a flying one about stereotypical differing expressions of religious cultures.
I play/watch sport on a Sunday - it's got nothing to do with "culture" to me.
I do so because I enjoy doing so - if others choose not to, that's entirely up to them. "Culture" will never stop me playing/watching sport on a Sunday.
Perhaps I'm a Protestant with a Catholic phyche?
Aye, dinasaurs who aren't adverse to playing on a Sunday if the dosh is right.;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Gather round
If the USA say the proposed friendly will be played at Craven Cottage on a Sunday, and it's worth a million bucks to the IFA (as reported), do you think the dinasaurs will say no?:eek:
Anyway, didn't the IFA relax the rules on Sunday football recently... there's been a few IL games played on a Sunday recently? And rightly so.
An abolished NI team wouldn't command ANY support among NI fans.Quote:
Originally Posted by third policeman
If your anecdotal friends and relations (want to) support NI, that's great. If they, conversely, want the team to be abolished, quite obviously they don't, er, support NI. (As you may have read above, I support the Ireland cricket team, but that's as far as the parallel goes).Quote:
This is not a scientific poll, but interestingly none of my Unionist friends and relations in the North would have any problem supporting a merged football team, in the same way that they support the Ireland Rugby and cricket teams
Actually, I didn't and in my experience they weren't. Maybe because I wouldn't generalise about a huge country based on a short time living there plus a few later holidays. Have you actually ever been there, or just drunk in a theme Hofbrauhaus somewhere outside the country?Quote:
Originally Posted by Janey Mac
It is said that the GAA saved this country after the civil war when neighbour fought with neighbour. Sport was used to get over political differences and play gaa together for the good of the parish.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gather round
Interesting that you only describe British cultural things in common (shopping & Man U). I get the impression from most unionist representatives that they despite Irish culture (music, sport & language). Am I right?
Are we not straying from the subject matter somewhat here?Quote:
Originally Posted by janeymac
Janey, I've tried to answer all the points where I disagree on this thread, but yours are just off the wall. Manchester United are the first or second best supported football club in Ireland. Shopping isn't a British cultural phenomenon, it's going to the shops and buying things. It's Worldwide. You're bonkers :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by janeymac
I guess most unionist politicians are indifferent to much fiddle diddle music, Gaelic sports and the Irish language. A few are hostile, a few others enthusiastic. None of those things are the sole examples of Irish culture in their areas, of course.
I've had a few beers in Germany alright - but I'm not basing my opinion completely on that - more so on German music and literature.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gather round
Subject matter is how do you unite a country behind a team. GAA did that in the republic.Quote:
Originally Posted by Not Brazil
IFA are not doing that in NI.
There is nothing wrong with following Man Utd (or shopping) as far as I'm concerned (I get a bit annoyed when Irish people start referring to them as 'we' though!).Quote:
Originally Posted by Gather round
The point is, that nationalists are not hostile to British culture in the same way as most unionist politicians (who are elected by protestants/unionists) are downright hostile to Irish culture. Is it any wonder nationalists get ****ed off?
The GAA are not "uniting" anything up here - but, that's by the by.Quote:
Originally Posted by janeymac
Given the differences of nationality, politics, and expression of same, in Northern Ireland, there is only so far the IFA can go. By nature (ie. team called "Northern Ireland") it ain't going to be everyone's cup of tea. Fair dues.
Denying the existance of the IFA, and supporters of it's International representive team, err, their team, will not solve anything constructively.
Aye - Nationalists/Republicans are "champions" of British culture on the island, right enough.:rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by janeymac
Those fans/players don't have a sense of statehood/national identity with Northern Ireland. It is big leap in 'logic' to suggest that they also, by extension, oppose it's existance.Quote:
Originally Posted by Not Brazil
Less of the rolling of the eyes there - British originated sport is played right throughout the island of Ireland. We're also rather good at writing in a British language (especially Seamus Heaney). In fact it would say that Irish writers have done more than anyone else for the English (British) language.Quote:
Originally Posted by Not Brazil
I'm scratching my head to think of any British person who has done anything to champion Irish culture (nor do I expect them to!).
They are free to express their sense of "statehood/national identity" by playing for the FAI team, if they so wish.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Fly
They will not be seeing the end of our team in consequence.
Those who see their identity better expressed by playing for/supporting Northern Ireland are wholly entitled to that right.
It's about choice.
Perhaps, given they don't oppose it's (Northern Ireland's) existance (as you suggest), they will respect the right of Northern Ireland to have an International football team, called Northern Ireland? That wouldn't be a big leap in "logic", would it?
The IFA were in a position to do something about uniting the two traditions as soccer was already played by both communities. The IFA messed up big time by being political at a time when it should have been neutral.Quote:
Originally Posted by Not Brazil
Enjoy your music, enjoy your sport, enjoy your language, enjoy your culture...let others who don't share your enthusiasm be different from you.Quote:
Originally Posted by janeymac
None of the things you mentioned do I despise - some I enjoy too.
In what way?Quote:
Originally Posted by janeymac
If one were to take Northern Ireland as an entity, and ask each person "do you think that the two football associations in Ireland, the FAI and IFA, should amalgamate and as a result, produce one representative international football team?", then I would say there would be a good chance of the overall result being - Yes!
But, that is not the point.
If you were to put the same question solely to Northern Ireland fans, in particular NB's block bookers, then the answer, at this time, would be a resounding - No!
Why?
Because, the Northern Ireland international team is one of the only outlets for people of the 'Irish' unionist persuasion in NI, and for the purposes of this discussion - on the island as a whole, to follow or support in any kind of competitive arena.
There is a certain ignorance* on the part of people in the Republic towards NI issues and society in general. If there were a united all-island side tomorrow, almost a sixth of the population within this new jurisdiction would have little or no allegiance to the team and would struggle to identify with it. More importantly, the same applies on the issue of national, political reunification. Is that something desirable? Not to me, it's better to just let things take their course naturally.
* I wouldn't feel much guilt, as in this case - ignorance is most definately bliss! ;)
James Connolly? :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by janeymac