Dermot Ahern's comments on an all Ireland side

**Noelys Guitar** · 20/01/2007, 11:28 AM

Agree or disagree? I have to admit I have always wanted a united Ireland side. And I believe it will happen in the not too distant future.

**theleprechaun** · 20/01/2007, 1:53 PM

TOATALLY for the idea!! it works in rugby, we have one of the top sides in the world, so surely it can work in soccer!! the past is behind us. let's look towards the future

**Soper** · 20/01/2007, 1:55 PM

It'll be a pointless exercise if Irish people don't start supporting domestic teams.

**Lionel Ritchie** · 20/01/2007, 2:12 PM

I think there's a lot of merit in patching up 80 odd years of division and needless duplicity in two organisations with common purpose that would be far stronger united.
So how about it Demot? ...Why don't Fianna F�il and Fine Gael merge?

**joe_barry80** · 20/01/2007, 2:23 PM

As the article says most sporting bodies are already joined together why not the fai and the ifa. they will have more funding i presume from Irish Government and Uk Government. We could have 18 team 1st division and 2nd division. then a regional 3rd division split into the 4 provences where the winners would play two semis and the winner of the final going up into the 2nd division. We cold bulid a second state of the art stadium in belfast therefore spliting the home games. I think Ireland would be stronger for it.

**Qwerty** · 20/01/2007, 4:50 PM

Football is still pretty sectarian in the North, look what happened to Lennon fairly recently. The peolpe who play rugby and attend rugby games in the North are not the same type of people by and large who attend NI games. It will happen eventually in it's own good time. Give it another 10 years.

**brine3** · 20/01/2007, 5:40 PM

As long as the IFA take over and not the FAI, I'm all for it.

But there's too many suits in cushy jobs on both sides who prefer the current status quo.

**p_o_r** · 21/01/2007, 12:24 AM

Originally Posted by brine3

As long as the IFA take over and not the FAI, I'm all for it.

But there's too many suits in cushy jobs on both sides who prefer the current status quo.

They should have every right to also, seeing as they are the original organisation and the FAI are the 'splitters'

**Noelys Guitar** · 21/01/2007, 12:36 AM

Disband both the FAI and the IFA. Appoint people like Jennings, Moran, Whiteside, David Kelly(yes David Kelly) with a mix of what makes up both orgo's. Why not? Where is the vision of Giles, Dougan, Best etc. I believe it is still very much alive amongst those who don't pretend to represent either teams 'fans'!

**dynamo kerry** · 21/01/2007, 6:38 PM

Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar

Disband both the FAI and the IFA. Appoint people like Jennings, Moran, Whiteside, David Kelly(yes David Kelly) with a mix of what makes up both orgo's. Why not? Where is the vision of Giles, Dougan, Best etc. I believe it is still very much alive amongst those who don't pretend to represent either teams 'fans'!

jennings?why do you think he'd even be interested?? Why any of them? I've not heard a single soundbite to sugges they would

afaik jennings snr passes his time with healthy amounts of scotch and golf.

I agree with qwerty give it 10 years- too many of the boo boys up north who would have major problems with it (not to mntion the blazers fown here)

in fact the fans down south probably deserve the admin up north

**dr_peepee** · 22/01/2007, 7:16 AM

I heard an interview with the president of the IFA after the comments. What a pr!ck. Typical "Ulster says No" rubbish. I dunno what his motivations were but they weren't footballing. A man in his position should obviously be a bit diplomatic but should also be a football fan first and foremost. Leaving aside the obvious baggage, any 'fan' from either side of the border should at least be a little curious as to the potential of a united pool of Irish players. Not this guy.

I think it'll start to happen over the next ten years with a gradual progression from then. Start with a united schoolboy team, through to youth u18s 21s and the n finally the senior team so it's not so much of a culture shock and those with chips on their shoulders with paranoia over selctions and omisions will be minimised.

I for one would like to get hold of the likes of Steve Davis, Jonny Evans Tony Capaldi....

**lopez** · 22/01/2007, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar

...I believe it is still very much alive amongst those who don't pretend to represent either teams 'fans'!

