206 Comments

• Joe Glackin | Dec 15, 2012, 03:15 PM EST

  For whatever reason ,my comment has not appeared .

• DanOLoingsigh | Apr 12, 2012, 01:35 AM EDT

  Pols have to recant some of their fine words when they 'get in' and see the books...imo taxes are the price we pay for a decent society...don't forget, in Mayo its nearly always raining!!

• sirpeter | Apr 11, 2012, 11:10 PM EDT

  I agree he appears to be doing his best.But will it be enough.He might be an honest man.But this honest man said in 1994 it was immoral to tax a mans home.Now he has changed his mind.A man has to stand by his word.He is just a liar too.I'm sick of the lies Dano.I don't mind lies that are hidden.But they can't just piss down my back and tell me it's raining.

• DanOLoingsigh | Apr 11, 2012, 04:19 PM EDT

  I don't think he's done too bad, given the hand he was dealt...I think he's an honest man, trying his best...which is a lot more than can be said for some other prominent political sons of Castlebar...no names, of course...

• sirpeter | Apr 11, 2012, 03:08 PM EDT

  We didn't have any as far as I know.FF under Jack Lynch in 1977 was the last one I think.I'd have to look it up.I agree if things don't get extremely bad it's unlikely SF would get an overall majority.They might become the largest party though.The way I see it if it all goes pear shaped for FG/LAB which could easily happen because in fairness they are going to have to make huge cuts everywhere.A lot depends on the economy in Europe as well.But from what I can see SF are positioned nicely in opposition at the moment.I could see a SF lead coalition with FF.Constant criticism is the price you pay for been in power.How SF do in power is another matter.But look at the guys we have now.Not great are they.

• DanOLoingsigh | Apr 11, 2012, 02:10 PM EDT

  Sirpete - I didn't say small, but there is a constituency who will never give them a preference...I agree it will get smaller in time, as old memories fade, and alternatives fail...but will be a factor for a long time...under the current system overall majorities are hard to achieve...how many have we had in the last 25 years? and SF will find the real world a difficult place, if and when...opposition parties have the luxury of constant criticism, governing parties have to make hard choices...

• sirpeter | Apr 10, 2012, 08:45 PM EDT

  Dano I think you might be hoping SF have a very small finite limit.The question that has to be asked is could SF get an overall majority in the Dáil.Thinking about this carefully I actually believe they could.Here are the reasons why that might happen.1/Austerity is likely to continue which means people are not going to forgive FF for the mess they created.2/The general consensus is FG/LAB are continuing the policies of FF.3/Austerity in the true sense of the word has not hit the vast majority of people yet.4/Cutting Irelands high welfare benefits is on the cards and this is going to make a huge amount of people very angry including the middle class.5/Irish voters don't punish political parties by half measures when they get angry.6/Options for the people on who to vote for is narrowing.7/The general consensus in Ireland is SF have very good politicians.8/The general consensus in Ireland is that FF/FG/LAB are all useless politicians.9/Fiscal union if passed will act as a safety net for those who fear SF financial policies.10/If things get really bad and people start taking to the streets though (and this is true)the Irish are very slow to anger.But when they do all hell can break loose.The mighty SF political machine (the grudging envy of even the Unionists) won't miss that chance if it comes their way.The trend is people young and old are openly saying they admire SF and will vote for them without embarrassment.And these are middle class people and not the sh*tkickers of old.

• seanomelb | Apr 10, 2012, 07:13 PM EDT

  Falls I could not care less if GA was in the PIRA,personally I think he was. The PIRA is no longer a part of the GFA agreement as it no longer exists, it handed in it's weapons to De Chastelain and disbanded. As for OFA it disbanded through lack of support and changed it's name to the Workers Party and disappeared into the ether, the Irish have never had large support for communist ideals. you write as if the PIRA was a separate political party which is ridiculous. Clinging to falsehoods to prove your argument is futile and counter productive. BTW I was in Sinn Fein in the early sixties when the Marxist took over only in time to fail.

• FallsRNat | Apr 10, 2012, 03:49 PM EDT

  seano - youse totally misunderstand any opposition to your point of view, nobody is against PIRA being in the peace process as long as they are committed to peace by totally exclusive means, i'm afraid that sirpeter's denial of gerry adams being in PIRA does stretch the truth a little too far - even if you exclude all of the PIRA exiles who have stated that he was a provie, there are still such as Copeland, Gillen who have stated that it was true. I suppose in sirpeter's argument below when he expounds the lamentable behaviour of 65% of his countrymen in voting for parties opposed to PIRA he casts doubt on the exclusiveness of his free state where i assume only 35% of his favoured population would be allowed to vote. The last time that SF & the IRA were separate organisations was under the Officials & i can speak from experience as a former member of OSF. A pre-requisite of joining the provies was that to be a member of PSF, youse also had to be a member of PIRA as the last thing the military wing of PIRA needed was the rug pulled from under their feet by their political wing making deals with either government, that's why anybody connected with the republican movemen knows that GA was in PIRA.

• DanOLoingsigh | Apr 10, 2012, 03:37 PM EDT

  Seano now says he supports the GFA – How does he square this with his ‘Adams sold out and diminished the cause’ post?

• DanOLoingsigh | Apr 10, 2012, 03:36 PM EDT

  Sirpete - there is a very finite limit to the SF vote, as many will never give them a vote...that's not to say they won't get enough to be in coalition...and that's when they will face the realities of dealing with the the day-to-day grind of practical politics...as they have had to up north, to a lesser extent...

• sirpeter | Apr 10, 2012, 01:45 PM EDT

  Ah! But that's not the way some posters see it.Been the the second biggest on the island make no difference.In their minds a vote for any other party is a vote AGAINST Sinn Fein.

• Monsoonman | Apr 10, 2012, 12:30 PM EDT

  True Sean..SF is the # 2 political party on the Island and could become # 1 if the rate of growth keeps up. They have the right to speak for their constituency and persuade others to come to their way of thinking...Peacefully

• seanomelb | Apr 09, 2012, 10:40 PM EDT

  The problem with discussing any way forward with some posters is difficult Mman as they do not understand that Sinn Fein should be part of the process.They grudgingly accepted the GFA.

• sirpeter | Apr 09, 2012, 08:54 PM EDT

  I agree with you totally Monsoonman

• Monsoonman | Apr 09, 2012, 08:29 PM EDT

  Lads! It's far better to sit down with yer adversaries talk, bicker, argue, pound the table, curse, etc....than to have bullets flying and bombs blowing. Thank yr lucky stars there is a peace process and it is being adhered to. A compromise usually means no one is happy, yet there is a way to a united island peacefully. I thank Gerry Adams and others who longed to see the bloodshed end.

• seanomelb | Apr 09, 2012, 07:18 PM EDT

  Poor old Dano and falls,how many fingers am I holding up? you sad ignorant pair of Irish haters.

• sirpeter | Apr 09, 2012, 07:10 PM EDT

  Btw.How many times did I say I don't care if Gerry was in the RA or not.You have a fixation on Gerry Adams Seamus.I would imagine he saved more life's with his key role in the peace process than he killed if he killed anybody.Gerry Adams was not the IRA.But he did help stop them.Dose that count for anything?.I take it the rest of my comment you have no answer for.So I'll take that as an agreement.

• sirpeter | Apr 09, 2012, 06:31 PM EDT

  Fallsers.As far as I'm concerned keeping the peace in NI is paramount.The peace process is paramount.I'll argue the past but I'm more concerned about the future.I don't want anybody loyalist or republican taken out that might have a detrimental effect on the peace process.You can't bring back the dead.But the living can be made dead.I do know that the gunmen are waiting in the wings for any opportunity to garner support.The rise of Sinn Fein is holding these gunmen back I would imagine to a large degree.There must be some key figures on the loyalist side holding their gunmen back as well.I suggest they be left in place too for the greater good.All this digging for sh*t will do no good for the peace process.Who knows how many gunmen Gerry Adams is keeping in line with his connections.If my point there is not a reasoned argument I don't know what is.I just don't trust this muck digging.Who is been sacrificed for Gerry?

• FallsRNat | Apr 09, 2012, 01:09 PM EDT

  Adams too important for the peace process, sirpeter youse urinate on the grave of every innocent person murdered in the troubles. The brits, irish govt, US govt all have Gerry listed as a provie leader, Twomey, Bell, McGuiness, Conaill admitted being at the 1973 meeting, why not Gerry. Youse know I have lost a great deal of respect for you in your post below, I thought that you have reasoned arguments, but if you think everyone else should be sacrificed for a man like Adams who cannot own up to his past & actions, then youse him & a very small band of his acolytes would be left in a UI, even McGuiness has lost patience with him.

• DanOLoingsigh | Apr 09, 2012, 03:34 AM EDT

  Seano continues with wild and inaccurate speculation...the only deaths on my conscience are a pig I shot and butchered, and a few rabbits...how does an apologist for Omagh etc show respect for the sanctity of life?? Jeez, and he has the neck to have a go at poor Gaybo...

• PhlutiePhan | Apr 08, 2012, 10:25 PM EDT

  What Gerry Adams says is true. However, he has a radical socialist agenda which will reduce St. Patrick to a "statue in the closet" while the priests from the closet come out into the sunshine. Gerry Adams wants a socialist republic just like Cuba. Now,just how did that work out?

• Schon | Apr 08, 2012, 08:36 PM EDT

  Adams speaks of the illegitimacy of British rule in Ireland. What of the legitimacy of the non-native occupation of the Americas. The blatant disenfranchisement of the Amerindians by the US and other new world counties was more brutal than anything the Brits, actually, the English, ever did to the Irish. One of the main reasons for the American War of Independence was because the British refused to allow the then 13 colonies to expand west of the Appalachians. Here we have a case of the uneducated American being prodded by the scheming Irish thug, laughing up his sleeve at the stupidity of the Yank with respect to the history of the US, to berate a country that has a much better pedigree of civility than his own. God, but he really loves you gullible, ignorant but rich American Irish!

• seanomelb | Apr 08, 2012, 08:20 PM EDT

  I made an error in stating the officers were sacked and you equate that to Byrne's lack of integrity,how puerile is your argument. I presume you agree with the rest of my post as you made no comment.You and falls should sit in a corner counting the civilian deaths ye are responsible for when you were serving in your respective armies oppressing others, or maybe Dano was a guard at Abu Ghraib or burning copies of the Q'uran not much respect for the sanctity of life with you lot.

• sirpeter | Apr 08, 2012, 06:13 PM EDT

  Fallsers.I said she either could be innocent or guilty.Nobody has been convicted of her murder.No proper process has taken place.You hold up "official" british documents like they are some God given truth.This is NI.This is a place where collusion,revenge,murder,injustice,interment,torture,informers,misinformers ect was the norm.If Mrs McConville was innocent she truly deserved justice.For history sake.Because I'm interested in facts and truth.I'm not interested in conjecture or hearsay.Conjecture and hearsay have a habit of spreading to the point where people believe it to be true.It's like bullsh*t religion that way.The Brits were and are in collusion with everybody that further their aims.I know one simple proven fact.Everything that happens politically and economically to ordinary people is caused by people in power.I place the full blame on the Irish government and their lies for Ireland's economic situation.I suggest you do the same for NI and it's bullsh*t loyalty to a country whose army has no problem shooting ye dead for just marching.The people always pay the price.Always.Mrs McConville payed the ultimate price.You know what Seamus. Gerry Adams is too important to the peace process for him to be found guilty of anything at this stage.

