119 Comments

• seanomelb | Mar 25, 2013, 05:30 PM EDT

  You're an ingrate dushlain and for the record I never post out of anger.

• Scouse Tony | Mar 23, 2013, 11:25 PM EDT

  IrelandNorth Irish Defence Force(IDF)it's an abbreviation and the rest of my post stands.

• anglo-norman | Mar 23, 2013, 11:15 PM EDT

  Seanomelb is an aussie whose Head of State is the Queen.

• Dushlain | Mar 23, 2013, 09:22 PM EDT

  Sniff Sniff senomelb. I'll continue to comment anyway. Lord you are an angry person!!!!

• Gordan Duggan | Mar 23, 2013, 08:59 PM EDT

  melbourne - who are you talking to now? If it's me don't assume anything. I'm flying to Canada tommorow on business but as Arnie famously said "I'll be back."

• Dushlain | Mar 23, 2013, 08:45 PM EDT

  I think this guy from Melbourne is a nutjob and ashamed of being Irish.

• seanomelb | Mar 23, 2013, 07:04 PM EDT

  I presume you ccept my post as correct on your misinformation as you fail to reply.Dushlain i will not comment on stupid posts.

• Dushlain | Mar 23, 2013, 06:10 PM EDT

  Sean from Melbourne - are you in Australia because the modern Irish are somewhat disagreeable to your sense of Irishness or because nobody in Ireland would listen to your bullshit.

• Gordan Duggan | Mar 23, 2013, 01:05 PM EDT

  Sean, I'm not in the Irish Army. I'm an Engineer.

• seanomelb | Mar 22, 2013, 07:26 PM EDT

  Gordon Duggan you are moving the goal posts and (diliberately?)misqouting me. The question I asked of A.Bolton was IF SINN FEIN wer elected would she serve, and she repiled that She and her officer friends would defy the elected government. You staed she was a Captain,what rank are you Gordon. You let the cat out of the bag and outed yourself. you are not as smart as you think you are. Furthermore I never stated she was stationed at Cathal Brugha barracks. I said I would be there next year in the mess having some drinks with old comrades. You either need to learn how to disseminate information ( As a Good officer should know) or cease misepresenting me.

• Realist | Mar 22, 2013, 06:36 PM EDT

  IrelandNorth: 99.8%. The other 0.2%, I think you'll find....Gordan Duggan has suggested you learn to read.....I suggest you learn to count also....lol.

• Gordan Duggan | Mar 22, 2013, 05:21 PM EDT

  IrelandNorth: To answer your questions: 1)The Irish State since 1949 recognised by the United Nations not the "Free State". 2)Mabel Washington McConnell was G. Fitzgerald's mother as already stated. 3) I won't leave Ireland and will stay and oppose any organisation who tries to force us into a United Ireland by force and not consent. 4) Bolton stated she is a Captain. She did not claim to be stationed in Cathal Brugha Barracks in Rathmines, she did not mention which army unit she was in and said she was going on leave soon. Irish Defence Forces are perfectly entitled to have personal opinions. Learn to read properly man.!

• IrelandNorth | Mar 22, 2013, 04:34 PM EDT

  Realist! What did the other 2% vote for? ancavkar! The only thing 'good' and 'old' about the good old IRA is distane in historical time. How might future generations view the more recent IRA, in the rear view mirror of their Kia Provos? Gordon Duggan! If the Irish Defence Forces/Army (sic) is the only legitimate military of the Irish State, how historically legitimate is the Irish state which they serve? (I trust your answer will be more correct than about Garret Fitzgerald's mother). If you fear civil disorder from national reintegration, you're always free to leave. And never trust a Private who doesn't know where her barracks is. And why are alleged recruits supposedly on leave posting on websites. Boring holidays? Scouse Tony! The 'IDF' is the Israeli Defence Forces. Armagh City/Brendan Dunphy! Some posters masquerading as Free Staters are in fact fifth columnists.

• IrelandNorth | Mar 22, 2013, 04:33 PM EDT

  Realist! What did the other 2% vote for? ancavkar! The only thing 'good' and 'old' about the good old IRA is distane in historical time. How might future generations view the more recent IRA, in the rear view mirror of their Kia Provos? Gordon Duggan! If the Irish Defence Forces/Army (sic) is the only legitimate military of the Irish State, how historically legitimate is the Irish state which they serve? (I trust your answer will be more correct than about Garret Fitzgerald's mother). If you fear civil disorder from national reintegration, you're always free to leave. And never trust a Private who doesn't know where her barracks is. And why are alleged recruits supposedly on leave posting on websites. Boring holidays? Scouse Tony! The 'IDF' is the Israeli Defence Forces. Armagh City/Brendan Dunphy! Some posters masquerading as Free Staters are in fact fifth columnists.

• BrendanDunphy | Mar 22, 2013, 03:52 PM EDT

  @GordonDuggan ... You say, "nobody is turning their backs on the north" in one breath, then state the very opposite in the comments that follow. And I highly dispute your claim that it was "never our fight". "Never" your fight?? A history book might help you with that one. That perception and selfishness of today's Irish is precisely why this generation is failing all prior generations, failing their northern brothers and precisely why there is so much disappointment in today's Irish in so many circles. I will leave it at that. Peace.

• Gordan Duggan | Mar 22, 2013, 02:54 PM EDT

  BrendanDunphy and Seano: Captain Bolton said she and her fellow officers could not swear alligence to Sinn/IRA "if they attempted to take over the democratic Irish State by force". You obviously misunderstood either by accident or because you wanted to. Nobody is turning their backs on the North but would you want to take on people who can't come to terms with each other (and they have been given every chance the last few years). Why should people in the Republic disrupt their lives, both financially and emotionally, for the six counties. It was never our fight. We grew up in a peaceful democratic state and spent years being treated as suspected terrorists at airports around the world and in general just because we lived next door to the North. When the Nationalists came South in the 1970s to avoid the marching season etc., and we housed them for a few weeks feeding them, clothing etc. all they did was complain to us about the Republic,one of them told my parents "well we know where to come again if we need a holiday". The next time the then Irish Government appealed to people to put them up for a few weeks, there were no takers. Can you not understand why people in the Irish State want to keep their distance nowadays. Since neither of you live in the State at the moment, your airy fairy notions about a United Ireland won't cut any ice as nobody is interested. So stop being silly and bitter. Scouse Tony thanks for your comments re the Irish Defence Forces, I'm sure they will appreciate them. Enough said.

