Stephen Nolan's All Ireland team (BBC)

**deadman** · 04/05/2004, 1:59 PM

i believe that last wednesday night after Northern Ireland's international friendly Stephen Nolan of the BBC hosted a TV program with the topic of conversation being the possibility of an All-Ireland Side.

i didn't see the program myself but i hear Derek Dougan was on offering his support.

i was just wondering if anybody saw it and what the content of the program was?
thanks

**nifan** · 04/05/2004, 2:20 PM

Most NI fans have not seen it, as we had just got out of the match and had not got home yet. therefore the majority of the time was given to people to insult the fans and claim there was sectarian chanting etc - which was in fact denied by nolans reporter at the game. Dougan agreed with all this - including the sectarian bit, but later admitted he had not been in years as he doesnt watch a lot of football anymore.

Sanchez and Kate Hoey stuck up well for NI - and for our part comes out with great credit.

Text messages went across the bottom - usual lot - NI is a micky mouse team. all fans are sectarian etc.

Sheridan · 04/05/2004, 2:25 PM

I believe I caught some of this. Typical mindless phone-in nonsense, Lawrie Sanchez was on the panel, along with Kate Hoey. The host, like so many of his colleagues on programmes like these, didn't begin to grasp the issue at hand and kept asking the most ridiculous questions in a manner which suggested that he was the very paragon of perspicacity.

They interviewed several muppets at the hub of our great footballing nation, the Submarine Bar. Arch-muppet Alan Hunter was amongst those interviewed, and called for - guess what? - a referendum on the issue.

The programme had absolutely nothing worthwhile or original to add to the debate, apart from Lawrie Sanchez sneering at the FAI (he basically said that, since they broke away, they'd have to ask permission to come back.)

**deadman** · 04/05/2004, 2:26 PM

re: wednesday's NI match - i was at it myself and the atmosphere was excellent. i've never seen anything like it at any friendly international .... hats off to Michael Boyd and co.

**deadman** · 04/05/2004, 2:44 PM

would anyone happen to have a copy of this program itself. i think its called "Nolan Live" --- there was something of specific interest to me and i college project i'm involved in at the moment --- and the BBC NI will only distribute copies of any program to contributors .... unless you're willing to deal with long arduous process of application and a long wait

**Junior** · 04/05/2004, 3:29 PM

Originally Posted by deadman

would anyone happen to have a copy of this program itself. i think its called "Nolan Live" --- there was something of specific interest to me and i college project i'm involved in at the moment --- and the BBC NI will only distribute copies of any program to contributors .... unless you're willing to deal with long arduous process of application and a long wait

sorry if this is a bit obvious but have you tried the bbc site for any audi/video clips of the program??

**Footie_Fan** · 04/05/2004, 9:47 PM

I saw that programme. Usual rubbish about an all-Ireland team. They went to the "Home of Irish Football" The Submarine Bar and guess who... Alan Hunter got himself and his cardigan on the box... again. He demanded a referendum etc.

ElSieteSecretos · 04/05/2004, 9:51 PM

what is this crazy talk about one futball team for two countries ? I hope it is swept under the carpert with the simliar funny seasons stories

**1MickCollins** · 05/05/2004, 2:25 AM

What 2 countries are you talking about? One island, one nation. It's only a matter of time until the bigots are defeated.

**Duncan Gardner** · 05/05/2004, 7:20 AM

Not quite as willing to compromise as your namesake, then, Mick?

Sheridan- I didn't see it, but I'm afraid the entire point of the programme- from the timing onward- was to 'sneer' at NI fans, the team and Sanchez himself. Most accounts suggest he looked embarrassed throughout, but I think we can forgive that quip.

He's (deliberately) missing the point, of course. The FAI would run a mile from any united Ireland team, for reasons discussed here ad nauseam. And your pal Hunter doesn't get it either- the only people really enthusing for this are your fans in NI. Numerically, they're a minority within a minority. And anyway, nothing stops them supporting your team, and seeing/ hearing it in the NI media. A Roy Keane story is ALWAYS the lead on BBC Belfast. Live and let live I say.

From John Laverty in the Belfast Tele:

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sp...p?story=518043

**lopez** · 05/05/2004, 9:18 AM

Originally Posted by 1MickCollins

What 2 countries are you talking about? One island, one nation. It's only a matter of time until the bigots are defeated.

One island and one state denied by the threat of physical force. But one nation? Hardly.

