179 Comments

• Curitiba | Apr 28, 2012, 07:09 AM EDT

  Jacers: I was just reading your reply, but I think that we are descendend from the Celtic tribes who once formed the bulk of Europe, and who extended as far as what is now Turkey. However, the Irish, Scottish Gaels, Manx, Welsh Cornish and Bretons are the only surviving remnants of that once mighty culture. I think that the folk who were reputed to have been discovered in the Atlas Mountains were descendents of Irish people captured bhy Barbary Pirates. Baltimore wasn't the only raid; the pirates had been raiding European coasts as far as Iceland for hundreds of years. I think the people discovered were mixed heritage of Irish slaves and Barbary masters.

• Curitiba | Apr 28, 2012, 07:02 AM EDT

  Hi Ciara, one thing that springs to mind is the fact that there are two governments on the island of Ireland. Two governments, for a population of 5 or 6 million people? Is there any point? Perhaps pooling resources and coming up with a combined economic strategy would be advantageous to the residents of Ireland in the form of reduced taxes and increased economic output. It's not like reuniting East and West Germany, or North and South Korea where one economy has been devastated by Communism. NI and ROI are both First World countries, have no border controls, no restrictions on where you live or work, so using allan07's marriage analogy, why not formalise this living in sin arrangement and have a registry office marriage? NI can move out of her mum's house (UK) and move in with ROI.

• ancavker | Apr 27, 2012, 02:08 PM EDT

  allan:Just how dense are you? He was born in the U.S. of an Irish mother, (and probably Father) and returned to Ireland when he was 2 years of age. What part of that do you not understand?

• ciaradexy | Apr 27, 2012, 02:08 PM EDT

  IrelandNorth, again youre telling lies! youve lived outside Ireland since the early 80s. Why do you keep changing your location?

• ancavker | Apr 27, 2012, 02:06 PM EDT

  bythebay: De Valera spent about 18 months in the U.S. during the war of independence, when he was well in his 30's; that is the extent of his huge stay in the U.S. He was Irish, and a product of Ireland, his American birth had nothing to do with what you believe to be his sectarianism.

• esatdigiwank | Apr 27, 2012, 09:50 AM EDT

  BtheB. the Fiscal treaty has as much to do with job creation for ordinary Irish as that L¤sbon treaty did. That utter bluff will be spun ad nauseum by the sellouts. What jobs are you thinking of? The 'imported 'hi-faluting jobs to this f¤iled state no doubt. That which require a Masters, skills in Swahili, Arabic and Malay... I'm glad I took my name off the vote register And got out of the emerald valley of tears .

• STEVENSTAR | Apr 27, 2012, 08:36 AM EDT

  IrelandNorth | Apr 27, 2012, 06:43 AM EDT>>>> YOUR AMERICAN YOU TWAT.. NEVER HAVE I HEARD AN IRISHMAN SAYING DUBLIN EASTERN IRELAND ALL YOUR POSTS POINT TO YOU BEEN AMERICAN.. THE OTHER DAY U SAID U WALKED ALONG THE BOARDWALK TO THE LIBRARY IN DUBLIN ... OH YOU SILL FOOL...I WOULD LOVE A REFERENDUM IN IRELAND TO EXPRESS HOW WE IRISH WANT AMERICANS TO KEEP OUT OF IRISH AFFAIRS AS THEY HAVE CAUSE ENOUGH WARS AND MAYHEM ALL AROUND THE WORLD... YOU SEEM LIKE A VERY BITTER OLD MAN AS FOR YOUR COMMENTS AMERICANS CAN COME BACK TO IRELAND TO CLAIM WHATS THEIRS I SIT HERE AND SAY ONLY AN AROGANT AMERICAN FULL OF RUBBISH COULD COME OUT WITH A COMMENT LIKE THAT .. HAAHA !! GO HOME

• IrelandNorth | Apr 27, 2012, 06:43 AM EDT

  STEVENSTAR! I'm a 55 year old ex-Catholic Irishman from south Dublin. From Leinster (Eastern Ireland). A green unionist (i.e. a United Irelander). Why do you think everyone who expresses a progressive opinion on this website is from the United States of America? You constantly SHOUT about being born and living in Ireland without telling American posters you're from Ulster/Northern Ireland, and consider yourself British here? Are you afraid 40 million Irish-Americans will arrive back in Ireland with their luggage to reclaim their rightful inheritance? If so, that's what I call a siege mentality on steroids. Allan07! As a 48 year old Ulster/Northern Ireland Presbyterian British unionist and loyalist, (with a first in economics living and working on the south coast of England), you considered me a foreigner? That I might as well be Chinese! Yet you express the desire to be Chinese rather than live in a United Ireland. Does that mean we can be neighbours at last, even if only in Szechuawan province (which I believe is in 'southern' China)? PS Catholicism and Protestantism aren't generically Christian. CiaraDexy! A word of advice from someone old enough to be your father. Glossy magazines at your local hairdressers aren't good source material for authoritative commentary on historical and political complexities. As a 32 year old casualty of a 26 county revisionist education (and designer propagandistic partitionist press and morose media), beware of programmed subjecetivity. As a maternity hospital worker, be careful you don't abort the new republic by ill-considered statements. I fear you're a loose canon on the decks of the Lóng Éireannach (phon/pron Lung Air-in-ach)(LE) Hibernia.

• DanOLoingsigh | Apr 27, 2012, 03:35 AM EDT

  Seano - You're pretty good at the ould fairytales yourself...rewriting the GFA for one!!!

• seanomelb | Apr 26, 2012, 09:01 PM EDT

  Stevenstar juggling figures like a character from" Alice in wonderland" Allan07 I'll let you in on a secret everybody but you knows, that protestantism did not exist in the 5th.century.BTW Dev lived in Ireland from childhood until his death.I find it amusing that the anti Irish on IC proactively try to rewrite history with fairytales

• Bythebay | Apr 26, 2012, 08:45 PM EDT

  ancavker, DeValera spent an enormous amount of time in the USA, and was hugely influenced by the bigoted and slanted Catholic Church in the US. No detail or records were ever found for the information he claimed about his father either.

• Bythebay | Apr 26, 2012, 08:40 PM EDT

  esatdigiwank, your concern is too late. It's already happening and the new Financial Treaty for the EU countries will cement it. That's what the Europen Union is about. Ireland diluted it's own identity with the Celtic Tiger. Ireland will move forward with Europe and ratify the new treaty. Jobs are at stake. This is 2012, not 1912.

• allan07 | Apr 26, 2012, 03:23 PM EDT

  @ancavker De Valera was an Americian born in New York. He was of Spanish descent and hence his spanish name. He never returned to Ireland as he was not born in Ireland. You are good at spinning the truth so thin that everyone can see through it. You dont let the truth get in the way of a good story. Check it out for yourself. Wikipedia. Go on have a read. His mother was Irish and she left Ireland years before his birth. Even St. Patrick was a Frenchman and a protestant. Talk facts and not myth.

• STEVENSTAR | Apr 26, 2012, 09:00 AM EDT

  STATISTICS ARE INCORRECT AND ALSO SINN FEINS VOTE 'FELL' TO 17% IN THE DUBLIN AREA .... THEY DO HAVE A MAJORITY OF 21% OF PEOPLE WHO VOTED THATS NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH 21% OF THE COUNTRY ... NO WORRIES .. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS AN AMERICAN PUBLICATION IN A DIFFERENT COUNTRY IN A DIFFERNT TIME ZOME TO US IN IRELAND SO YOUR MISCALCULATIONS AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS AS TO WHAT GOES ON IN IRELAND WHICH IS 1000S AND 1000S OF MILES AWAY FROM U IS UNDERSTANDABLE..... BEST ALL AMERICANS KEEP OUT OF IRISH AFFAIRS AND STOP GIVING MEDIA COVERAGE TO GERRY ADAMS AND THE IRA ..

• esatdigiwank | Apr 26, 2012, 02:30 AM EDT

  BytheBy you seem to cherish the Republic becoming a Multicultural, politically-correct hell where the sense of Irish identity is diluting to the point of nothing. I never wanted an overwhelmingly unbalanced multi-cultural society. The leaders of France, Germany have admitted that multiculturalism has been a failure; to what means? What is it they've realised that you have not? By applauding multiculturalism as you seem to do you condone More Religion not Less?? It is the Trojan horse backdoor for I s l a m.

• esatdigiwank | Apr 26, 2012, 02:16 AM EDT

  Ancavker: " The Irish in the south do no care as they have no pride in their country, no sense odd civic duty, and have been fed a diet of distorted revisionism of Irish history over the last 30 odd years or so." The latter part i can attain to , in terms of cultural amnesia. There seems to be an un-official ban on the music of Belfast's sadly missed rock legend Gary Moore whose emotive hits draw heavily on 'the Troubles as he saw them, lived through them. You will not hear his classic tracks played on 2fm or indeed the independent stations (Radio Nova is a glaring example). It was when overseas that i was first introduced to his hits. Moore to this day remains unheard of in the Republic. Can someone please confirm this. Was guitarist to Phil Lynott, went on to greater things Outside Ireland after Phil's death.

• jacersagain | Apr 25, 2012, 05:04 PM EDT

  @ Curitiba on Apr 22 at 05.33pm – sorry I’ve been away from this debate since it became just drivel between a few idiots but yr comment re Irish-speaking communities in the Atlas Mountains of North Africa intrigued me. At first I thought it might be related to the famous Baltimore Raid in Co. Cork where almost the whole village’s population was taken away by pirates in one night until I remembered most of those villagers were English settlers. I did a bit of ‘binging’ and came across a gem of a page from Library Ireland. I was absolutely fascinated by what I read, as much for the read itself and the gentlemanly English language in it from 150 years ago as for the information which seems to suggest that indeed Irish was spoken in the mountain areas south of Morocco. I highly recommend that all Bing “IS THE IRISH LANGUAGE SPOKEN IN AFRICA?” for a truly great fascinating read. We Irish may have originally been Arabs (before Islam) after all and not original Sinn Féiners!