• DanOLoingsigh | Apr 08, 2012, 09:44 AM EDT

  I wonder if Seano would like to comment on his getting the wrong end of the stick on this story...again?...not sacked, but suspended..not offences, but text messages...Jeez, and he says Gaybo lacks integrity....

• sirpeter | Apr 07, 2012, 08:50 PM EDT

  Unrealist.You boring me now again.I thought there for a second you had a brain.That's all.You will never catch me out in anything~Ever.You're just simply not bright enough and you know it.It's got to be that Billy Boy square head that's the problem.lol.

• FallsRNat | Apr 07, 2012, 08:43 PM EDT

  sirpeter - as i said in a post 6 months ago, Mrs McConville was accused of being a spy because her house contained radio equipment, this is interesting because the type of radio equipment needed was developed specically for the FBI & used from 1979 onwards, so unless she somehow travelled back & forth in time, she couldn't have used it, the technical equipment just wasn't available at the time. Gerry adams is listed in official british documents as being part of the PIRA leaders led by MacStiofain in 1973 that held discussions with the british govt.

• seanomelb | Apr 07, 2012, 07:59 PM EDT

  Gay Byrne is and always was a groveling sop for the ruling classes. Any resemblance between Byrne and integrity is purely co-incidental.I wonder would Dano and Falls like to comment on the sacking of four RUC/PSNI officers sacked for racist and sectarian offenses. The auld RUC is still cracking the whip.

• Realist | Apr 07, 2012, 07:20 PM EDT

  sirpeter: Lol....you sound like you're in tears my friend. You've just been caught out again, don't make it worse. Hush now, why would I want to get you banned? Keep up the good work.

• sirpeter | Apr 07, 2012, 04:51 PM EDT

  Dano.I don't know.When anybody comments on anything I always have to see the context a person is saying it in.It's like Unrealist and his selective long memory.He takes something out of context that was said months ago and it's suppose to be some kind of argument lol.I suppose he trying to get me banned or something.If Georgie Boy hasn't been banned at this stage nobody will lol.

• sirpeter | Apr 07, 2012, 04:36 PM EDT

  As for Gay Byrne.He just met his match when he meets Sinn Fein politicians.Gay Byrne likes to think he's cleaver and manipulative when it comes to interviews.He's just annoyed he couldn't catch them out.No politician should have to answer some of the below the belt questions Sinn Fein get asked or the aggressive tone that is used.

• sirpeter | Apr 07, 2012, 04:24 PM EDT

  Unrealist.You are just clutching at straws.As I said I can't remember.That was months ago.I was probably winding up Towngate because of his fondness of Lizzy the Hun if I did say it.But if it's makes you happy that I advocated the assassination of the Lizzy the Hun.So be it.I'll add in the rest of them as well.I glad it annoyed ya as much as it probably did Towngate.I guess it worked lol.So your point is?

• sirpeter | Apr 07, 2012, 04:05 PM EDT

  citizen69 Cheers ;)I guess I should have elaborated on the other reasons that can cause unemployment.

• Realist | Apr 07, 2012, 03:31 PM EDT

  This quotation I feel, made by Gay Byrne on Sinn Fein, is particularly pertinent on this thread: “You get nowhere with them because they lie. They lie all the time. They don’t mind lying and they’ve rehearsed their lies and they’ve been trained to lie, and that’s what they’re doing.”

• Realist | Apr 07, 2012, 03:25 PM EDT

  sirpeter: Lol....once again, busted by your own words. It's a pity you can't just admit it. That last response was poor.

• RockNReel | Apr 07, 2012, 02:26 PM EDT

  Nice to see the Usual Suspects posting away on here and living in the past as usual. Debates on who was a spy and who was not a spy will not further the peace process one little bit guys and most of us have moved forward --not backwards. Thankfully we have a forward looking country today and living in the past is not an option anymore.

• citizen69 | Apr 07, 2012, 06:12 AM EDT

  @sirpeter: Fair enough, you didn't mention discrimination, sorry. You seemed to be implying it though by stating that power-sharing & peace will fix the problem.

• DanOLoingsigh | Apr 07, 2012, 03:01 AM EDT

  Sirpete – in answer to your question, I am not in any military…in my posts I tried to highlight Seano’s illogicality in that he frequently uses RUC/PSNI to denigrate that organisation, but complains when others use the same formula against his heroes…that’s all…

• sirpeter | Apr 06, 2012, 08:29 PM EDT

  citizen69.Exactly.Testimony of family & friends and lack of evidence amounts to one word~Hearsay.Isn't truth the first causality of war? Just because a person lies is not an admission of guilt.People lie all the time in court.But they are convicted on evidence.The Guildford Four confessed to a whole bunch of lies but new hidden evidence found their lies to be unsafe.lol Forget the conjecture and hearsay.You'll only convince Fallsers and Unrealist with that.

• sirpeter | Apr 06, 2012, 08:19 PM EDT

  Unrealist. Yes!! And I also stated"Even if she was innocent and THAT could be true too.You left out that part.Without evidence I'm entitled to switch back and forth.To-day she is guilty.Tomorrow I might think she is innocent.Unlike you I'm fair that way.I look at both sides.Did Nuala O'Loan look hard enough?I'm absolutely astounded she found no evidence.Where did it go I wonder?lol.Unrealist tell the whole truth and keep things in context.I can't remember advocating the assassination of the Lizzy the Hun.Youse Billy Boys jump to all sorts of conclusions when ye read something.Isn't quoting people out of context and thinking everyone is out to get ye part of the Unionist tradition? Why else would Billy Boys march into a Catholic area and want to cause mayhem.It's not so much that I'm the same as Seano.It's just your way of thinking is so different to the rest of the world.

• sirpeter | Apr 06, 2012, 06:45 PM EDT

  citizen69.YES! The Government of Ireland act of 1920 was illegal.Did the people of Ireland have a referendum on the partition of Ireland? NO!!Then it was illegal and on an even higher level morally wrong.Regarding Catholics being twice as likely to be unemployed in NI.You jumped to conclusions there.I stated a fact.I didn't STATE it was on religious grounds or discrimination.I'm well aware of the reasons North and South.I stated a fact.You jumped to conclusions that I was talking about discrimination. Bold boy!!

• Realist | Apr 06, 2012, 04:32 PM EDT

  sirpeter: "Can you provide proof/evidence that she wasn't a spy?" Well here is my response....in July 2006, the official Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan stated after an investigation by her office that there is no evidence that Jean McConville had ever passed information on to the security forces. And, as you so aptly put it only last year, "If there is no evidence then she was innocent as far as I'm concerned." Anything to say or will it be more "Billy Boys, KKK, and Ganny Liz"? Not so different from old Seano really, are you? You'll be painting letter boxes green next and telling yourself there's no border....lol. Dear oh dear.

• Realist | Apr 06, 2012, 04:15 PM EDT

  sirpeter: Once again I'm confused....today you state, and I quote, "As for Mrs Jean McConville.I guess someone thought she was a spy.Can you provide proof/evidence that she wasn't a spy? Proof goes both ways in this case.Seano thinks she was.I think she was as well." However, on this very site at 03:50 PM EDT on 14th May 2011, you also stated, and I quote, "I never said she was a British spy. I have no idea if she was or not. There is no evidence that she was as far as I know. If there is no evidence then she was innocent as far as I'm concerned." Perhaps you can explain? Maybe you will simply elect to deny it as you did when confronted with your own words openly advocating the assassination of Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to the Republic of Ireland last year? Now understand, I am not suggesting you are a liar (perish the thought) but in the words of Rory O'Brady, "I do not want to be a felon setter, but the record stands." Remind me, to whom was he referring?

• citizen69 | Apr 06, 2012, 02:54 PM EDT

  Sirpeter: How exactly does one provide proof/evidence that somebody wasn't a spy other than testimony of family & friends and lack of evidence proving otherwise? Initially the IRA spead a lie that McConville had deserted her children and gone to England with a British soldier who she was having an affair with. If she was a spy then why didn't the Provos leave her body in a public place as a warning to others as they had previously done instead of secretly murdering her and hiding her body for decades?

• citizen69 | Apr 06, 2012, 02:38 PM EDT

  @sirpeter: Who exactly is being held hostage by the "illegal" partition of Ireland (which is not illegal BTW)? The vast majority of people don't feel that way. Regarding Catholics being twice as likely to be unemployed in NI... I wonder did you know that in the Republic of Ireland Catholics are also almost twice as likely to be unemployed as Protestants? Maybe there is anti-Catholic discrimination in the Republic as well? Another interesting fact is that in NI Anglicans are almost 50% more likely to be unemployed than Presbyterians. Maybe you believe there is inter-Protestant discrimination also? NI has the strictest fair employment procedures in the world. Since the 1970's almost all the net increase in jobs have went to Catholics while while the number of Protestants in jobs has declined. Today in NI Catholics on average are better paid than Protestants. There are many reasons for unemployment figures other than discrimination.

• SAirish | Apr 06, 2012, 01:54 PM EDT

  I wish Irish Central had asked Gerry when he thought that a NI border poll will happen. I ask this because Gerry has lamented in the USA that there should be a border poll. In this issue of Irish Central the UK NI Minister has stated that no one has asked him for such a poll and that is why no poll is being organised. If Gerry wants a poll surely SF would request that this take place? I realise that it is not a good time to have one with the state of the Irish economy but I really think that Gerry should not complain about not having one if he does not want one or request one.

• sirpeter | Apr 06, 2012, 12:14 PM EDT

  Billy Boy Unrealist.LOL Busy looking at surveys.Sinn Fein told me not to disturb your surveying lol.As for Mrs Jean McConville.I guess someone thought she was a spy.Can you provide proof/evidence that she wasn't a spy? Proof goes both ways in this case.Seano thinks she was.I think she was as well.Informers were two a penny in NI.Even if she was innocent and that could be true too.Loads of innocent people were killed in NI.Whats so special about her? Do you feel sorry for her? Or is it your hate for St.Gerry.LOL You can't EVEN prove he was even in the IRA.In fairness maybe the reply was to easy so Seano didn't bother replying.The facts and figures ye lot dream up is much harder to confirm on the internet.Any chance in giving me the code to the Billy Boy internet? So I can at least read up on the Billy Boy fairy tales.I can't find any of the facts ye come up with on Google.LOL

• sirpeter | Apr 06, 2012, 10:59 AM EDT

  Fallsers.Quote"If the PIRA had given peace a chance in 68-69, then whose knows what relationships would have been built between the tribes on this island",Unquote.That's a very silly statement.It's pure Billy/Bully boy thinking.This KKK we are the victims and the blacks are causing all the trouble has got to stop.Demands for civil rights by Catholics in 1968 and 1969,were met with violence from the unionist community and from the authorities.Maybe if the authorities gave into a few of their reasonable demands it would have been different.It wasn't the PIRA who shot into the civil rights marchers at all.Seamus those Stormfront type arguments of yours are useless.No wonder Sinn Fein is wiping the floor with ye.Sinn Fein have a plan for the future of Ireland and it includes NI.They are unraveling the Billy Banners stitch by stitch in Stormont and at the same time getting comfy in Dublin and the rest of Ireland.Now Martin"hold on to your kneecaps"McGuinness is winking at the Queen.~~Hello Granny Liz~~Let me pour you a nice hot cup of tea and we'll have a chat.~~All we in Sinn Fein want is a little peace granny~A little piece of the UK.LOL.The hardliner unionists must be in despair knowing that it's great for Sinn Feins image.

