I have never rooted for England -- not once in my whole life. In fact, I always root the opposing team.
My best friend is English and if Ireland were playing in the World Cup instead of England, she would root for Ireland.
But I can't help myself and I can't pretend otherwise. This "prejudice," I suppose that's the word for it, though it sounds kind of harsh, has its roots in an incident that happened at a football match ninety years ago this coming November.
But let me try to explain.
I'm from Tipperary, where the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) was founded in Hayes Hotel in Thurles on November 1, 1884. (If you go to Thurles be sure to stop in to Hayes Bar, which is owned by my cousin Pat.)
Gaelic games, especially hurling, were and continue to be, a passion in Tipperary. We won 25 All-Ireland hurling finals.
The All-Ireland is played at Croke Park in Dublin where Hogan's Stand is named for a player from Tipperary, Michael Hogan (pictured above.)
Michael is the reason I can't cheer for England. He was killed on November 21, 1920, when British forces raided Croke Park during a game between Tipperary and Dublin.
A few minutes into the match, which started late, at 3.15 in the afternoon, British forces made up of RIC, Black & Tans and military entered the grounds. Hogan was shot and killed, as was Tom Ryan, who was kneeling beside him whispering an act of contrition into his ear. The forces then fired into the panicked and fleeing spectators killing twelve people and injuring sixty -- two more later died of their wounds.
That day became known as Bloody Sunday.
The official account of the incident claimed that the troops had been fired upon by Sinn Fein and were firing in self-defense.
It wasn't until 2000 that the truth came to light and showed that British forces had acted without provocation.
On January 30, 1972, in another incident that also became known as Bloody Sunday, twenty-seven civil rights protesters were shot by the British Army in Derry. Thirteen died that day and another died four and a half months later of wounds. The official report at the time drew parallels with the 1920 incident in that the Army claimed to have been fired on first.
Campaigns by the families of those killed led to second inquiry which was established in 1998. On June 15, the report on Bloody Sunday, 1972, will finally be released by the British Government.
Will the British Army take responsibility for the deaths of the Civil Rights marchers? If they do maybe then I'll have something to cheer about.
Note: For video report on the 1920 incident see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jMIv9UbI9I
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.shaunshaun | Sep 12, 2011, 06:04 PM EDT
and after the pub bombings we'll never have a pro ira football team in english football.....maybe a pro british anti ira one,though
Liamkeyes | Jan 05, 2011, 05:08 PM EST
Every Year in Croke Park, they have a memorial at the approximate spot where Michael Hogan was shot as he Jumped up for the ball. The Artane boys band plays the Last Post. Obviously the Hogan Stand was named after Michael. The irony of the situation was that Tipperary were playing a Gaelic Football Match against Dublin. Before that and up to the present day, Tipperary remains a staunch hurling county. They won the All Ireland Championship last September spoiling Kilkenny's dream of five in a row. It was also a return to Glory for Tipp as they were absent from the hurling final for a number of years. Tipp will not relenquish the Liam McCarthy Cup next year withoutn a fight or two.
shaun/brummie | Nov 09, 2010, 07:24 AM EST
i find it hilarious and hypocritical,my dad was irish and a great guy,luckily he came over to england and met my mom.and its been like that for centuries.maybe we should ban all irish,scots and welsh from settling in england,we can start by sending the travellers back.i dont want anybody in my country who doesnt like it/me.so all in all why dont they all piss off back to the old country.
mickyban | Nov 07, 2010, 06:06 PM EST
It wasnt an English Army, it was the British Army which had thousands of Irishmen serving within its ranks, and today the largest amount of recruits come from the Republic of Ireland.
mickyban | Nov 07, 2010, 06:04 PM EST
I do not agree with what you say so does that mean that all my comments will be removed?
mickyban | Nov 07, 2010, 05:54 PM EST
Oh yes, the Army was not an English Army but the British Army, many of the serving soldiers where Irishmen, totaly against Devalara and his yanky scum that has caused so much misery, Ireland may have been a united Ireland many years ago if it wasnt for these scum ,Michael Colins had better Ideas but wasnt in it for the money as the modern republican movement is, Do you know what the "Black and Tans where???or do you again believe these where only "English" please read more history books to the end, you realy wind me up, what do you want? trouble in Ireland forever? do you get a thrill?
mickyban | Nov 07, 2010, 05:46 PM EST
Well this just keeps the s**t going and as usual the US citizens get what they want from any story, The Irish are a fantastic bunch of people and as one I would NEVER support the Sinn Fein that you mention, and will they take responsibility for the deaths of hundreds if not thousands of Irishmen and women, they do not represent Ireland they are a communist organisation, football is a sport that crosses the divide that was, keep sending your Noraid money and we will keep dying for some hopeless cause, Ireland is a country in its own right I will support Ireland, if they are not there then I have no problems supporting England, many Irish live in the UK if it was so bad then why is this so, wise up and shut up.
mickyban | Nov 07, 2010, 05:39 PM EST
Well this just keeps the "s**t going"
cormacmac | Jul 01, 2010, 08:29 PM EDT
Southernpride says that most Irish people were supporting England in the World Cup. Incorrect. Patricia Harty's view is shared by the majority in Ireland.
samsimpson | Jun 23, 2010, 05:12 PM EDT
I can't support England either - but it has more to do with the fact that their teams have that arrogant jingoistic and aggressive attitude, with no respect for 'foreigners'.
kateomprint | Jun 23, 2010, 01:23 PM EDT
As a child knew one of the survivors of the Bloody Sunday incident in Croke Park. He was a friend of my fathers he died at a great age. Why can't people let the past be in the past and support who ever you want because they are a good team not because of some age old rift.