• ancavker | Apr 25, 2012, 02:47 PM EDT

  bythebay: De Valera returned to Ireland at the age of 2, as in 2 years old, as in still almost a baby!!! How can you possibly call him a an American bigot!!! If he was, (and I do not believe that to be the case) then he learned his bigotry from the Irish that surrounded him. But of course in true new Irish fashion, lets blame the American's.

• ancavker | Apr 25, 2012, 02:05 PM EDT

  citizens: You are right, I should have clarified that comment with in a perfect world, and assuming the Irish (north and south) ever get their act together.

• ancavker | Apr 25, 2012, 02:04 PM EDT

  bythebay: It is the south of the island of Ireland, what is your point?

• ancavker | Apr 25, 2012, 02:03 PM EDT

  bythebay: American bigot??? He came to live in Ireland when he was a child and he is an American bigot??

• ciaradexy | Apr 25, 2012, 01:42 PM EDT

  Tay, seriously, youre using words from Killers songs to put across your point? Its a romantic one for people who arent Irish by the looks of things.

• TayandCake | Apr 25, 2012, 01:31 PM EDT

  too many boring old cranks on this website

• TayandCake | Apr 25, 2012, 01:30 PM EDT

  the idea of a UI is a romantic one. But whats wrong with a dream, who dreams of more, dream or be nothing. Are we human or are we dancers?

• ciaradexy | Apr 25, 2012, 12:05 PM EDT

  Ancavker, so according to you, who lives abroad, the irish have no pride or sense of civic duty and the rest? Youre Irish, born and raised. Just because you have no pride in that and have no interest in Irish society, please dont tar us all with the same rules as apply to you.Well, I live here and I can assure you that my friends and family are all very proud of where we are from and who we are. We all have a massive sense of civic duty. Most of my friends are involved with voluntary organisations. You have so much pride in Ireland that you left and constantly b1tch about the place. Just because it didnt work out for you here doesnt mean that the rest of us arent living good, honest, decent, fulfilled lives. You just sound like a migrant who likes to act as though you're better than those you left behind. You contribute nothing to Ireland so get off your high horse. Some of us ARE here and are doing our very best. Sounds like you're the begrudger here not me. As for your comment that the best left, I think you've just proven that that is not the case. Some of us are sticking it out because this is our country. Its where we are from and we arent going to abandon it just because theres a recession. Those of us here are resiliant and as we are here, its us who are entitled to complain every now and again because what happens here affects us, not you. Its like families, I can complain about mine till Im blue in the face but I still love them but I would never let you away with complaining about them. Im glad Im Irish and have friends from all over the world here who love Ireland and Id not be from anywhere else.

• Bythebay | Apr 25, 2012, 11:38 AM EDT

  Curitiba, until the 1940s in Ireland, when Ireland was still part of the Commonwealth, there were Orange parades all over the country including Dublin and Cork. DeValera, the American bigot is the one who ended it. Not the Irish people.

• Bythebay | Apr 25, 2012, 11:34 AM EDT

  ancavker, there is no Irish in the south. We live in Ireland. It is not the south of anything.

• ancavker | Apr 25, 2012, 11:32 AM EDT

  Curtiba: Sad but true. And so many of the Irish in Ireland do not even care. The best left and went to the U.S. or Britain.

• citizen69 | Apr 25, 2012, 11:30 AM EDT

  For those who think Northern Ireland & the Republic of Ireland are both failed states... What on earth makes you think these two failed states would be such a success when combined as one!? Isn't it more probable then that it would be the mother of all clusterf***s!? ;-) Two wrongs don't make a right!

• ancavker | Apr 25, 2012, 11:29 AM EDT

  ciara: In a perfect world a united Ireland would be a positive, and ultimately benefit both parts of the divided island. However, as things stand now the present compromise in the north is fine, and no one is dying. The difference between the Republic of Ireland and other divided countries over the years is that most of those countries would have at least aspired to unification, and the righting of a historical injustice; peacefully of course. The Irish in the south do no care as they have no pride in their country, no sense odd civic duty, and have been fed a diet of distorted revisionism of Irish history over the last 30 odd years or so.

• Bythebay | Apr 25, 2012, 11:24 AM EDT

  Curitiba, Protestants were discriminated against in Ireland for decades by the Catholic Church. They encouraged and supported it and bellowed it from their pulpits. Ireland is moving well past that thankfully. Ireland has become a multi cultural and pluralist country. The Catholic Church is finally releasing its stranglehold on the schools. Integrated schools are the most popular in Ireland. There are strong Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian and other Protestant religious denominations now in Ireland as well as non-Christians including Muslims and Jews, Sikhs and others. Move on and give up your bigotry.

• ciaradexy | Apr 25, 2012, 11:21 AM EDT

  Seems to be all the non-Irish on this site who want a united ireland, those of us born, raised and still living here arent arsed. Curitiba, why would it be in the interest of the average irish family for there to be a united Ireland? What would we have to gain from it?

• Bythebay | Apr 25, 2012, 11:18 AM EDT

  Curitiba, you live in England. You and others should not be attempting to continue your culture of hate, bigotry and prejudice in Ireland or Northern Ireland. Ireland is well past that. There is a peaceful Orange parade in Donegal every year that's never a problem. Give it up.

• Curitiba | Apr 25, 2012, 12:59 AM EDT

  @"Culture of hate", come off it allan07. What are you saying, anything that doesn't involve shoving a (single) 300year old victory down people's throats and not bigging up Unionist hegemony and tyranny is a "culture of hate"? In that case the suffragettes must have been a "culture of hate then". I could label anything I don't like a "culture of hate" in that case. My mother used to make me eat my greens, even though I preferred ice cream. Is that a "culture of hate", allan07?

• maireadinmelb | Apr 24, 2012, 07:39 PM EDT

  Really Allan07 it is only a section of the occupied state that is different, largely it is a shared history and culture, the difference is the peoples who were planted there by centuries of british manipulation!! BTW teh whole set up of the occupied territory is a false entity trying to force people together! Much like the creation of yugoslavia and israel! Other people stepping in and making boundaries and setting up unfair governments! mmmmm maybe that is what they are still doing in Iraq and Afghanistan

• allan07 | Apr 24, 2012, 07:38 PM EDT

  @curitiba its time to realise your stupid game is up. Pushing and attempting to force your opinion onto others is never, never going to work. With me you should realise that you will never convert me to your United Ireland. Never, never and just incase you haven't got it NEVER. Not this side of hell freezing over. So you can take that as NEVER. You act like a muslim cleric who preaches hate in an attempt to join up their cause. It will never happen not in my case. I would rather become Chinese. So NEVER.

• allan07 | Apr 24, 2012, 07:32 PM EDT

  @curitiba QUOTE "I STILL REMAIN IN THE OPINION THAT A UNITED IRELAND IS IN EVERYONES INTEREST" UNQUOTE. NOT MY INTERESTS OR THE PEOPLE HERE IN NORTHERN IRELAND. So stop talking bullsh*t. You dont talk for anyone else. Stop acting as if your god. The Republic is bankrupt, skint or belly up. Choose any. Its not going to happen and you can think what you want. Personally I dont give a flying frog what you think. People belong to the flat world society and swear that the world is flat. Just because you think it doesn't make it true. The people within Ireland are not united. Separate as in chalk and cheese. Different histories, backgrounds, beliefs, politics, allegiences, religion, sport, culture, economics, outlook, ideals, anything else you want to list.

• seanomelb | Apr 24, 2012, 07:24 PM EDT

  Warrenpoint!! Stevenfallingstar is not "old boy" he's an old bitter fool.

• TayandCake | Apr 24, 2012, 05:13 PM EDT

  wee Allan07, protestants have become presidents of Ireland before, the highest office in the land as well as many ministerial positions. How is that discrimination? Whereas Terence O Neill went on a drive to Dublin and was hounded out of the PM office. What is discrimination in your childish feeble mind? Its a one way street in your eyes wee Al

• Curitiba | Apr 24, 2012, 04:34 PM EDT

  @ancavker: agreed.

• ancavker | Apr 24, 2012, 03:06 PM EDT

  What difference does it make? One island, two failed political entities.

• Curitiba | Apr 24, 2012, 02:47 PM EDT

  allan07@: well I'll take your word for it that Protestants were discriminated against in ROI, but you cannot say that the NI in the period from 1922 to 1969 was the last bastion of fairness and equality in the Western world, otherwise the troubles would not have started. Catholics were tired of being discriminated against, the Unionist heirachy made no effort to reach out to them and treat them equally. Had some forward-looking leader taken the bold step of trying to overcome the outdated objections of certain organisations, and to end institutional discrimination against Catholics, all of this unpleasantness would have been avoided. Who knows, the Catholics may even have turned Unionist. Obviously, their lot is much better today, which is why some Catholic posters from NI on this forum have expressed a wish to remain part of the Union. However, in the long run, I still remain of the opinion that a United Ireland is in everybody's interests.

• allan07 | Apr 24, 2012, 02:44 PM EDT

  @ArmaghCity the Free State discriminated against protestants and still does today. In 1921 about 10% of the Free State was protestant, today its 2.5%. The RC Church and the state are one organisation. Look at the recent property tax guess who doesn't have to pay it. The Roman Catholic Church. Morally bankrupt. If you read my last reply to @curitiba you will see my reply to discrimination. The governement of Eire has discriminated against those whom returned from World War 2. Even SF has recently refused to patron them. 60 years on and still the shinners are bitter and twisted.