You reckon? This is what the voice of NI fans think.

http://ourweecountry.ipbhost.com/ind...howtopic=16620

Far better is for the FAI to say 'Anyone with an Irish passport, Catholic or Protestant, Nationalist or Unionist, is welcome to play for us.' We can have that great and united Irish side. They can have a team that one day might qualify for the Viva World Cup.

**Dr. Ogba** · 23/01/2007, 9:05 AM

Originally Posted by lopez

You reckon? This is what the voice of NI fans think.

http://ourweecountry.ipbhost.com/ind...howtopic=16620

Far better is for the FAI to say 'Anyone with an Irish passport, Catholic or Protestant, Nationalist or Unionist, is welcome to play for us.' We can have that great and united Irish side. They can have a team that one day might qualify for the Viva World Cup.

Not particularly surprising....Quite enjoyed the repeated comments along the lines of "sure of course they want to merge with us given that we're the better team"...the only lads I'd consider taking from the north would be McCartney and Davis....wouldn't mind their manager though!

**cheifo** · 23/01/2007, 9:27 AM

As said earlier Rugby is a different kettle of fish.There would be so much hassle over flags/anthems etc.NI supporters like to take Union Jacks to games, we would have our tricolours there.The infamous Windsor park qualifier
is'nt that long ago.Yes things have moved on thank God but is it realistic?

**pete** · 23/01/2007, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by cheifo

As said earlier Rugby is a different kettle of fish.

I always get the impression that Ulster is not treated a full member of the IRFU. Only recently have they added some token Ulster fellas to the team & you rarely see players swop between the Republic provinces/teams.

**youngirish** · 23/01/2007, 10:44 AM

This same argument drummed up again and again. I'm all for keeping our own team and let the North have theirs. Rugby is a different ball game altogether. There was never the split in the first place and you don't have all the secterian bulls*it that you have with football (particularly in the North though also to a less degree in the South).

I also wonder whether the majority of the Unionists in NI are happy with their representation within the united Rugby team. I tend to not mind the united Rugby team for a number of reasons:

1. I know no better as we have never had the split.
2. The rugby team in recent years has leaned more towards the South and Southern based players which I feel more represent myself and my country.
3. All home games are played in the south.

However it still grates me when we can't sing our national anthem at away games though I understand why this is not acceptable. Anyway I'm not a big rugby fan to be honest so I tend not to have any strong feelings on it either way in the first place.

If all I have to gain from a united Ireland team is Steven Davis and Jonny Evans (2 games at Sunderland and he's a legend. Are people for real?) then I'll stick with what we have thanks very much.

**Wolfie** · 23/01/2007, 10:46 AM

We could throw in our lot with an insular, clannish organisation, who view all connected with the ireland team with suspicion -

Hang on - is that the GAA or the IFA?

**Schumi** · 23/01/2007, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by pete

I always get the impression that Ulster is not treated a full member of the IRFU. Only recently have they added some token Ulster fellas to the team & you rarely see players swop between the Republic provinces/teams.

Don't agree, if they're good enough they'll get in. None of their backs would make the Leinster team and only Neil Best would have a chance of making the Munster pack IMO.

**Dodge** · 23/01/2007, 11:38 AM

Previous Irish rugby teams have been dominated by ulstermen, its one of those cyclical things. If any province has a right to claim its being ignored by the IRFU its connaught

**dr_peepee** · 23/01/2007, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by lopez

You reckon? This is what the voice of NI fans think.

http://ourweecountry.ipbhost.com/ind...howtopic=16620

Far better is for the FAI to say 'Anyone with an Irish passport, Catholic or Protestant, Nationalist or Unionist, is welcome to play for us.' We can have that great and united Irish side. They can have a team that one day might qualify for the Viva World Cup.

Maybe there's some latent Nationalism in me... I dunno... But I rolled my eyes at nearly every post on that board.. "Player Grabbing"... Yeah! And Iain Dowie and Lawrie Snachez

The more I think about it... Leave them to it... Anyone who wants to play for us will anyway. Let them have their Respectable 3rd place in the qualifiers. I don't think they'll benifit from the service of the like of Neill Lennon again if that's still their attitude. Like I said, a fan would at least be curious, whatever your politics.