Originally Posted by Duncan Gardner

...the only people really enthusing for this are your fans in NI. Numerically, they're a minority within a minority. And anyway, nothing stops them supporting your team, and seeing/ hearing it in the NI media. A Roy Keane story is ALWAYS the lead on BBC Belfast. Live and let live I say.

I wouldn't say it's a minority in a minority. It's possibly a minority (debateable) that will have absolutely nothing to do with the Northern Ireland team. However most nationalists - if they have any interest in football - would certainly support the Republic just as much as the North, even if Windsor Park became the most tolerent place on earth next to Shangri La.

**drummerboy** · 05/05/2004, 9:49 AM

They may be a minority but the same community are producing a fair percentage of young footballers in Northern Ireland, some of whom are opting for their southern cousins. Surely this must be very worrying for the IFA.

**Littlest Hobo** · 05/05/2004, 12:00 PM

Don't need the north and their second class players. The republic is doing just great by itself.

**Duncan Gardner** · 05/05/2004, 5:53 PM

Lopez- by "minority within a minority" I meant that nationalists are a minority in NI (ca 42%) which is itself a minority within Ireland (ca 28%). In other words, they're about 12% of the total. I'll readily admit that most of them who like football support the Republic. I have no problem with that per se.

Drummerboy- aye, though the numbers aren't great so it's disappointing if not a big worry.

Littlest Hobo- this contrived argument has nothing to do with how good our players are. It's crude party politics. Saying that Aaron Hughes is the best full back from Ireland at the moment, Johnson and Taylor also worth a call in their positions?

**deadman** · 05/05/2004, 6:57 PM

i wonder if those from the south who supported the idea of an all-ireland team would still support it if it were to based solely in Belfast ... plausible suggestion ... as the ifa were the original organisation and belfast the first home.

if you use the IRFU as a comparison - it's the geographical location of its offices that makes Dublin our Rugby HQ.

brine2 · 05/05/2004, 7:01 PM

I reckon Cork should team up with the IFA. Home matches could alternate between Turner's Cross and Belfast. Let McAteer, the FAI and the rest of the Merrion Square shower whinge away by themselves.

How about it then? I can just see Roy leading Miller, Healy and the rest of lads out at Windsor Park... Err...

**eoinh** · 05/05/2004, 9:46 PM

The perfect all-ireland team?

**1MickCollins** · 05/05/2004, 11:48 PM

[QUOTE=Duncan Gardner]Not quite as willing to compromise as your namesake, then, Mick?

QUOTE]

Michael Collins being the pragmatist he was believed it made sense to accept the 26 counties as a starting point, he believed that in time once the Unionists saw that the Free State represented no threat to their identity they would come onboard. Unfortunately, he died and we were stuck with Dev.

When I say one island, one nation - I think perhaps I have a broader definition of a nation than you do. To quote Heaney quoting Joyce: ( the fictional character Leopold Bloom was a Jew )

MacMorris gallivanting
round the Globe...'What ish my nation?"

And sensibly, though so much
later, the wandering Bloom
replied, "Ireland", said Bloom,
"I was born here. Ireland".

My Irish nation has room for Catholic, Protestant, Dissenter & Jew. I think this would be the big fells opinion as well.

**eoinh** · 06/05/2004, 10:18 AM

We are supposed to live in a secular republic after all not a religious republic. Irish people are not defined by their religion.

Most of Kilkenny, Carlow and Tipperarys population are descendants of Catholic immigrants - not that they know it.

You mention Bloomsday and Joyces quote - funny the referendum will be held on that day. How ironic

**lopez** · 06/05/2004, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by deadman

i wonder if those from the south who supported the idea of an all-ireland team would still support it if it were to based solely in Belfast ...

Is Belfast in Ireland?

Originally Posted by 1MickCollins

My Irish nation has room for Catholic, Protestant, Dissenter & Jew. I think this would be the big fells opinion as well.

Well the likes of Davros (Nationalist protestants) are Irish in an ethnic sense. However there is no way that you are going to compel someone like DG to give up his Britishness no more than you'll make me give up my Irish citizenship because I was born in Britain. What you can aim for is a rapprochement: A multi-cultural Irish state which will undoubtedly be federal.

BTW, not completely sure, having not read Ulysses, but wasn't Bloom technically not Jewish as his mother was Irish: That I think was part of the irony of his character.