• Realist | Apr 06, 2012, 10:22 AM EDT

  sirpeter: "I can't see any economic future for NI within the UK.The UK is shaky as it is."? Shaky? Lol....compared to whom? The Republic of Ireland per chance? "time will bring about unification"? Lol....I'm glad you think so. Every officially commissioned survey taken on the subject since the Belfast Agreement was signed in 1998 has shown a gradual decline in public support for a UI. Still, I'll be interested to learn what you've be told to think about this.

• Realist | Apr 06, 2012, 10:10 AM EDT

  sirpeter: lol....seanomelb needs all the help he can get. Occasionally he rises to the mantle of laughing stock but usually his 'contributions' are little more than personal abuse invariably in response to facts and figures he doesn't much like and cannot handle. By way of example, on 30th January 2012 @ 10:47, when referring to the late Mrs Jean McConville, the learned seano stated, and I quote, "One wonders if McConville had not spied for the would she still be alive today enjoying her children and grand children. How many nationalists were killed or incarcerated (if any) by information given by Mrs McConville to her British handlers." He was subsequently and politely asked to support this statement with proof/evidence. Despite the all-too-predictable tirade of personal remarks, obfuscation, and embarrassing back-peddling, we still await an answer.

• sirpeter | Apr 06, 2012, 09:14 AM EDT

  Fallsers.If you read Seano's post below.He states ye both use the outdated non existent PIRA to denigrate him at every turn.I would consider if ye do that then it's an insult.So anything goes after that.I have stated a good few times on IC that the content of a comment can be just an insulting a reply,as replying to a person telling them to go fu*k themselves.Some people and their comments on IC just deserve to be cursed at in my opinion.This site holds my country under the magnifying glass for all to criticize.That includes NI because a lot of my countrymen are been held hostage by the illegal partition of my country.The GFA is a foundation for peace.Peace and time given a chance will bring about reconciliation.Reconciliation and time will bring about unification.There is going to be a much stronger Europe with fiscal union.The City of London don't want in so NI will pay the price for staying out.NI is a UK economic and unemployment black spot.Look up the stats!!Catholics are still twice as likely to be unemployed,but that will end in time because of power sharing,peace,and the inevitable rise of the Catholic population.Long term I can't see any economic future for NI within the UK.The UK is shaky as it is.

• FallsRNat | Apr 06, 2012, 06:20 AM EDT

  sirpeter - a little less paranoia on the posts, if youse look through the history of the views on this board, seano was insulting me back well into last year. I have seen his post below, but he still doen't answer any of the questions that have been put to him, youse yourself refer to past articles & put faith in some rosy tinted future that we all on this island will be united under 1 state, but that may happen in a 100 years or never, there is too much pain & misery in peoples memories here for it too happen in a generation, something youse & seano would understand if youse lived here. The US shared 1 thing with SI, that's like in Vietnam, SI thought that inside every ulsterman was a paddy waiting to get out, they aren't & no about of brow beating is going to change that, youse know i argued with Mitchell McLaughlan at the time that PIRAs demonisation of the Orange Order marches for short term political gain would cause deep division here in the future & here we are, but there you go, for if PIRA had given peace a chance in 68-69, then whose knows what relationships would have been built between the tribes on this island, unfortunately they didn't & we are all paying for that today, was it worth it, no, because, a UI is further away than ever.

• seanomelb | Apr 05, 2012, 10:26 PM EDT

  I find it amusing that Falls and Dano use the outdated non existent PIRA to denigrate me at every turn.If my posts upset their sensibilities they need not reply.castigating others (as they do) and crying crocodile tears when they themselves are brought to task is dummy sucking,man up!!

• sirpeter | Apr 05, 2012, 10:14 PM EDT

  Dano.This might come as a surprise to you but I consider American policy as the real terror in the Middle East.I think Seano has a very good point when he accuses all American soldiers as terrorists.Are you an American or British soldier?If you are you might not agree that you are a terrorist.But bombing and killing a couple of million innocent Muslims is a pretty good start when it comes to terror.I believe those Muslims were frightened and terrorised.I believe America has lost the high moral ground in the eyes of the world after Vietnam and have never got it back.History will make these murders a causality of the American quest to control and plunder the resources of these countries.Both yourself and Fallsers ganged up on Seano.So he got a bit personal.I might too if I saw two posters interacting together against my comments.Fallsers started that at (Apr 02, 2012, 06:15 PM EDT)You also called Seano a gobsh*te.The more I read the more I think it was justified.Anyway there is no truth to the fact you peed on dead Muslims.But American soldiers did.That is a true fact.

• sirpeter | Apr 05, 2012, 09:04 PM EDT

  Fallsers.You have read my many posts on this subject.I have listened to what you have to say.The GFA is in place.It is relatively peaceful in NI now.Let's wait and see what the future holds.

• DanOLoingsigh | Apr 05, 2012, 06:54 PM EDT

  Sirpete - being accused of terrorism and urinating on dead Muslims - that's what he said...so yes, it was a very offensive post...I would hope it would 'get to' any man...of course it's more lies...he should stick to legitimate discourse...I have no problem with people who disagree with my opinions...that's what makes this site worth following...

• FallsRNat | Apr 05, 2012, 06:23 PM EDT

  sirpeter - can't youse see the illogical 100% of your argument. PIRA have caused a great injustice in the last 43 years themselves & murdered 1000s of people who wish to remain part of another tribe on the island through Teebane, Bloody Friday, Enniskillen, the list goes on & on, to view your argument as legitimate gives the right of these people to commit murder & mayhem through their own terrorist organisations such as the UVF, UFF etc, youse don't see that violence begets violence, that's why youse & seano are so out of step with the times here in NI, we are thoroughly sickened by years of division & murder, we the nationalist community are willing to give a peace a chance, even if it means living in the UK, that's why youse & PIRAs legacy of CIRA & RIRA have no standing here in the North, you're still fighting a war that has finished because the will of the people has made it so. The only danger to peace & reconciliation are people like yourselves who cannot let go of a distorted view of the past, PIRA were never the legitimate heirs of the 1916 uprising otherwise 90% of family would have been members as they have been in the RA since the late 19th century. They gave up in 1968, because they understood that violence didn't work.

• sirpeter | Apr 05, 2012, 05:43 PM EDT

  Fallsers & Dano. The fact of the matter is Seano and myself have a very legitimate argument.I'll say it again and I'll keep saying it.Where you have injustice you will get resistance.Irish history is full of British injustice and therefore full of those who will resist it.It's really not that complex.9/11 was caused by American injustice and interference in the middle East which has since caused millions of innocents deaths by Americans and in turn will cause more American deaths.We can see the reality.Dano I can see Seano got to you a bit lol.

• SeamusMor | Apr 05, 2012, 04:51 PM EDT

  The Good Friday agreement established that ballots, and not bullets, would decide the political future in Ireland. Irish Nationalists, as both a manly and patriotic duty, are encouraged to breed a majority!

• DanOLoingsigh | Apr 05, 2012, 02:16 PM EDT

  Falls - Yes, I can't recall a single post where he acknowledges any fault on PIRA side...in fact he's so loyal I think we should call him an unreconstructed LOYALIST....SEANO THE LOYALIST, yes I like it!!!!

• FallsRNat | Apr 05, 2012, 12:37 PM EDT

  Dano - youse have to remember that like most ardent apologisers for PIRA, seano doesn't actually live in Ireland. He hates me & my family because in his eyes, they as RA members from the IRB to OIRA accepted that a UI could only be achieved through non violence, he bears a particular dislike to me because I served in the British Army, so what, who cares, i can live with the childish remarks as he doesn't have anything meaningful to offer in a way of a legitimate argument. At least sirpeter in earlier posts tried to put up a spirited defence of his PIRA stance.

• DanOLoingsigh | Apr 05, 2012, 11:03 AM EDT

  Another post that is both offensive and malicious ...take care, cobber...libel can be expensive!!!

• DanOLoingsigh | Apr 05, 2012, 10:54 AM EDT

  SF has many ex PIRA members, including most of the leadership...most decent people see this as a positive development...ditto the reforms in NI Policing...Seano clutches at straws (again) to try and explain the logic of his posts...fact is, there's no logic at all!!

• seanomelb | Apr 04, 2012, 07:17 PM EDT

  65% of the admin of the PSNI are former RUC officers hence the RUC/PSNI. Be careful of the longbow you are drawing Falls,I doubt if you have the strength to draw it all the way,stick to your Lambegh drum making a noise is more your style.Maybe terrorist Dano should return to Baghdad or Kabul and urinate on some dead Muslims that's more his style.

• FallsRNat | Apr 04, 2012, 05:28 PM EDT

  Good Point Dan, seano is a typical PIRA supporter, everybody is to blame apart from themselves, when the report comes out on Lynch's FF govt's creation & co-running of the PIRA terrorist machine, all other collusion enquiries will pale into insignificance, deniability is the raison detra of the PIRA movement, but of course, if like the machinations & experience of the brits in playing the long game, this is just the start of the 'bad news' season for joe public in the nationalist community both north & south, once it is proven that Haughey was the fall guy for Heaney & Lynch all bets will be off, following on from this enquiry will be Finucane, Bloody Friday, Teebane, we are going to eat some serious craw.

• DanOLoingsigh | Apr 04, 2012, 02:40 PM EDT

  Why do some 'use the emotive term PIRA an organisation that does not exist anymore'? probably the same reason you use 'RUC/PSNI', again naming another organisation that does not exist anymore...sauce for the goose...

• FallsRNat | Apr 04, 2012, 01:22 PM EDT

  seano - same pathetic smears, i relax in the knownledge that 70% of the pop don't vote for these idiots.

• DanOLoingsigh | Apr 04, 2012, 02:13 AM EDT

  seano - wrong again, cobber!!!!

• seanomelb | Apr 03, 2012, 08:35 PM EDT

  You dismiss Sinn Fein as irrelevant yet they command nearly 35% of the vote in ALL of Ireland.You can stick to your unionist script, I notice you always fail to use the term Sinn Fein and use the emotive term PIRA an organisation that does not exist anymore.You and your ilk are a shallow low. Why do the words Sinn Fein scare you?.And scared Dano refuses to admit he is British I wonder if he is embarrassed!!

• FallsRNat | Apr 02, 2012, 06:15 PM EDT

  DanO - seano uses the old tired mantra of some ancient referendum to justify his claim for a UI, but my family fought in the RA at that time & up till the 60s, none of them have any sense that they gave his heroes like Adams the right to continue the fight after the original RA renounced violence to pursue a UI through the democratic use of peaceful non violent means, there is no correlation between armed groups such as PIRA & the present day UVF & the old organisations such as the IRB, RA or UVF under Carson. The irony is both seano & sirpeter both subscribe to PIRA who by know means could claim to represent the true feelings of the people either side of the border

• DanOLoingsigh | Apr 02, 2012, 03:09 PM EDT

  Seano - neither fear nor embarrassment...Having walked the streets of Baghdad and Kabul, I can assure you that gobs***tes such as you hold no fear for anyone...I am not complying with your agenda...it's a simple as that...and much as you would like to, you don't get to say who can, and who can't post on this site...although it's reassuring to note that you still spout the agenda of your heroes...'freedom of speech' is a precious right, and not in the gift of any group of anti-democratic zealots...