• BrendanDunphy | Mar 22, 2013, 01:38 PM EDT

  @Anglo-Norman ... Yes, very much disappointed in them as well. Perhaps you missed my references to peace ... Or my point altogether ...

• anglo-norman | Mar 22, 2013, 01:31 PM EDT

  BrendanDunphy- GROW UP SON... Are you disappointed with the young Irish who murdered,maimed,kidnapped & terrorised ordinary Irish people in their aims for a United Ireland?

• BrendanDunphy | Mar 22, 2013, 01:08 PM EDT

  @GordanDuggan ... while I certainly understand and respect your and Audrey's desire for peace, I must say that I also share Armagh City's disappointment with today's Irish, not only for turning their backs on their fellow countrymen in the north but also because of their generally unfriendly, even downright hostile and angry, attitudes. You can read it in their nasty angry posts here. In a sense, today's generation of Irish is the generation that is failing all previous generations, as well as failing their fellow countrymen in the North. You can achieve unity without war. My dear friends in the North, peaceful friends I might add, are disappointed in today's (26 county) Irish as well. By saying no to unity is turning your back on your countrymen, and on your history, and is selfish to say the least. I'm certain the Irish will have a profanity-laced field day in their angry responses to these comments, but so be it. Three final thoughts: (1) A country that was on the receiving end of bigotry for 800 years should not be producing bigots of their own. (2) Unity and peace are not mutually exclusive. (3) If the heroes of 1916 shared Audrey's attitude of "move on already", then there would be no Irish Republic. Respectfully.

• Scouse Tony | Mar 22, 2013, 02:47 AM EDT

  KilkennyCats The Irish Defence Force isn't desperate for what they already have. The IDF has some of the best ATO's putting their ball on the block in Afghanistan, chaired the Resilient Threat Management conference in Brussels earlier this month and have one of the most in demand bomb disposal training teams. Not 9 to 5 and obviously not interesting enough for IC, perhaps if they dressed as Leprechauns and shouted Beggorah and Bejaybus they could get an article of their own.

• seanomelb | Mar 21, 2013, 07:05 PM EDT

  The Question asked of Audrey was if Sinn Fein were elected, her answer was, that she and her officer friends would defy the elected government. It's a re-run of the Curragh mutiny where British Army officers refused to carry out the orders of the government. And if Sinn Fein were elected it would have to abide by the constitution. The narrow thinking by the likes of Bolton to only serve those with whom they politically agree with is far from democratiic and smacks a little of right wing middle of the road fascism.

• leahkinsella | Mar 21, 2013, 05:22 PM EDT

  Kilkenny. Use your common sense. The Irish Defence Forces don't keep office hours you know. The Irish Army is very well respected both at home and abroad. All soldiers are entitled to a holiday after a long spell of duty. Why are you paranoic about the Defence Forces? Have you something to hide or are you just a bitter person?

• KilkennyCats | Mar 21, 2013, 04:55 PM EDT

  Irish Army member Audrey Bolton said she had one last comment to make "before she goes on leave". What is THAT all about?! This Irish Army that is OBVIOUSLY quite thirsty for a bit of respect (i.e., see Gordan Duggan's comments as well) spends their working hours surfing the internet?! Rest easy, Eire, internet surfers have your back. You can't make this stuff up ...

• ancavker | Mar 21, 2013, 03:55 PM EDT

  IrishCop: I don't believe that to be the case any more, but it was back in the 80's. From what I have seen myself and heard, most of that crowd you speak of went back to Irealnd in the late 1990's early 00's. That being said you are correct that more than a few Irish from Ireland despise Americans and Irish-Americans in particular. It is one of the reasons that many Irish-Americas want no part of helping to leagalize the new wave of Irish that are coming into the U.S.

• Gordan Duggan | Mar 21, 2013, 02:01 PM EDT

  Disappointed in today's Irish Armagh City? Tough, it's notup to you (how old are you anyway) Maybe you don't get we mordern Irish who don't want have a Civil War over a piece of land North of the Border. Our grandparents went through all that. I would recommend everyone who can watch the Irish TV series "In the name of the Republic" (Monday night 9 o'clock) in which Professor Eunan O'Halpin tackles some of the more troubling aspects of the War of Independence. He admits his ancestors were not angels during this time. Archaelogists are now seeking the remains of victims secretly buried during the hostilities. We have relatives who were victims of both sides of the conflict and my grandparents asked us to promise not to ever go to war again with our fellow Irish. Wise advise. I get where A. Bolton is coming from. As an Irish Army Peacekeeper she has seen what war does to other countries who tear themselves apart. I also think she was making the point that Irish Defance Forces being the only legitimate army in the Irish State could not swear alligance to a dictatorship such as SinnFeinn/IRA would surely be if they took over the Government which I can't see happening anytime soon (the numbers don't stack up). The Irish Army would become like the Free French or the French Resistance during World War 11 under the Nazis. Most Irish people don't trust Sinn Finn/IRA which is why Martin McGuinnes was never elected President of Ireland. We all suspect this organisation have a hidden agenda for the Republic which is probably to force us and the North into a United Ireland. God help us. Ireland has enough dead already.

• ArmaghCity | Mar 21, 2013, 01:26 PM EDT

  AudreyBolton is a perfect example of why I am sooo disappointed in today's Irish.

• BrendanDunphy | Mar 21, 2013, 01:24 PM EDT

  ANGLO-NORMAN ... why do you say "FACT". It discredits you. It may be what a poll says, it may be your opinion, but it is not fact. No one can predict the future.

