Seems Lizzy's on the way...

[Spudulika]

See Iceland have been upgraded in the banking classifications, despite their people rejecting paying back Holland/Uk twice - funny that


Dont we already have a queen - Mary Mcaleese!

Well, we could have a Queen in the Aras if the meeja have their way in the next Presidential election :-)

[backstothewall]

It’s an interesting proposition. It might even put an end to the interminable player eligibility threads here, if nothing else!


Even though I see myself as a republican in the Burke/Tone/Davis tradition (actually, because I see myself that way) I have no ideological issue with rejoining the Commonwealth, but only as an independent republic, not as a Dominion. Since it now has republics and states independent of Britain, and even a small few with no historic link to Britain at all, there is no longer a threat to our sovereignty, and, while maintaining our presidency, we would simply recognise the British monarch as the head of the Commonwealth. That's not all that far removed from de Valera’s Document No.2 during the Treaty talks. It’s a less onerous membership than the EU has ever required; requires less political commitment and pooling of sovereignty; and it might help to realign our politics away from the Boston-Berlin axis.


If it opened up new trade possibilities, gave our athletes an opportunity to compete in the Commonwealth Games, continued normalisation of politics in Northern Ireland (and, maybe, opened up the possibility of reunification) it’s something that should be considered. But I don't see it happening any day soon.

Have to say my thinking on this issue has changed dramatically on this issue in a week. But Last week I could only ever see the British monarchy as a force for division in Ireland. The visit has certainly proved me wrong on that one, and I'm happy to think again based on that.

In my opinion the single greatest problem faced by the Irish people today is the partition of the island. It causes one problem after another, and although I accept the point about how much of the cost of Northern Ireland is actually paid for by the people of Northern Ireland, the fact remains that an island of 6m people runs 2 government's with all the expense and duplication of expenditure that comes with that.

With that in mind, if Ireland is to join the commonwealth, I would hope that it would be a means of uniting, rather than dividing the people of the island. If joining the Commonwealth means a Northern Ireland team running against a Republic of Ireland team in the 4 x 100ms relay in the Commonwealth Games, I'd say thanks, but no thanks to that arrangement. It will only end with a boxing final on a Saturday evening turning into a running battle on the Malone Road after a feed of drink in the Bot.

Similarly, I think I would now be quite prepared to see a return of the Monarch as head of state, but again only if that unites people, rather than dividing them. Presumably if we were to become a commonwealth realm, we would have a Govorner General. But in the 21st century there is no reason why all the people of the island couldn't elect someone to live in Aras, perform all the same functions as the President, but technically be performing those functions on behalf of the monarch.

I'd imagine there will be 3 main reactions to this suggestion

(1) Monarchies are undemocratic, and we should never give up sovereignty etc. To that I would say that Canada is no less sovereign than the United States. The impact on real peoples live, especially in the North, of bringing people together would be worth the talking heads being upset about constitutional technicalities.
(2) If we are going to invite a foreign queen, why would we invite the Queen of England and not the Queen of Belgium or Spain. To that I would say that after almost a century of a Republic, the only people who call her "The Queen of England" rather than simply "The Queen" are a few Shinners, and even they slip out of character from time to time.
(3) If the changes are so technical, what's the point? Especially with proposals on the table to give Northerners a vote in Presidential elections...

The difference as I see it is that it would stand a great chance of getting the buy in of Unionism. In all honesty I can't see many unionists coming out to vote for a President of Ireland, but if they were electing someone to represent the Queen on the Island, I think they would show up. It would manage that without threatening the position of the 6 Counties within the UK, or the independence of the Republic.

Can't see it happening in the short term though. Certainly not before the centenaries of the Easter Rising or establishment of Northern Ireland

[SkStu]

who are you? Diarmuid MacMurrough?

[awec]

You're going to let us vote for the President? Cool!

[bennocelt]

who are you? Diarmuid MacMurrough?

Exactly, steady on boys - jeez people already talking about the commonwealth! Will be about changing the flag and anthem next!

[Magicme]

I hate green so wouldn't mind a new flag....

[Eminence Grise]

I agree with parts of Backtowalsall’s post regarding partition and the desirability of a united island with a single team representing it in the Commonwealth Games. But I’d stress again that we could rejoin the Commonwealth of Nations (not the British Commonwealth as it was previously called) as a republic, without having to recognise the Queen as anything other than the head of the associational structure. A bit like von Rompuy in the EU, similarly unelected, but without the periodic change of leadership.


The national anthem and flag is a red herring. But copyright on the anthem runs out soon, so who knows? It was never a popular choice. It was adopted witih no formal announcement or legislation, and even Tomás Derrig (FF minister for Education in the 1930s) twice declined in the Dáil to have it taught in schools....


It’s all moot, really. We’re unlikely to apply, and perhaps it would be best if, in the run-up to 2016, we first decided what kind of republic we wanted. Because, God knows, we’ve made a poor fist of this one.