• FallsRNat | Apr 02, 2012, 01:09 PM EDT

  sirpeter - nice to see their letting youse out again, i had become to despair that seano was the only rabid adams clone still left on this board, you'll entitled to your opinion of course, but now that the DUP have made their speeches at their fellow Tory FG conference & the option to rejoin the Commonwealth gets into full swing, a UI is a long way away. SF completely underestimated the Irish peoples's support for QEII's visit & now are left outside the arena, crying, we'll met her next time. Youse really don't undersxtand that a lot of NI Catholics have issues with the 26 counties, a leading example would be the power of the RC church, the abuse on such a scale would never been allowed to happen in the UK, endless cover ups by both politician & church has left a very sour taste in the mouth (no pun intended), we here are enjoying the 1st generation of a trouble free Ulster, we are not going to allow it to be undermined by calls for further referendums that will only divide the people further. Ulster has come a long way in a short space of time, now its your turn in SI, its not only showing the Prods that the church has been taken out of the day to day influence of public life, but a considerable amount of catholics like me here in the North.

• seanomelb | Apr 01, 2012, 07:58 PM EDT

  Chutzpah!! first Dano state what country you live in until then no speakies. Hiding behind the cloak of anonymity out of fear or embarrassment!!

• sirpeter | Apr 01, 2012, 05:08 PM EDT

  Fallsers The GFA was not a vote for the status quo.Plenty changes in the GFA.Weather you know it or not.Peace will bring about a UI.A lot sooner that you think as well.

• DanOLoingsigh | Apr 01, 2012, 07:12 AM EDT

  read the constitution, seano, and then say what the name is???

• FallsRNat | Apr 01, 2012, 06:02 AM EDT

  it wasnt the will of the majority as ulster became a separate entity, 1918 was nearly 100 years ago, we had the GFA where the people on the island of ireland voted on the same day for the status quo we had today, that's trumps the 1918 vote, youse seem to be solely engaged in the past, not the modern day.

• seanomelb | Mar 31, 2012, 08:08 PM EDT

  One Ireland One vote you fail to accept the will of the majority.1918 was the only time that Ireland voted for a republic and you know that result,hence the will of the minority trumped the will of the majority thats an historical fact which you choose to ignore. There is no such place as southern Ireland it's called the republic of Ireland and you like most of your unionist mates just cannot spit out the word "Republic",you're orange to the core and afraid of a united Ireland. Take your anti Irish "spiel" and post them in the "Belfast news letter" where you most likely would be welcome.

• FallsRNat | Mar 31, 2012, 07:24 AM EDT

  The GFA agreement where even Albert Reynolds & FF couldn't accept the Humes-Adam document, the most Republican party in SI, that tells you something, what are you going to invoke the ?????

• FallsRNat | Mar 31, 2012, 07:22 AM EDT

  seano - tell me where in the Anglo-Irish agreement, GFA or any other national vote where the people of island of Ireland have voted for anything other than partition, you'll the 1 out of touch

• seanomelb | Mar 31, 2012, 12:27 AM EDT

  Ireland is divided because the will of the minority trumped the will of the majority. Falls you have a Monty pythonesque view of the world.

• FallsRNat | Mar 30, 2012, 01:15 PM EDT

  sirpeter - the island of ireland is divided because 1 part of the population wants to recognise as being British in their allegiance & the other half Irish, however, unless people like yourself start to believe that the prods can live in peace in a 32 county state, can bang the lambeg drum, be given full cultural identity, something that has been sadly lacking in recent years & more importantly, we the irish nationalist weed out the violent republican movement & offer the hand of friendship to them, then any notional hope of a UI isn't possible, if we are sitting around to out breed the prods, then their claims to the 'brits out' mentality will proved to be right for all the world to see, a bitter pill for those of us who believe in the statehood of United Irishmen, it's time to throw off the chains of victimhood & take a place in the modern secular society on this island, give it 20 generations & a UI may be a realistic goal, carry on as we are, then it's just a pipedream, if the price of a UI is 1.2m people leaving NI to live in the UK, I'm afraid it's not worth paying, i've never shared my family's belief in an armed campaign because it defeats the very object of our dream, a united irish free state.

• sirpeter | Mar 29, 2012, 09:25 PM EDT

  Dano.I agree with you totally.In times of need we all know who our friends are.In times of stress we get to know ourselves and others a lot better.More stress the more we get to know.Wanting to act honourably is the higher plane.Weather a person does or not is irrelevant.The good intention was there.Anyway honour is an ideal.Survival goes straight to the bone.

• sirpeter | Mar 29, 2012, 07:57 PM EDT

  @citizen69. No!! He was a great Irishman.He believed in union with Britain.He was also willing to kill to keep that union.If he was killed trying to save the union.I would respect him even more.You have to respect a man who pays the ultimate for what he believes to be right.But he wasn't very democratic.The vast majority wanted independence from Britain.Maybe 70%.Citizen69 to be honest "what is loyalty?" is a tricky question.In what context?Some would say their first loyalty is to God.Others to their family ect.Some people will NEVER kill.That sounds good and moral.But these same people will also watch atrocities happen to innocent people in front of them.Is that good and moral then? Loyalty has to be put in context I think.

• DanOLoingsigh | Mar 29, 2012, 03:38 AM EDT

  Sirpete - while I agree you can discern much from following the style and content of posts made, including beliefs and prejudices, a persons 'moral character' is on a different plane...actions DO speak louder than words...'survive with honour' is the key advice on most 'you as hostage' training (given before deployment to post-conflict zones)...you might be surprised at how different people behave when faced with severe stress trauma...which is a long-winded way of saying that while we all want to think we would act honourably, that's not how it sometimes works out in reality...

• seanomelb | Mar 28, 2012, 06:55 PM EDT

  On his death bed Carson regretted the division of Ireland a cause he was willing to fight for.Therefore we must presume that Carson believed, in life he was wrong and in death a good republican. No wonder the unionists are so confused.

• citizen69 | Mar 28, 2012, 04:56 PM EDT

  @sirpeter: You said:"I'd have no problem voting for a Northern British one if he is loyal to Ireland". What's your definition of loyal to Ireland? Sir Edward Carson, the great Unionist leader from Dublin was a proud patriotic Irishman. He happened to believe Ireland and it's peoples interests were best served as part of the United Kingdom. Should that make him less of an Irishman?

• sirpeter | Mar 28, 2012, 04:17 PM EDT

  Dano.There will be no persuasion/coercion.It will just happen if peace is maintained which I think it will.It might take a while though.

• sirpeter | Mar 28, 2012, 02:08 PM EDT

  I just know Dano.You have posted quite a bit here.You get to know a personality by the way they react to certain comments and different articles.Every post on different articles,every interaction builds a picture of a persons character.Even the writing style.Amazing isn't it?lol.So do YOU consider yourself an honorable person? Another simple yes or no will do.Don't bother with the sometimes.I mean in general.

• DanOLoingsigh | Mar 28, 2012, 08:17 AM EDT

  Sirpete - moral character? How can you know?

• DanOLoingsigh | Mar 28, 2012, 02:41 AM EDT

  After 90 years, the same old question still stands -How to persuade/coerce those who don't wish to be included?...regardless that partition should never have happened...

• seanomelb | Mar 27, 2012, 11:15 PM EDT

  Dano in wonderland I wonder if the rooms were connected with a yellow brick road

• sirpeter | Mar 27, 2012, 07:53 PM EDT

  Cheers lads!!But that single word from Dano says more about his moral character than anything I said.

• DanOLoingsigh | Mar 27, 2012, 07:22 PM EDT

  they would say ‘ we have friends in your rooms, who really want to live like us’. Each time they broke through and wrecked some of the unionist rooms, they would say to the unionists, ‘ It would be much more sensible if you bricked up your connecting wall to the other houses, and came in with us’…to which the unionists always replied ‘ we like it with our connection to the rest of these houses, so it’s like one big house, you all go to a different church, and you speak a strange language…we’ll just stay as we are’…after many years of this fighting, the nationalists agreed that the unionists could keep their connection to the rest of the houses, but if and when they decided to brick up that wall, they could live happily in the nationalist house…the unionists are still not sure if bricking up their wall is such a good idea…

• DanOLoingsigh | Mar 27, 2012, 07:21 PM EDT

  The ‘house divided’ analogy has more than one interpretation…so let’s consider another…there were these four houses, all close together, and over the years they all built on connections so that each was connected to the other. The Irish nationalists, who had 32 rooms, didn’t like this arrangement, and proposed building a wall to again separate their house from the other three … they wanted to have their own front door once more. They said ‘ If we brick up the connecting wall, then we alone can decide what happens in our house’. Their neighbours, in the unionist part of the house, said ‘no, we quite like being joined to the other houses…we all speak the same language and have a lot in common’. So the nationalists built their wall, separating 26 of the rooms, and lived on their own…every now and again they would tunnel through to the six rooms in the unionist part of the house, sometimes they would cut off the water, sometimes the electricity…

• seanomelb | Mar 27, 2012, 06:19 PM EDT

  Sirpeter to the fore once again

• Monsoonman | Mar 27, 2012, 11:04 AM EDT

  About sums up everything in a neat tidy package: "All the people of Ireland have one thing in common.We live here and it's a nice place.But we have a management problem"....Well said!

• brennanirish | Mar 27, 2012, 11:02 AM EDT

  Sirpeter said it well.

• sirpeter | Mar 27, 2012, 09:07 AM EDT

  Dano.Thanks for at least acknowledging that.Partition was the biggest injustice and mistake inflicted on the people of that province and Ireland as a whole.In 1858 before the civil Lincoln said."A house divided against itself cannot stand" Lincoln as a statesman,and political philosopher,announced an eternal truth-not only as broad as America,but covers the world.Flags and drums,differences in religious beliefs,wearing of colours ect.Those symbols might give us a sense of identity.But they only serve to divide people in the long run.All the people of Ireland have one thing in common.We live here and it's a nice place.But we have a management problem.Always had.North and South.We need to right the wrong and move on.We are in short supply of leaders at the moment.I'd have no problem voting for a Northern British one if he is loyal to Ireland.Jack Charlton didn't do too bad and he didn't even live here.

• DanOLoingsigh | Mar 27, 2012, 03:20 AM EDT

  No

• seanomelb | Mar 26, 2012, 06:56 PM EDT

  And the unionists hated Mo there seems to be a thread here.

• sirpeter | Mar 26, 2012, 06:51 PM EDT

  Dano.One simple question.Do you believe the partitioning of Ireland without referendum trapping a large minority under UK rule was just and fair on the people of Ireland in 1920? Don't dodge the question.A yes or no answer is all that is needed.

• sirpeter | Mar 26, 2012, 06:24 PM EDT

  PhlutiePhan.Jasus man.Gerry had WORLD socialist ambitions?? Sinn fein was just a front??Occassio I know what you are missing~Your tinfoil hat.

• occassio | Mar 26, 2012, 05:50 PM EDT

  PhlutiePhan. "the Brits wanted out of Ireland and were willing to help form a united Irish republic". Please explain how the British intended to "help" the IRA form this republic. Were the the Black and Tans also willing to help? What am I missing?