• ancavker | Mar 21, 2013, 01:05 PM EDT

  seanmelb: I normally find your posts very insightful and agree wih many of them. But surely you cannot equate the Provo's with the IRA form 1918-1923? ANd the Irish Defense Forces are the only legitimate army on the island of Ireland.

• Realist | Mar 21, 2013, 04:40 AM EDT

  99.8% :)

• curtisjohnson | Mar 20, 2013, 09:43 PM EDT

  IrelandNorth - "Faux-klan'd Islands" Love it!

• seanomelb | Mar 20, 2013, 07:22 PM EDT

  Making comments on the past hardly proves one lives there.Remember the RDF is modern version of the IRA. I notice you gloss over your unwillingless to serve in a Sinn Fein government. Your only choice if that happened would be to resign your commission as Captain Kelly did, but then again he resigned as a matter of honour. He brought to our attention the weak kneed RDF and their craving anti nationalist stand.

• Gordan Duggan | Mar 20, 2013, 07:18 PM EDT

  My apologies, Garrett Fitzgerald's motgher was Mabel Washington McConnell.

• Gordan Duggan | Mar 20, 2013, 07:01 PM EDT

  I believe she is CAPTAIN BOLTON not Private Bolton. At any rate she seems to have got up Sean from Melbourne's nose with her straightforward comments. Good Woman as they say!I don't think the Irish Government and Army would be interested in getting involved in the Falklands,unless the UN asks the Irish Army to peacekeep there which is unlikely. Kathleen Sheehy-Skeffington was the mother of Taoiseach Garrett Fitzgerald as far as I can remember but you will correct me if I'm wrong of course.

• IrelandNorth | Mar 20, 2013, 03:34 PM EDT

  Repatriation of foreign nationals from colonised lands is a credible enough argument, regardless of how long they have been there. But would the same logic not also apply to Ulster-Scot Calvinists from northernised Ireland? Nobody can be held accountable for the displacement of their forefathers, which caused their offspring to be born in someone else country. But to insist on belonging to the country of origin of such ancestors seems to me to be a inverted logic. There are two Malvinas/Faux-klan'd Islands, east and west. Give the east to Argentina and let GB keep the west. Or populate both equally with Argentinians and Brits, and impose independence on them like Cyprus, (and send Private Bolton off to peacekeep). Loyalty to an unelected head of state is a peculiar form of democracy, though patriotism to either Wales, Ireland, Scotland and/or England might be very WISE. (Cathal Brugha (ex-Portobello) Barracks is off the LOWER Rathmines Road!), where pacifist Francis Sheehy-Skeffington was summarily executed by an insane Maj Bowen-Colthurst during 1916. Colthurst, from a Anglo-Irish landed gentry Cork family was subsequently released and got into banking in Canada.

• anglo-norman | Mar 20, 2013, 03:08 PM EDT

  The people in the Falklands voted to stay british like the majority of Irish Catholics will when a referendum will be taken in N.Ireland...FACT.

• audreybolton | Mar 20, 2013, 02:43 PM EDT

  Sean: I said RDF not LDF. I presume you are referring to the President's father Johnny O'Higgins who was No. 2 in the Cork Brigade of the IRA. Stop living in the past. I will leave you to talk to yourself for the next month. My fellow officers will be following and commenting on your posts (some of them already have). Bye Bye.

• Lennox | Mar 20, 2013, 04:21 AM EDT

  Argentina not only claims the Falklands but the island of South Georgia, the South Sandwich Islands and the British Antartic Territory. The large island of South Georgia is about 1000 miles from Argentina and was never claimed or was part of the Spanish Empire. This shows what a land grabbing colonialist country Argentina is.

• seanomelb | Mar 19, 2013, 10:57 PM EDT

  Audrey the presidents father was lifted and incarcerated in the curragh as my father was both members of Sinn Fein.I wa snot a member of the LDF as you presume. So you would not swear allegience to Sinn Fein if by chance they were elected. I believe that constitutes a mutiny. I have no need to meet General Finn and I do expect you to buy the drinks as the sun sets on the yardarm. Enjoy your break Audrey(you sure sound like you need it) and if you travel to Melb I'll be glad to sign you in at my private club. WE are not so class concsious here in Oz

• curtisjohnson | Mar 19, 2013, 08:34 PM EDT

  seanomelb - "Tell me Allan07 what displaced tribe do you belong to?? Please do not insult my Koori brothers by refering to them as (ABORIGINAL.) It's akin to calling you the Ignorant "POM" you are." Yes, it has yet to dawn on him that the majority of the Irish diaspora were forced out by the british terror state with little to no choice in the matter. The Irish diaspora will leave as soon as he returns to his swamp in Schleswig Holstein.

• audreybolton | Mar 19, 2013, 07:10 PM EDT

  Sean: Before I go on leave. I will say this, when you're in Cathal Brugha Barracks next year you might look up Brigadier General Michael Finn and put your enquiries about my unit and my late father to him. He will certainly be interested in your views. He may not reply as questions about Irish Army personnel are never answered under strict military secrets.Your welcome to try however. I recall you were in the RDF so they might let you into the Officers Mess by invitation only. You remember where it is off the Upper Rathmines Road. Just don't express your liking for Gerry Adams and his friends. My fellow officers and I will see you there (we won't be buying the drinks). We could not swear alligance to enemies of the Irish State (Sinn Fein might destroy all the files of Military on the IRA). BTW the Irish President Michael D. Higgins is our Commander-in-Chief.

• ArmaghCity | Mar 19, 2013, 07:08 PM EDT

  LENNOX ... "forced" to play Spanish songs? FORCED?! Sounds like true democracy to me right there. Let's face it, the situation won't ever change without a popular vote in Argentina's favor, no sooner than the Indians are going to reclaim the USA and Canada.

• ArmaghCity | Mar 19, 2013, 07:04 PM EDT

  I'm not one to ever defend the Brits, trust me, and perhaps I do not know enough about the issue, but it certainly sounds to me like the Falkland people have had their version of a "Border Poll", and chose to remain loyal to the crown... is that not democracy?

