53 Comments

• ancavker | Nov 23, 2010, 11:37 AM EST

  JohnTobin: I am not sure where you are getting your information from but I never said that Irish people who left and settled in England were traitors to their country. In fact I have relatives in England, and quite frankly they are more Irish than the many of the Irish in Ireland. Which of course really annoys many of the Irish in Ireland. The plastic paddies in England and the dumb yanks in the U.S. That is how we are looked at by many in Ireland. Now that being said. I do have a problem with the fact that Ireland was brutalized down through the centuries, and was never allowed to develop perhaps the way it could have, had England not did what it dd down through the years. To be thankful now to that same country is in my opinion a little rich.

• Liamkeyes | Nov 22, 2010, 10:25 AM EST

  Well, you know what they say about Bread and Circuses..........As for the so called Royal Wedding, Frankly, my Dear, I don't give a damn!! A Country in a huge recession and going to spend Millions on a Wedding.

• seanomelbourne | Nov 21, 2010, 06:15 PM EST

  Yawn Yawn boring who cares.

• SeamusMor | Nov 21, 2010, 03:29 PM EST

  It's all good, just don't accuse me of being anti-semantic!

• Towngate | Nov 21, 2010, 07:18 AM EST

  @SéamusMÓR. "...to do battle with ..." and " ...joined in battle ..." are tricky phrases clearly,but all imply "fighting AGAINST " Damn tricky language, this "Bearla", don'-cha-know!............No offence intended , a chara - or taken, I hope. Sláinté!

• DanOLoingsigh | Nov 20, 2010, 05:10 PM EST

  kateomprint...or grandfather, in my case. Couldn't agree more.

• kateomprint | Nov 20, 2010, 02:23 PM EST

  Our heads of state at the moment are the laughing stock of the world and I don't care about that either. Why are people obsessed with the goings on of the rich and famous. I am sure she suffered at the death of Lord Mountbatten. I personally can't stand violence on any level All the people who have been killed here in Ireland in the name of Freedom were somebody's son/daughter.

• DanOLoingsigh | Nov 20, 2010, 02:12 PM EST

  Kateomprint – I agree that we shouldn’t care about this royal romance, but the postings below suggest something different. I just find it strange that we all feel free to have a go at their Head of State, but would go ballistic if the reverse happened. We cannot know much about the British Queen, but we put opinions into her mouth…I only know that one of her most traumatic moments must have been how her beloved uncle met his fate…

• kateomprint | Nov 20, 2010, 01:55 PM EST

  Could he not afford to buy her a new ring. The one she is wearing is so steeped in misery it doesn't bode very well for their future together. Anyway a lot of people don't care about whether William and Kate get married or not.

• SeamusMor | Nov 20, 2010, 10:43 AM EST

  The O'Briens did not march with Henry II.

• JOHNTOBIN | Nov 20, 2010, 03:30 AM EST

  I would like to ask ancavker how he,or she,feels about the thousands of Irish immagrants who have migrated to the United Kingdom over the years in search of a better life and higher standard of living-are they traitors to the land of their birth?On another matter I have read that Eamon de Valera was agreable to the idea that if Northern Ireland united with the Republic of Ireland he would be favourable to the idea of the united Ireland rejoining the British Commonwealth.

• seamusmoore | Nov 19, 2010, 08:32 PM EST

  I find it fascinating that Niall cherry picks his British dislikes. He dislikes the Royals but yet this website is fascinated by Premiership soccer, gay Welsh rugby players and assorted other "things English" that Irish America really don't care about. I would like to read more about traditional Irish culture (music,literature and SPORTS), which is only still prevalent in the west and southwest. Most of IC's correspondents are within the Pale, make them more West Brits than Irish. I really have little use for the constant bombardment of stories on here about Robert Pattison (an English actor).