• allan07 | Apr 24, 2012, 02:34 PM EDT

  @curitiba yes the chinese look after the chinese first. Thats normal i would expect no different. A father and mother look after their children. Normal. The problem is simple he who pays the piper picks the tune. The chinese are cash rich and i think they are generating cash at about £10 billion per month. Its increasing as the economy is getting larger. I know that there are workers in China who work for peanuts but unfortunately that has always been the case. The same can be said for workers in the US, Japan and even Britain. There are workers in England who collect rag worms for fishing who earn a few pounds per day. Groups of them and they have a master who collects all the worms and pays them peanuts. Your reference to only half the workers in NI had a descent living prior to the troubles is inaccurate. The protestant people living in the Free State after 1921 were mistreated and discriminated against. Those who left to fight the Nazis by joining the British Armed Forces were discriminated against when they returned to Eire after the war. They lost their pensions, discriminated against when seeking employment, etc, Even recently Sinn Fein refused to patron them or recognise them. Some lost their savings, got treated like vermin, lost their property and/or land, etc. I know you will argue otherwise but it's the truth. I know will not accept it either but most of these people were not protestant. Discrimination its called. The abuse these individuals got did not only affect themselves but their families including their children. Nasty Shinners, bitter and twisted. On the other hand if Hitler had got hold of them he would have shown them no mercy. It would have been the gas chambers. Sometimes people dont see past the end of their own nose.

• Curitiba | Apr 24, 2012, 02:33 PM EDT

  @esatdigiwank: In addition to what I said earlier, there is a lot of contraversy about the amount of land China uses for crop-growing in Africa. Basically, this land is rented to the Chinese for their sole use, and the crops are shipped straight out of the country to China, and again the locals are bypassed, they don't get any opportunity to buy this food, and they are left with the worst quality land to grow their crops on. Last time I was in NI, it had lovely neat looking farms that obviously high crop yields. That is probably what the Chinese are looking at. You're right, either politicians have given no thought to this, or they simply don't care.

• STEVENSTAR | Apr 24, 2012, 10:01 AM EDT

  @@IrelandNorth | Apr 24, 2012, 08:33 AM EDT >>>>>>>>>>> AND THAT COMMENT IS FROM IRELANDNORTH WHO IS AMERICAN BASED IN AMERICA ... WHOS STATISTICS ARE INCORRECT AND ALSO SINN FEINS VOTE 'FELL' TO 17% IN THE DUBLIN AREA .... THEY DO HAVE A MAJORITY OF 21% OF PEOPLE WHO VOTED THATS NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH 21% OF THE COUNTRY ... NO WORRIES .. I UNDERSTAND U LIVE IN A DIFFERENT COUNTRY IN A DIFFERNT TIME ZOME TO US IN IRELAND SO YOUR MISCALCULATIONS AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS AS TO WHAT GOES ON IN IRELAND WHICH IS 1000S AND 1000S OF MILES AWAY FROM U IS UNDERSTANDABLE

• IrelandNorth | Apr 24, 2012, 08:33 AM EDT

  For the past number of years, due to press censorship and revisionist education in the 26 counties (or 81% republic), Sinn Fein has tended to poll in or around 6% in most elections/surveys. Their meteoric rise to fame up 20% to 26%, (in the wake of a highly successful Presidential campaign & Ulster/Northern Ireland peace process) ensures a quantum leap to 32%. The disaffection of the Irish electorate from the republic's political establishment will ensure a Sinn Fein/Labour/ULA coalition government with Citizen Adams as Taoiseach. And who knows, Citizen McGuinness in the Áras.

• STEVENSTAR | Apr 24, 2012, 07:26 AM EDT

  @@@warrenpoint00 | Apr 23, 2012, 09:57 PM EDT>>>>>>>>> WHAT ARE U ON ABOUT U FOOL ?? IM IRISH I LIVE IN SOUTHERN IRELAND AND I WAS BORN IN IRELAND .. YOUR AMEMERICAN AND OUT OF TOUCH WITH MY COUNTRY .. ALSO BRITISH PEOPLE DONT TALK IN RYHMES SAYING 'OLD BOY' ITS NICE TO SEE AMERICAN IGNORANCE IS ALIVE AND WELL AND THE FANTASY IMAGES THEY CARRY AROUND WITH THEM ABOUT IRELAND IS STRAIGHT OUT OF A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE SET.. GO EDUCATE YOURSELF MATE AND BE PROUD TO BE AMERICAN..

• STEVENSTAR | Apr 24, 2012, 07:20 AM EDT

  @@@@@@seanomelb | Apr 23, 2012, 08:07 PM EDT In Ireland at least 25% love him. Stop shouting in capitals stevenfalling star and temper your hate and spite.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 21 % OF PEOPLE WHO VOTED , YOU IDIOT !! NOT 25% OF THE POPULATION ... JUST GOES TO SHOW HOW FAR REMOVED YOU AMERICANS ARE FROM IRISH CULTURE AND PEOPLE ... ADAMS IS SEEN AS NOTHING MORE THEN A PIECE OF TRASH OVER HERE IN IRELAND .... SO PLEASE GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT ABOUT MY COUNTRY OTHERWISE YOU SEEM IGNORANT!

• STEVENSTAR | Apr 24, 2012, 07:11 AM EDT

  21% OF PEOPLE WHO VOTED YOU IDIOTS NOT 21% OF THE POPULATION!!! THAT IS HARDLY SIGNIFICANT .. AMAZING HOW THE AMERICANS ARE ALL FOR GERRY ADAMS .. ITS WELL KNOWN THEY WERE THE ONES FUNDING THE IRA OVER THE YEARS... ILL SAY IT AGAIN AMERICANS NEED TO KEEP OUT OF IRISH AFFAIRS UNLESS THEY LIVE IN IRELAND AND PAY TAXES HERE... I COULDNT CARE LESS ABOUT AMERICAN POLITICS LIKE THE REST OF IRISH PEOPLE SO SORT YOUR OWN COUNTRY OUT AND LEAVE OURS ALONE..

• esatdigiwank | Apr 24, 2012, 05:07 AM EDT

  Curitiba: "China. Wherever it invests money, or builds infrastructure, it insist that it uses its own workers to do so. Take a look at Africa. This is a region of high unemployment. They have sent their people to colonise the place and build their shopping centres and railways and telecommunications. The native Africans don't get a look in". Do you think our leaders in Govt are aware of all of what you say, that Africa is indeed undergoing a carve-up by China? Or will they even care, given that 3 of the most important leaders are on retirement age at the end of this term of office? I'm not naming 'cos its patently obvious who.

• warrenpoint00 | Apr 23, 2012, 09:57 PM EDT

  GOOD OLD STEVEN STAR YOU DO NOT FOOL "US" IRISH WITH YOUR CAPS AND YOUR "US IRISH" ANTI IRISH/ ANTI UNITED STATES OF AMERICA RHETORIC.One could be forgiven old chap to associate YOU OLD BOY with good old boys Dan O Longshanks ,George O Dildo and the rest of your ANTI iRISH POSTER CHAPS ON THIS ALL IRISH PAGE.So run along now old chap ...go post your vile in your pro british Independent rag or some other right wing british tabloid.GO ON NOW OLD BOY.SHOOOOH.

• ArmaghCity | Apr 23, 2012, 08:38 PM EDT

  @allan07 ... Yes, the North had a stable economy before The Troubles. A blatantly discriminatory one that benefited only half the population.

• AMWilson | Apr 23, 2012, 08:21 PM EDT

  NEWSFLASH, @@@@@@@@STEVENSTAR, WE AMERICANS WEREN'T POLLED!!!!!!!!! IT'S THE IRISH THEMSELVES WHO WERE POLLED HERE, AND ARE BEHIND "JERRY" ADAMS' RISE IN IRISH POLITICS!!!!!!!! ADAMS CLEARLY APPEALS TO A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE IRISH ELECTORATE, SO MAYBE YOUR COUNTRY HASN'T COMPLETELY MOVED ON AFTER ALL!!!!!!!!!

• seanomelb | Apr 23, 2012, 08:07 PM EDT

  In Ireland at least 25% love him. Stop shouting in capitals stevenfalling star and temper your hate and spite.

• STEVENSTAR | Apr 23, 2012, 07:38 PM EDT

  ... YOU WOULD NEVER GET THIS RUBBISH ABOUT ADAMS IN AN IRISH NEWSPAPER IN IRELAND WHERE MOST IRISH PEOPLE HATE THE SIGHT OF THE LOW LIFE ADAMS .. I REALLY THINK ITS ABOUT TIME US IRISH SPOKE UP TO THESE AMERICAN NUT JOBS WHO TRY TO STEAL OUR IDENTITY AND CALL THEMSELVES IRISH AMERICANS AND SUPPORT LOW LIFE MURDERS LIKE ADAMS ... MY COUNTRY WHERE I LIVE HAS MOVED ON AND THESE IDOTS DO NOTHING BUT TRY AND HOLD US BACK ..... AMERICANS SHOULD BE MADE KEEP OUT OF IRISH AFFAIRS AND MIND THEIR OWN BUSINESS...

• STEVENSTAR | Apr 23, 2012, 07:31 PM EDT

  ... YOU WOULD NEVER GET THIS RUBBISH ABOUT ADAMS IN AN IRISH NEWSPAPER IN IRELAND WHERE MOST IRISH PEOPLE HATE THE SIGHT OF THE LOW LIFE ADAMS .. I REALLY THINK ITS ABOUT TIME US IRISH SPOKE UP TO THESE AMERICAN NUT JOBS WHO TRY TO STEAL OUR IDENTITY AND CALL THEMSELVES IRISH AMERICANS AND SUPPORT LOW LIFE MURDERS LIKE ADAMS ... MY COUNTRY WHERE I LIVE HAS MOVED ON AND THESE IDOTS DO NOTHING BUT TRY AND HOLD US BACK ..... AMERICANS SHOULD BE MADE KEEP OUT OF IRISH AFFAIRS AND MIND THEIR OWN BUSINESS...