• seanomelb | Mar 19, 2013, 05:53 PM EDT

  I am no left footer stupid I married in the Pressy church Iam now an atheist. Tell me Allan07 what displaced tribe do you belong to?? Please do not insult my Koori brothers by refering to them as (ABORIGINAL.) It's akin to calling you the Ignorant "POM" you are.

• RedBranch | Mar 19, 2013, 12:01 PM EDT

  If its really about the oil, then split it. So far its been mostly British capital funding exploration

• IrelandNorth | Mar 19, 2013, 05:04 AM EDT

  misswhisp! Her Excellency Christina Kirchner, Il Presidente de Republica de Argentina has already discussed the Islas de Malvias/Faux-Klaned Isle lands with the Rt Hon David Cameron. Perhaps Il Papa Francisco I wil follow this up with HM EIIR, who is after all his approximate counterpart, the female pontiff of the Anglican Communion (ie Catholic Protestantism).

• curtisjohnson | Mar 18, 2013, 07:36 PM EDT

  @Gordon Duggan – “Can you explain what Curtisjohnson is always talking about. Is it Marxism or just plain bullshit. Does he make it up as he goes along” Sorry I cannot penetrate your sub room temperature IQ. If you have followed my post, I consistently reject materialism and Marxism is a purely materialist doctrine.

• curtisjohnson | Mar 18, 2013, 07:32 PM EDT

  @Scouse Tony What on earth are you talking about? No one disputes that El Salvador was a repressive autocratic regime who may have been/was assisted by the CIA during the cold war. This has nothing to do with any of my posts and is completely irrelevant.

• seanomelb | Mar 18, 2013, 07:21 PM EDT

  I am well aware of y position in this world Audrey and your innane ramblings on me joining any organisation strenghtens my case as to your childishness. With Adams now having 28% favourability I wonder how that would affect your allegiance if Sinn Fein gained power and you had to work under a defence ministers who may have executed some of your buddies in the British army. I suppose you'll answer "oooh that cannot happen" We know how you got your commission your daddy the colonel pushed it along in typical Irish nepoptism. It certainly was not about your inntelligence to do the job. BTW I will be drinking in the mess at Cathal Brugha barracks next year with some old comrades maybe you could join us if you dare.

• IrelandNorth | Mar 18, 2013, 04:20 PM EDT

  RTÉ 6:01 News reported the first arrival for the papal inauguration tomorrow - Her Excellency Christina Kirchner, Il Presidente de Republica de Argentina. Il Papa Francisco caressed her affectionately. She was reported as having said that it was the first time she had been kissed by a pope, despite his having disagreed with her neo-liberal politics. She requested his intercession on the Islas de Malvinas/Faux-Klan'd Islands' dispute. Personally, I agree with Lennox below, the Malvinalands deserve independence. Who can deny it?

• Gordan Duggan | Mar 18, 2013, 02:18 PM EDT

  Lennox: you're right on this subject. God help the Falkland Islanders who need to be saved from some of the posters on this site. Can you explain what Curtisjohnson is always talking about. Is it Marxism or just plain bullshit. Does he make it up as he goes along?

• Lennox | Mar 18, 2013, 08:16 AM EDT

  The Falkland Islanders are the native inhabitants and do not want to be subjected to Argentine colonialism. The first thing Argentina did when it invaded the islands in 1982 was to change the English street names to Spanish ones and the radio station was forced to play spanish songs. The people of the Falklands have as much right to self determination as the people of Ireland have.

• IrelandNorth | Mar 18, 2013, 06:07 AM EDT

  Free the Faux-Klan'd Isle-lands from dualistic imperial interference.

• Scouse Tony | Mar 18, 2013, 04:08 AM EDT

  Comedy Dave was only responding because the right wing press Mail and Telegraph etc picked up on the story and can't be to be weak to his parties demographic, like it or not it's just politics, that's what politicians do. When the Archbishop made his speech to the Argentine war veterans I doubt he had the papacy on his mind but now as Pope he has to play politics so I doubt he would be saying anything similar any time soon nonetheless he is entitled to his opinion just as the Islanders are entitled to theirs. I have found some of the comments here running the gamut from hypercritical through paradoxical to just plain comedy gold.

• irishfree1916 | Mar 17, 2013, 10:23 PM EDT

  This is a great man and a great Pope, who does not buy into the BS that the "sun will never set on the English Empire" or Who "rules the waves!"! They will not be able to kick this Pope around!

• Scouse Tony | Mar 17, 2013, 10:04 PM EDT

  curtisjohnson I have a Salvadoran friend who was arrested with her husband during Duate's second bite at the apple she doesn't use the word anglo-sphere as she was well aware of the nationality of her interrogator, she was released after a week but never saw her husband again. Careful with those stones as Your are living in a glass house.

• curtisjohnson | Mar 17, 2013, 08:32 PM EDT

  Scouse Tony - " I'm sorry if your grand ma's donkey was kicked by a black and tan but your terror state trope is wearing thin, look up US support for the dictatorships in Chile and El Salvador" So the anglo-sphere behaved in a thrasymachian manner during the cold war - big news there - so what?

• merefalow | Mar 17, 2013, 07:59 PM EDT

  good for the pope,respectfully,not.that falklands referendom,honestly what a bloody farce,its the same as asking the PLANTED ILLEGAL OCCUPATIONISTS OF IRELAND IF THEY WANT TO JOIN THE REPUBLICKE.pathetic remmnant of coloniamism,a stolen land like so many before by the great british crown.

• audreybolton | Mar 17, 2013, 07:37 PM EDT

  Sean, you have no worries as you're unlikely to become a Sinn Fein President and you're welcome to report myself and my fellow soldiers to our superiors. We're getting a kick out of your self-importance and hysteria in the Officers Mess this St. Pat's Night. There is a vacant position however. Alan Ryan's death caused a vacancy in the RIRA. His men have been booted out of the organisation in the North and need a new name to restart an exortion campaign against drug dealers. None of the other dissidant republican groups want them. They miss the ego boost they had under Ryan. They know no other way of life. The Garda Drug Squad have them on the run. You can apply for the position but you will have to hand over at least 200,000 Euro a week to your bosses in the North (don't pocket some like Ryan did). The trouble is you will be watched by both the Garda Drugs Squad and sections of the Irish Army. You're liable to be shot by your fellow drug dealers and various republican groups. Gerry won't help you and don't come running to the Irish Security Forces. Go ahead if you think you're hard enough. I'm off on holiday to Australia tomorrow.

