Stephen Nolan's All Ireland team (BBC)

[lopez]

Thought you already had plenty of credentials....though your main interest in union is that of your oral orifice & ice-cream;If you're struggling......think tired old,bigotted,prejudiced views,with a large dose of hypocrisy.....

Ahhhh!!! Love across the political divide. Now that's where the real 'struggle' is.

[beano]

Before I say anything let me say this. More of my friends are Catholic/Nationalist than not. This includes my girlfriend. I think the sh1te being spouted here by davros among others would make them all sick.

1. The GAA's ban on the security forces, their staff, etc etc, alienated Unionists not just because they couldn't play, but because it demonstrated the attitude of the GAA towards Britain and by proxy, the British - ie them. To coin a phrase from the MacPherson report, the GAA is "Institutionally Sectarian".

2. Not all NI rugby fans are happy with the All Ireland team and the playing of the militaristic and anti-British Soldier's song at "home" games. I support Ulster (or the Lions in rugby league), but not Ireland. Come the six nations I'd usually side with Scotland or England. (Incidentally weren't the AI rugby team originally supposed to alternate home matches between Belfast/Dublin? If it didn't last in rugby what makes any of us believe it would last in football?)

3. According to the Ulster Independence Movement they want independence for the 6 counties (I'm sure you're no happier with this since you still won't get your way) and according to the NILT Survey (2003) the concept of an independent Northern Ireland has 7% support. However I'm sure if the option of unity with the UK was removed we'd soon see that rise. I'm curious - once that happened the former loyalists would be "freedom fighters" and a "separatist movement" seeking "minority rights". I wonder would this help their cause the way it has the IRA in their propaganda? Oh - the UIM have asked this too...

We are convinced that the IRA is afraid that an independent Ulster would rob it of its claim to be fighting imperialism

4. Regards your mention that the Orange in the tricolour represents Protestants, my countryman is right, this is a joke and shows that we can't take your views on constitutional issues seriously at all. It's possibly the biggest hypocracy in Ireland's history as a nation (except possibly Mary McAleese's branding of UNIONISTS as Nazi's - that really is a joke considering your pal dev's letter of condolence sent to the German embassy on Hitler's death and the beloved statue of a Nazi sympathiser in Dublin city). Having the Orange to "represent" protestants after the ethnic cleansing that went on in the South the 20s * and the discrimination against protestants that, even today, is still enshrined in Irish law is an insult. Besides, the Cross of St Patrick is one of three components of the Union Jack - yet I'm sure you don't feel any particular affinity towards that particular flag.



* before you say it happened in 'da nort' too, yes it did. However the difference is that we acknowledge and in fact apologise for it, rather than sweep it under the rug.

[EireBadBoy]

Most NI fans have not seen it, as we had just got out of the match and had not got home yet.

Cracking timing for this programme then!!

This notion is a serious distant fantasy. The Setanta Cup has yet to kick off and the BBC see fit to throw money at a stupid programme like this at a time when N.I fan's can't either (A) see it and (B) stick up for themselves!!

[Eire06]

An All Ireland team is not gona happen unless certain political issues get resolved and all of Ireland becomes offically the Republic. which is not gona happen any time soon....


If people born in Northern Ireland want to support\play for Ireland then they are very welcome to do so, I would actualy encourage it...

If Northern Ireland had a better team and were doin ok this would never be brought up....

AND I'm sorry but does anyone remember Neil Lennon and how he was FORCED to quit international football...

[Hibs4Ever]

[

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



Northern Ireland ARE a mickey mouse team

[Eire06]

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

Northern Ireland ARE a mickey mouse team

Quite true

[SÓC]

Not all NI rugby fans are happy with the All Ireland team and the playing of the militaristic and anti-British Soldier's song at "home" games. I support Ulster (or the Lions in rugby league), but not Ireland. Come the six nations I'd usually side with Scotland or England. (Incidentally weren't the AI rugby team originally supposed to alternate home matches between Belfast/Dublin? If it didn't last in rugby what makes any of us believe it would last in football?)

Two points

1. Not all fans of the the Irish Rugby team are happy with God save the German lady being played at Ireland matches when they do play in the North. Usually A games or underage. Personally I dont have a problem with it. Seems fair enough, play the song of the state(let) that you are in. Are you aware that this happens?

2. The IRFU would be shooting themselves in the foot if they were to play matches in Belfast. There is no stadium big enough. Or would you and your mates be happy to pay £80 for a ticket to cover the IRFU's losses for switching the venue?

[lopez]

...Having the Orange to "represent" protestants after the ethnic cleansing that went on in the South the 20s * and the discrimination against protestants that, even today, is still enshrined in Irish law is an insult...

Examples (evidence) please!

[beano]

Sorry davros, hadn't even noticed the dates on the posts tbh.

1. Not all fans of the the Irish Rugby team are happy with God save the German lady being played at Ireland matches when they do play in the North. Usually A games or underage. Personally I dont have a problem with it. Seems fair enough, play the song of the state(let) that you are in. Are you aware that this happens?

No I wasn't actually aware of this, but I am now. I have to admit to being surprised, but see no reason not to believe you as you seem to know more about it than me.

2. The IRFU would be shooting themselves in the foot if they were to play matches in Belfast. There is no stadium big enough. Or would you and your mates be happy to pay £80 for a ticket to cover the IRFU's losses for switching the venue?

Does this mean that if NI get a new national stadium then they will return to the practice of playing alternate matches in Belfast and Dublin? I somehow get the feeling that if they did it would be reluctantly, but I suppose only time will tell.

I do have one last question... when they play in NI do they still fly the tricolour? I presume they wouldn't fly the NI flag but I couldn't see they flying of the tricolour being very popular among the rugby fans up here. I've always wondered why they don't use some sort of neutral flag - eg the cross of St Patrick? I know in table-tennis they use the 4 provinces flag, but personally I find that little different to flying a tricolour.

(please tell me if this is too political, but IMHO it's definitely relevant to the topic)

[gspain]

Two points

1. Not all fans of the the Irish Rugby team are happy with God save the German lady being played at Ireland matches when they do play in the North. Usually A games or underage. Personally I dont have a problem with it. Seems fair enough, play the song of the state(let) that you are in. Are you aware that this happens?

2. The IRFU would be shooting themselves in the foot if they were to play matches in Belfast. There is no stadium big enough. Or would you and your mates be happy to pay £80 for a ticket to cover the IRFU's losses for switching the venue?

Anthems are only played at senior level in rugby. GSTQ hasn't been played for an Ireland rugby team since 1954.

Thomond Park has hosted Italy and Romania in recent years. Ravenhill could easily do likewise for a Mickey Mouse game obviously not a 6 Nations game.

when the new NI stadium is built it will have to get some games maybe even Italy in the 6 nations.

[holidaysong]

Erin Go Bragh!

God I hate it when people Anglicise Irish - Éireann go Brách!

[beano]

Thanks for clearing that up gspain. I was quite suprised...

The only player of theirs that would be of any use - and I mean in terms of carrying water bottles and putting out the training cones - is Roy Carroll . . . and he'd be sitting on the bench.

You're joking aren't you? Roy Carroll isn't even the NI number 1, so unless you plan to play Maik Taylor while Roy's warming the bench, I'm confused.