• DanOLoingsigh | Mar 26, 2012, 05:37 PM EDT

  PhlutiePhan - you're right that a significant number of Brit politicians, esp Labour, were pro United Ireland. One of the most significant in the 80s - 90s was Kevin McNamara, the (opposition) shadow sec of state for NI. Loathed by unionists, and fatally undermined by the PIRA bombing campaigns, Blair replaced him with M Mowlam before labour got in power...

• DanOLoingsigh | Mar 26, 2012, 05:22 PM EDT

  Sirpete - I was only making the point that there had been a referendum...when you said there had not...even with 100% voting, the pro-unionist side would have won...so SDLP etc decided not to take part in a vote they knew they would lose...hence the large majority...we both know that there is a pro-union majority in the north, and the opposite in the south...that's the circle that needs to be squared...as always...

• PhlutiePhan | Mar 26, 2012, 03:37 PM EDT

  Gerry Adams is nothing more than a bleepin' Communist who has used Sinn Fein as a front for his world socialist ambitions. I served in the Mediterranean in 1975 and two Brit officers came on our ship for anti-submarine warfare training. One of the two had lost two brothers in service in Ireland. He would not talk to an Irish-American. The other explained to me (with a top secret clearance) that the Brits wanted out of Ireland and were willing to help form a united Irish republic. However, they knew that as soon as they pulled out that the provisional wing of the I.R.A. would then fill the vacuum and create a revolution to bring on a socialist republic just like Cuba. Gerry Adams was one of the leaders at that time of the provisionals. The Brits felt that the honest Irish republicans would be overwhelmed by the socialists with active support at that time from Russia. Now, China exports weapons and explosives through Iran to the provisionals who have been blowing up Catholics who volunteer to work for the Northern Irish constabulary. Priests have even been implicated as using the confessional to ferret out undercover elements who are betraying the socialist cause. I say this as someone whose greatgrandfather left Ireland after killing a Black and Tan. Semper Fi.

• sirpeter | Mar 26, 2012, 11:52 AM EDT

  Dano.Elections were open before the secret ballot.Who was going to say no to their landlord and be evicted.They called those fair elections too.You can't have coercion or the treat of violence in an election.People have to feel safe and it wasn't safe for Catholics.Who would want their granny power hosed? Granny's can't run fast enough when it comes to demented Catholic house burning Billy Boys.She was best kept at home that day.

• sirpeter | Mar 26, 2012, 11:33 AM EDT

  Dano.Don't make me laugh.The civil authorities were prepared for violence on polling day.They had put in place mobile polling stations which could be rushed into use if there was bomb damage to scheduled poll buildings.A year earlier Bloody Sunday with the Brits after saying we had every right to kill these people.How many Catholics would have been shot dead that day? 99% in favour is an African political despot election.Dano lol. Are you not ashamed of yourself trying to make that 1973 referendum valid? Seriously man.It's got to look like a valid vote first.*I'm still laughing.You're a trier Dano I'll give that much.

• DanOLoingsigh | Mar 26, 2012, 02:40 AM EDT

  Seano - If you boycott the referendum, you can't complain about the result...I was answering a claim that there had never been a referendum...

• seanomelb | Mar 25, 2012, 07:18 PM EDT

  Nationalists boycotted the referendum they were marginalized again as they were in 1921.

• DanOLoingsigh | Mar 25, 2012, 07:03 PM EDT

  Sirpete - so there was a referendum then? If people reject the opportunity to vote, they have to accept the consequences...I think it's called democracy...in any event 99% of 58% would still be a winning margin...

• sirpeter | Mar 25, 2012, 06:16 PM EDT

  Dano.On 23 January 1973, the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) called on its members "to ignore completely the referendum and reject this extremely irresponsible decision by the British Government".That's my next point.

• FallsRNat | Mar 25, 2012, 08:54 AM EDT

  The GFA vote voted for the status quo as enshrinsed in the Anglo-Irish Agreement, no constitutional change to NI unless the people of the 6 counties vote for it.

• DanOLoingsigh | Mar 25, 2012, 03:10 AM EDT

  seanomelb - so you can't justify your allegation, then?

• DanOLoingsigh | Mar 25, 2012, 03:09 AM EDT

  The Northern Ireland sovereignty referendum was held on 8 March 1973 - FOR STAYING IN UK – 98.9%, FOR JOINING THE REPUBLIC – 1.1%, TURNOUT 58.7%. Next point?

• seanomelb | Mar 25, 2012, 12:46 AM EDT

  You should know you seem to be one or you wouldn't ask the question.

• sirpeter | Mar 25, 2012, 12:02 AM EDT

  Dano.I'm all for referendums.When was the last one?Oh! That's right there never was any.I wonder why Dano?Hmmmm What a big mistake the American Indian made when they put there X to the first treaty.It gave credibility to a foreign government.The unionists are much smarter that you Dano.

• Monsoonman | Mar 24, 2012, 08:37 PM EDT

  Hello Lad! Will b golfing agn 1st wk of April..U seem to be holding yr own well enuf arnd here, so I havent jumped in.

• DanOLoingsigh | Mar 24, 2012, 08:18 PM EDT

  Seano - why are some posters ingrates, then?

• seanomelb | Mar 24, 2012, 07:58 PM EDT

  How's the golfing Mman??. come back Mman do you see the ingrates I have to contend with these days.

• FallsRNat | Mar 24, 2012, 04:48 PM EDT

  sirpeter - aah the old inside every gook is an american trying to get out, youse apply to the ulstermen, it didn't work for the yanks & it wont work for the irish. seano - interesting that youse describe my family as sellouts, so everyone in the republican movement must be whether they lived in 1916 until the adams/mcguiness era as they all signed up to partition, who are your heroes now, RIRA there finished, the Dub drug gangs will see them off.

• Monsoonman | Mar 24, 2012, 02:40 PM EDT

  Well said about our Motherland, Lad.

• DanOLoingsigh | Mar 24, 2012, 11:17 AM EDT

  seano - maybe we need some REFERENDUMS to put it all right, eh????

• seanomelb | Mar 23, 2012, 08:09 PM EDT

  Falls you mean the peace walls in occupied Ireland and occupied Palestine!!The time has come falls and you are to narrow minded to see it. You keep repeating the same old diatribe to justify your love of everything orange.Your family were stickies in the end, which was just a little hop towards your unionist friends.How lonely will you feel when the Scots vote for independence.

• sirpeter | Mar 23, 2012, 01:23 PM EDT

  Fallsers.Peace walls are a result of the political past.What part don't you understand about that?I'm apportioning the blame on those in power who set the seeds that cause bloodshed.What part don't you understand about that? Ulstermen & RC ??? Well Done! Seamus.You're a credit to the peace process.You sound like Mr Botha saying South Africans and the blacks.As for the Israeli/Palistinian "peace walls".Those concentration camp walls with wheels have nothing to do with peace.Anyway I might have been over optimistic about the time it will take Ulstermen/women to come to their senses.The fact remains it will happen.The political will is there.Anyway Seamus I don't consider you a troll.Just an Irish/British/Nationalist/Loyalist/ Orangeman/Catholic/Protestant/Ulsterman who needs a bit more time to realize it's game over for the Billy Boys and what they want.Btw I never said those who WANT to be British should leave.As big Ian would say Never!! Never!! Never!!.

• FallsRNat | Mar 23, 2012, 10:08 AM EDT

  sirpeter - i know youse dont live in the North because of the stupid comments you make below, i wont comment on the brits because you'll totally blind to apportioning the blame where it should fall equally on both sides. There are 2 peace walls on this planet that are still being built, 1 is on the Israeli/Palistinian border & the other is here in Belfast, you are really in deniability if youse think that the prods & us are going to be integrated in a couple of generations. British occupation was solely the preserve of the Ulstermen & RC who wish to remain british in the 6 counties, when youse say brits out to them it only applies to them, where are the other brits youse keep talking about.

• sirpeter | Mar 22, 2012, 09:23 PM EDT

  Fallsers.Cop yourself on.In any relationship of any sort you have to get to the root of the problem.British occupation and self interest was a major factor and was a root cause of a lot of the problems in Ireland.North and South.The result that came with that are secondary.The GFA dealt with the root causes of the problems.The GFA has laid the foundation for a lasting peace.To say there is far too much water under the bridge now & too much hatred built up on both sides is stupid.NI society will integrate given a couple of generations.The GFA has cut off the root that has polarized loyalists which was antagonizing nationalists by violence in order to provoke violence and then demonizing nationalists to polarized loyalists and keep the Status Quo.Loyalist traditions are built on violence and like all traditions built on violence they die out.Who is shouting for a "Protestant Parliament and a Protestant State" NOW???? Nobody.

• cybersharque | Mar 22, 2012, 07:57 PM EDT

  Please don't poke the troll.

• FallsRNat | Mar 22, 2012, 07:36 PM EDT

  meanolgrouch - get your history books out, the Turkish Armenian, Roman Empire, Ottoman Empire, Persian etc, put the brits in the shade on genocide, you'll know that if you weren't blinded by your puerile hatred. When my family fought the brits from 1916-68, they didn't hate the brits per se, they wrongly believed that by forcing them at of ireland, that the Prods would have a stark choice, go back to the UK or blithely accept a UI where we as the victors would ram the Holy Roman Empire down their throats & of course, they true to form decided to match us blow by blow in the terrorist stakes. Gerry won't force a UI on the Ulstermen, they won, they outkilled PIRA in the end, they learnt from Irish history. The people on this board vent their spleen in a totally 1 sided bias as if the brits are the fault of all our ills, their not, most of the pain & misery on the island of ireland is of our own making, 1968 was possibly the 1 year that could have about now have produced a solid vote, not quite a NI majority, but a strong vote all the same for unity & had peace prevailed then just maybe we could have accomodated all of the people on this island, Gerry & his ilk thought that violence was the way, one last push, but the RA movement had been trying this since southern independence, it didn't work in the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s,60s & it didn't work from 69-now, it's too late for a UI, there is far too much water under the bridge now & too much hatred built up on both sides, Gerry likes to play the statesman, but its too late for that, PIRA should have given peace a chance, they didn't & today we are living with the consequences of that.

• Monsoonman | Mar 22, 2012, 07:27 PM EDT

  Hi Lad...I want to state publicly that I have never/never will-was a supporter of Gen Custer, or yellow hair as he was affectionately referred to by my native American family :). BTW A new gold rush is going on in North Dakota..Black gold.

• citizen69 | Mar 22, 2012, 07:09 PM EDT

  Seano: What are you blabbering on about? When have i ever glorified General Custer or anyone like him? And all of those people you list are no countrymen of mine ya eejit.

• seanomelb | Mar 22, 2012, 06:46 PM EDT

  Citizen69 you cite Adams connections with the IRA precludes him from been a peace activist,therefore on your logic Nelson Mandela is a terrorist for his support of the armed wing of the ANC. Your anti Irish hate is peeping through. And to think your terrorist country men like Ollie North,Gates,McNamara.Bush,Cheney, Rumsfeld and others walk the Earth and you glorify murderers like General Custer who had an aversion to slaughtering women and children and you pay lip service to the slaughter and deliberate starvation of the Irish by the British one wonders on your sense of balance in your postings.