• Towngate | Nov 18, 2010, 03:01 PM EST

  @ancavker: my personal admiration of your educating zeal on this Site is growing fast.Don't worry about the Irish-American image abroad.There will always be ingorance on both sides until we all know Everything! - that ain't gonna happen. ............Btw: Pearse was called 'Paddy' at home by his mother and English father, and only changed it from Patrick to "Paidraig" when he started getting his "Notions of Upperosity!"! He wrote movingly: "God, Thou art hard on Mothers!" Alive today he might say " Niell, asthore, thou art hard on my fathers Country, and very rude to it's young women who have never done you any harm! Shame on you!" Even Cormac in his'West's Awake' Blog had the humility to acknowledge a chorus of disapproval.Try to learn some manners from him! Say Sorry!

• ancavker | Nov 18, 2010, 09:49 AM EST

  John Tobin: Mr. O'Dowd was born in Ireland,and now lives in America. And from what I understand he travels back and forth to Ireland on a regular basis. So I would think he understands modern Ireland. One more thing not all Irish Americans are ignorant. We don't all sit on bar stools in teh Bronx and sign Sean South. As far as ignorance. I have met more than few Irish people in Ireland over the years, who never heard of Patrick Pearse, and more than a few others who thought Donegal was one of the six counties. Ignorance knows no boundaries.

• ancavker | Nov 18, 2010, 09:44 AM EST

  Dan those other countries, Norway and the rest are just like England, entitled to their royalty if that is what they want. That being said, I am still entitled to my opinion that I find thw whole royalty thing repugnant, simple as that. Also as far as those other countries that you mention, their royal families appear to live much more quietly, and without much of the silliness that surrounds the English royal family. For instance, the King and Queen of Spain live outside Madrid, and not in a castle. The Royal family of Norway is a fairly recent invention only coming into existence after Norway's split with Sweden in 1905. As far as Belguim, well the royal family there does not seem to have a uniting effect as the two ethnic groups who make up Belguim (Flemish and Walloons) are going to split the country on two.

• Lorcan31 | Nov 18, 2010, 08:51 AM EST

  Why is everybody getting worked up over a bunch of ugly inbred creatures ? This article is totally right , it is a fitting circus for a fading empire . Great Britan cowers behind America these days anyhow , America says jump and the brits say how high ...

• lovestruck | Nov 18, 2010, 07:21 AM EST

  Niall, what is it like to be a lepracauhn? The christian brothers taught you well.Bend over boy, while I get my fly down!

• Towngate | Nov 18, 2010, 04:48 AM EST

  Sir Niall saw the thousands at Buckingham Palace and called the Changing of the Guard 'playacting'.If he tried to get past them he'd soon learn the 'symbolism' of being riddled by automatic gunfire or the 'fantasy' of being cut to ribbons by a razor-sharp ceremonial swords! No sir! Nothing 'Mickey Mouse' about it,I promise you! ............@SeamusMor.Wonderful idea. I am wondering,though,were the O'Briens among those who marched to do battle with Henry II - and didn't turn up!? And Brian 'Boru' who deposed Malachy so he could have a go at the Norsemen? He drove them away.He got killed, Malachy sat back in his Chair, the Norsemen came back. Squabbling amongst ourselves is what left the door open for all our invaders. And Niall, it's never too late to do the decent thing and apologise to the young lady on behalf of your Irish readers. Noblesse Oblige kinda works both ways. Go on! Make yer Mammy proud!

• DennisQ | Nov 18, 2010, 03:39 AM EST

  That's a really dull family - Elizabeth, Philip, Charles, Anne . . . basically the whole lot of them. Maybe Diana's sons are more lively, because Diana sure brought some life into the palace.
  
  Kate's a pretty girl who looks like she has some sense in her head. Maybe she doesn't deserve the breaks she's gotten in life, but nobody does. Me? I still have my hair and my brothers don't. But I never gloat, because I didn't get some of the things they did.