Southernpride | Jun 19, 2010, 08:46 AM EDT
It was only a matter of time before the loons started bringing religion into a topic about football. Those are the same lunatics who support Scottish teams like Celtic/Rangers who thrive on sectarianism
McNamara31 | Jun 17, 2010, 08:01 PM EDT
jacersisityourself..Thanks for the history of the soccer clubs...makes perfect sense
jacersisityourself | Jun 17, 2010, 02:33 PM EDT
How any Irish soccer fan could be a fan of Chelsea beats me. None of us Irish have ever forgiven the Chelsea fans for their destruction of Lansdowne Rd stadium years ago when the Irish team equalised against England yesars ago! BTW - Arsenal in London were also a great club for signing up Irish native players and they still have a loyal Irish following. My brother 'follows' the Gunners while I 'follow' the Red Devils. We have great craic slagging each other's team off.
jacersisityourself | Jun 17, 2010, 02:27 PM EDT
WoundedKnee and others might not know this but the reason many Irish soccer fans are also fans of some English soccer clubs is because of the history of those English clubs signing up Irish native footballers from League of Ireland clubs. The unusual aspect that many miss is that 50-60 yrs ago, many English and Scottish cities’ clubs were split into Catholic and English Protestant clubs. So e.g. - Manchester Utd & Liverpool in England and Celtic & Hibernians in Scotland were the Caths, while Man City & Everton and Rangers & Hearts the ‘Prods’ in their respective cities. Most native Irish soccer players back then were Catholic, so they signed for Catholic clubs in England or Scotland and the Irish fans ‘followed’ the clubs they signed for. That trend continued up to about 15 yrs ago when clubs in the UK decided it was time to drop the religious association. I think Celtic were the first Scottish ‘catholic’ club to sign a protestant in breaking the mould.
Southernpride | Jun 17, 2010, 09:43 AM EDT
Of course I support Irish teams like Galway utd as I was born in Galway. But like most Irish born in the South of Ireland, we don't have a 'chip' on our shoulder' or, a 'victim' mentality so we have the confidence to support whoever we want to support. Democracy and freedom is such a beautiful thing
WoundedKnee | Jun 16, 2010, 09:29 PM EDT
Sparklet--"We can go back in history and find atrocities by just about all nations"--- You don't have to go back in history, just check out the news about what Israel is doing each day.
WoundedKnee | Jun 16, 2010, 09:27 PM EDT
southernpride: "Most Irish support England because we support English football clubs like: MAN UTD, Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea and even Liverpool" ---- How come you don't support Irish teams? Southern "Pride"--you got to be joking--you have no pride.
WoundedKnee | Jun 16, 2010, 09:24 PM EDT
Malcolm: "In the late 1880s, my great grandparents died/were killed on behalf of the IRA" Quite forward looking of them, since the IRA did not come into existence till several decades later!
jacersisityourself | Jun 16, 2010, 03:40 PM EDT
The thing is, Realist is right and perhaps it reflects on Patricia too: I was taught in school all about the bad things the English did in Ireland and my father could tell me of the Black & Tans’ atrocities, so as a schoolboy back then I was anti-English. On the cup final day, I was pro-Germany because of their historical support for the 1916 Rising. Now that I’m better life-educated and a dedicated soccer football fan, I wish well for England in these World Cup games - but only because they’ve got my fave English club’s team’s players on board, ha-ha. Go Man Utd guys! But well done to the USA for the draw they achieved!
jacersisityourself | Jun 16, 2010, 03:36 PM EDT
Realist (14 June) has a certain point re our upbringing and particularly my CBS schooling in Ireland. I remember England played Germany in the 1966 final. My mother’s Irish cousin was visiting from London to our house on the day and along with my father and brother, we watched the game on the balck and white TV. When Germany equalised with that famous “was-it-over-the-line-or-was-it-not?” goal, I leapt out of my chair screaming with delight. You shoulda seen the faces of everyone else in the room turn towards me! You shoulda seen me slink away from them too *L* (more...)
tsullivan1218 | Jun 16, 2010, 11:31 AM EDT
I also can never cheer for England. Too many years of occupation and so many vicious atrocities visited on Ireland at the hands of the British and the "Loyalists". Never forget!
MalcomAC | Jun 15, 2010, 03:41 PM EDT
In the late 1880s, my great grandparents died/were killed on behalf of the IRA. The four children were broken up and my grandfather and great aunt - ages 8 and 9 - were sent to work on separate farms outside Montreal. Queen Elizabeth had nothing to do with this. Neither did Misters Rooney or Gerrard. The discussion of the Bloody Sunday massacre and its investigations are a true sign of progress. It's time to look forward rather than back. And, Liverpool is VERY popular in the Irish community! I'd root for just about anyone versus the Dallas Cowboys.
sailmaker | Jun 15, 2010, 03:00 PM EDT
England for the English; Ireland for the Irish. We can all be friends, but . . . .