• citizen69 | Mar 22, 2012, 06:24 PM EDT

  @Meanolgrouch: Actually i don't know it's a lie. It's something i saw on RT News channel here in Ireland and i assume/assumed it to be true. It was more of an inquiry than a statement. I find it interesting though to read your reaction when you feel someone is spreading propaganda or half truths about something in your country. Maybe then you can understand how people here might feel when others outside Ireland seem to be doing a similar thing with us. It's not a good feeling.

• citizen69 | Mar 22, 2012, 05:50 PM EDT

  @Meanolgrouch: Just today in France a terrorist's life was ended when police took out an extremist who murdered seven people, including three Jewish children in Toulouse. The terrorist claimed it was an act in revenge for the death of Palestinian citizens. There are people (maybe you're one of them?) who will justify these murders or make some excuse that it is ultimately the fault of 'mother Israel' that these people died. Any sane person though can see that those callous murders of innocents are completely unjustifiable.

• Meanolgrouch | Mar 22, 2012, 05:45 PM EDT

  citizen69, one of the main reasons I haunt this website is because casual passersby need to see the truth under all the teabagger hysterical lies. No, your allegation that President Obama claimed the right to assassinate American citizens on American soil without any recourse to a fair trial is the lowest, most vile lie in the world and you know it's a lie. Shame on you! That's sick, and transparently hysterical. It also puts you partly to blame for the people such lies are killing. Yes, killing! There have been reports from my other group of elders so poisoned by GOP lies that they're afraid to go to the hospital now, even when critical, because they watch Fox News channel which tells them of imaginary Obama death panels! One woman I know personally broke out in hysterical tears when her elderly parents needed medical care, because she thought President Obama would send someone to pull the plug on them! How can you live with yourself spreading such hateful, dangerous lies? Why should I believe anything else you say? Why does it matter what you say? Only because the vulnerable, gullible people who listen to you can DIE from it. That's unconcionable. Pots don't get to call the kettle black.

• citizen69 | Mar 22, 2012, 05:29 PM EDT

  @Meanolgrouch: Was George Washington a terrorist? I dunno, did George Washington hide his face behind a balaclava and plant bombs behind the cloak of night that deliberately targeted innocent civilians? Did he shoot people through the kneecaps for alleged petty crimes? Did he rob banks, shops & post offices? Did he run Mafia style protection rackets and deal in counterfeit currency & goods smuggling? Did he get involved in murderous feuds within his own 'army'? Did he claim he would never recognise the legitimacy of his enemies governments (in Gerry's case UK & Ireland) and then end up administering power for the crown? No, i don't think Washington was a terrorist, although you should ask native Americans that question. Oh, i see then that you are one of those that makes excuses for human rights abuses when its suits your agenda. You say NI continues to fight a vote. What vote are you referring to? And yes, you are correct about Bush but didn't Obama go further and claim he had the right to assassinate American citizens on American soil without any recourse to a fair trial?

• Meanolgrouch | Mar 22, 2012, 04:30 PM EDT

  A brief fact about Dubya: He abused executive orders worse than any other president in history. That's why we also called him King George. I heard him give a speech where he declared a president could do anything he wanted regardless of Congress or the Constitution. Typical GOP garbage. Congress was in such revolt over his crimes that Democrats dreamed of marching down Pennyslvania Avenue and arresting the bastard. Reconstruction always takes far longer than destruction. That's why the tragedies Dubya unleashed over 4 years will take several times as long to correct. Realistically up to a generation. Even longer if the ignorance of John Q. Public stays at such historic highs. I'd say something here about dogs returning to vomit, but it might put me off my feed.

• Meanolgrouch | Mar 22, 2012, 04:20 PM EDT

  ciaradexy, the Australian aboriginies did indeed force the return of at least a portion of their territory. I already told the story of AIM and Russell Means, Cochise, Geronimo etc. You missed the mark by a country mile when you advise us to be the way you like to think they were..... citizen 69, as I had no idea of your ethnicity, you can be sure I wasn't talking about kilts. My reference to clean skirts is a traditional way to point out dirty hands from dirty work. Speaking of which, generations of Irish passivity never served to secure the rights of the people. Lay the blame for brother fighting brother at the door of your true common enemy, that flyspeck island to your east. NI's love affair with Lizzie the Hun - by no means a majority, else why would they continue to fight a vote? - speaks more to Stockholm Syndrome than a healthy patriotism. BTW, do you think George Washington asked King George (as we called Dubya) to pretty please let us conduct our own affairs? I seem to recall it took a herculean effort for us to throw off British rule with the help of France. George Washington made the British enemy list too, I see. He's in good company. Are you trying to tell me our first president was a terrorist? Ireland doesn't seek undue influence, much less occupation of England or anywhere else in Great Britain. She seeks the British heel off her neck in her own country. That's the difference between a patriot and an occupying terrorist, not how hard they had to fight for their own rights.

• DanOLoingsigh | Mar 22, 2012, 03:56 PM EDT

  Groucho - I see you have a brother...which one is it? The idiot who plays the harp? Anyway, you make a grand pair...stay playing in your 19th Century version of life, the rest of us have a future to build...

• citizen69 | Mar 22, 2012, 03:16 PM EDT

  ...No, Gerry Adams couldn't possibly be a human rights activist. Of course people will always come up with excuses or justification for why these things happened but there simply is no excuse. If you support this then what makes you any different than someone who supports the army if they beat & murder people? There's not a damn bit of difference. Because it's all for the greater good? Nah, that doesn't wash at all. The killing, maiming or intimidation of people in Ireland is wrong no matter if it's by Republicans, Loyalists or Security Forces.

• citizen69 | Mar 22, 2012, 03:06 PM EDT

  @Meanolgrouch: Hey, that's not a skirt, it's a kilt! I'm all for reconciliation, always have been. What i'm not for is veneration & revisionism of paramilitary groups. Gerry's supposed dedication to civil & human rights is totally incompatible with his connections to the Provos. The Provisional IRA where a dissident breakaway group from the official IRA; much like the dissidents we have still trying to murder people today. One of the reasons Gerry and the boys broke away was because the IRA wasn't militant enough for him and other hardliners at the time. He wasn't interested that the official IRA wanted dialogue with the enemy. You may see yourself as a human rights supporting liberal but any support for the Provos is support for just the opposite. They were much more ruthless not only to their perceived enemies but also their own community. They were guilty of the worst human rights abuses possible. How about the right to live? They were involved in sectarian & community murders. The right to justice and fair trial? Beating, shooting & murder of alleged criminals, often based on allegation alone. How about the right to live free from threat or intimidation? They ruled their working class communities with an iron fist. You got on the wrong side of 'the boys', you paid the price. The right to work? Bombing campaigns to destroy the N. Irish economy, targeting shops & businesses. They also ran protection rackets, pay up or loose you business. The right to live where you choose / see your family? Hundreds, if not thousands expelled from Ireland under threat of death... And these are only the crimes against their OWN community!...

• ciaradexy | Mar 22, 2012, 02:50 PM EDT

  Ah here, lads, get over yourselves! Virtual genocide!? Why do yanks go on and on about this yet you dont hear Indians or Australians going on like you lot! Get a life between ye! There are plenty of Irish here thanks! Hello! *waves*

• Meanolgrouch | Mar 22, 2012, 01:58 PM EDT

  StRoibard - tell it, brother!

• StRoibard | Mar 22, 2012, 12:10 PM EDT

  "virtual genocide" refers to the blatant, admitted attempts by the english to eradicate the Irish race from the face of the earth, as their own newspapers said, during An Gorta Mor, "Perhaps this will finally rid us of the blight of the Irish in Ireland." During cromwell's attempts to kill as many Irish as possible, the rumors were stirred that the killed Irish were stripped and found to have tales like monkeys, and were therefore non-human and worthy to be slaughtered. But that's nothing new, such has been the british attitude toward every nationality they've encountered, from India, to Asia, to Africa, and to their own next door neighbors.

• Meanolgrouch | Mar 22, 2012, 06:39 AM EDT

  There are more ways than one to commit genocide, just as there are to enslave. Economic oppression, cultural identity assault, etc. These methods are slower but perhaps even deadlier, as they go unrecognized by some victims and always hotly denied by perpetrators.

• Meanolgrouch | Mar 22, 2012, 06:35 AM EDT

  Dano, why don't you try to compose for yourself instead of cut and paste from Karl Rove's playbook? You're starting to bore me.. yawn...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

• DanOLoingsigh | Mar 22, 2012, 05:47 AM EDT

  Groucho - 'CONTINUING PRACTICE of virtual genocide' - I can't imagine what you're alluding to here, but cheap misuse of such a profound word says more about you and your complete lack of understanding of the current situation...stay bitter, stay twisted, but most important, stay 3000 miles away!!!!

• Meanolgrouch | Mar 22, 2012, 12:21 AM EDT

  Wouldn't you know it??? FB let me register as Mean olgrouch, gave no warning, and then when I go back to check tonight, there I am as "Meanol Grouch"! What the hey - if you're offered a list of similar names, just look for a picture of the lady with the baby crib. Can't be too many of those.

• Meanolgrouch | Mar 21, 2012, 10:24 PM EDT

  Shoutout to SPARKLET and anyone else who wants to read things IC seems to ban here: The page for Mean Olgrouch is up. I couldn't make them run the two words together as should be. Just remember to use TWO words when you look it up. Skunks of IC, take note: I set this FB page so everyone can read, no one can comment specifically so you can't relieve yourselves there. When IC won't accept a post here for whatever silly reason, I'll always give notice here that it's just been posted at the FB page. Spread the word.

• Meanolgrouch | Mar 21, 2012, 10:22 PM EDT

  Dano: You do realize, don't you, that when you're no longer amusing I'll start to ignore you as a big waste of precious time? Once more: France hasn't spent the last 800 years trying to wipe Irish identity from the planet. I disapprove of evil wherever it's found. But no nation has a worse history AND CONTINUING PRACTICE of virtual genocide than the Brits. France isn't occupying and trying to destroy Ireland. Britain is. Pardon me for concentrating on the greater and more immediate evil. If France ever invades Ireland or the US, I'll take it up with her then. Until that day, I'll remain fond of her because she was the only reason the American colonies were able to break free. You and your little playmates need your nappies changed.

• Meanolgrouch | Mar 21, 2012, 10:15 PM EDT

  Shoutout to SPARKLET and anyone else who wants to read things IC seems to ban here: The page for Mean Olgrouch is up. I couldn't make them run the two words together as should be. Just remember to use TWO words when you look it up. Skunks of IC, take note: I set this FB page so everyone can read, no one can comment specifically so you can't relieve yourselves there. When IC won't accept a post here for whatever silly reason, I'll always give notice here that it's just been posted at the FB page. Spread the word.

• DanOLoingsigh | Mar 21, 2012, 09:43 PM EDT

  Meanolgrouch - You claim to be big on 'anti-imperialism' and yet a fan of France...notorious empire builders, who longed to include GB&I in their empire...most of Europe had empires in the past, and French help to the US was merely part of their 'failed' geo-political strategy following defeat in The Seven Years' War. So some consistency please, or readers may take you to be just another embittered, know-nothing Anglophobe?

• Meanolgrouch | Mar 21, 2012, 09:11 PM EDT

  Sparklet, should you stop by my Facebook page, your answer awaits. It has occurred to me that you might have to wait until Friday to find me under the only username you know. I'd originally joined under my favorite regular aka, and it seems changes take 24 hours. Or maybe I'll just set up a whole new account so you can find me under meanolgrouch. Yes! That's the answer. Try it tomorrow.

