Dermot Ahern's comments on an all Ireland side

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Originally Posted by Qwerty

As I said before it will happen in it's own good time, there is no need to rush it and it far too early yet to even spend time fretting about it.

Right now from a team perspective NI don't have any world class players - nobody eevn close to be honest, they have a few players who would strengthen our squad a little bit but NI can their recent success down to good management just as we can put down our recent decline to poor management.

Effective management is more important than the players really. We will always have decent players available to us, I wish I could say the same about our managers and the FAI.

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Fair enough, Q, I wouldn't argue with too much of that. But it does serve to emphasise yet another difference between supporters of the ROI and NI.
Reading this Board has told me that a significant section, at least, of ROI fans sees a single team not as some new entity, but merely as "the old 26", with "6 added on".
Your post now sheds futher light on why some ROI should want this, not merely what they want: a single team would be "better", since it would have access to a wider pool of players.
I daresay that would be the case; then again, if NI were to join up with the other 3 home countries to form a UK team that would be stronger still. Indeed, if one were to go the whole hog and have a British Isles team, like the rugby Lions, that would be strongest of all.
Except that neither of those prospects holds any more joy for me than would a single Irish team.
This is because, deep down, it is not about being the best, it is about being ourselves. We know we are never going to win the World Cup as part of a single team, though as it happens, we have come as close as NI as the ROI ever has - despite what Roy Keane might have thought in Saipan!
Which, when it boils down to it, demonstrates why we sing our favourite song with such gusto:
"We're not Brazil, we're Northern Ireland,
But it's all the same to me!" :cool:

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Originally Posted by EalingGreen

Fair enough, Q, I wouldn't argue with too much of that. But it does serve to emphasise yet another difference between supporters of the ROI and NI.
Reading this Board has told me that a significant section, at least, of ROI fans sees a single team not as some new entity, but merely as "the old 26", with "6 added on".
Your post now sheds futher light on why some ROI should want this, not merely what they want: a single team would be "better", since it would have access to a wider pool of players.
I daresay that would be the case; then again, if NI were to join up with the other 3 home countries to form a UK team that would be stronger still. Indeed, if one were to go the whole hog and have a British Isles team, like the rugby Lions, that would be strongest of all.
Except that neither of those prospects holds any more joy for me than would a single Irish team.
This is because, deep down, it is not about being the best, it is about being ourselves. We know we are never going to win the World Cup as part of a single team, though as it happens, we have come as close as NI as the ROI ever has - despite what Roy Keane might have thought in Saipan!
Which, when it boils down to it, demonstrates why we sing our favourite song with such gusto:
"We're not Brazil, we're Northern Ireland,
But it's all the same to me!" :cool:

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go and post ya tripe on your own forums! all you do is constantly make disparaging comments about our team, im not on about this post in particular, im on about in general. why do you bother coming on here at all?

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Originally Posted by livehead1

go and post ya tripe on your own forums! all you do is constantly make disparaging comments about our team, im not on about this post in particular, im on about in general. why do you bother coming on here at all?

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go and post ya tripe on your own forums! all you do is constantly make disparaging comments about our sport, im not on about this post in particular, im on about your signature. why do you bother coming on here at all?

P.S. If you really want to know why I'm posting on this subject, there's a wee clue in the title of the thread...;)

P.P.S. How are things back in Oireland? You know, I haven't been in O'Nottinghamshire since I was a wee babby, and the Mammy used to take me to watch the colleens dancing at the crossroads, through the long summer nights... :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by EalingGreen

P.P.S. How are things back in Oireland? You know, I haven't been in O'Nottinghamshire since I was a wee babby, and the Mammy used to take me to watch the colleens dancing at the crossroads, through the long summer nights... :rolleyes:

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:D :D

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Originally Posted by EalingGreen

...P.P.S. How are things back in Oireland? You know, I haven't been in O'Nottinghamshire since I was a wee babby, and the Mammy used to take me to watch the colleens dancing at the crossroads, through the long summer nights... :rolleyes:

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What's the Orange marching season like in Ealing then? :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by lopez

What's the Orange marching season like in Ealing then? :rolleyes:

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Haven't the foggiest. Why don't you ask an Orangeman? There must be some to be had near where you come from in Ireland...:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by EalingGreen

P.P.S. How are things back in Oireland? You know, I haven't been in O'Nottinghamshire since I was a wee babby, and the Mammy used to take me to watch the colleens dancing at the crossroads, through the long summer nights... :rolleyes:

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bit of a cheap shot.(if still funny..)
AFAIR he is from sligo just going to college in england...if he wants to play gealic football so whaT? most people I know play both and excel at both.
As for lopezs orange comment. :rolleyes: save it for your celtic forums...