• SeamusMor | Nov 18, 2010, 01:27 AM EST

  "I passed by Buckingham Palace on a recent visit to London and was astounded by the waiting thousands there for the changing of the guard." FAST FORWARD TO DUBLIN IN 2014 "I passed by Dublin Castle on a recent visit to Dublin and was astounded by the waiting thousands there for the changing of the guard." DOES ANYBODY GET IT? If Ireland elected Conor "The O'Brien" President of Ireland then the golden thread of ancient Irish royalty could be woven into the fabric of the modern Irish Presidency. The millions of people flying past and over Ireland for a bit of old fashioned pageantry on that island to the east, could just as easily be adding the Emerald Isle to their itineraries. With Conor "The O'Brien" as "Prince-President of Ireland you might envision a troop of horse dressed as Lord Clare's Yellow Dragoons with their brightly polished hooves clicking in unison over the cobblestones of Dublin Castle's courtyard. Cameras clicking away, euros rolling in, there will be good times ahead in Ireland. The major parties should make a joint announcement to the effect that to save money on a contested election for a purely ceremonial office, we have agreed to nominate Conor "The O'Brien" of Thomond House, Dromoland as the next President of Ireland. That would mean that the premier direct descendant of High King Brian Boru, and Chief of the 700,000 strong O'Brien Clan would be presiding over commemorations of the millennium of the Battle of Clontarf and death of High King Brian Boru, in 2014, which will be the cause of the largest international gathering in Irish history. Millions of visitors means billions of euros.

• JOHNTOBIN | Nov 18, 2010, 01:07 AM EST

  Mr.O'Dowd is another Irish-American that knows little about modern day Ireland.Britain has been a safety valve for many generations of Irish immigrants.And,yes,I support my own country Australia becoming a republic.

• hancock | Nov 17, 2010, 10:28 PM EST

  Nonsense. Noblese Oblige? Trying not to faint? Cut yo engines? R

• DanOLoingsigh | Nov 17, 2010, 05:39 PM EST

  Seanomelbourne – Why do you feel the need to insult the heads of state, and by extension, the people of Belgium, Denmark, Holland, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Japan, Jordan and everywhere else that choose to have a constitutional monarchy, rather than a republic? They’re choice, and they seem to be happy with it, otherwise they would change things. These countries seem to be more stable and secure than most republics in their ‘hoods.

• barragan316 | Nov 17, 2010, 05:36 PM EST

  Totally uncalled for and in bad taste. They are the face of a Nation and stand for all England was and is. Respect is due.

• seanomelbourne | Nov 17, 2010, 05:12 PM EST

  Royal families everywhere living off the state(taxpayers)Diderot had a cure for royalty.

• Realist | Nov 17, 2010, 04:49 PM EST

  ancavker: Well, like most people, I find bad manners and unprovoked low rent remarks repugnant. This 'article' was totally uncalled for, its only apparent purposes being to rubbish a young woman's wedding announcement, pour scorn on another country's tradition, and solicit maximum offense. IrishCentral's finest hour? You decide.

• Sparklet | Nov 17, 2010, 03:45 PM EST

  Hate royalty. Especially hate Charles. But William seems OK for a royal, and I think Kate's more to him than the mother of the next in line to the throne. She seems lovely, and he takes after his mother more than he does the wannabe tampax.

• Towngate | Nov 17, 2010, 02:39 PM EST

  Dear Anc. My jets are quite cool, thank you. ( I thought it was "Cut yo' Engines an' cool yo' WINGS!") I was just disappointed,my friend,in your seeming desire to ape of Niall's desire to destroy or demean anything you don't like or even understand. Nobody is going to make you bow!You don't seem the bowing type! Neither am I - by a long way, but I will share this with you and the site: I unexpectedly bumped into The Queen as she came out of a train station in London. Tiny five foot woman. Our eyes met. She smiled. She got in her car and left. I stood glued to the spot - trying not to faint! A perfect example of:- NOBLESSE OBLIGE - the Obligation of those of High Rank to be Honorable and Generous. Duty, Obligation, Responsibility - "Every Right implies a Responsibility; every Opportunity, an Obligation; every Possession, a Duty" - John D.Rockefeller Jr(!)