• Meanolgrouch | Mar 21, 2012, 09:00 PM EDT

  Barney/Falls: Your collective education and logic wouldn't fill a demitasse tea cup. Am I to submit myself for reschooling to persons too lazy or ignorant even to capitalize properly? That outs you as tweeting texters far, far younger than Meany herself who'd never stoop to such crassness. Pray tell, exactly what do you presume to teach your far better educated elder? If that sounds a bit snooty, well, cry me a river, child. Besides, dear Falls, the Irish have been in Ireland a lot longer than Lizzy the Hun or her ancestors. Trump that. You can't. Maybe you could send poor maryanna out for one of her screeching sessions?

• FallsRNat | Mar 21, 2012, 07:30 PM EDT

  barneyjo - i assume you mean the queen to marty, after all his organisation has been around since about 1969, her organisation has been around in ireland for over 400 years!

• maryanna | Mar 21, 2012, 06:35 PM EDT

  Sinn Feins Gerry Adams - embarrassingly bad interview on UK television www.youtube.com Sinn Fein President, IRA commander, paedophile shelterer and woman killer Gerry Adams makes an idiot of himself during a British television interview. It say.

• FallsRNat | Mar 21, 2012, 06:29 PM EDT

  Meanolgrouch - the British hold on NI was upheld in a worldwide recognised referendum as recognised by the great bastions of democracy - US, EU, UN etc, it was called the Good Friday Agreement, we the people in NI under the 1 man, 1 vote system went to the Polls & the majority voted to stay as part of the UK. Youse, Gerry, Seano & Sir Peter say that these people have no right to live in Ireland, but how do you square that circle, are youse saying that the GFA was an illegitimate vote?, the Irish diaspora in the many lands of the US, EU, Australia would also be open to the same treatment that no matter how long they have lived in these lands, that they are illegitimate refugees & should return home to the mother land, somehow i guess when they come to vote, i'll bet their vote on the side of the democrats & uphold the GFA vote.

• Meanolgrouch | Mar 21, 2012, 07:08 AM EDT

  Barney, thanks for the tip. You have an apology waiting there. Catch you later.

• barneyjo | Mar 20, 2012, 07:25 PM EDT

  @meanolgrouch & seanomelb - just to flag that I have left a post on Martin McGuinness meeting the Queen. "I havent gone away you know" :)

• Meanolgrouch | Mar 20, 2012, 07:07 PM EDT

  Citizen69, if you think your skirts so clean, why haven't you figured out how much of your own misery is self inflicted? Until you learn which side your bread is buttered on, Britain's silken if increasingly concealed noose will remain in place. Would you really rather remain a vassal state rather than work together with your own true brothers? Reconciliation, not retribution. Falls, I'll show you the true respect of a personal reply soon. But even I need a break now and then. I'm nursing two elderly chow dogs through their final weeks, and I have to sleep sometime. Back to you soon.

• Meanolgrouch | Mar 20, 2012, 06:52 PM EDT

  Cillowen, imperialism is so addictive, raises so much hubris that I believe Britain will hang on until she's forced to let go by peaceful means or otherwise. She fears a domino effect; Ireland today, Scotland and Wales next? Will Lizzie the Hun have to give up "her" holdings everywhere beyond the shores of England proper? Will the former Master of the Seas shrink back down to a more fitting size? Perish the thought. Ultimately the Irish can win but only by acting in unison.

• Meanolgrouch | Mar 20, 2012, 06:34 PM EDT

  Abhainn, "The reason the North remains part of Britain is because" Merrye Olde England has set brother against brother, concealing the true enemy. They'll cling to the bitter end as otherwise they'd have to admit the people they denigrated and enslaved in the past whipped their arse and sent them scurrying back to their own dark kingdom. How would it look for the empire on which the sun once never set to be seen whipped yet again? Their bleating protestations to the contrary. Imperialism is a dangerous siren mistress for any nation - most of all one the size of that flyspeck to your east. Y'know, the last stop before France. While we're at it, I love France a lot more than most Americans ignorant of history. Without her help, England would've crushed us as well a couple centuries ago. France it was who sent us the Statue of Liberty. Today we thank her by demoting her beneath the common aggressor. I believe heart and soul that Ireland will secure her own independence. Yet the sooner the better before too much more Irish blood is spilled. Stop the fratricide your common enemy inspires. North and South are brothers whether you care for each other at this point or not. Seems to me if eastern Europe and South Africa could make such progress toward reconciliation, so could a now-partitioned Ireland. And yes, I hector my own people night and day on the dangers of secession our teabaggers want. They don't appreciate it much more than you do.

• maryanna | Mar 20, 2012, 06:23 PM EDT

  I will stand for human rights the right to protect humanity! Civil rights was never about taking a life and creating jobs out of the dead. No one has the right to scare the nation almost to death for power greed egos. And any women who wrong and killed cover up heinous crimes committed serious crimes are not true mothers! We women are mothers planners nature nurture, born to protect not kill.

• citizen69 | Mar 20, 2012, 05:33 PM EDT

  Gerry Adams a warrior? Heh! Sure the wee man doesn't even have the balls to admit he was a member of the paramilitary gang he commanded. He didn't do much of the 'hands-on' dirty work himself mind. He was closely involved in the planning of Bloody Friday; over twenty bombs around the city of Belfast designed to explode within an hour of each other. All planted in public spaces for maximum civilian deaths: Bus stations, railway stations, hotels, pubs, shops, banks, residential streets, petrol stations... but the peace loving statesman doesn't regret a thing. Yeah Gerry, what a warrior! How many times do we hear about Bloody Friday & other Republican massacres on the likes of Irish Central? Obviously the murder of Irish people isn't that outrageous to Irish-America if those murders are carried out by the Provisional IRA. Go figure.

• FallsRNat | Mar 20, 2012, 02:16 PM EDT

  here we go again, yes i was in the BA. I don't need to watch MC films as i great grandfather fought alongside Collins, some of my family were interned by Dev in a famous 'training' camp in WWII, there are at least 2 RA memorials in Dublin with my family name on them. My dad's brother was a Para in the BA & ma dad was a Shinner - at the end of the day so what, i'm me not them, i'll love to have a 1 to 1 with Gezza, somehow i don't think that's in the offing.

• abhainn | Mar 20, 2012, 01:54 PM EDT

  Gerry Adams uses a pretense to advance his agenda. He knows perfectly well that the British do not want Northern Ireland; they have said so. The reason the North remains part of Britain is because a majority of the Irish people living in Northern Ireland wish to remain British. That is something that does not suit Adams and he ignores it.

• Meanolgrouch | Mar 20, 2012, 11:43 AM EDT

  Sirpeter, thanks. I'm honored to be here. Your closing below reminds me of a standard joke we have here, which you might share with us; one kid goes running up to an authority figure squawling "Teacher, teacher! (or dad etc.) Jamie hit me back." Sometimes when bullies recoil in shock and horror at what happened, that's what I ask them: "Poor baby. Did someone hit you back?" My favorite reply to threats is, "You and what army?" Not too original but natural enough for an Army brat. We're worse than PK's (preacher's kids). But I'll try to behave to the best of my limited ability. Again, thanks for rolling out the welcome mat.

• Meanolgrouch | Mar 19, 2012, 11:03 PM EDT

  correction below: that should read every waking HOUR. It's way past my bedtime.

• sirpeter | Mar 19, 2012, 10:23 PM EDT

  Meano.Great to have you aboard.I like the cut of your posts.Tell it like it is.Always hit them with the roots cause of all the trouble when it comes to Irish history.They only like to post about the times when the Irish decided to hit back.Like there was no justification.

• Meanolgrouch | Mar 19, 2012, 09:59 PM EDT

  GASP! Tell me it isn't so, Seanomelb! Really? Falls trying to hide behind the shamrock?!? Oh, the villainy! Oh, the perfidy! This is better than any soap opera on telly! You have my permission (not that you need it, dear) to uh... uh... I've got it. Make him watch the Michael Collins movie every waking for a whole week. If he hollers, make it a month. After that, you can be really mean to him. And poor maryanna. She's so much fun to razz. Lacks the temperament for this internet stuff. Hops up and down mad as a wet hen when you tease her. Gives the opposition far too much fun, so it's counterproductive. I had a lot of fun teasing her on another thread this afternoon. You know those little windup dolls that your sisters set down on the floor and watched them spin around in circles? Well, that was probably before your time. I think I remember the thread she got wound up in but will check to make sure before announcing it for your convenience.

• maryanna | Mar 19, 2012, 08:30 PM EDT

  you wasters are going to come to a bad endings like the sociopths who sold out to the hunger strikers- for polical gain the people know that your all wankers ps/f jokers.

• seanomelb | Mar 19, 2012, 07:37 PM EDT

  Meany!! falls has not informed you that he is an ex British soldier.The "pretend Irish posters cannot come to grips with the fact that Adams is the most popular politician in Ireland and Sinn Fein now garner the support of 35% of voters in the 32 counties.

• Meanolgrouch | Mar 19, 2012, 04:36 PM EDT

  Wow, I just had a great idea. Maybe someday when I do come calling, I could find a nice gentlemanly protector or two. Sounds as if I might need one. Gee, thanks, Falls&Maryanna. You two are a real inspiration.

• Meanolgrouch | Mar 19, 2012, 04:32 PM EDT

  Yikes! That should read "whose country" below, not "who's". Could we have an edit button, please? I'm dyslexic as heck and have a lot of trouble editing beforehand in these tiny dialog boxes.

• Meanolgrouch | Mar 19, 2012, 04:29 PM EDT

  Falls, do I hear the sound of sour grapes being stomped? Gerry Adams doesn't look to me as if he's losing. Looks like he's segued from warrior to statesman rather smoothly, much like an earlier hero of mine. Worldwide you can ask anyone who's country has less direct contact with Ireland than its near neighbors to name a single major Irish political figure. Probably they'll be able to say only one, and guess who that will be. You're going to have Gerry Adams around a lot longer than you care to admit, in your face or at your side; it's up to you. From my vantage point he doesn't look at all like his side is losing. And yes, he's likely on track to be the first elected head of a United Ireland state. I'll continue to cheer him on, with your kind permission.

• FallsRNat | Mar 19, 2012, 02:16 PM EDT

  maryanna - don't rise to their bait, they have to put you down, because the facts are there in Lost lives for all to see, Republicans murdered more people than everybody else put together in the Troubles, just remember that they too like Gerry ended up on the losing side, was it worth it, no of course not, Gerry's happy to get out of it alive, well feck me, i'll wish PIRA had given all of their victims the same chance.

• ciaradexy | Mar 19, 2012, 10:12 AM EDT

  section4, I volunteer with CNG in Connemara and do some work for a tour company in Connemara so Im in Spidéal and Galway most weekends. Im lucky enough that Ive a parent from Dublin and one from Monaghan so I have the best of both worlds. I can make a valid comment in regards to how the language is in Dublin these days.

• Meanolgrouch | Mar 19, 2012, 08:55 AM EDT

  I could say something here about life in glass houses but I won't.

• maryanna | Mar 19, 2012, 08:38 AM EDT

  More facts from the troubles- And read the book lost lives -no one has the right to to dismisss freedom of speech and facts! Have a good day , I'm done . Free---thinker not follow like sheep!