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Originally Posted by Billsthoughts

...As for lopezs orange comment. :rolleyes: save it for your celtic forums...

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Sorry, but you know something I don't?

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Originally Posted by EalingGreen

Haven't the foggiest. Why don't you ask an Orangeman?

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I asked the next best thing on matters of bigotry.

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Originally Posted by EalingGreen

go and post ya tripe on your own forums! all you do is constantly make disparaging comments about our sport, im not on about this post in particular, im on about your signature. why do you bother coming on here at all?

P.S. If you really want to know why I'm posting on this subject, there's a wee clue in the title of the thread...;)

P.P.S. How are things back in Oireland? You know, I haven't been in O'Nottinghamshire since I was a wee babby, and the Mammy used to take me to watch the colleens dancing at the crossroads, through the long summer nights... :rolleyes:

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You don't make sense. You seem to apparently have a dig at me for living in Nottingham, yet your name refers to an area of London? Nottingham is a very fine city, but that would be straying from the point. As for my signature? What exactly does that prove? I play for a Gaelic Football Club over here and actually had the pleasure of representing the County against Roscommon in an All-Ireland Junior semi-final recently....sorry im straying from the point once more. Let me come to it swiftly. Your posts are a waste of time. You are not a Republic of Ireland soccer fan, you come onto this forum, irritating people with your remarks about our national side. This is not your national side. I believe, from your posts that Northern Ireland is your national side, although from your name, i was led to believe your allegiences lie with England.

Tuff by name and tuff by nature ha.Fair play to ya.

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Originally Posted by Tuff Paddy

Buala bas there for Livehead, well said. Ooops . . . I used some Irish there. Apologies to anyone that might have offended. This is an Irish site and we are proud of what we are. If you have a problem with Ireland, Irishness and proud Irish people go somewhere else.
I'll probably get banned for even posting this, but some of us aren't afraid to speak the truth.

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I have no problem whatever with Ireland or Irishness. Why should I? I am an Irishman myself, born and brought up in Ireland, to Irish parents who were themselves born to Irish parents - half of them from Southern Ireland, as it happens!

My "problem" is that the likes of Livehead and Tuff Paddy either can't or won't recognise that. I presume this is because I am from the Northern end of the island and my politics are different from the majority of posters on this Board.

As for my "right" to post on this thread, I am genuinely astounded that any reasonable person could object to this! Fair enough if I abused people personally, or used outrageous or obscene terminology, but I am confident that this is not the case - even if some may be incapable of distinguishing that from the normal banter that goes on between fans.

Of course, I am not a fan of the ROI team, but I am unaware of any Rule prohibiting non-ROI fans from joining or contributing. Besides, this thread is specifically about the proposal by a senior Irish Government Minister that the ROI and NI teams be "merged" into one. Am I, as an NI fan not allowed an opinion on that? If not, then that merely serves to confirm my suspicion that some (many?) ROI fans are more interested in an effective takeover, than a union.

Which for me is highly ironic*. In football, as in life, if there is ever going to be a truly "united Ireland", then all of us on this island are going to have to get used to each other and find a way of understanding each other.

As I see it, with their mean-spirited and small-minded sniping, it is the likes of Livehead and Tuff Paddy who do most to confound the possibility of such an eventuality ever occurring. Do they want a United Ireland or not? If they do, they've got a funny way of showing it, but if they don't, I'd like to hear them say it.