• DanOLoingsigh | Nov 17, 2010, 02:37 PM EST

  ancavker - Belgium, Denmark, Holland, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Japan, Jordan …..I’d say on balance these countries are as well governed as any in their neighborhood, and better than many, despite being monarchies. Spain reverted to a monarchy after their experience of dictatorship. Why not learn a little bit about the history of these countries before you let your repugnance cloud your judgement. After that you may want to revise your ‘nonsense and a relic’ insult to the peoples of these countries, who see this alternative to ‘Head of State’ elections as right for them?

• ancavker | Nov 17, 2010, 01:50 PM EST

  realist: I have nothing against this young women. I simply agree with Mr. O'Dowd that her one and only function is to provide a male heir. I am sure the English tabloids will say far worse. Sorry, but royalty any royalty is a concept that I find repugnant, be it the Queen of England, the King of Spain, or any of the other few asorted relics that are still in existence.

• ancavker | Nov 17, 2010, 01:46 PM EST

  towngate: Cool your jets. I said if the English wnat their royalty, that is totally fine for therm. For others to get all excited about it is in my mind silliness. To compare senator or judge, or deputy to King Queen Prince, Sir, Lord and all the rest is a big stretch, and you know that. And guess what we dont have to bow in front of our so called titled Americans. The thought of one human being having to bow to another in this day and age is repugnant in my opinion. As far as the correct terminology I stand corrected, but that does not change the fact that this is this youg woman'd only function. Another reason why in my opinion this whole royalty business is way past its sell date. But again if the English people wnant it than so be it. Finally every injustice infliced on the Irish down through the centuries was always done in the name of the crown. Another reason in my mind that Irish people should be uncomfortable with this whole royalty nonsense. The fact that more than a few Irish are taken in by it, is to me odd.

• paricaliswishes | Nov 17, 2010, 12:12 PM EST

  The love of cruelty?What good is that?"GOOD WORK"?An Irish pastime knockin' the brits and then send their hungry over there for a crust.I did my exile over there i was NEVER abused for being irish.I was well treated .Do some people NEED enemies to make themselves feel good.

• Towngate | Nov 17, 2010, 12:06 PM EST

  @ancavker. My impression from your comments on other subjects was that there was more to you intellectually than you display on this.You ask: 'Who cares?' Well, MILLIONS of British and others around the World,that's who...You call Royalty 'silliness' but take a look at their Military Titles and you'll get a shock at how much power they wield...............In the Law Courts: Public Prosecutions are in the name of "The Crown versus Ancavker" for instance. If you are convicted to one of Her Majesty's Prisons you will serve your sentence at "Her Majesty's Pleasure". Nothing 'silly' about that! ...........Then you say the Irish are a truly odd bunch for being fond of Royalty and you don't have anyone with silly titles in America. What? No Senators,Deputies,Governors,Justices,Presidents or First Ladies? ..................As for your endorsment of Nialls crass Equine comparisons: I don't just know how much of a 'redneck' you are - if at all! - but to describe even a real mare as a 'stud mare' is ignorant. The correct term is "Brood Mare". "Stud" refers to the stallion or 'male' horse. Maybe down your neck of the woods you don't pay too much attention to such 'niceties' but do try not to get them mixed up! There's a good chap!

• maloney | Nov 17, 2010, 11:35 AM EST

  Like a good stud mare, that was cruel & inhumane o'dowd. I loved it, keep up the good work.

• hancock | Nov 17, 2010, 11:19 AM EST

  English nonsense, why do you bother , except to enrage the groupies.

• hyattsville | Nov 17, 2010, 11:08 AM EST

  Not your best piece but, as it happens, nobody slams the Royal Family more than the British Tabloids where the bride-to-be is getting a slating on her looks and middle class family. The Irish have a very schizophrenic attitude to England anyway. We constantly moan about its past cruelties toward Ireland and yet we continue to flock to it in droves looking for work and shelter in harsh economic times. I've never sought my fortune in England but you have Mr O'Dowd correct? Anyhoo... Good luck to the young couple. Good luck to the bride to be.