• maryanna | Mar 19, 2012, 08:35 AM EDT

  Additional statistics Additional estimated statistics on the conflict.[132] Incident No. Injury 47,541 Shooting 36,923 Armed robbery 22,539 People charged with paramilitary offences 19,605 Bombing and attempted bombing 16,209 Arson 2,225[citation needed] [edit] See also

• maryanna | Mar 19, 2012, 08:32 AM EDT

  Responsibility Between 1969 and 2001, 3,526 people were killed as a result of the Troubles.[126] Approximately 60% of the dead were killed by republicans, 30% by loyalists and 10% by British security forces. Responsibility for killing[127] Responsible party No. Republican paramilitary groups 2057 Loyalist paramilitary groups 1019 British security forces 363 Persons unknown 82 Irish security forces 5 Total 3526 [edit] Status

• maryanna | Mar 19, 2012, 08:25 AM EDT

  Listen i have an opinion just like you but you are trying to put me down by bullying -truth must hurt big time -press a raw spot! So don't dismiss the facts! Truth is truth -justice and prosecutions is what is needed for true peace to follow! But your a know all -you think you know better -fool.

• Meanolgrouch | Mar 19, 2012, 07:44 AM EDT

  Maryanna! Why do I doubt the statistics you offer? And you're a fine one to be talking about any kind of love, especially the unconditional sort. Grow up and behave that way if you want to impress anyone. (Yes, yes... I know I shouldn't encourage her by replying at all. Eventually I'll tire of it too like most of you probably did long ago.)

• maryanna | Mar 19, 2012, 05:44 AM EDT

  I am old enogh to see through -the sociopaths -We can live together and live with our difference - but it is tribes that brought hate to the table-sectarian is big here! Because normal people who are free thinkers stand up and be counted and never brother to vote- protest vote. Unconditional love is everything and it is the essence of life live and let live -but wrong to beat people over the head with a big stick- just because you don't agree with them on both sides one is as dysfunctional as the other -they only have to wave the flag -and they follow like sheep!

• maryanna | Mar 19, 2012, 05:39 AM EDT

  It is also worthwhile setting out the responsibility for the deaths, taken from the volume Lost Lives: Republican paramilitaries 2,148 Loyalist paramilitaries 1,071 British Army 301 UDR 8 RUC 52 In turn, the following were killed: Civilians 2,051 Army 503 UDR/RIR 206 RUC 312 Republican paramilitaries 394 Loyalist paramilitaries 157 Loyalist paramilitaries killed around 26 members of the IRA, while the IRA killed some 26 loyalists. Each organisation killed more of ‘their own’ than did anyone else.

• Meanolgrouch | Mar 18, 2012, 07:48 PM EDT

  How old are you, Maryanna? Because you clearly behave like a two-year-old who's missed her nap. Shout to get your way: as Dr. Phil would say, how's that working out for ya?

• maryanna | Mar 18, 2012, 07:34 PM EDT

  Crying time Seanomelb i WILL USE CAPS IF I WANT TO - YOUR PROBLEM IS THE TRUTH HURTS,aND GET A LIFE ASS.

• seanomelb | Mar 18, 2012, 07:19 PM EDT

  Us seniors will have to stick together and try to counsel the young un's

• Meanolgrouch | Mar 17, 2012, 08:08 PM EDT

  seanomelb, maybe there's another explanation. I belong to a leftwing seniors group, and a few of our members have special grace to type all caps SINCE THEY'RE HALF BLIND. Just a thought; meow.

• seanomelb | Mar 17, 2012, 07:40 PM EDT

  Maryanna has always used caps when posting. She feels she has to shout to be heard,but nobody listens to her repetitious nonsense.

• Meanolgrouch | Mar 17, 2012, 03:12 PM EDT

  re your post third below: Think about it; one man's terrorist might be another man's patriot or freedom fighter. And people are not deaf. No need to shout with all caps like that. It's okay to emphasize the occasional word or phrase, even the rare sentence. But not more. (Oh, my, there I go lecturing again.)

• section4 | Mar 17, 2012, 02:46 PM EDT

  i have submiiied 2 seplies and neither of the two have been published maybe i am saying the wrpng thing by telling the truth. ciara dexy, i live in the gaeltacht, do you.

• maryanna | Mar 17, 2012, 01:33 PM EDT

  Sinn Fein as agents of change ?- do not listen to what they say they will do but look at what they have done while in government in Northern Ireland - they have agreed to institute cuts in social welfare, health, & education - don't be taken in.

• maryanna | Mar 17, 2012, 12:38 PM EDT

  "we ourselves,"WE OURSELVES (SELFISH BASTARDS) THAT RIGHT GERRY AND MARTIN-YOUR WAY AND NO OTHER WAY!NOW THAT IS CALLED DICTATORSHIP!35 YEARS OF BEATING EVERYONE OVER THE HEADS AND BEATING THE NATION INTO SUBMISSION FOR WHAT - AN UNITED IRELAND- BUT YOU GOT AN UNITED KINGDOM FOR YOUR PEOPLE- MONEY JOBS FOR THE BOYS SHARED SELF INTERESTS- WHEN IS THE PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH GOING TO REALISE THAT PS/F -DID NOTHING BUT BRING THE SECTARIAN VOTE TO THE TABLE -PEOPLE OF IRELAND LEARN ABOUT WHAT HAPPEN IN THE NORTH BEFORE YOU LET THEM TARNISH OUR COUNTRY!3,700 MURDERED 47,000 INJURED FOR WHAT POWER DONE DEALS-AN INJUSTICE FOR ONE IS AN INJUSTICE FOR EVERY ONE. THEY HAVE DID NOTHING FOR THE PEOPLE OF NI-BUT FILLED THEIR POCKETS WITH SELF INTERESTS.

• FallsRNat | Mar 16, 2012, 05:32 PM EDT

  I think Gerry should go to the Shankill, Tigers Bay, Waterside & any other loyalist/unionist area & explain to them why they are required to go & live in an alien country. Poor old Gezza, he wants to rerun the GFA referendum until it produces a yes vote for a UI, so i guess it just be better to poll shinners voters only, anyway back in the real world.....

• RedBranch | Mar 16, 2012, 04:34 PM EDT

  'The British still have an illegal, immoral and illegitimate claim to part of Ireland.' So the 1998 Good Friday election which returned a pro union majority, as indeed has every subsequent election, not to mention the ones prior to this don't count then. This statement isn't just mistaken, its sheer fantasy from planet provo!

• IrelandNorth | Mar 16, 2012, 09:43 AM EDT

  Dail Eireann is enriched by the increasing representation of Sinn Fein deputies, particularly northerners. As an accidental citizens of this arrestedly developed third republic, I endorse Gerry's and Sinn Fein's policies. These still born 6 and 26 county statlets have been run primarily by Me-Feiner's since their democratically dubious origins. With increased democratisation across the Irish sea in the United Kingdom of Great Britain (UKGB), a reunited Ireland is an undounted certainty. A reunited 32 country republic of Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter. Exactly what it said on the 1916 bisuit tin. Ulster-Scot Protestant British identity is guaranteed in an agree, integral and incorporated Ireland. It isn't/would't be a republic without them. It's time for them to leave the Plato's Cave of Northern Ireland and enter the blue skies of a 32 county Irish Republic. Adams for Taoiseach. McGuinness for president. ERIN GO BREA! CITIZENSHIP FOR ALL IRISH-AMERICANS ANOIS!

• ciaradexy | Mar 16, 2012, 07:29 AM EDT

  The irony of Americans complaining about migrants coming to Ireland is unreal! Your families did exactly the same!

• ciaradexy | Mar 16, 2012, 07:27 AM EDT

  Section4, the only time I heard Irish being spoken in the capital and other cities wass when my pals and I were getting off the bus from the Gaeltacht on Parnell St. as kids. Now it is much more widely spoken and a lot of this is due to migration into ireland. Irish people have developed more of an interest in our language which would have completely died out in a few years. More Gaelscoileanna and Educate Together schools have opened in recent years due to people insisting that they open. This proves that more irish people want their kids to learn the language and speak it every day and plenty of other Irish parents are happy for their kids to be educated with the children of migrants. I have yet to see a protest march against any governments immigration policies. If you want the migrants out of Ireland are you going to insist that all Irish people have to return here even if they dont want to?

• Seanmor | Mar 15, 2012, 09:39 PM EDT

  Section 14 is stating the obvious, and Sinn Féin has contributed substantially to this very undesirable situation. Adams and his fellow "Republicans" seem to have forgotten this very important phrase in the 1916 Proclamation: "...the right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland...". The great document which is Ireland's Dedclaration of Independenc does NOT say that Arabs, Indians and Africans have the right to the ownership of Ireland, but Sinn Féin's policy suggests that it does.

• section4 | Mar 15, 2012, 09:16 PM EDT

  As a former sinn fein supporter all through the eighties until the peace process i have to say how disapointed I am in gerry adams. He talks about the people of Ireland, who does he mean, does he mean the nillion people who have come into ireland to work in the last 15 years to compete agaisnt irish people for jobs, there can never be an ireland united and gaelic and free anymore because the whole fabric of the country has been changed utterly, to walk down o connell street in dublin is like walking in mahattan, you hear every language in the world except irish and not a word about it from Sinn Fein in fact they are all for a mulitculutral Ireland which the vast majority of people dont want and never wanted. The vast majority of Sinn Fein voters do not realise what Sinn Fein policies are, and if they did they would not support them anymore. How can he talk about the people of Ireland, why does he not speak the truth and let all his supporters know that he does not support a united ireland for irish people, he supports a ireland where anyone in the world can come an have more rights than an irish born person.

• Monsoonman | Mar 15, 2012, 05:50 PM EDT

  I think Gerry Adams has statesmanlike qualities, that I would like to see in a US president

• Curitiba | Mar 15, 2012, 03:27 PM EDT

  "the Diaspora have a huge role to play in all of this...Diaspora can help" Well then, Gerry. You want the Diaspora to help, then you'd better do something about the bigotry that exists against the Diaspora from people with Irish accents. Why should the Diaspora help if they are constantly being told that they "are not Irish", as if the definition of Irish was to have an Irish accent and to be born in Ireland. If it were that simple, then why are there nearly a million people in Ireland who fit that description who say that they are definitely not Irish? There are large Irish communities worldwide, and by necessity their children are born in those countries and grow up speaking in the accents and languages of those countries. Prejudice and bigotry isn't just directed at the Nationalist by the Unionists, it's also directed by Irish people with Irish accents against Irish people who don't.

• sirpeter | Mar 14, 2012, 11:13 PM EDT

  I respect Gerry and Sinn Fein.I believe he had the right mix in his personality that deserved the status of statesman for all of this Island.He has suffered pain.Pain makes you focus.He had a vision.A vision that can only be born of pain in much the same way as a gifted American native Indian like Sitting Bull cuts strips of flesh from his body to focus his inner mind in what would be best for all the people of Ireland.But Sinn Fein still to prove themselves as a party.In other words can they run our country.I get the feeling we will find out soon.On second thoughts can they get on with the faceless thieves who milk Ireland on a day to day basis.

• KSERRAHN | Mar 14, 2012, 10:20 PM EDT

  I'm sorry I missed the first two interviews. Would he like to run for President of the USA.