* - In less politically-correct times, I might have said "Irish"!;)

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Originally Posted by EalingGreen

I have no problem whatever with Ireland or Irishness. Why should I? I am an Irishman myself, born and brought up in Ireland, to Irish parents who were themselves born to Irish parents - half of them from Southern Ireland, as it happens!

My "problem" is that the likes of Livehead and Tuff Paddy either can't or won't recognise that. I presume this is because I am from the Northern end of the island and my politics are different from the majority of posters on this Board."

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Herein lies the problem. I and most other people on this board come on here to post about football, not politics. This thread would not have got so many replies or interest had you not simply made a very valiant attempt to attack anything that anyone has aid. Politics should stay where politics is, and football should stay where football is, however, should you wish to discuss politics then i would be more than willing to do so, but not on here.

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Originally Posted by EalingGreen

Of course, I am not a fan of the ROI team,

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Then WHY BOTHER YOUR AR*E!!!! I don't go on the French football forum and start posting messages. Its not just this topic, you seem more than willing to comment on any topic that is up for debate, and consistantly slate OUR national side.

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Originally Posted by EalingGreen

Which for me is highly ironic*.

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The 'irony' for me, and many others, is someone who doesn't support us, spending hours of their time posting on our message board! Then, when questioned about their motives for doing so, feels it necessary to revert to childish insults regarding where somebody lives!

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Originally Posted by EalingGreen

As I see it, with their mean-spirited and small-minded sniping, it is the likes of Livehead and Tuff Paddy who do most to confound the possibility of such an eventuality ever occurring. Do they want a United Ireland or not? If they do, they've got a funny way of showing it, but if they don't, I'd like to hear them say it.

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You really should not have got me started here. I previously expressed a desire to keep football away from politics, and whilst I fully intend to follow this ideal wherever possible, i feel it imperative, having been directly asked, to answer this question.

As a nationalist, my heart craves for a United Ireland. However, this is only a dream at the moment, and i'm happy for it to stay that way.

In Ireland, we have an economy that is stronger than most in Europe. If we were to take the north in our wings, our GDP would be substantially lowered. This is because unemployment is high, and industry is low in the area.

In Ireland we are the recipients of some outstanding agricultural subsidies from the European Union. Now, if we had to spread these with the North we would have less for ourselves.

The European Union, has provided, and continues to provide, great levels of funding for our road improvement schemes. I took a trip to Derry on the bus recently and I noticed a distinct lack of funding had gone into the maintanance of the roads over the border. Maybe this is an isolated area, but a point nevertheless.

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Originally Posted by livehead1

Then WHY BOTHER YOUR AR*E!!!! [i.e posting on this Board] I don't go on the French football forum and start posting messages. Its not just this topic, you seem more than willing to comment on any topic that is up for debate, and consistantly slate OUR national side.

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I'll try one more time to explain why I'm posting on this topic on this Board. I am an NI supporter. The Foreign Minister of our only land neighbour makes a proposal that would mean the end of the team I support. Naturally, I have an opinion on this. I could (indeed have) debate this solely with other NI fans, but since they are in unanimous agreement, that doesn't achieve a great deal.
Therefore, I am interested in debating this with the other party involved in this proposal. What is unreasonable about that? Objecting to my expressing an opinion on this is like telling e.g. women that they should have no opinion on marriage, and never raise the issue with men. :eek:
And in any case, the whole tenor of your posts is to "shoot the messenger, not the message". Regarding that message, if my posts are obscene or offensive etc, I'm sure the Mods will put me right on that score, but if you don't like what I think about my opinions on the ROI team, then you have every right to rebut those, point by point - bring it on!
If, on the other hand, you merely object to someone to have the temerity to engage in a bit of typical football banter, then I suggest you get out a bit more, since you're coming across as a very tender little flower. Bless. ;)

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Originally Posted by EalingGreen

...As for my "right" to post on this thread, I am genuinely astounded that any reasonable person could object to this! Fair enough if I abused people personally, or used outrageous or obscene terminology, but I am confident that this is not the case...

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Banned already for one week last year for doing exactly that. (Granted my punishment was a month, but well worth it).

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Originally Posted by EalingGreen

...I suggest you get out a bit more, since you're coming across as a very tender little flower. Bless.