• seanomelb | Mar 17, 2013, 06:46 PM EDT

  You are easy to handle Audreybolton. I wonder if your superiors now know thatn you would shoot a president who stepped out of line(Whatever that means) You are just a little minnow wearing a uniform.If you wish to shoot me be,be careful what you wish for I might get you first and rid the Irish military of a puerile moron.

• IrelandNorth | Mar 17, 2013, 05:00 PM EDT

  Il Papa Francisco is barely in the job a wet day, and PM David is "clashing" with him. The Rt Hon English gentleman (with the conspicuously Scottish surname!) needs to cut down on his clash-ability. He may have listened to too many old vinyl 'Clash' LPs back in the 1970s, during his punkster period. As Johnny Rotten [Lydon] said: "God save the Queen ...!" PS jacersagain! Point taken, I stand corrected, old chap! Slainte - hic!

• audreybolton | Mar 17, 2013, 04:41 PM EDT

  Oh George, we would not shoot President Michael D. Higgins. He's a great President with the biggest presidental election results in Irish history. It's Seano we were talking about (an hysterical nutcase) if ever there was.

• audreybolton | Mar 17, 2013, 04:35 PM EDT

  George/WoundedKnee - you really do take yourself too seriously don't you?

• jacersagain | Mar 17, 2013, 04:18 PM EDT

  Thanks to IrelandNorth for a reminder of 10th Commandment being applicable to Britain’s occupation of the Malvinas (and occupations of many other lands as well elsewhere too, including Ireland). It should also apply to BP Shell and fellow world-wide conglomerates. I happily return your greetings for St. Patrick’s Day to you and all (but, errrm... pardon me whispering in yr ear that it’s the “Oul’ Sod” as we say in the Sth of Ireland, not “Auld Sod” as pronounced by Scottish settlers in Nth Ireland). Go drown the Shamrock tonight!

• anglo-norman | Mar 17, 2013, 03:52 PM EDT

  The people of the Falklands have voted to stay british, that is Democracy folks!!

• awoken32 | Mar 17, 2013, 02:10 PM EDT

  The Royals should be stripped of their stolen land they have no right to claiming land all the way over in argentinia

• SAirish | Mar 17, 2013, 10:44 AM EDT

  Wounded Knee, stop trying to change the subject. The article is about the Pope's comments about the Falklands. Everyone knows about England's role in Ireland etc, that is not the issue in this article and I don't need any lessons in history, Argentina makes a big deal about the Falkland Islanders being descended from people that were planted when in fact they are descended from people planted from by Spanish Empire, who treated the local native population in a barbaric way.

• WoundedKnee | Mar 17, 2013, 10:21 AM EDT

  Audreybolton, if you truly are a member of the Irish Army, your threat to "shoot" the President of Ireland is truly objectionable and irresponsible. You're an utter fool.

• WoundedKnee | Mar 17, 2013, 10:18 AM EDT

  SAIrish: England killed countless Irish people over the centuries. I'm not going to wasrte my time listing the atrocities for you. Maybe you need to learn a little history. The English also killed countless North American Indians during the 17th and 18th centuries, 19th century if we include Canada. Your "reasoning" turns out to be mere bigotry.

• McNamara31 | Mar 17, 2013, 09:54 AM EDT

  Someone should tell British Prime Minister David Cameron that the days of the "Empire" are in the rear view mirror, and what he thinks is really close to a grain of salt.

• solyeant | Mar 17, 2013, 08:18 AM EDT

  I would humbly suggest that 2400 prisioners in London's Wormwoods Scribs would all vote to be out of prison and we may well be reassured that Prison is the best place for them.Once again a referendum has reassured the holders of the thing with its waste of money and object . The sooner the Brits just get to grips with the issue , the sooner they live in some form of peace with themelves and the interesting issue here is not what might be under the water but how much has this little piece of dog waste cost over the years i ask the question and do not expect a reply

• SAirish | Mar 17, 2013, 07:16 AM EDT

  The cause of a United Ireland is not helped by supporting an Argentine colonial land grab of the Falklands. Argentina invaded and kept large parts of Chile and Peru and it decimated its native population.

• SAirish | Mar 17, 2013, 07:03 AM EDT

  The Falkland Islands must be the easiest issue that the Brits have ever had to defend. Barren Islands with no native population, continuously settled since 1833 and a democratic referendum. It should be noted that the Brits have offered to take the issue to the World Court in The Hague, three times. Argentina has always refused to participate in this. The proves that Argentina has such a weak case.

• IrelandNorth | Mar 17, 2013, 05:50 AM EDT

  Commandment # 10: "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours' [islands]!" It is a mortal sin to purloin other peoples' nations, punishable by mass excimmunications. Repeal Laudibiliter! Free Islas de Malvinas. Viva Irelandesa. As a former member of Óglaigh na hÉireann (OnE), I send greeting to Papa Francisco and Il Presidente Christina Kirchner de Argentian. Remember, John [Papal] Bull raped not only Cáitlín Ní Houlihán but Eva Peron too. Happy Saint Patrick's Day to all and sundry from the Auld Sod!

• Scouse Tony | Mar 17, 2013, 03:05 AM EDT

  Curtisjohnson oddly enough democratic elections re started in Argentina in 1983. The last Juntas position became untenable when the Argentine forces surrendered at Port Stanley and population of Argentina realised that what they were being told and what was actually happening was not the same thing. I'm sorry if your grand ma's donkey was kicked by a black and tan but your terror state trope is wearing thin, look up US support for the dictatorships in Chile and El Salvador.

• curtisjohnson | Mar 17, 2013, 02:29 AM EDT

  "When did the Argentinans become democratic after decades of having military juntas?" As though the british terror state were ever really a democracy - lol.