• TayandCake | Apr 23, 2012, 04:36 PM EDT

  allan, seen your comments, long and boring as they are like some old history book, they're complete pants. Talking about world war 2,the 70s, common market?? are you serious, you're still a hater and we all know it, You said democracy lets have it, you wouldn't know democracy if it hit you in the face, fascism yes you'd love that alright. What I'm talking about is people, everyone has the right to live anywhere, we don't own this planet but people like you think otherwise. We live on it, a country is not the land its the collective people who put a name on their identity and beliefs. It will never be the land. Why can't we trough away all the old prejudices, unite as one single species and go forth and explore space? Well because theres always folk who remember the past because they must have dictate their future. Roosevelt, Nixon,Taft yeah real beautiful Irish names, if they're Irish then so are you and me. Me and you Celtic Irish Paddies to the core.

• allan07 | Apr 23, 2012, 03:45 PM EDT

  @Tayandcake i believe that the citizens of the UK should be given the option to leave the EU if they so wish. I never voted for the EU or its former name the Common Market. My parents didnt vote for it either. So in effect its been like an arranged marriage in which we cannot get a divorce. Now apparently were is no method or means for any country to leave should they so wish. At least when you get married you can get divorced but with the EU this is not possible. I believe the rules should be changed and any country that wishes to leave can do so. Thats freedom. What was the point of World War 2 if it did not guarantee us freedom? Britain joined WW2 after Poland was invaded by Germany as Britain had an agreement with Poland. After liberating Poland we now are invaded by the Polish despite the fact we the British never agreed to joining the EU in the first place. The vote in Britain in the early 70's was about a common market. The EU and the common market are completely different. No-one who voted in the early 70's was made aware that a common currency would be forced upon them. If that was made known at the time Britain would not have joined. The EU is not democratic and the British people want the choice to leave or stay. Personally i want out. The Euro will fail. Its a sinking ship and doomed. It is a matter of then and not a matter of if. Game over as far as I am concerned. Lets have democracy in Britain. We are supposed to be the Mother of Parliaments. The people can decide. Democracy lets be having it.

• Curitiba | Apr 23, 2012, 03:36 PM EDT

  Yes i agree allan07, Sinn Fein's marxist ideology is a load of outdated rubbish, however that does not mean the free marketeers should be given free rein to privatise everything. Government has a major role in planning the economy and "picking winners", because it has more access to economic data and information about the natural resources of a country than any private organisation.

• Curitiba | Apr 23, 2012, 03:30 PM EDT

  Yes allan07, a good standard living in China but probably not for those workers who chuck themselves out of the 5th-floor windows of their factory dormitories, after working 14-hour days with hardly any time off, all for £20 a week.

• allan07 | Apr 23, 2012, 03:26 PM EDT

  TayandCake here goes Washington, John Adams, Madison, Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Jackson, Poke, Buchanan, Johnston, Grant, Arthur, Cleveland, McKinley, Roosevelt, Taft, Wilson, Harding, Truman, Kennedy, Lyndon Johnston, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, GW Bush, Clinton, GW Bush Jnr, Obama. Check it out yourself. @curitiba i think it would be called Dreamland as long as the shinners are not left in charge of economics. There policies would lead us to be in the same league as Robert Mugabe. Left wing dogma and failed socialism. Even the chinese and the russians realised that after 50 years that it wasn't working. Thats why the chinese economy is now growing and providing a good standard of living for most but not all.

• Curitiba | Apr 23, 2012, 03:26 PM EDT

  China has only one interest, allan07, and that is China. Wherever it invests money, or builds infrastructure, it insist that it uses its own workers to do so. Take a look at Africa. This is a region of high unemployment. They have sent their people to colonise the place and build their shopping centres and railways and telecommunications. The native Africans don't get a look in. The whole purpose is to extract the natural resources of whatever country they colonise and use that to further Chinese interests. NI obviously has something China wants, and the deal will probably be investment in exchange for exclusive use of whatever facility they construct for themselves.

• allan07 | Apr 23, 2012, 03:08 PM EDT

  @TayandCake you simply dont understand economics. Well if your a fan of the Republic of Ireland you cannot understand economics. The point I made with regard to the China is simple. The Chinese economy is expanding and if work for the many unemployed in Northern Ireland can be found well it should be taken with both hands. People whom claim that Northern Ireland is dependent on Westminister are correct but that has been caused by the troubles and terrorism. How else do you expect the people of Northern Ireland to live without expanding the economy? Thats what the chinese are doing on a worldwide scale. @ancavker not so. Northern Ireland had a pretty stable economy before the troubles. Ship buiding, clothing, rope manufacturing, light engineering businesses, alcohol manufacturing, farming (the biggest industry in NI), etc.

• STEVENSTAR | Apr 23, 2012, 12:03 PM EDT

  @@ancavker | Apr 23, 2012, 11:04 AM EDT STEVENSTAR: Well you new young educated, sophisticated, pro British, Pro European Irish have made a real mess of the place. The Republic of Ireland is a failed state. And as someone who is Irish born with deep connections there, it makes me very sad to say that.<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>YOU MAYE BE IRISH BORN BUT I COULD TOTALLY SEE YOU LIVING IN AMERICA DOWN THE GREEN SHAMROCK EVERY NITE CRYING INTO YOUR GUINNESS THINKING OF THE DAYS GONE BY .... WAKE UP TO YOURSELF.. YOU SILLY MAN.. IM IRISH I LIVE HERE AND I PAY MY TAXES MORE THEN YOU PROB HAVE EVER DONE .... SO IM ENTITLED TO MY OPINION...

• STEVENSTAR | Apr 23, 2012, 12:00 PM EDT

  @@@@@@@@GeorgeDillon | Apr 23, 2012, 11:39 AM EDT >>>>>>>>>>>>>> AMERICANS SHOULD KEEP WELL OUT OF IRISH AFFAIRS... AND STICK TO BEEN AMERICAN ... ANYONE FOR A BIG MAC ??

• TayandCake | Apr 23, 2012, 11:52 AM EDT

  GeorgeDillon and ciaradexy should meet and kiss, the romantic tension between them is electric, OI YOUSE TWO, GET A ROOM

• TayandCake | Apr 23, 2012, 11:40 AM EDT

  allan07 So if UK leave EU its Irish and Polish need not apply in your eyes, a feeble minded bigot you are, just a coward much like your father. But your all for the Chinese in NI, a very confused boy you are, also you really need to check that 29 presidents of Irish decent in US, twisting and turning the truth for your own pathetic means. Now run along and beat your drums of hate

• GeorgeDillon | Apr 23, 2012, 11:39 AM EDT

  ciaradexy: "Steven, you've already proven yourself to be a perma-tanned illiterate retard so you could do with shutting up." Wonder how many readers would like to be treated in a hospital that employs an abusive illiterate like the person who wrote this (ciaradexy).

• GeorgeDillon | Apr 23, 2012, 11:37 AM EDT

  ciaradexy: "we arent half as racist about migrants in our country as Americans are about them." For once you're half-right. Irish people aren't "racist" about immigrants to Ireland. They just want them to go away! Every opinion poll on the matter confirms this, but you're too dumb to read a newspaper.

• GeorgeDillon | Apr 23, 2012, 11:33 AM EDT

  ciaradexy: "My brother is in New Zealand, hes a migrant and if anyone were to complain to him about migrants in ireland he'd go ape!" Is he as dumb as you? We don't care what your brother thinks. In fact, we don't care what you think, except to have a wry smile when we read your drivel.

• GeorgeDillon | Apr 23, 2012, 11:31 AM EDT

  ciaradexy: "they have the whip marks, burns and scars where their labia and clitoris use to be before they were tortured." So Irish people tortured these Africans? You're an utter fool. Please tell us what hospital you claim to work in, and we'll be sure to avoid it if we ever get sick while in Ireland. I'd take my chances in Glasnevin Cemetery before I'd let you get involved in caring for me, you nincompoop.

• GeorgeDillon | Apr 23, 2012, 11:27 AM EDT

  ciaradex:"Irish were involved in slavery so for the relatives of irish migrants to complain about migrants moving here is just unreal and irrational." What an utterly stupid post. According to this logic (sic), Irish people can't discuss Mass Immigration either, since there's scarcely an Irish person alive who doesn't have relatives who migrated. You're a fool, ciaradexy, an empty-headed imbecile.

• ancavker | Apr 23, 2012, 11:04 AM EDT

  STEVENSTAR: Well you new young educated, sophisticated, pro British, Pro European Irish have made a real mess of the place. The Republic of Ireland is a failed state. And as someone who is Irish born with deep connections there, it makes me very sad to say that.

• ancavker | Apr 23, 2012, 11:03 AM EDT

  Allan07: Northern Ireland has been pretty much a basket case since its inception. Two failed states, north and south.

• BrendanDunphy | Apr 23, 2012, 10:22 AM EDT

  Come on Shinners!!!

• STEVENSTAR | Apr 23, 2012, 08:44 AM EDT

  15% IS HARDLY EVEN SIGNIFICANT !! GERRY ADAMS IS A MURDERER AND THE YOUNGER GENERATION OF IRISH WILL NEVER VOTE TO THAT AS WE ARE MORE PRO BRITISH AND EUROPEAN

• Curitiba | Apr 23, 2012, 02:37 AM EDT

  Well, allan07, these presidents were Irish in the same sense you are. Scots-Irish, in other words, British. An independent Scotland was labelled "Skintland" by the Economist magazine recently. What would they call Northern Ireland if it had to go it alone?

• esatdigiwank | Apr 23, 2012, 02:21 AM EDT

  Can a SF Govt please consider the following 2 items. i. Establish a Cultural Center for the Irish language in the Republic much like the North has on the Falls Road, Belfast. Can' wait to visit it. >>>>>> ii. End the unofficial ban on Irish radio of the playing of Gary Moore hits. At least 3 generations have grown up unaware that he ever existed! My overseas friends all ask me about him - its embarassing. Reclaim Gary Moore.

