Spotlight

CitizenErased is entitled to his opinion, just like anyone else. But when he seeks to back them up with assertions of "fact", which are palpably and demonstrably wrong, then his credibility is in tatters.

Aaron Hughes is from a Unionist background, his school did not play GAA, indeed he started out playing Boys Brigade football.

Neither is David Healy from a Nationalist background, nor is his father RC.

That said, none of the three has ever done or said anthing politically or religiously contentious in their life - at least as far as I've ever seen.

I strongly suspect CitizenErased has fallen into the old bigot's trap of judging people by their name. Pathetic.

P.S. David Healy's father is called "Clifford"; Aaron Hughes's former NI teammate Michael Hughes (no relation) is a Catholic from Larne and Chris Baird is a former GAA player from Rasharkin. Oh, and I'm told that Sammy Clingan is from Nationalist West Belfast. Names, eh?

A friend of mine has an autograph from Clingan and its signed Sammy Clingan 32

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Originally Posted by Not Brazil

bearing in mind that Northern Ireland is an integral part of the United Kingdom

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Ha, who are you trying to kid exactly? Integral? It has provided damn all to the economy over the last 30 years and has been an onerous burden on successive British governments.

Ah, schooldays.

At mine, Not Brazil led the Fianna Fail cumann as well as the football team and the Acient order of Hibernians. He'd have been in the first XV and coxless four too, but we weren't allowed to play those Br*t*sh sports. Ealing Green was captain of camogie.

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Originally Posted by livehead1

A friend of mine has an autograph from Clingan and its signed Sammy Clingan 32

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As long as he keeps putting in more sterling performances for Northern Ireland, as has been his trait of late, I don't give two hoots how he signs his autographs.

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Originally Posted by livehead1

Ha, who are you trying to kid exactly? Integral? It has provided damn all to the economy over the last 30 years and has been an onerous burden on successive British governments.

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Aye - but it's still integral.:D

The United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland.

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Originally Posted by Not Brazil

...I have no doubt that if all the "unionist paraphernalia" was removed (whatever that is, bearing in mind that Northern Ireland is an integral part of the United Kingdom, and exists because of the Union) that some younger players will continue to elect to play for the Republic Of Ireland - good luck to them...

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It removes the nationality angle to them declaring.

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Originally Posted by Not Brazil

...PS. There's only one Maik Taylor.

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I'll take the shame. :D

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Originally Posted by EalingGreen

CitizenErased is entitled to his opinion, just like anyone else. But when he seeks to back them up with assertions of "fact", which are palpably and demonstrably wrong, then his credibility is in tatters....

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Pot calling the kettle black here.

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Originally Posted by EalingGreen

I strongly suspect CitizenErased has fallen into the old bigot's trap of judging people by their name. Pathetic...

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No sh*te Sherlock. Yeah we've already covered this subject, and it sort of shoots down the notion that the FAI cold call any NI footballer with a fenian sounding surname too. :rolleyes:

Too much of the 'B' word being thrown around here. CitizenErased: it's spelt with just one 'g', BTW.

Why do NI fans post on a Rep of Ireland forum? I would have absolutely no interest in posting on any other international teams forum.

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Originally Posted by Gather round

Ah, schooldays.
Ealing Green was captain of camogie.

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I'd never have played if I'd known that was what it was. They told me it was Netball...;)

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Originally Posted by Ireland4ever

Why do NI fans post on a Rep of Ireland forum? I would have absolutely no interest in posting on any other international teams forum.

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The topic of the Spotlight programme, to which this thread used to pertain, is of mutual interest.

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Originally Posted by Ireland4ever

Why do NI fans post on a Rep of Ireland forum? I would have absolutely no interest in posting on any other international teams forum.

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Hmmm, now let me see. We have a programme about the NI football team and NI players, broadcast by BBC NI, discussing whether NI-born players should also be eligible to represent the ROI team.

Why would NI fans want to debate this with ROI fans? :rolleyes:

Beats me....

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Originally Posted by Not Brazil

The topic of the Spotlight programme, to which this thread used to pertain, is of mutual interest.

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Originally Posted by EalingGreen

Hmmm, now let me see. We have a programme about the NI football team and NI players, broadcast by BBC NI, discussing whether NI-born players should also be eligible to represent the ROI team.

Why would NI fans want to debate this with ROI fans? :rolleyes:

Beats me....

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With over 1300 posts between you guys im pretty sure this is not the only topic that yee contribute too. :rolleyes:
I've absolutely no problem with anyone posting on this site, i just cant see the attraction for non ROI/EL fans.

