Loyalist protest turns violent as Belfast lowers Union Jack- VIDEO

I must admit I feel a bit responsible for all this. After all, it's my tax money which is paying the dole money and public sector wages of this bunch of dossers and enabling them to carry on with this boolsheet, instead of emigrating to Britain, Australia and America to find a real job instead of making a nuisance of themselves. Everyone else in Ireland is having to emigrate, why are they allowed to keep sucking at the public teat?

Gearoid4, back of the net. Veracity matched only by eloquence. Game over.

The belfast council in a majority decision voted to display the butchers apron on 17 days of the year. Democracy at work

Sorry, Tory, old boy but I possibly know as much if not more than you about British politics. I have closely studied it enough over time. I know that "northern" Ireland is described as a "home nation" but calling something by a particular name does not make it so. It does not have the criteria to aspire to the grand name of a nation or country. It is indubitably a part of another country Ireland that was robbed of her true nationhood by the partitioning of her land by a foreign colonial power. In the north, what constitutes a "country" is nothing more than the biggest area within the ancient Irish province of Ulster that could be administered for the benefits of the descendants of the original settlers from the Plantation of Ulster in the 17th century. The border is totally unnatural and slices up whole hinterlands, villages and townlands without regard for their integrity. Practically all the place-names within "northern" Ireland owe their derivation to the Irish language which reigned supreme there for 1000-1,500 years. Now language is one of the hallmarks of a country, and thus this reality makes it's cultural bedrock little different from the rest of Ireland.

Any of those predicting a united Ireland wish to comment on how may days a year they would approve the flying of the Union Jack from Belfast City Hall AFTER unification...

Another page for the history books. another movie in the making. Good luck & God save Ireland

tory/tory: Scotland may notbe leaving right away, but they will be going. I am in Scotland often on business, it is so nice to tsee that they fly the Cross Of St Andrew, very attractive flag in my opinion. Business in Scotland is not opposed to secession as much as you might think. And even the many Scots who plan to vote no, od want devo max. And it will be coming. Too bad Ireland does not have a Mr. Salmond very skilled politician. Once devo max comes, it iwll only be a matter of time until no more UK.

Thank you, Towngate. It is a matter for Britain to decide what to call their flag. However, it is amazing how many British people get it wrong and repeat what was in your earlier message. I hope the information from the Flag Institute has helped you in this regard.

Where's "Orange Lily" when we needed her? She could hang by her ankles from the precipice of City Hall and show off her union jack molly bloomers.

It's a shame most Irish in the republic, don't feel as patriotic about their country as these loyalists do about theirs. Mobs should be protesting like this in Dublin against the government and the EU.

kinvara7: we are all in your debt, sir, and are pleased to note you - as an Irishnman - are complying so Loyally with what their Lordships at the Admiralty are telling you to do and think!

Quick to the lear jet, till it all calms down again.

@Towngate: The following is taken from The Flag Institute: “It is often stated that the Union Flag should only be described as the Union Jack when flown in the bows of a warship, but this is a relatively recent idea. From early in its life the Admiralty itself frequently referred to the flag as the Union Jack, whatever its use, and in 1902 an Admiralty Circular announced that Their Lordships had decided that either name could be used officially. Such use was given Parliamentary approval in 1908 when it was stated that ‘the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag’.”

Bit of an overreaction for an amicable compromise! What would they do if Irish democracy broke out? This Dubliner proposes following motions: Choose both at half mast for percentage representation or choose neither - Choose each togther or alternately - Choose EU or US flags, or British royal standard and/or Vatican/Holy See emblem - Choose pre-1800 union 'jack' (ie from King James/Jacobite, the original 'Brit') (ie sans le croix du Saint Patrice!) - Choose the Union Jill (ie union jack in Irish colours), with a French flag in reverse order for a republic of England) - Choose Ulster or Belfast city flags. If choosing existing union jack, fly on following days: 29th Feb (or 30th if leap year) - 31st of Apr/Jun/Sept/Nov - 32nd Jan/Mar/May/Jul/Aug/Oct/Dec. (NB previous post not mine!)

Hey, in case you haven't checked your Rand-McNally recently, you're living on the island of Ireland. Can you say Ireland?? I se you are very fascist about you belief that you are in Britain, but so sorry you lose. Britain was kindly asked to leave our soil during a scrap-up in 1776 et. al., Now Brits & Poles & Italian & Irish & dozens of others live here under a Stars & Stripes banner. Haven't had a town hall stormed in NY or SF to fly a Union Jack recently. I realize yu'all see it differently. Good luck . India, Iraq, South Africa, Kenya & Uganda & dozens of other previously overrun countries see it differently from you.