• curtisjohnson | Mar 17, 2013, 02:27 AM EDT

  The Cardinals have selected a very wise Pope.

• Scouse Tony | Mar 17, 2013, 02:21 AM EDT

  Pilibo4 surely your comment could equally be directed at the Argentines if fact unlike Argentina the Falklands didn't have an indigenous population, as I have said previously try reading up on the history of the Falklands. I do hope your not American because a trip to the mirror may be in order

• audreybolton | Mar 17, 2013, 01:30 AM EDT

  Just come off duty with my comrades who think Wounded Knee (aka George Dillon) and Seanomelbourne are a lot of laughs.We think Sean should be the next Sinn Fein candidate for the Irish Presidency but always bearing in mind whar happened to the last Shinner who tried.He will have to come back and be resident in the Irish Republic for some time (you know you can't live in a British Commonwealth country any more), swear allegiance to the Irish State and it's people,do what the Irish Government tell you to do (it won't be the Shinners).Can't leave the Irish State without permission. He will however have to knock down Mary Lou. We can't however promise to salute you as our Commander-in-Chief but we will promise to shoot you if you step out of line!!!!! Think you casn handle all this Seanomelbourne?

• Gordan Duggan | Mar 17, 2013, 12:50 AM EDT

  It's Sunday morning here in Ireland Sean in Melbourne and you probably need a lie down out of the sun. I see from your posts you don't like Irish people with views different to you're own and particularly Irish women. I think Kinsella definitely has you figured out boyo. She's well able to deal with you. You don't have the Dubliners sense of irony and humour. I don't think you would fit in anymore. You're too set in your ways and take yourself too seriously.

• leahkinsella | Mar 17, 2013, 12:26 AM EDT

  You hit the nail on the head exactly Scouse Tony! The UN has agreed with the Falkland Islanders. Mrs. Kirchner only kicks off when it suits her.

• seanomelb | Mar 17, 2013, 12:26 AM EDT

  Looking at the time you posted Leah(and if you live in Ireland) yyou also have a sleeping problem.

• seanomelb | Mar 17, 2013, 12:23 AM EDT

  I know who is anti-Irish on this site leah and it is not I. BTW I am dublin born and raised.So tone down your conceit and and arrogance. Your narrow views are noted. BTW if you cannot handle the heat slan leath!!!

• pilib04 | Mar 16, 2013, 11:36 PM EDT

  Just because the Brits occupy stolen land, does not make it theirs.

• Schon | Mar 16, 2013, 11:31 PM EDT

  Tooreenagrena... Yup and it's not that Gaelic gargle from a bunch of ignorant, anti British rabble emanating from the Glorious Green Isle. Not that it matters... while the Proddies in Ulster were supporting the Pope Alexander VIII , the Roman Catholic Irish elite and rabble were supporting the deposed King of England. You couldn't make it up, could you? Ulster for God, good King William of Orange and the Pope while Ireland for a second hand English King and anti-Pope. Sheesh!

• Scouse Tony | Mar 16, 2013, 11:30 PM EDT

  I think some people on IC need to remember that they are citizens of countries that are the product of colonisation. You could try reading up on the subjects of the history of the Falkland Islands and Argentina. The UN has agreed that the Falkland Islanders have a right to self- determination and that their views have to be taken into account. Argentinians see the Falkland’s issue as a weather vane on their own economy; they know things are getting really bad when the government start using it as a distraction.

• leahkinsella | Mar 16, 2013, 10:58 PM EDT

  Seano and Wounded Knee: Immature young Irish? I'm a 55 year old Criminal Lawyer born, living and working in the Irish Republic and I was referring to as far back further then Juan and Eva Peron. Will you ever get it right lads! Your ignorence is appalling!! I have read extensively the history of Argentina and my own country and your anti-Irish and anti-British sentiments derive from prejudice and ignorance. You don't live in either Ireland, the Falklands or Argentina and you honestly think you know what is good enough for the people of these places! I have a sister and her family in Argentina BTW and they know a lot of Argentines are not particulary interested in invading the Falklands (it's just politicans flag waving again).I will certainly not stay off this site while ignorance persists.

• Tooreenagrena | Mar 16, 2013, 10:02 PM EDT

  There is only one language the brits understand

• lcobryan | Mar 16, 2013, 08:29 PM EDT

  You know what's funny people, is invaded populations who were raped and pillaged by the english chose to remain part of the commonwealth. Why would they choose this? Their relationship with the english certainly hasn't been a benefit. I know nothing about the history of the Falkland Islands. I would surmise it was of an economically motivated strategic outpost. I'm sure most people living there are of english not Native, Spanish or any other national group descent. Net-net, the english have been very good at marketing themselves to the world as the ultimate in class and sophistication. They're better than all the rest of us. People who identify as british feel better about themselves irrespective of their actual life condition and true ethnic heritage. It is sad and pathetic to rely on an external affiliation to form one's sense of self. That is the problem w/NI.

• Eschetic | Mar 16, 2013, 07:38 PM EDT

  There is a slight misinterpretation in the article which is unfortunate. Of course an Argentine Archbishop would and should have supported the troops of his country. That their cause in the Falklands was blatantly illegal and doomed was tragic and his view misguided, but none of us should fault him for supporting his nation's troops in the conflict. He will have enough other problems with his past as a well documented collaborator with the Juntas and the death squads. The last Pope at least had the good grace to apologize for his virtually required membership in the Hitler Youth when he was growing up; thus far the Vatican's response to the rising reports of Archbishop Bergoglio's actions in the "Dirty Wars" has been exclusively ad hominum attacks on those papers reporting them. Not ONCE have they said "he didn't DO it!" Even the Priest who survived the torture chambers and HAD pointedly accused Bergoglio for turning him in to the Junta (but wants to keep working in the church) merely says he "has put it behind him." We want to believe any man can rise above his past - but the world should watch Pope Francis' actions to see if his philosophy is now as pure and Christ-like as we all want to believe. Actions do speak far louder than words.