• AMWilson | Apr 22, 2012, 10:23 PM EDT

  allan07: "The other foreign workers such as the Polish would also have to leave". Funny you should single out the Polish for special mention... I suspect that you'd have more use for the Polish if they a) brought investment capital like the Chinese, and b) weren't predominantly Catholic.

• seanomelb | Apr 22, 2012, 08:59 PM EDT

  The IMF is an investment bank and interest is paid as was the British loan.The Brits made a loan to Ireland at very good terms,so stop the bullshit allan07 and state facts and not be guided by your anti Irish bias

• allan07 | Apr 22, 2012, 07:45 PM EDT

  @ciaradexy i object to the people in Northern Ireland having to bail out the Republic of Ireland. Our VAT was 17.5% now its 20%. Why should we in NI put more of our money into bailing out the Republic of Ireland? Britain signed a £10 billion bi-lateral loan with the ROI last year. Very few people i talk to support the EU and we didnt join the Eurozone. The Republic has had 2 chances to oppose the Lisbon Treaty and supported it after minor changes. So I dont see why the British should help an economy that is unable to sustain itself. Last week Britain loaned another £10 billion to the IMF who then lend our money to the Republic of Ireland. In effect we are bank rolling and a economy that continues to fail. I wish the people in Britain could get a vote to leave the EU. We would by a very high percentage. If Britain left the EU where would the Republic of Ireland get its next loan from? Also the citizens of the Republic would have to leave Britain as they would not be entitled to work within Britain. The other foreign workers such as the Polish would also have to leave. God please let us have a vote to leave the EU.

• allan07 | Apr 22, 2012, 07:30 PM EDT

  @curitiba I never said that Northern Irelands economy was a basket case. I pointed out that due to the troubles certain costs were incurred that need not have incurred. In my opinion much of the troubles was due to violence created by nationalist and organisations whom were in support of their violence.Eg. IRA, Sinn Fein promoting the gun in one hand and the ballot box in the other. This was not going to assist with creating an stable economy in which foreign investment can invest. Recently the chinese have been here in Northern Ireland and hopefully this will lead to inward investment. @curitiba your wrong when you say it was the British whom stole the land of the Red Indians. According to most there has been 29 US Presidents of Irish Descent, numerous senators of Irish Descent and millions of citizens of Irish Descent. In 1830 Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act which enforced the removal of all Red Indian tribes from lands they owned into reservations. Of course Jackson was of Irish Descent. Over time there has been thousands of US government officals who have been of Irish Descent and supported the removal of Red Indians from their lands. To simply blame the British is silly. The Gold rush happened in 1849 and the Irish were there to explore, grab and keep any gold found. I know its easy to blame the British for everything that goes wrong but its not true. I lost some money on the Grand National last weekend and I blame the British Government to. Well if they had made betting illegal when I would not have lost my money. The Irish are just as greedy as anyone else. They are no saints.

• Curitiba | Apr 22, 2012, 06:58 PM EDT

  That money is just going round in a circle, no new money is being created by that.

• Curitiba | Apr 22, 2012, 06:46 PM EDT

  Africans were involved in slavery as well, so what's your point, Ciara. You have family living abroad, so that makes you a "relative of Irish migrants" as well Ciara. Welcome to the club!

• ciaradexy | Apr 22, 2012, 06:45 PM EDT

  People in NI pay taxes so the money thats coming from Westminster is just some of their own.

• ciaradexy | Apr 22, 2012, 06:07 PM EDT

  Irish were involved in slavery so for the relatives of irish migrants to complain about migrants moving here is just unreal and irrational.

• Curitiba | Apr 22, 2012, 06:07 PM EDT

  Also, allen07, thanks for agreeing with my assertion that NI is a basket case economy, just like the one across the border that you love to criticise. More funds from Westminster, anyone?

• Curitiba | Apr 22, 2012, 06:04 PM EDT

  @allan07-stop repeating the rubbish that "Irish people stole land from the Indians". It was the British-your kith and kin, not the Irish. I don't recall there ever being an Irish Empire that went around invading and colonising countries and plundering their wealth, or have I missed something?

• ciaradexy | Apr 22, 2012, 05:47 PM EDT

  LA is grand for a holiday but i couldnt live surrounded by that accent and falseness! We may have needed roadsweepers so fair play to people who got off their bums and applied for the jobs in the FAS windows.

• Curitiba | Apr 22, 2012, 05:43 PM EDT

  Jacers: what exactly do you mean by "talented foreign workers"? I see this phrase bandied about a lot and applied to everyone from brain surgeaons to roadsweepers. I know roadsweepers are a talented bunch of guys and gals, but...

• Curitiba | Apr 22, 2012, 05:40 PM EDT

  You could have been entertaining us with your stories about being a medical practicioner to the stars and giving us exclusives about which rock stars have halitosis and bunions and what famous actresses were admitted to ER clutching a bottle of bourbon and had to be surgically separated from it instead of debating this otherwise very important subject, had you gone to LA, Ciara.

• ciaradexy | Apr 22, 2012, 05:37 PM EDT

  You cannot bar eu nationals from being here even if they are claiming welfare. We can go to any EU country and claim their welfare so why cant they do the same?

• ciaradexy | Apr 22, 2012, 05:36 PM EDT

  Jacers, the Irish medical qualification is considered one of the best in the world so we have a huge amount of non EU students coming here to study and ontop of that they pay full fees and train here. During that time they also make friends and get job offers. Why shouldnt they take up these posts?Have a look at Sundays indo business section. Theres dozens of medical posts advertised there that we have problems filling.

• ciaradexy | Apr 22, 2012, 05:34 PM EDT

  So Jacers, NO MUSLIMS should be in Ireland? Seriously? I work directly with a muslim pathologist from Sudan. We couldnt get a full time Irish or European pathologist for a year but we shouldnt have taken him on beacause he is muslim? i have muslim friends who come to the pubs, clubs, gigs and festival with my friends and I. Should we shun them too? Not every muslim is trying to take over the world no more than every priest is a paedophile. i dont know if you watch the news at all but if you did then youd see that Africa is a poor continent which has been raped by the white man via taking millions of Africans and selling them as slaves, raping their natural resources and treating the natives as second class citizens. This has not happened to the Irish here and it wont. These are also poor, starving, destitute people who come here looking for a better life. Youve obviously never worked with some of these people who claim here claiming asylum, well I have and they have the whip marks, burns and scars where their labia and clitoris use to be before they were tortured. Maybe if these countries were treated fairly then their people wouldnt want to leave? The US multinationals will move to these countries eventually when the cost of labour here gets to high and when the corporation taxes increase, then youll see many of these people returning home. There are plenty of jobs here in the IT and languages sector but these were not sectors the irish could fill so people from abroad were employed Supply and demand, thats what its all about. We cant close our borders when everyone else has let us in.

• Curitiba | Apr 22, 2012, 05:33 PM EDT

  Jacers: I read somewhere that an English explorer to the Atlas Mountains who went there in the 18th or 19th century encountered a mountain dwelling people who he was sure was speaking Irish-I cannot give you a precise reference, but I read that somewhere about a year ago.

• jacersagain | Apr 22, 2012, 05:23 PM EDT

  Yes Curitiba – nothing wrong with genuine talented foreign workers on genuine visas but we in Ireland are seeing non-nationals ruining our economy by bleeding our welfare system. If it wasn’t so generous, they certainly would not be here. And yes, we know Nth African Barbary Pirates raided Ireland for slaves many times. It explains why the Nth African skin colour is pale compared to that further south – ‘twas the interbreeding you see. Now you know the origin of the white Africans, let's talk again about the black Irish.

• jacersagain | Apr 22, 2012, 05:11 PM EDT

  ciara dearie, thank you but I am well acquainted with EU free movement of labour regulations. Irish emigrants to the USA were driven by need – hunger, unemployment etc. Except for genuine refugees and asylum seekers, most recent immigrants to Ireland came here for the money alone, often skiving off welfare (remember that Icelandic ash cloud that stopped European flights? There were 40,000 fewer instances of welfare monies paid out to individual that time, spotlighting the East European welfare tourists… 40,000(!) weekly non-national skivers and that’s just the ‘tourists’, never mind those living here off welfare, off our taxes). Muslims have no business being in Ireland – they are here in the cause of Islam of world domination and setting up the bridgehead for future generations of Muslim immigrants as is happening all over the western world. Did you know that the King of Saudi Arabia paid in full for the building of the brand new Islamic Cultural Centre in Clonskeagh, in our dear beloved Dublin city? Do you know that the King put the gun to Irish Govt heads over this? He basically said “let me build the Islamic Centre in Dublin or I will throw all of your multi-million dollar agricultural businesses out of my Kingdom”. The future is yours ciara dearie, 30-something yr old that you are, educated and raised up on TV programmes like ‘Neighbours’ and little else. Next time in your hospital job visits, take a good look at the Muslim medical staff with a jaundiced eye. They look like harmless, happy, smiling people but that the surreptitious manner of bridgehead Muslim aiming to take over Ireland and the western world. Do take a good look at them and their growing numbers and shudder for your future Irish generation. Maybe we should all go back to being original Sinn Féiners (We Ourselves) to save Ireland’s future.

• ciaradexy | Apr 22, 2012, 05:08 PM EDT

  Allan, youve made some very good points my mates I completely agree with as would my family and friends. Many people on this site with irish links are the most racist people i have ever had the misfortune of coming across! They are complete hypocrites when it comes to migration into ireland! My brother is in New Zealand, hes a migrant and if anyone were to complain to him about migrants in ireland he'd go ape! He's in another country working away just like people from all over the world are in ireland working yet these Yanks who are the result of migration constantly whine about my country which they dont even live in! Their family members who migrated to the US are EXACTLY the same as those who come here. I remember a while back a yank described migrants to Ireland as 'rats', its unreal to think that theyd refer to their own migrant family as rats. its kinda sad. Infact, its really sad. I have yet to meet an Irish person who hasnt got a British friend or who doesnt like the Brits but I know many Irish who get irritated by the very thought of Americans. When we are on holidays or travelling, the Irish and the Brits gravitate towards each other. I love that about our 2 nations.

