Eligibility Rules, Okay

[paul_oshea]

DI why would you refer to the republic as down south, aren't you from donegal, but atteneded school in Doire Sir.

Sorry just when you said i refer to down south when talking across the border kinda irked me

[ArdeeBhoy]

I'd say most of us did geysir, but more related to certain, er, physical changes that usually happen...

[Not Brazil]

Boyhood dreams are an entirely different matter than what you stated
[I]"I believe at 18 years of age you should have some sense of national identity"

If a player has boyhood dreams of playing for the South, it would seem logical that he would have a sense of national identity by the time he is 18.

I encourage such players to chase their dream - early.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Really? What an original opinion.

[DannyInvincible]

DI why would you refer to the republic as down south, aren't you from donegal, but atteneded school in Doire Sir.

Sorry just when you said i refer to down south when talking across the border kinda irked me

I dunno; it's not used in a disparaging sense or anything. Certainly not like "them'uns up north" anyway.

I've always used "the south" agenda-lessly and never really thought twice about it. Isn't it kind of a corollary of using "the north", which I tend to do as well? I am indeed from Donegal but I'd use "down south" when speaking to people in Derry, I guess. I think most people I know from Derry would use "the south" (and "down south"), as would my da who's from Tyrone, although not when actually in "the south", obviously. I probably picked it up from them.

[Stuttgart88]

My issue is more with the capitalisation of the "S"

[Predator]

Not Brazil (but Norn Iron), how practical do you think your proposal is?

[DannyInvincible]

My issue is more with the capitalisation of the "S"

I get you. I suppose it's like people/the media using "the North", as NB points out, and maybe he capitalises it to indicate he's referring to an official entity, albeit by an unofficial title. If anything, though, I would have thought using "the north/North" and "the south/South" to be a typically-nationalist thing to do; linguistically treating the two jurisdictions on the island as being geographically north and south of the one entity.

[Olé Olé]

If a player has boyhood dreams of playing for the South, it would seem logical that he would have a sense of national identity by the time he is 18.

I encourage such players to chase their dream - early.

But McGinn has always been aware of his identity, yet still remained with NI. Shane Ferguson's position was speculated to be somewhat similar before he decided to stick with NI.

Players can clearly be aware of their national identity, but not necessarily allow that to take precedence over their international careers.

[geysir]

If a player has boyhood dreams of playing for the South, it would seem logical that he would have a sense of national identity by the time he is 18.

I encourage such players to chase their dream - early.

Boyhood dreams as we should know by now, are just that - boyhood dreams.
Kenny Dalglish had boyhood dreams of playing for Rangers, but when Celtic came knocking on his door, the posters on his bedroom walls were ripped down in a flash. We can say that boyhood dreams don't necessarily affect choices nor should a boy be bound by his boyhood dreams.
Having a sense of Irish national identity does not necessarily exclude the existence of the entity of NI, a NI identity, a pride in representing NI, it does not preclude a player from choosing to play for the IFA. You can have 2 players (2 little boys ) with an equal sense of Irish national identity, one choses the IFA and the other the FAI.
Whilst identity may be a factor with NI born Irish nationals, it's not the determining factor for which association a player so choses.
We are then left with the proposition that a player should decide before 18 which association they hang their boots to, regardless of boyhood dreams or how important their sense of national identity is.

The rules have been changed to favour the player over the association. The dual national player is a free agent until capped at senior competitive level. That unscrupulous/greedy associations can't bind a player for the benefit of the association and then ignore him later to the detriment of the player, specifically his dual nationality eligibility/right to play for another association.
The IFA and FAI could meet and decide on ground rules.
I more suspect that it's not a simple 'have your cake and eat it' scenario for NI born players and the nationalist community.
Imposing a compulsory age restriction on what's perceived as a bona fide aspect of identity choice could well become a sensitive matter with other repercussions.

[BonnieShels]

I get you. I suppose it's like people/the media using "the North", as NB points out, and maybe he capitalises it to indicate he's referring to an official entity, albeit by an unofficial title. If anything, though, I would have thought using "the north/North" and "the south/South" to be a typically-nationalist thing to do; linguistically treating the two jurisdictions on the island as being geographically north and south of the one entity.

As I discussed it with you when you were compiling your tome, the Nationalist in me can't abide the use of the term the/The North. The capitalization legitimizes the typical southern ignorance of our fourth green field.

The recent media usage of the capitalized term as well as Northern Ireland has irked me so.

[paul_oshea]

I dunno; it's not used in a disparaging sense or anything. Certainly not like "them'uns up north" anyway.

I've always used "the south" agenda-lessly and never really thought twice about it. Isn't it kind of a corollary of using "the north", which I tend to do as well? I am indeed from Donegal but I'd use "down south" when speaking to people in Derry, I guess. I think most people I know from Derry would use "the south" (and "down south"), as would my da who's from Tyrone, although not when actually in "the south", obviously. I probably picked it up from them.

Nah you missed my point. I had a friend who was from donegal north donegal also, and when it suited him he was a northerner as such, but donegal then again when it suited, like ulster northern or ulster southern depending on who he was talking to or with, a fashionable thing also. He is dead now...Only joking but I took issue with you including yourself as a Northerner, when you said previously that you went to school in Derry but you were from donegal.

[paul_oshea]

My issue is more with the capitalisation of the "S"

i think its the context its used in to be honest.

for example up north or down south from a geographical point of view is fine, as we do, but the problem is when you use it in a political or demographic context.

[Stuttgart88]

As I discussed it with you when you were compiling your tome, the Nationalist in me can't abide the use of the term the/The North. The capitalization legitimizes the typical southern ignorance of our fourth green field.

The recent media usage of the capitalized term as well as Northern Ireland has irked me so.

Did you have to capitalise the N?

[Doire Abu]

If a player has boyhood dreams of playing for the South, it would seem logical that he would have a sense of national identity by the time he is 18.

I encourage such players to chase their dream - early.

Why not during their mother’s 22 week ultrasound, 1 kick for the North, 2 kicks for the South?

[DannyInvincible]

Nah you missed my point. I had a friend who was from donegal north donegal also, and when it suited him he was a northerner as such, but donegal then again when it suited, like ulster northern or ulster southern depending on who he was talking to or with, a fashionable thing also. He is dead now...Only joking but I took issue with you including yourself as a Northerner, when you said previously that you went to school in Derry but you were from donegal.

Ha, now that's an interesting one; do I consider myself Ulster northern (or what they call "nordie" down south ) or Ulster southern (do they have a term for them outside of Ulster?)? In spite of my birth in Donegal, I think I have an Ulster northern mentality. Does my birth in the south technically disqualify me though? I grew up less than five miles from the border on the Donegal side, but as I said, my father is a Tyrone man and virtually all my dealings (social, education or otherwise) were in Derry as it was the closest town or city to me. I often just say I'm from Derry as a result and out of convenience, I guess. Surprisingly, I've never actually been in Letterkenny, where I was born, for a night out in my life.

[Not Brazil]

Not Brazil (but Norn Iron), how practical do you think your proposal is?

With a bit of fine tuning - very workable.

And - mutually beneficial to both the FAI and IFA.

[BonnieShels]

Did you have to capitalise the N?

I hummed and hawed over that one.

[paul_oshea]

Ya but you dont venture out very often DI...

joking, althought statistically its hard to guage if thats a coincidence or not. where is irwin3 when i need him?!

[Not Brazil]

Why not during their mother’s 22 week ultrasound, 1 kick for the North, 2 kicks for the South?

Under 19 age level would be more realistic - don't you think?