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Originally Posted by Ireland4ever

With over 1300 posts between you guys im pretty sure this is not the only topic that yee contribute too. :rolleyes:
I've absolutely no problem with anyone posting on this site, i just cant see the attraction for non ROI/EL fans.

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In general, I find this to be an excellent fans site.

It has an IL section which is obviously of interest to me, and a very good Eircom League section too - I am a big fan of the cross border Setanta Cup, and am broadly supportive of the establishment of an All Ireland "Premier" League.

In addition, there have been various debates about the eligibility issue, which is of mutual interest.

Given that many posters here would be supportive of "All Ireland" initiatives, I'm surprised that you're surprised that someone from Northern Ireland would wish to contribute to the forum.

I glad you have no problem with myself, or anyone else from Northern Ireland, posting here.

It's good to talk.;)

I am a big fan of the cross border Setanta Cup

Aye, concentrate on that until 5pm on Saturday please ;)

I watched the show with my flatmate from Lisburn. He is a Northern Ireland fan and agreed that the FAI should be allowed call up players from Northern Ireland due to the GFA. I don't agree with the FAI asking only players from one community in Northern Ireland. Asking young players from Derry and not from Lisburn to play for the ROI shows sectarianism on the part of the FAI in my opinion. Obviously, a lot of players from Lisburn aren't going to choose to play, but they should be asked. The same goes for the IFA, they should ensure that players from Derry are asked to play for Northern Ireland and not give the FAI a chance to make the players minds up for them. What struck me most from the show was that players want to be given an opportunity and whoever asks them first might be the most successful.

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Originally Posted by Gather round

I am a big fan of the cross border Setanta Cup

Aye, concentrate on that until 5pm on Saturday please ;)

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No probs - if we win on Saturday, we secure our place in it next year.;):)

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Originally Posted by Ireland4ever

With over 1300 posts between you guys im pretty sure this is not the only topic that yee contribute too. :rolleyes:
I've absolutely no problem with anyone posting on this site, i just cant see the attraction for non ROI/EL fans.

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Speaking only for myself, I first browsed, then started posting because it is a well-run site which covers subjects which are of particular interest and/or relevance to me.

I don't expect you to check it out, but my posting history reveals these to be topics from the Eircom Section (where it impinges upon NI football, such as the Setanta, or proposed AIL), the Irish League section (obviously) and the Ireland section, where it deals with something obviously relevant such as the Eligibility issue, or something of particular interest, such as players like Robbie Keane (I'm a Spurs fan, so get to see him play regularly).

You might even take it as a compliment that non-ROI fans are interested enough to contribute here, just as I like to see ROI fans* contribute to OWC.


* - Well maybe not that Lionel Ritchie one, stirrer that he is...;)

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Originally Posted by Not Brazil

I think that telling lies in order to demonise is a form of bigotry.

Do you dispute that?:eek:

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big·ot·ry /ˈbɪgətri/
–noun, plural -ries.
1. stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own.

Being incorrect, or indeed telling a lie to win an argument, is not bigotry. However, while we're on the topic of bigotry, why exactly would mistaking Aaron Hughes for a catholic "demonise" him?

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Originally Posted by GavinZac

Being incorrect, or indeed telling a lie to win an argument, is not bigotry.

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In itself, no, Gavin, but telling lies or making stuff up in order to win is often evidence of bigoted motives, especially when the lies are of a propagandist and offensive nature, such as CE's nonsense about the "Billy Boys" etc.

Frankly, as an NI fan, I'm so sick of being tarnished by this sectarian label that I feel compelled to question the motives of people who post this sort of crap about me and my fellow fans.

And when those detractors are of the "my mate was at school with/heard down the pub/saw it on TV" variety, I instantly smell a rat.

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Originally Posted by LeviathanNI

The most interesting bit was the players saying repeatedly that 'they were never asked' to play by the IFA.. ergo they were asked by the FAI? Kinda flys in the face of the rubbish about not poaching our players doesnt it?

See to be honest, the one thing that has annoyed me more about this than anything else is this - for ages we have tried to take the religion out of our team.. it was a milstone around it and it has taken ages, and some dedicated people, to get rid of it.... then the FAI come up and start religiously segragating gthe kids again? WTF is that about? And none of you down there can't say it hasn't happened, but you come up here and see what it has done. Thanks.

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Am try telling Neil Lennon that the religion is gone.

wake up lad its there and will be for while I see fans in the north burning a tricolour I think its ye who dont want them we welcome them