• allan07 | Apr 22, 2012, 05:08 PM EDT

  @ciaradexy I have reported the person to IC as being abusive by referring to my family as "whores". This is total unacceptable and i hope IC will remove the offensive material asap.

• allan07 | Apr 22, 2012, 05:02 PM EDT

  @barryjo as you know one of the reasons why Northern Ireland has been dependent on funds from Westminister is because the troubles caused damage to the economy of Northern Ireland. This has been an aim of SF to cause maximum damage to our businesses and future investment. Lets face it is your an international company would you be likely to invest here in Northern Ireland during the troubles? The additional cost of security has also been a burden. Of course the reason for these costs are the fault of the republician movement, Sinn Fein, the IRA and in particular Gerry Adams. He is the Osama Bin Laden of Irish Politics. A few Irish-Amercians have also failed us here in Northern Ireland. John De-Lorean promised much, obtained government grants and in the end was found guilty of running a drugs organisation in the US. Hardly a honest man after getting £25 million in grants from Westminister. I didnt expect anything different from a so called Irish-Amercian.

• allan07 | Apr 22, 2012, 04:43 PM EDT

  @ciaradexy the problem is simple alot of Irish are leaving these shores as the ecomonics of the Republic of Ireland have failed its people. Recently 20 people left my village to work in Australia down the mines. Thats from here in Northern Ireland. You are quite correct in stating the Irish have been doing this for 150 years even longer. So how does Sinn Fein find it unacceptable for the Protestant people to have come to Ireland when the Irish have been doing the same for just as long. In fact the Irish left Ireland in the 5th Century (refered to as scotties) and went to Scotland. Thats how Scotland got its name. The descents of which returned to Ireland around 1600. The world is a melting pot. After all the European including the Irish stole the land of North America from the Native Red Indians. We never hear Gerry Adams discuss this. Why? Does it doesn't fit into his mindset. After all no-one can say that the native people of North America are not the Red Indians. They have lived in North America for 10,000 years before an Irish person could build a ship.

• ciaradexy | Apr 22, 2012, 04:40 PM EDT

  Allan, just read your post. Did someone seriously mention your father? The number of d1cks on this site just keeps increasing!

• ciaradexy | Apr 22, 2012, 04:39 PM EDT

  Curitiba, its not a swap! People are entitled to emigrate if the host country allows it. I dont see the problem with that. If I wanted to go to the US I could! I had a job offer in Cedar Sinai in LA but then decided against taking it. Once i had a job offer i could apply for a work visa, no problem.There are plenty of Yanks here who got job offers and so got work visas.

• Curitiba | Apr 22, 2012, 04:33 PM EDT

  Quite right, Ciara. Jacers, you should be welcoming as many migrants form the USA as you can possibly handle, owing to the fact that so many Irish went there. Don't know about Pakistan or Nigeria though. I'm not aware that they were made to take legions of Irish migrants, but I could be wrong about that. Maybe Algeria should send a few, seeing as the Barbary Pirates took loads of Irish there during the 14-1600's.

• allan07 | Apr 22, 2012, 04:29 PM EDT

  McColgan1492 theres no need for abusive language like that. What is to be achieved by your behaviour? Everyone has the right to an opinion its called freedom of speech. Just because someone else expresses different views from another thats their opinion. @TayandCake you dont know anything about me so its very silly to call my father a coward. As for the drums of hate you refer to I have lived through the troubles from 1969 until present. I talk from experience and fact. In reality I dont hate anyone but there some who have opinions that I certainly do not agree with. That said that is my right. Anyway I hope you celebrated Queen Elizabeth's birthday yesterday. A year in which is the Diamond jubilee. 82 and still going. Three cheers to our Queen. @TayandCake whom do you hate? Are you like myself peace loving?

• ciaradexy | Apr 22, 2012, 04:26 PM EDT

  I suggest you non Irish look at a site such as thejournal to see how Irish people feel about migration and luckily enough, we arent half as racist about migrants in our country as Americans are about them.

• ciaradexy | Apr 22, 2012, 04:15 PM EDT

  Jacers, how many Irish went to the US? How can you criticise migrants coming here when the Irish have migrated for over 150 years? We cannot stop a European person moving here no more than they can stop us from moving to another European country. We have open borders to Europe and those from outside the EU who have a job offer, study here or claim asylum.

• ciaradexy | Apr 22, 2012, 04:12 PM EDT

  All migrants to Ireland abide by our laws just the same as migrants to the US abide by US law. Circumcision is the norm in the US or didnt you know that Georgie? Was that brought in my muslims or was it there way before they ever arrived on your shores?

• ciaradexy | Apr 22, 2012, 04:10 PM EDT

  So Georgie, how am I racist? You hate migrants yet youre the result of migration? Do you treat your immigrant relatives with the same distain? Do you insult your irish relatives in the US like you insult those here? You never have to be in Ireland ever again so relax and chill out! What happens here will never affect you as you are a yank in the US! Steven, you've already proven yourself to be a perma-tanned illiterate retard so you could do with shutting up.

• TayandCake | Apr 22, 2012, 03:49 PM EDT

  allan, always rattling your drums of hate. coward just like your father

• MCCOLGAN1492 | Apr 22, 2012, 02:46 PM EDT

  you also have me confused with your "buddies" from your bath house!!!

• MCCOLGAN1492 | Apr 22, 2012, 02:45 PM EDT

  anytime anywhere Wanker, you have an invitation.... the only part of town you are safe in is near the police station!!!

• GeorgeDillon | Apr 22, 2012, 02:33 PM EDT

  Curitiba--I don't know if you've ever been in a fight in a rough part of town. If you are attacked, you grab anything, chair leg, broken bottle or whatever, and defend yourself. Of course the ones attacking me here are only virtual bullies, if racist fools like MadColgan were standing in front of me they'd be saying "Why yes Mr Dillon, whatever you say Mr Dillon, where would you like me to kiss, Mr Dillon...".

• GeorgeDillon | Apr 22, 2012, 02:29 PM EDT

  "Would they (Sinn Fein) allow parts, or all, of Sharia Law to apply in Ireland?" Jacers, the difference is that under Sharia Law offenders get their hands cut off. Under Sinn Fein Sharia they'll get their kneecaps blown off. And of course Sinn Fein will decriminalize female circumcision--they're great advocates of diversity and multiculturalism.

• Curitiba | Apr 22, 2012, 01:05 PM EDT

  George makes some good points. However, his message is often lost due to the time he spends exchanging insults with people. Don't rise to the bait, George!

• Curitiba | Apr 22, 2012, 12:52 PM EDT

  @Citizen69:Perhaps I was a bit flippant there, but sometimes one has to make a slightly OTT argument to get one's point across. The English regions are very dependent on subsidies from Westminster, but people don't mind as much because the regions are in England. However, they absolutely detest the subsidies given to Scotland, (which they see as only slightly less contemptable that the billions which are given away in foreign aid to places like India) especially because the Scots detest the English, many English are as enthusiastic about Scottish independence as the Scots are, because they want to get shot of them. To be fair, NI has kept a low profile and has not expressed any anti-English sentiment, an approach they would be well advised to maintain if they want the river of cash to keep flowing in.

• MCCOLGAN1492 | Apr 22, 2012, 12:45 PM EDT

  Georgie the Wanker hangs out in Gay Bath Houses in Georgia with a group of Red Neck Self Hating Gay Friends!!! He drys off long enough to spew his ignorance, then, back to the glory hole!!!

• NYCsheridan | Apr 22, 2012, 12:37 PM EDT

  Joe Blogs, stop saying "we" as if the rest of us believe your drivel.

• jacersagain | Apr 22, 2012, 12:37 PM EDT

  Whether one likes or dislikes George Dillon, he is right about huge immigration to Ireland. Some census figure: In 2002, there were 224,000 non-nationals in Ireland; in 2006 the figure was 420,000; in 2011 it was over 554,000 – that’s over 100% increase in six years. In 1991, there were 3,900 Muslims in Ireland. Today there are 50,000, making them the third largest religious group in the country. Black people accounted for 40,000 in 2006 and for 65,000 in 2011. It is impossible to deny there has been mass immigration to Ireland in recent years. How Sinn Féin would see themselves in a future Irish government possibly containing adult children of non-nationals would be a cause for wonder. Me? I’d be more concerned about the very rapid rise of the false religion of Islam in Ireland. How would Sinn Féin deal with that? Would they allow parts, or all, of Sharia Law to apply in Ireland?

• NYCsheridan | Apr 22, 2012, 12:36 PM EDT

  Well this is a rather disingenuous headline.

• citizen69 | Apr 22, 2012, 09:58 AM EDT

  @Curitiba: Well of course you're right about London but all i'm saying is that NI isn't as big a basket case as is often made out. You could say the same thing about any large capital city, If Dublin seceded from the Republic or Paris from France because that's where the financial centres are situated and wealth unevenly generated. But of course they benefit hugely from their countries outlying production such minerals, agriculture, heavy industries etc. The regions may seem to get better hand outs but the capital city gets much more of the wealth in terms of infrastructure, services, levels of pay, Arts & culture etc.

• STEVENSTAR | Apr 22, 2012, 09:44 AM EDT

  @@@@@@@@@@@ciaradexy | Apr 20, 2012, 12:55 PM EDT Steven, speak for yourself. I dont know any Irish people who are pro-european. we want out.>>>>>>>>>>>>> OFF WIT YOU GIRL !!!

