Whats that Tommy T joke about how the Irish invade a place? First one Irish couple arrive, nice and quiet barely noticed, then all of a sudden, a few months later theres 40 Irish in the place. Its alot more funny that the way I just wrote it.
Where Im originally from in Cork, there was a sizeable influx of Brazilian lads working in the local factory a few years back. They integrated with the 'classy' Irish women in the town particularly well, so much that the under 10 football team at home is now full of half Brazilians.
I just love these racial purists who pop their heads up every now and again. Let me ask you Yapster - how do you define who's Irish and who's not? I mean you are the sole authority on the subject, aren't you?
You will give preference to someone born in Ireland of say (for example, Bosnian, Romanian, Nigerian or Moroccan parents). You will call them Irish, yet you will shut the door to the grandkids of people (who were actually born in Ireland and lived there for decades)?
Gets sort of complicated doesn't it when you start drawing lines on heritage? Just let the Irish Passport Office decide will you. They know what they're doing.
Sorry guys for a rant which has little to do with the game, but just can't sit here and listen to the crap.
why do you say that? plenty of people who are 3G irish are pround of their irish roots.. yes there was some notable exceptions as you mentioned but on the whole its a worthwhile rule considering our diaspora. Do you hold the italian national teams use of this rule in similar disgrace??
Razor - if Yappy had his way you would have to change your name![]()
I would. If you have only one Irish grandparent, you will not feel Irish. The only time you will think of being Irish is if you are a decent footballer who knows they won't ever make the English team and sees the Irish team as an opportunity for some International football.
In my opinion, the Irish kid with Bosnian or Nigerian parents is much more Irish than someone who is from London but with an Irish name. In fact a Nigerian kid born in Ireland in 1990 is more Irish than me even though I have two Irish parents. I was born outside the country. That Nigerian kid speaks with a Dublin accent and is more culturally immersed in Ireland than I am.
The rule should stop at parents, if someone is happy to be Irish that is great, but sadly I don't want them on the team.
eh, i should have used quotations.. i wasnt saying that. this idiot i know holds that opinion. similar to thinking you have to live in ireland to be irish!
both of which are wrong.
being irish is so much more than living on this island.. i know plenty of ppl 2nd,3G irish who are more irish that half the idiots at the RDS most friday evenings!
it all depends on how that person views themselves.Europe is so much more than where you are born and live, Wars, economics etc dictate this, Algerians in Paris and Marseille after the game in Paris spring to mind. Plenty of migrants who have come to ireland will declare for their homeland whether that be in north africa or eastern europe. I for one support that becuase that is the community to which they feel they belong. Equally, if someone FEELS irish then ill 100% support that too. but its about choice. McGeady has irish grandparents and feels irish. end of.
Ok I'm not so big into multiculturalism, it leads to divide(the north of ireland and the country im born in(belgium) being poignant examples.
its good for immigrants to bring aspects of their culture but they need to consider themselves irish(or whatever nationality) first(this especially in the case of 'old world' countries). i wouldnt want to see future players opt for their parents country over ireland. i respect their choice don't get me wrong but i don't want to see it.
oh and yeah mcgeady but i will say the guy played with ireland since under-14's or something, that is not exactly clinton 'who will i play for?' morrison. i think he should be with scotland but i have no problem with people like him. he showed great charachter and will respect him always for that. he made a difficult decision in choosing ireland, mercenaries like kevin nolan and jamie 'always wanted to play for england but actually i'm prob not good enough' o'hara, no thanks.
it's not black and white i agree, but i have no interest in seeing ireland get good because of a change in a rule allows us to call up people who happen to have irish blood, i'd rather be like san marino.
Last edited by irishultra; 16/01/2010 at 1:15 AM.
Hitler would have been all for 3g Germans playing for Germany.
The view that Irish citizens, born abroad, shouldn't be able to play for the team is an interesting one because it's nationalist in the sense that it puts forward an exclusive view of Irishness based strictly on birthplace but is contradictory to traditional Irish nationalism which recognises the right of the children and grandchildren (and further) of emmigrants to identify themselves as Irish. Those who don't recognise 2nd and 3rd generation as Irish should campaign for the right these people have to be Irish citizens to be taken away. This would solve the "problem" of them playing for the Irish football side.
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