• seanomelb | Mar 16, 2013, 07:26 PM EDT

  Kirchner got it right " a bunch of squatters" And Leah got it wrong again most Irish would like to see a united Ireland,it's only how we attain re-unification is disputed. Leah is typical of those immature young Irish who do not realise that the border weakens both sides and accept the easy way out. Cameron in typica British imperical mode forgets the sun now sets on the empire in London.

• WoundedKnee | Mar 16, 2013, 04:41 PM EDT

  Leahkinsella--"decades of military juntas". You're an idiot. The military junta lasted about six years, 1976-1982. Don't post on stuff you're utterly ignornant of. That'll keep you off this site indefinitely.

• leahkinsella | Mar 16, 2013, 04:12 PM EDT

  When did the Argentinans become democratic after decades of having military juntas? They want the oil pure and simple. Human rights are foreign to them. When the Argies invaded the islands they treated the inhabitants badly and it has not been forgotten. The Falkland Islands have voted to stay with Britain and the vote should be respected. What exactly has this to do with Northern Ireland. The Irish Republic and Northern do not want a United Ireland now and our wishes should be respected too.

• PhlutiePhan | Mar 16, 2013, 04:11 PM EDT

  A little bit of anti-Catholic bias on the part of David Cameron. Since I guess that the Falklands are within eyesight of the Tower of London. He may have a point. However with Adrian Monk, "I may be wrong but I don't think so". Since the head of Thomas More was impaled on the paraputs of the Tower of London, let's ask for a second opinion. How many Irish heads dripped blood from the same location? Sorry David. I'm with Frannie I.

• Seanmor | Mar 16, 2013, 03:49 PM EDT

  Those who have my posts which I. C. has printed during the past several months know that ReUNIFICATION of IRELAND is my mosh cherished wish and I would like very much if P.M. Cameron helped to arrange this. However, I admire Cameron for publicly admitting that the loss of life in Derry on Bloody Sunday was entirely the fault of British Paras and that the killings were "unjustified and unjustifiable". God Bless him for his courage and honesty.

• IrelandNorth | Mar 16, 2013, 03:09 PM EDT

  And with the way Britain's economy is going (just like her Irish counterparts), I reckon she needs all the help that she can get. Selling off her overseas possessions to wealthy Americans would bring much needed revenue to bolster HMs Treasury. Imperialist downsizing is in order.

• IrelandNorth | Mar 16, 2013, 02:52 PM EDT

  The most amicable compromise to this territorial dispute is independence for Islas de Malvina/Falkland Islands is independence, with a 50/50 Argentine/British population. Failing which the United Nations should serve a compulsory purchase order on Britain, and sell it on to Argentina, with financial compensation for British inhabitants. Just like Northern Ireland.

• BigKahuna | Mar 16, 2013, 02:51 PM EDT

  Anti Catholic Britten at it again. You had a schism because of a weak monarchy and rich family's who had more greed then brains.

• durtymurphy | Mar 16, 2013, 01:56 PM EDT

  The sun never set on the British Empire, because God could'nt trust them in the dark.

• Gary R. Grella | Mar 16, 2013, 01:42 PM EDT

  I would like to remind the Spectator that the main reason for the "schism" was becaue of Henry VII's desire to use women. He wanted a MALE heir for the throne. Devorce was not permitted. So, cleverly 'using' sentiments of nationalism, he got away with starting his OWN church. In those days, the English governmenet was everybit as brutish toward its own subjects as it was toward its conqoured peoples. Ask Thomas Moore. So, the English people had not choice but to go along with their ruler's wishes. Why would the Spectator lie to its own readers ? Answer, because it wishes to engage in psychophantic zeal to curry favor with the government. The Spectator has disgraced itself. And, what's more, they contribute to giving right wingers a bad name. Give Ireland back to the Irish !

• mreinhar2001 | Mar 16, 2013, 01:18 PM EDT

  That last paragraph attributed to the so-called "conservative" magazine is quite rude. It reeks of the beginnings of hate speech in my opinion.

• mreinhar2001 | Mar 16, 2013, 01:14 PM EDT

  "The then Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio praised the Argentinian forces who died following the invasion in 1982." The report indicates that he was speaking of the dead. The article says that they "went out to defend their mother, the homeland, to reclaim what is theirs." He did not say one side was right and one side was wrong, just that these boys died defending what they thought was right. It takes along time to see the value of lost life in wars. Turkey and the Australian-New Zealand forces are just finally seeing value and sorrow in each other's dead from World War I. Too bad the prime minister cannot see Pope Francis' comments as Archbishop that same way.

• Curitiba | Mar 16, 2013, 01:09 PM EDT

  Well that makes two of us who agree, Sparklet. Come to think of it, if there were only two people on the Falklands, would their claim to keep the islands British be just as convincing? Especially if they both voted for the UK in a referendum? What is the minimum amount of people that have to live in a country to decide its sovereignty?

• Sparklet | Mar 16, 2013, 12:54 PM EDT

  Nicomax, it seems that it's only other countries/nationalities who worry about the UK's lost empire. Most people, including the politicians probably, see it only as history. An embarrassing history at that. Curitiba - you've got it dead right! Give it back to the penguins.

• WoundedKnee | Mar 16, 2013, 12:49 PM EDT

  Ironic to see that some supporters of Mass Immigration into Ireland support the "Falklanders" (sic). Doesn't seem to occur to them that the "Falklanders" (sic) operate one of the strictest anti-Mass Immigration regimes in the world. They and the Israelis--an unpleasant pair indeed.

• Nicomax | Mar 16, 2013, 12:49 PM EDT

  Maybe the Brits view this as a consolation prize for the once fearsome nation that has lost almost everything they scooped up centuries ago, and are now clinging to the PR value of a pregnant princess while their austerity plan sinks the economy ever further.

• Curitiba | Mar 16, 2013, 12:23 PM EDT

  If it should be given back to anyone, it should be given back to the penguins, who in my opinion, are the rightful owners of the place. I don't care about the seagulls' or sea lions' claims. I reckon the penguins were there before any of them.