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Tender little flower? Get out a bit more? Hmmm! That was the sort of reaction I had when I read you're response to me suggesting your 'hostility towards us is a political bigotry (tinged no doubt amongst some with religious bigotry) towards all things Irish nationalist or Republican.' :rolleyes:

[QUOTE=EalingGreen;616411]I'll try one more time to explain why I'm posting on this topic on this Board. I am an NI supporter. The Foreign Minister of our only land neighbour



Like the way you think that your a country, what a joke. When i'm in Armagh or Down I always find myself thinking how much like Finchley or Eailing the place looks. I take it the way too prove that you where a country was to wage a vile campagn of discrimanation and hate against part of this so called countrys community.

And Surprise surprise some of your citizens from this so called country don't feel up for playing for your team and play for your only land neighbour, and your all shocked about it.

You may be above us in some list that some bunch of gob****es in geneva or god knows where have come up with but most of us couldn't care less about your little pub team. I never go and bother to try and find out how this great rival and so called land neighbour get on and never will.

This thread has gone way off track.

Looking at it on purely footballing grounds I don't think absorbing the North's playing resources into the Ireland team would improve the quality of our side. And isn't this where Dermot Ahern's comments come from. He's obviously a football fan that wants us to qualify for the Euros and the WC or a more regular basis. But as far as I see it bringing the North into the fold is not the solution .... as some posters here illustrate uniting will only serve to divide.

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Originally Posted by livehead1

Let me come to it swiftly. Your posts are a waste of time. You are not a Republic of Ireland soccer fan, you come onto this forum, irritating people with your remarks about our national side.

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Rubbish. This is a thread about two national sides being merged together, and he is a supporter of one of those sides. His opinion is every bit as valid, and a lot more eloquent, than yours.

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Originally Posted by Tuff Paddy

This is an Irish site and we are proud of what we are. If you have a problem with Ireland, Irishness and proud Irish people go somewhere else.
I'll probably get banned for even posting this, but some of us aren't afraid to speak the truth.

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He has already stated that he is Irish, born in Ireland, of Irish parents. He seems to be very proud of his southern and northern Irish heritage. He is proud of what he is, and doesnt want to see one element of his identity, his national football team, to disappear.

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Originally Posted by livehead1

I don't go on the French football forum and start posting messages.

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There has never been any discussion about merging the Irish and French national teams, so the comparison is nonsense. But if such a suggestion were to start, I am sure many posters here would be looking for those French football forums.



Dermot Ahern mentions the idea of an All-Ireland side and it seems that some people on this site envisage an All-Ireland team as simply the Republic of Ireland side, with no real recongintion of the Northern element. This is, I think, where Ealing Green has problems eith the idea. He has stated that is is not about being good as much as it is about being "yourself" - feeling secure in your own identity. I have no problems with his opinions and his contributions.

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Originally Posted by Tuff Paddy

Buala bas there for Livehead, well said. Ooops . . . I used some Irish there. Apologies to anyone that might have offended. This is an Irish site and we are proud of what we are. If you have a problem with Ireland, Irishness and proud Irish people go somewhere else.
I'll probably get banned for even posting this, but some of us aren't afraid to speak the truth.

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...or your own version of truth maybe.

TP -this seems to be about the third post where you've asked or instructed people to leave the board on the basis they don't share your worldview. :confused:

This board is a richer, more interesting place for the fact we all get to see things from someone elses perspective every once in a while.

I've been asked to leave the OWC board on several occasions -without exception by individuals who couldn't debate the contents of a bus timetable and couldn't contemplate the idea that somewhere out there someone saw things differently.

No need to apologise for using Irish by the way... though we spell "Buala" -not like Nuala but rather "Boola" where I come from ...but that's Irish for you -it differs a fair bit from here to there.;)

Ah sure you're raising the bar for us all.
Way too many Commodores in our ranks so there is.:)

Lionel and anyone else this applies to. I love hearing other peoples opinion, however i do not enjoy it being thrust down my throat at every available option. Any thread EalingGreen posts on, is disparaging about our national side and not always related to his 'national' side.