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Meet the Irish who might mess up Queen Elizabeth II’s visit

DARA KELLY,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Tuesday, April 19, 2011, 8:20 AM

Updated Tuesday, April 19, 2011, 5:58 PM

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Players Lounge, Fairview with anti-Queen banner

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It's time to face the truth: no one really knows exactly what kind of welcome Queen Elizabeth will receive when she visits Ireland next month but one thing seems sure - there are some Irish citizens who will not welcome an English monarch now or ever.

Dublin pub owner John Stokes made the headlines for unveiling a banner outside his pub insisting the Queen would never be welcome but he told the Irish Independent this week that despite news reports he's not a member of any republican outfit.

"The Queen," he told the Independent, "is a war criminal and the timing is not right. The British are still in the six counties."

Despite his militancy Stokes swears he would never hurt a fly. "I don't support any human life being taken - in Iraq, Afghanistan, wherever. I remember watching the Vietnam War on the television as a child and being really upset."

Stokes added he would not protest Queen Elizabeth if she came to Ireland in a private capacity. "I'm against a visit by her as a head of state," he said. "I would have no problem if she walked in in jeans."

Republican Sinn Fein have also been picketing the Irish Parliament and the British Embassy and have set up a weekly stall outside the General Post Office in Dublin to get signatures for a petition opposing the Queen's visit.

Republican Sinn Fein are linked to the Continuity IRA, one of the dissident republican groups still engaged in violence.

Asked if are dissidents are considering an attack on the Queen, RSF president Des Dalton told the Independent: "It's not a matter for us - we're a political party. Other groups, because of the position she holds, regard her as a target."

Nster.com

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47 Comments

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EireinAmerica | May 11, 2011, 05:59 PM EDT

AS USUAL,...CITIZEN69,....YOU ARE A WEST BRITON, NAIVE EEJIT! DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY IRISH FROM AROUND THE WORLD HAVE SUPPORTED THE CAUSE? IRISH ARE ALL OVER THE WORLD AND MANY OF THEM ARE REPUBLICAN AND NOT MONARCHY SUCK-UPS SUCH AS YOURSELF,...SO SOD OFF SOMEWHERE ELSE AND START A FORUM FOR WEAK-WILLED LOYALISTS THAT WOULD ACTUALLY WELCOME LIZZIE THE HUN WHO PINNED MEDALS UPON THE CHEST OF BRITISH SOLDIERS WHO KILLED UNARMED IRISH! GO PONTIFICATE SOMEWHERE ELSE,..THESE DAYS IRISH OFF OF THE ISLAND ARE MORE IRISH THAN MANY ON IT!

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citizen69 | May 09, 2011, 01:50 PM EDT

I think people need to realize that this visit is designed to IMPROVE relations between Great Britain & Rep. of Ireland, no worsen them! Some people here are trying to portray this as an aggressive stance from the Queen when it is clearly a friendly one... She will be attending the Irish garden of remembrance for god's sake! I have no doubt that IF the majority of the People of the Republic did not want this visit to happen then it would NOT happen but all indications seem to point to the fact that most people welcome the visit. Of course the few people that want to protest have that right. It seems quite a few people on this board don't agree with the visit, but then how many of them are actually from Ireland? And if you're not from Ireland then your opinion matters not a jot!

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seanomelbourne | Apr 30, 2011, 08:15 PM EDT

You can have the last word it appears to be uplifting for you

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Towngate | Apr 30, 2011, 06:54 AM EDT

Don't worry, Johnny Mal-born. The Dublin Towngate is firmly closed against you, so we'll let you get back to your kangaroo lover and tumbleweed farm... and won't strain yer 'brain' any longer. S'long!

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seanomelbourne | Apr 29, 2011, 07:17 PM EDT

Don't forget to close the gate behind you. I wonder what the co-efficient linear expansion of your pea brain is when it's heated 1 degree centigrade.

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Towngate | Apr 29, 2011, 01:05 PM EDT

I would like to say it's been nice knowing you ~ but it would be a lie. Off you go now. Jog on,boy! ~ and don't look back.

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seanomelbourne | Apr 28, 2011, 07:41 PM EDT

Your a card clowngate go post yourself.

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Towngate | Apr 28, 2011, 06:02 AM EDT

mal-bin: Two!? ~ what's that? ~ one for each brain cell?

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seanomelbourne | Apr 27, 2011, 07:40 PM EDT

No thanks clowngate two passports are enough.

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Towngate | Apr 27, 2011, 05:24 AM EDT

John-mal-bin: At the risk of aggravating your antipodean apoplexy and isolating you even further,I am pleased to inform you I travel on an Irish Passport. Any particular reason for asking? Why do you doubt it? Did you hope to borrow it to try and get back in?

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seanomelbourne | Apr 26, 2011, 07:39 PM EDT

What passport do you carry clowngate.

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Towngate | Apr 25, 2011, 07:09 AM EDT

Nobody has questioned your patriotism or fondness for the old country, Dinkum, but if you have not fully committed yourself to your life in Australia, perhaps it is time to come home. I found your last post rather touching and sad in it's appeal for acceptance and assuring us of your loyalty to and pride in your Irish beginnings.The psychological damage caused by your unhappy exile is indicated by your need to conclude your honest post with a personal insult.You have been too long in the land of the humourless tumbleweeds ~ time to head home!

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seanomelbourne | Apr 24, 2011, 10:16 PM EDT

Still carry a current Irish passport no chip on this proud Irish shoulder,but I see you are dribbling out of both sides of your mouth at the same time.

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Towngate | Apr 24, 2011, 11:20 AM EDT

Aw, Diddums Dinkum! Don't want to play? Fair enough. We'll miss your interesting and unique point of view and your eccentric responses. For the record, I never attempted or offered "a definitive study of Irish History" ~ I said "Try this for size!" Look,I am not the one with chips on my shoulders ~ I couldn't be more open-minded and enquiring; or sanguine about the peoples of the British Isles and their near easterly neighbours. We have a lively and fast-moving series of interactions which almost defies 'definition'; as what was written, when, by whom and why - is mostly all we have to form out modern thoughts and opinions. If say, for instance, my ancestors were twice Kings of what is now Dublin ~ and some little scut started throwing stones at my fortification in Clondalkin, I would have him sent on a long trip to the other end of the earth for his trouble! Just a shot in the dark, but could the fact that you no longer a Dubliner and Irish be the cause of the huge chips that seem to weigh so heavily on your shoulders. Don't worry; I'll meet you when you land if you come back. Don't wait too long though, as the Queen might be on our stamps soon. Slan.

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seanomelbourne | Apr 23, 2011, 08:13 PM EDT

There were no more Viking raids after 1014.You seem only interested in trading insults and I have no intention of playing your petty childish games. I am Dublin born and bred you fool and I lived a stones throw from Clondalkin.Clondalkin itself is steeped in ancient history.Your irrelevant comments are noted.

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