• Sparklet | Mar 16, 2013, 11:52 AM EDT

  Bit rich (i.e. hypocritical) of Americans to talk about settlers being usurpers. There's no comparison between Ireland and the Falklands. The Irish population were oppressed by a foreign power. Have the population of the Falklands ever been oppressed? Was there a population there in the first place? Are there people on the Falklands who consider themselves Argentinian? People should stick to the actual facts, not just wade in with comments that make them look stupid, or hypocrites, or both.

• joreilly | Mar 16, 2013, 11:39 AM EDT

  What Mr.Cameron wishes to overlook is that those voting are mostly "SETTLERS" and their decendants.......How can they deny that they didn't "USURP" those Islands.....typically British.

• jimgordo1 | Mar 16, 2013, 11:03 AM EDT

  As everyone overlooked something? The statement was made last year by Archbishop Bergoglio; not recently by Pope Francis. According to all you rampant Brits and Irishmen, the population of the New World (including Argentinians) should return to the countries of their ancestors and turn the continents back to the Native Americans. After all, it's the same principle -- the land was taken by force from the original inhabitants and populated by those foreigners!

• Curitiba | Mar 16, 2013, 10:52 AM EDT

  There are a lot of problems with this Falklands situation. Yes, it is true that Britain has held it since before Argentina even existed, so it is a bit lame to claim the FI belong to Argentina on the basis of geographical proximity. However, does a territory with nearly 2/3 the land mass of Wales but with a population equal to that of a typical British residential street have the right to claim that the entire territory should be for the exclusive use of 2563 people, with a woefully low population of 142 on West Falkland Island? Argentina has not done much about their claim, apart from their failed invasion in 1982. If they were serious about asserting their sovereignty claims, they should be buying up as much of the Falklands as they can and settling as many of their people there. That is the policy China uses to colonise Africa: Buy up land and bring investment and industry, then bring its citizens to run that industry and settle the country. Argentina seems to think that moaning about it is going to make the British capitulate because they know that if they launch another military invasion, they are only going to get their arses kicked. Somehow I don't think this whinging strategy is going to work.

• TomSwinford | Mar 16, 2013, 10:26 AM EDT

  It is a bit disingenuous for Cameron to reaffirm ownership of the Falklands on the basis of the islanders' vote to remain British. They occupy the place by force, then populate it with Brits - and then, being lovers of liberty and democracy themselves, proudly assert that the islanders have spoken in the truest democratic fashion. Kind of reminds me of the Plantation of Ulster. Still,the Argentinian claim is a bit dubious too - they claimed the islands in the 1820's and the Brits claimed them in the 1830's. There was a lot of claiming and re-claiming in the 1800's. The nationalists' claim to Northern Ireland is on far more solid ground. In both cases it's rather moot - as there is today in Britain and Ireland broad acceptance of free elections determining age-old - and often bitter - contests.

• cillowen | Mar 16, 2013, 10:19 AM EDT

  the Saxon Vultures are fearing the new Pope and rightly so given their ravenous nature to claim ownership over chucks of g-d's earth .. oil minerals .. they are the sharks of our planet aided and abetted by diaspora.

• donal1951 | Mar 16, 2013, 10:12 AM EDT

  Argemtina welcomed Irish immigrants in the 19th Century and Admiral William Brown and others helped secure Argentine independence. Let no Irishman or Irishwoman back the Crown over the Malvinas (Falkland) Islands, to paraphrase a song by the Wolfe Tones at the time of the Falklands War.

• Rebelforce | Mar 16, 2013, 10:07 AM EDT

  Argentinian Archbishop Bergoglio (now Pope Francis) stated they "went out to defend their mother, the homeland, to reclaim what is theirs". Wow! Can anyone remember an Irish primate ever speaking out so forcefully about the issue of northern Ireland?

• duncaolog | Mar 16, 2013, 09:48 AM EDT

  Typical British arrogance and hypocrisy and the same bullying and displacement of population they have employed in the North of Ireland and Gibraltar.

• vince363 | Mar 16, 2013, 09:41 AM EDT

  human nature being what it is is why the british settlers in the falklands are so"british" the british empire left behind many overseas british , the germans also had many overseas germans "volksdeutsch" after WW2 the host countries cleared lots of them out. Degaulle brought the "frenchmen" home from algeria ,poor ireland on the other hand are stuck with the british settlers in N,Ireland many (not all) have remaind british to the core rather like the "volksdeutsch" in poland belguim russia and yugoslavia ,these people lived in these countries for hundreds of years yet their head were in germany , much like their british cousins in N.Ireland whose asses are firmly plnted on irish soil but their heads are in mother england,.

• BoysofBantry | Mar 16, 2013, 09:26 AM EDT

  The tiny island of Great Britain represented by Mr.Cameron remains as arrogant as ever. Get out of the Falklands and get out of Ireland.

• Seanmor | Mar 16, 2013, 09:12 AM EDT

  Archbishop Bergoglio's support for the restoration of the Malvinas to the Argentine reminds me of Cardinal Ó Fiaich's public statements in favour of Irish Reunification in the '80s. Before Ó Fiaich was appointed Archbishop of Armagh (and Primate of ALL-Ireland) in 1977, the Thatcher gov't made it known to the Vatican that G.B. was strongly OPPOSED to Ó Fiaich. Prez Reagan backed Thatcher in the Malvinas war, which seems to have violated the Munro Doctrine by doing so. Even if the Malvinas have a pro-British majority, that does NOT give G.B. the right to control these Irlands. If Long Island had a majority that favored union with Britain, would Washingtom permit the Cameron gov't to control that piece of U.S. territory?

• WoundedKnee | Mar 16, 2013, 09:03 AM EDT

  OK, cameron, how come you don't put on a referendum on the British presence in Crossmaglen? The population of Crossmaglen is about the same as that of the Malvinas. Of course the difference is that the Irish people of Crossmaglen and their ancestors have been living in that place thru countless generations. The "Falklanders" only recently blew in off the South Atlantic. Notice how they have English accents, not accents that would have developed had they been a true nation like Australia or NZ. I bet if those folks in Cross were polled, you'd find a huge majority telling the British: Go Home.