• citizen69 | Apr 22, 2012, 09:41 AM EDT

  I think AMWilson has called it correctly below. SF have done well out of the economic/bank crashes as F.F. have little reputation left with the public and their standing is in tatters, and well Provisional Sinn Fein really don't have any reputation or track record in Southern Irish politics to destroy! S.F. have basically become the de-facto opposition not so much on their own performance but on the bad performance of others.

• GeorgeDillon | Apr 22, 2012, 09:26 AM EDT

  You racist nut, ciaradexy, you asked me to back up what I said. I did, and all you can do is scream abuse. No wonder most people on this site (except your couple of Fianna Fail buddies) think you're a fool.

• ciaradexy | Apr 22, 2012, 08:00 AM EDT

  And sean, youre such a great example of being irish that youre living in Australia longer than you ever were in Ireland so how the hell would you know what the feeling on the street is? Give it a rest. Nothing that happens here affects you. George, you still havent defined 'mass immigration'. Are these the same polls that said Sinn fein support had risen yet in todays paper support has fallen?? You cannot stop people from Europe migrating to Ireland no more than you can stop people from Florida moving to Georgia. People are entitled to take up jobs in whatever country they like as long as they have the correct paper work. Next thing you'll be demanding that Irish people with non Irish surnames be sent back to the county their parents came from. You're a vile disgusting hypocrite of the highest order. Get out of the US if you hate migration so much after all, your family are migrants.

• joebloggs | Apr 22, 2012, 07:04 AM EDT

  if this shower ever get into power we will be the peoples democratic republic of north korea, sorry I mean Ireland, their economic policies are extreme left do we want to be led by Comrade ........... and the politburo, remember what their aimed is a 32 county socialist republic,

• GeorgeDillon | Apr 22, 2012, 06:12 AM EDT

  I see that ciaradexy chickened out when I called her on her ignorance. Don't you even read the newspapers, ciarax? How is it you have an opinion on everything if you have knowledge on nothing? Go read the Irish Times of 11 Nov 2009, specifically the article reporting the poll findings: " Tue 11 Nov 2009: Poll shows hardening of attitude towards immigrants THE VAST majority (72 per cent) of people want to see a reduction in the number of non-Irish immigrants living here, according to an Irish Times/Behaviour Attitudes opinion poll.".... You ignorant fool, ciaradexy.

• GeorgeDillon | Apr 22, 2012, 06:07 AM EDT

  seanomel-- " Shame on you Ciaradexy". Oh, so now there's a schism within the ranks of the racists on this site?

• AMWilson | Apr 21, 2012, 11:06 PM EDT

  So anyway - back to the article - I saw on Nine News that Adams' rating dropped 3 points at the same time that SF improved overall. Of course, all party leaders dropped in this poll, but for SF to be the only major party to gain, I have to think that that's an indicator that Irish public is turning onto the newer (and comparatively baggage-free) faces of SF, particularly Pearse and the lovely (in my opinion) MaryLou. From the Dáil debates that I've been watching, MaryLou in particular seems to have become the primary voice of the opposition. FF just can't seem to counter the government in any debate without sounding hypocritical and pathetic, and so I think that, among the anti-government public, SF wins these polls by default, United Ireland platform or not.

• seanomelb | Apr 21, 2012, 08:15 PM EDT

  Shame on you Ciaradexy

• seanomelb | Apr 21, 2012, 08:15 PM EDT

  Ciara again scolding me for having an opinion.I suppose you wear a scarf and gaze into your crystal ball when you say "never"just like the other west brit cringing defeatists on this site.21% of the people in Ireland are pushing 'THIS CRAP" not a few posters on IC.You are a disgrace to your nationality and then you ally yourself with one of most spiteful anti Irish bloggers on this site (Bythebay),you're despicable.

• ciaradexy | Apr 21, 2012, 06:54 PM EDT

  George, you have yet to define 'mass immigration' and show me an associated poll in relation to your definition of it. When you were here you were an immigrant, you should remember that. Im sure the African doctor found your pronunciation hilarious too. Curitiba, its bloody cold here too. I have the fire lit!

• MCCOLGAN1492 | Apr 21, 2012, 04:16 PM EDT

  @Georgie the Wanker- "There always has been migration into Ireland-you're too ignorant to know any history" Take a look at that sentence you imbecile, it is constructed as if a sixth grade pot head created it. But you do have spell check and that makes you intelligent, in your mind! You are a disgraceful old coward.... go lay down and shut up!!!

• GeorgeDillon | Apr 21, 2012, 03:28 PM EDT

  ciaradexy: "George, show me a link to these polls where 70% of people oppose migration into Ireland?" As usual, sloppy language from ciaradexy. No one I know of opposes migration into Ireland. That would be a posture only fit for fools like you. There always has been migration into Ireland--you're too ignorant to know any history. When I lived in Ireland, both in the 1980s and 1990s, I came across quite a few foreign migrants in Ireland. I remember being treated by an African doctor, and he seemed quite competent, tho his English pronunciation was laughable. And of course Irish citizens were always entitled to bring their spouses to live in Ireland, indeed as late as the 1980s a foreigner marrying an Irish citizen acquired Irish citizenship on the day of the wedding! So rephrase your carelessly worded post. All your posts are sloppily worded--you have logorrhea. But I certainly will give links to polls which show 70% opposition to current rates of Mass Immigration into Ireland if you promise that you will withdraw from this site and stop posting your drivel here. Deal?

• Curitiba | Apr 21, 2012, 03:28 PM EDT

  your hand out overseas that people begin to ask questions about the viability of your state.

• Curitiba | Apr 21, 2012, 03:27 PM EDT

  I don't think it really matters what percentage of jobs are in the public sector, so long as the private sector is big enough to pay for it. It wouldn't matter if 99% of jobs in NI were public sector, so long as the 1% private sector was able to generate enough cash to pay for it. Its when you have

• Curitiba | Apr 21, 2012, 03:04 PM EDT

  I dunno about a United Ireland, but I reckon London should secede from the rest of the UK and let you all just get on with it, if you think NI is so financially viable!

• citizen69 | Apr 21, 2012, 02:56 PM EDT

  @Barnyjo: I don't think that's quite right. Around 34% of Northern Ireland jobs are in the public sector/government. That's only slightly higher than other regions within the UK and lower than the North East of England. As with all other regions there is probably an extra 20% of jobs that depend on the public sector for most of their contract work.

• Curitiba | Apr 21, 2012, 02:47 PM EDT

  What a shame. Never mind, Ciara, it's cold here at the moment, so you're not missing much. They reckon May is going to be the coldest for 100 years. Brrrr!

• ciaradexy | Apr 21, 2012, 02:31 PM EDT

  Curitiba, no, ended up having to work today and tomorrow. Heading over for some gigs later in the summer though. Festival season and all that! yeow!

• seamus60 | Apr 21, 2012, 02:14 PM EDT

  dibble2008 be very careful what you wish for. The people in the Republic are politically fatiqued by decades of misrule by elected gangsters. Elected because of their pre-election promises that continually fail to bear fruit. Why not adopt the attitude of " all the others have robbed and dogged us, so nothing to loose by trying an alternative... ANY alternative". They fought for the rights of Nationalists in the North when everyone else shat themselves. I would beg to differ as some one who has been an active Republican since my teens many moons ago. We had in 1974 what we have now apart from losing the Republics claim on Northern territory. They have the balls to face down no body as it was the rank and file of the PIRA who done the fighting and faced down either imprisonment or death. Simple truth is they with all their courage and wisdom used their time abusing the trust of those sacrificing most. SF have long since forgotten standing up for ex prisoners, even those dying from CR gas related cancer. Since they got into power in the North these same ex political prisoners have become more criminalised. But hey it keeps them from rearing up as to peoples short falls on past promises. Another poster has the grand delusion that Adams is the Republics saviour in waiting. Go look at the depressing statistics for West Belfast after decades of his (mis)-representation.

• cuddlybuddly | Apr 21, 2012, 01:49 PM EDT

  Come on Sinn Fein! NO to the Referendum, YES to Sinn Fein!

• Curitiba | Apr 21, 2012, 01:18 PM EDT

  Are you in London at the moment, Ciara?

• ciaradexy | Apr 21, 2012, 12:51 PM EDT

  yeah thats true! Hopefully someone will have killed them by then!

• Curitiba | Apr 21, 2012, 10:36 AM EDT

  Ciara and dibble2008: if you vote no, you'll have to keep going back to the polls until you vote the "correct" way!

• ciaradexy | Apr 21, 2012, 10:32 AM EDT

  Dibble!! Sorry!

• ciaradexy | Apr 21, 2012, 10:32 AM EDT

  Dribble, Im voting No too but it looks like a percentage of the population are too scared to vote the same. These are the people who paid the household charge too. I will never vote SF though as they stand for terrorism to me plus socialism which Im not keen on either. We are stuck between a rock and a hard place on an alternative. I will never vote for anyone who has previously been in power such as FF and FG. Gave Labour my vote in the last election as Pat Rabbitte was my local politican but they have done a complete U-turn on ALL of their promises. I reckon they'll either have to stand down or go against FG to remain somewhat viable. The ULA is all well and good but again they are socialists and I have a pain in my face paying for the cradle to grave welfare crowd.

• dibble2008 | Apr 21, 2012, 10:15 AM EDT

  Sinn Fein are on the Rise thank God. They fought for the rights of Nationalists in the North of Ireland when everyone else shat themselves. They have the balls and courage to face down the troika so keep your crap about Sinn Fein not getting a majority vote. Are you afraid that some day they will? Why?

• dibble2008 | Apr 21, 2012, 10:12 AM EDT

  allan07 your ignorance of politics and Ireland is such that you don't sererve an answer due to incomprehensible ignorance.