[awec]

I agree with parts of Backtowalsall’s post regarding partition and the desirability of a united island with a single team representing it in the Commonwealth Games. But I’d stress again that we could rejoin the Commonwealth of Nations (not the British Commonwealth as it was previously called) as a republic, without having to recognise the Queen as anything other than the head of the associational structure. A bit like von Rompuy in the EU, similarly unelected, but without the periodic change of leadership.


The national anthem and flag is a red herring. But copyright on the anthem runs out soon, so who knows? It was never a popular choice. It was adopted witih no formal announcement or legislation, and even Tomás Derrig (FF minister for Education in the 1930s) twice declined in the Dáil to have it taught in schools....


It’s all moot, really. We’re unlikely to apply, and perhaps it would be best if, in the run-up to 2016, we first decided what kind of republic we wanted. Because, God knows, we’ve made a poor fist of this one.

Forgive my ignorance, but what is in 2016? Am I missing something obvious?

[Spudulika]

Euroepan Championships in France I think. Or it could be the Easter Resurrection.

[mypost]

Have to say my thinking on this issue has changed dramatically on this issue in a week. But Last week I could only ever see the British monarchy as a force for division in Ireland. The visit has certainly proved me wrong on that one, and I'm happy to think again based on that.

In my opinion the single greatest problem faced by the Irish people today is the partition of the island. It causes one problem after another, and although I accept the point about how much of the cost of Northern Ireland is actually paid for by the people of Northern Ireland, the fact remains that an island of 6m people runs 2 government's with all the expense and duplication of expenditure that comes with that.

With that in mind, if Ireland is to join the commonwealth, I would hope that it would be a means of uniting, rather than dividing the people of the island. If joining the Commonwealth means a Northern Ireland team running against a Republic of Ireland team in the 4 x 100ms relay in the Commonwealth Games, I'd say thanks, but no thanks to that arrangement. It will only end with a boxing final on a Saturday evening turning into a running battle on the Malone Road after a feed of drink in the Bot.

Similarly, I think I would now be quite prepared to see a return of the Monarch as head of state, but again only if that unites people, rather than dividing them. Presumably if we were to become a commonwealth realm, we would have a Govorner General. But in the 21st century there is no reason why all the people of the island couldn't elect someone to live in Aras, perform all the same functions as the President, but technically be performing those functions on behalf of the monarch.

Can't see it happening in the short term though.

Don't want to see it happening in the short, medium, or long term. Our future is in the European Union, not the Commonwealth. We are Irish and Europeans, not here to serve the UK's interests, in any form. We did it for long enough.

[Eminence Grise]

Forgive my ignorance, but what is in 2016? Am I missing something obvious?

326th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne. Going to be sponsored by Mazda, for obvious reasons. Already republicans are planning a boycott because their inferiority complex (Chippus Epaulettues Hiberniae) cannot accept the fact that there is no Irish car manufacturer since Ford and Volkswagen departed these shores.

[backstothewall]

Don't want to see it happening in the short, medium, or long term. Our future is in the European Union, not the Commonwealth. We are Irish and Europeans, not here to serve the UK's interests, in any form. We did it for long enough.

Jaysus. Who said anything about serving the UKs interests. The only interests being discussed are our own.

There's no reason why we can't be in the commonwealth and EU. The point is if we are to join, we will be doing it on our own terms

Exactly, steady on boys - jeez people already talking about the commonwealth! Will be about changing the flag and anthem next!

The state has a flag and anthem that aren't going anywhere. The nation has Irelands call. What we lack is an agreed flag for the nation, so we have this daft situation where there is a tricolour and an Ulster flag at rugby games. A new agreed flag would probably be worth having.

[strangeirish]

New flag, joining a commonwealth...meh! We may have our own Queen soon enough...

[SkStu]

David Norris stroking a pussy? Now theres a first.


sorry...

[bennocelt]

The state has a flag and anthem that aren't going anywhere. The nation has Irelands call. What we lack is an agreed flag for the nation, so we have this daft situation where there is a tricolour and an Ulster flag at rugby games. A new agreed flag would probably be worth having.

Thats awful to be fair

[Eminence Grise]

It's very charitable of you to leave it at just awful....

[backstothewall]

Its awful without a doubt. But at least we have it. And in fairness Amhrán na bhFiann isn't great either.

[awec]

Its awful without a doubt. But at least we have it. And in fairness Amhrán na bhFiann isn't great either.

Not least because nobody seems to know the words.

Sing the first line and a big roar at the end and you're grand.

[backstothewall]

In 1936, James Dillon, later leader of Fine Gael, proposed that A Nation Once Again should be the Irish national anthem.

Why is it they always get rid of the good policies?

[Hurt Locker]

Not least because nobody seems to know the words.

Sing the first line and a big roar at the end and you're grand.

Know it off by heart was hammered into us in national school our teacher was a great gaeilgeoir.