• Realist | Nov 17, 2010, 11:05 AM EST

  ancavker: Dear oh dear....any decent person would distance themselves from this sort of thing. It appears you are not in that category. My friend, this is low class whatever way you cut it. “Respect”, as you put it, is precisely what this ‘article’ lacks and deliberately so in my opinion. How is openly referring to someone’s future wife as a “stud mare” nothing to do with manners? By the way, your concurrence with Mr O’Dowd on this point reveals much more about you and your character than it does about a young woman on the announcement of her marriage. Shame.

• irishfez | Nov 17, 2010, 10:42 AM EST

  True. It's all a big joke. Clinging on to the last big of 'greatness' in 'Great' Britain

• jamieLM | Nov 17, 2010, 10:00 AM EST

  Never post after a long day in the ER! I agree with the comments from Towngate and Scottmcgowan. The comments about Kate being a "stud mare" are really ugly, demeaning, and uncalled for. Is that how you think of your wife or daughter (if you have them)? Btw, Prince Wm. is not responsible for the actions of anyone but himself. Through no fault of his own, Wm. was born into the Royal family. What do you want him to do about it? Jump off a bridge? None of us choose the circumstances of our births - time, place, parents. Millions of people from around the world will tune in to watch the happy occasion (wedding) and I will, too. No wedding, wherever it takes place, can be expected to change "harsh economic times." They're a time to focus on happiness, not to fix the problems of a nation's economy. Lighten up.

• oldboreen | Nov 17, 2010, 09:52 AM EST

  Mr O'Dowd,Does expressing consistantly ant-Btitish views somehow enhance or validate your credentials as a true son of Ireland? Give it a rest please! How about writing something positive about Ireland for a change? And remember, Ireland effectively parted company with the Crown in 1922 and totally in 1949. What on earth has the engagement of a British royal got to do with modern Ireland? Unless of course you are under desperate pressure to fill your column with something-anything! I only hope, that very few Irish earning their living in the UK read your offensive tirade. I'm waiting for you to blame Britain for Ireland's present dire economic situation. Come on Niall, don't let us down, you know you can do it!

• ancavker | Nov 17, 2010, 09:39 AM EST

  towngate: Plesae give it a rest. At the end of the day who really cares? If the English people want their royalty than fine, they are entitled to it. But to pretend it is anything more than alot of sillinses in this day and age, is nonsense. As far as the tri color flying at half mast, that is a courtsey that is only supposed to be extendd to heads of state. Yes Diana's death was tragic, and that clown Charlie has alot to answer for. That being said why so many Irish appear fascinated by the royal family and some who are even fond of it is beyond me. The Irish truly are an odd bunch.

• ancavker | Nov 17, 2010, 09:33 AM EST

  tweeter: Some may considet them royal, but none of them go around with sily titles like Queen and Prince, and Lord and Lady, and other such siliness. Nor does one have to bow to them.

• ancavker | Nov 17, 2010, 09:31 AM EST

  Realist: Take it down a notch. Mr. O' Dowd is right, that is all she is is a stud mare; it has nothing to do with manners. And to refer to her as the future Queen of England, as if we should be impressed by that or repsect that is nonsense.

• ancavker | Nov 17, 2010, 09:28 AM EST

  Say good night Scott; such silliness.

• tweeter | Nov 17, 2010, 07:37 AM EST

  I hope Mrs O'Dowd was/is a good ride!America has it's own royalty, the tacky Kennedys and the talentless Bushes.Good job Stud Clinton didn't mount young Kate, they would of had 10 kids by now, average size in high unemployment Ireland.

• Realist | Nov 17, 2010, 03:45 AM EST

  Mr O’Dowd, regarding this ‘article’ (the contents of which would make even Hugo Chavez blush) I simply do not know where to begin – suffice to say it represents a new low for this site and your contributions to it. Until now I had not fully realised the sheer magnitude of the anti-British chip you’ve been carrying around on your shoulder all this time. To refer to the future Queen of England as, “a good stud mare” betrays bewildering bad manners and is beneath contempt. If this truly represents your feelings on the subject, I genuinely feel sorry for you.