• dibble2008 | Apr 21, 2012, 10:09 AM EDT

  I'm voting No for this treaty. Anything the government is in favour of I will counter it because they continue to allow the rich privelege while hitting the lowest in society with extra taxes. Roll on Sinn Fein and get into power. At least they have to balls to face down the Troika.

• barneyjo | Apr 21, 2012, 09:17 AM EDT

  @allan07: Still painting with the same "BIG" brush I see :) When you made your claim about ROI, were (are) you aware that for every EIGHT people who work in full time employment in NORN IRON, FIVE (5) OF THEM WORK FOR THE STATE!! Thats almost as bad as the Soviet Union (Russia) used to be.

• ciaradexy | Apr 21, 2012, 09:15 AM EDT

  sean, they will never get majority support because they are terrorists! You left here 40 odd years ago so you should concentrate on your new homeland and leave Ireland alone! The Queen is the head of your country, you live in the commonwealth, you help contribute to her so why dont you just move on? You left, you didnt want to be here, I do. You spent most of your life in Australia so stop pretending you have a clue what the average Paddy on the street thinks. Bythebay is right, this united Ireland pro-sinn fein cr@p is being pushed from people who arent even Irish or who havent lived here in over 10 years! Idiots. As for your Tiocfaidh ar la statement, your 'la' is never gonna tiocfaidh because youre long gone forever so good luck to you! George, show me a link to these polls where 70% of people oppose migration into Ireland? You are all talk.

• Curitiba | Apr 21, 2012, 08:38 AM EDT

  A failed state, allan07? You can talk. Your beloved volkstaat is entirely funded by Westminster. At least the Irish lost their own money. You're spending mine!

• MCCOLGAN1492 | Apr 21, 2012, 08:34 AM EDT

  excuse me, I meant to say "fossilized old inbred whore", much like yourself, allan07..

• MCCOLGAN1492 | Apr 21, 2012, 08:23 AM EDT

  to allan07- Your idiotic bigoted statements reinforce the disdain many people have for individuals such as yourself. BTW, the queen is nothing more than an old whore who happened to be born into the right family, probably much like yourself!

• seanomelb | Apr 21, 2012, 08:14 AM EDT

  Irish Times(yesterday) a new poll showing Sinn Fein now at 24% up 3% in two weeks. The billy boys are running scared and Dano and Falls have gone to ground,maybe they should take allan07 the bigot with them.Allan07 go post on the "Londonderry Sentinel"they're more your type,you know!! anti Irish hate mongers.

• allan07 | Apr 21, 2012, 04:37 AM EDT

  The ROI is a failed state. It cannot support its own people and that is why all the political parties in the ROI desire more US Visas. Economically they haven't got a clue. After recieving 150 billion Euros from the EU (Britain, Germany and France mainly) they required more loans last year as the ROI government would have run out of money this June. How much of a total failure is that? They couldn't run a piss up in a brewery!

• allan07 | Apr 21, 2012, 04:30 AM EDT

  @Bythebay very wise words again. All I can state is that QUOTE "I WAS BORN TO NEVER ACCEPT A UNITED IRELAND EVER. NOT THIS SIDE OF HELL FREEZING OVER". UNQUOTE. GOD SAVE THE QUEEN HER HEIRS AND SUCCESSORS.

• GeorgeDillon | Apr 21, 2012, 01:29 AM EDT

  "Ive yet to meet an Irish person who is for a United Ireland". When ciaradexy wants to know what Ireland thinks all she has to do is look into her own heart. Saves on dumb things like elections and plebiscites. That's how she knows that the Irish people love Mass Immigration. Our garrulous imbecile knows more than the 70% of people who oppose Mass Immigration in every poll.

• GeorgeDillon | Apr 21, 2012, 01:24 AM EDT

  The thing I dislike about Sinn Fein is that they are big cheerleaders for Mass Immigration. Think of the irony--A party that for many years supported an organization that killed supposedly on behalf of the Irish Nation, and now they are supporting policies which are dissolving the Irish Nation right before our eyes!

• myhomenj | Apr 21, 2012, 12:02 AM EDT

  GOD SAVE IRELAND....ALL OF IRELAND

• clevelander | Apr 20, 2012, 10:26 PM EDT

  @Bythebay please tell me what you are drinking? Your comments are irrational and untrue. You state "Ireland doesn't want this." I and many other Irish WHO LIVE HERE do want a United Ireland free of any and all british rule. Please do not generalize. It is wrong. Do you speak for Ireland? I'm sure the U.S has other things to worry about but why is this relevant to this? You state " many in the US -- who've never lived with 30 years of terrorism or the bombs and bullets it produced" For God's sake the bombs and bullets were brought to Ireland by the english Me and my Family Have lived thru the TERRORISM of the english. PLEASE DO NOT LECTURE ME.

• TayandCake | Apr 20, 2012, 10:11 PM EDT

  random comment

• pilib04 | Apr 20, 2012, 09:49 PM EDT

  The people of Northern Ireland long ago saw that Sinn Fein is the answer to the political question. Sinn Fein has consistently dominated the nationalist vote for the past years. Now we are witnessing the transformation of the Republic. A slow steady growth of Sinn Fein across the country with continuous electoral success. The reason for this success has nothing to do with Reunification. It has to do with a clear political and economic program that Sinn Fein has provided to all of the people of Ireland. It is a leadership that is actually trusted and respected by the people of Ireland. From 1981 to 2012, Sinn Fein continues to grow throughout the island of Ireland. Now Sinn Fein is prepared to actually govern. I can't think of a better leader to bring Ireland out of it's economic malaise than Gerry Adams.

• seanomelb | Apr 20, 2012, 07:36 PM EDT

  Ciaradexy!!"Sinn Fein will never get majority support" I remember some months ago posting that Sinn Fein's star was rising and the usual suspects like your self scoffed at such claims.Your shallow thinking comes to the fore! I'll explain No party has a majority in Ireland and Sinn Fein enjoys (at the moment)21% and if you took the country as a whole they have over 33% support.The press and the west Brits demonise SF and the more they do so the more SF gains in the polls. I wonder where Falls and Dano are,still in the panic room I suppose. Labour always failed the Irish worker because they would prefer to coalesce with the anti labour Fine Gael than other parties who represent the working man.Tiocfadh an la.

• Curitiba | Apr 20, 2012, 04:47 PM EDT

  Well, Ciara, if you are around town this weekend, we could debate this in person...or debate whether you prefer cappucino or a latte...

• ciaradexy | Apr 20, 2012, 04:28 PM EDT

  Ciritiba, I said 'one of the reasons'! The other ones are obvious I think! Ive yet to meet an Irish person who is for a United Ireland and Im including family on both sides of the border here.

• MCCOLGAN1492 | Apr 20, 2012, 04:25 PM EDT

  To use the word retard on Steven Star is an insult to the handicapped. For that matter, that word should not be at all. It really is a dehumanizing word that was attached to poor souls who suffered for a lifetime in Institutions Worldwide in the 50s,60s,70s and 80s. More appropriate label for him would be, idiot, jackass, moron, wanker etc....

• allan07 | Apr 20, 2012, 03:57 PM EDT

  @Bythebay wise words my friend. I believe if Sein Fein push the Unionist people here in Northern Ireland it will result in a cival war. Gerry Adams is the Osama Bin Liden of Irish Politics. It will end in Destruction, Economic Collapse and Death. An United Ireland cannot happen as the people are not United. Oil and Water dont mix.

• Curitiba | Apr 20, 2012, 01:53 PM EDT

  Also, Ciara, you don't know and I don't know whether people want a united Ireland or not. Only a referendum can tell us that. Even so, some people may vote with their wallets and not express their true feelings due to the fear that reunification would be ruinously expensive. I reckon the South Koreans feel the same way. They would like reunification, but would not accept the drop a living standards and the rise in crime and unemployment that would come with it.

• Curitiba | Apr 20, 2012, 01:39 PM EDT

  Are you sure, Ciara? I think people don't want to vote for Sinn Fein because of their alleged association with you-know-who and because they are extreme left-wingers.

• ciaradexy | Apr 20, 2012, 12:56 PM EDT

  Seanmor, the majority of Irish people dont support a united ireland. This is one of the reasons many people will never vote for SF.

• greensod | Apr 20, 2012, 12:55 PM EDT

  Born in Ireland,and having a dog in the Fight.I am in total agreement with Seanmor. Sinn Fein, and only Sinn Fein have the skills and integrity to get Ireland out from under the iron fist of their European handlers. How much more is this Government going to squeeze out of the people. Big Phil is looking more like Cromwell every day. Pretty soon his slogan will be, Pay or leave the country. Sound familiar to those who know their Irish History.

• ciaradexy | Apr 20, 2012, 12:55 PM EDT

  Steven, speak for yourself. I dont know any Irish people who are pro-european. we want out.

• aloistmartin | Apr 20, 2012, 12:51 PM EDT

  Bravo ! Gerry Adams. Now a Leftist Coalition Non-Sectarian Government at Belfast would have Buckingham Palace rattling the Royal Jewels ~

• Murph46 | Apr 20, 2012, 10:40 AM EDT

  As an Irish -American,I don't have a dog in this fight but tend to agree with Seanmor!

• Seanmor | Apr 20, 2012, 09:46 AM EDT

  Sinn Féin are the only party that - hold seats in the Dáil, Stormont and Westminister; support full sovereignty for the whole Irish nation; preseervation of the native culture and an Ghaelge. If you want to keep the North under British rule, the South controlled by the E.U., the destruction of the native culture, the death of teanga na nGael, then DON'T support Sinn Féin.

• STEVENSTAR | Apr 20, 2012, 07:31 AM EDT

  15% IS HARDLY EVEN SIGNIFICANT !! GERRY ADAMS IS A MURDERER AND THE YOUNGER GENERATION OF IRISH WILL NEVER VOTE TO THAT AS WE ARE MORE PRO EUROPEAN ..