• Rebelforce | Nov 16, 2010, 11:08 PM EST

  Is it really surprising that England's King Edward VIII would have pro-German feelings (calling him a "Nazi" was a cheap shot) in the 1930s? His family name was the extremely Teutonic 'Saxe-Coburg-Gotha' afterall. You can't get much more German than that. And what is this "fading empire" you speak of? The British empire faded out atleast 30 years ago. Last I checked "the empire" consisted of Gibraltar, Bermuda, and the Falkland islands. But as far as this whole royal fantasy fandango goes, what's wrong with a little fantasy in an often humdrum world? Let's face it, nobody does pomp and colorful pageantry like the English.

• Scottmcgowan | Nov 16, 2010, 09:34 PM EST

  One person wrote: ".If it helps you to understand it's importance: Try to imagine this: The present High King of Ireland - whose direct line of decent began a thousand years ago - has announced his son is to be married!" I am no lover of English supremacy, but as it happens, Prince William is a direct descendant of guess who: Himself, Brian Boru! So, in the long run, the British family are descendants of not only the Irish royal house, but that of Scotland and Wales - all Celtic countries. Scott McGowan

• Towngate | Nov 16, 2010, 08:33 PM EST

  Niall Sir! I feel you have let us all down badly with the tone of this post when you use this announcement purely as a cue to denigrate the British Royal Family and Nation. It is - or should have been - beneath you. You do a dis-service to your Irish and American readers by taking this tone. .............Diana was greatly loved internationally. In Ireland she paid many SECRET visits to her charity connections in the Republic and I personally recall watching the Tricolour flying at half-mast in Dublin shortly after her death. (Even before it did so in the UK!) .........Americans too, took her to their hearts and mourned her passing. ..........After the tragic way her marriage and life ended, we all now have a chance to somehow heal a festering sore and move on to a more pleasant era with the help of this bright young couple. .....................If it helps you to understand it's importance: Try to imagine this: The present High King of Ireland - whose direct line of decent began a thousand years ago - has announced his son is to be married! .................... That's exactly what this means to the British today and to anyone else with a generous soul. ...................Your para.:"His main job is ..." :- is a lying,crying shame! and your following sentence about Prince Harry could land you with a sentence in the Tower...or at least set your nerves jangling next time you sneak in through Heathrow Airport.................Finally: your snotty jibe about ... (them existing only ) " to fulfill the fantasies of a nation..." is discourteous and insulting to millions of decent people and just plain stone-cold bonkers! .....................The British Royal Family is,in actual fact,the REALITY of millions of people in the United Kingdom and Worldwide! .............Niell, a Chara,......... Maybe it's OUR obsession with 'Irish Heritage','Culture' and 'Ard Ri's' and such,that is the REAL Fantasy!

• Monsoonman | Nov 16, 2010, 07:32 PM EST

  At least they have found a drug to stop that pesky royal disease: hemophilia. The scions will be able to breed with their own, without that bloody affliction.

• DanOLoingsigh | Nov 16, 2010, 07:13 PM EST

  See Pavlov and his dogs!!!

• jamieLM | Nov 16, 2010, 06:16 PM EST

  Ouch. If you're not part of the UK, why do you care if the British have a royal family or not? As an American, the British royal family doesn't affect me. I know Ireland has to tolerate a Queen Eliz. visit, but that doesn't happen often. I'm more concerned about Muslim terrorists who are intent on killing Christians than about 2 young people having a "royal" wedding in London. Pedophiles, murderers, corrupt politicians, greedy bankers and Wall Street tycoons, national debt, jobs, war in Afghanistan - British royal family??? -priorities, please. Don't like the Winsors? Don't write about their PERSONAL lives on this Irish site. Just saying.

• seanomelbourne | Nov 16, 2010, 05:24 PM EST

  The maudlin attitude of the mainstream press and TV stations here in Australia makes one want to vomit. The cringing classes and their royal obsequious grovelling will have a ball over the coming months.God save us from their wafer thin conversations.