Sparklet | Jun 15, 2010, 02:28 PM EDT
Wash your mouth out, Irishwxman. ;)
irishwxman | Jun 15, 2010, 12:14 PM EDT
Oh hell yeah Souternpride!! UP THE GUNNERS!!
Sparklet | Jun 15, 2010, 11:22 AM EDT
Most Irish I know - which obviously doesn't speak for them all - have far more affinity with the English, Scottish and Welsh, than they do with America. Which doesn't mean that they don't have a liking and a respect for the US, but as a culture, the people from these little islands are just more similar. (Though the Irish are best. :) )
YoungPike | Jun 15, 2010, 10:07 AM EDT
Having adopted your logic Patricia, I now find myself unable to root for the USA because of what they did to the Native Americans, the Slave Trade, Vietnam, and Iraqi & Afghan civilians. If I can find a team whose country hasn't committed any war crimes or other atrocities, I'll root for them!
PeterNolan | Jun 15, 2010, 09:56 AM EDT
Really? Ireland is part of a tiny blue planet and humanity's mutual survival depends on us getting on with each other. Most Irish people have matured to understand & appreciate our relationship with England. As have the Scots and the Welsh. Time to forgive and move on for the sake of our children. I cheered for England against the US (and I love the US too:)) And most Irish people I know will continue to do so. History exists to guide us away from future error not as an excuse to express negativity.
jimquad | Jun 15, 2010, 07:55 AM EDT
Very sad prejudice, rooted in a lack of historical perspective. The populations of UK/Ireland have mixed for centuries. My family left Ireland in 1850 and settled in the UK (like millions of Irish people). My town is fall of people descended from Ireland. Just because you live in a country does not mean you agree with the establishment or have any control over circumstances that were orignally started by the monarchy. Perhaps I should discriminate against all Americans because of their apartheid system which only ended in the 1960s.
Southernpride | Jun 14, 2010, 07:32 PM EDT
irishwxman, you are an American citizen born in the USA. It's only natural that you will support your own country. Most Irish support England because we support English football clubs like: MAN UTD, Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea and even Liverpool. Yes, believe it or not their is some misguided fans that support Liverpool
Ajreaper | Jun 14, 2010, 06:37 PM EDT
I was in Croak park this March for the Sr club finals on St Pats day- one of the hi-lites of my trip and I was curious as to how the stands were named so I very much appreciate the history presented here. I think the fact Ms. Hardy has a best friend who is English must be noted- in truly important matters she is far from bigoted and open minded but in regards to whom she cheers on in a sports match she applies her own criteria which is perfectly acceptable- LOL, I love my Packers and any team that crushes the vile Cowboys- nothing personal I assure you I just greatly dislike the cowboys ;)
Sparklet | Jun 14, 2010, 05:36 PM EDT
We can go back in history and find atrocities by just about all nations. We should let it go and concentrate on the good in people - I firmly believe that the majority of the human race is good. A lot are unfortunatly misguided and manipulated by the minority, but people are basically good. If I didn't believe that it would be very demoralising. And there will always be unscruplous people who try to drive a wedge between nations, creating fear and suspicion.
Strongbow | Jun 14, 2010, 04:27 PM EDT
Using the same logic how could you support the Irish team when hundreds of atrocities have been committed by people who wear your colours? How could you support the American team when two million Vietnamese died in the Vietnam War? How could you support the Italian team when they ruthlessly subjugated Ethiopia? Your argument seems a little trite and self-serving.
irishwxman | Jun 14, 2010, 03:28 PM EDT
SouthernPride, I like you. you area one of my favorite bloggers here. We share the same political ideology. I too hail from Eire. (well my parents do) I lost family to the tans in the 1920's. I have no animosity to England, but I have always rooted for any team opposing England. And I did especially Saturday when they took to the pitch against the United States. Since France saw fit to end Ireland's bid by cheating; that left me with one team to get behind...The U.S. of A.
Liamkeyes | Jun 14, 2010, 03:26 PM EDT
Wayne Rooney could have declared for Ireland but he made the right move is choosing England. Even though the draw with the USA was unexpected, England still have a good chance.
Liamkeyes | Jun 14, 2010, 03:24 PM EDT
I frequented Croke Park as a young lad back in the 40's and 50's. Michael Hogan was shot as he jumping for the ball. They named the Hogan Stand after him as it was in the approximate area wher he had gor shot, that would be on the left side of the Field as one faces the "Railway End"about 25 yards out from the Goal line. It was ironic that Tipperary were playing that day as they were a much stronger Hurling county and they always have been. It's too bad because Tipperary always had great hurling teams but the game has grown weaker there along with Waterford, Wexford, Galway, Limerick and Clare along with Dublin. The only two counties that have continued their fine hurling tradition are Cork and Kilkenny.
murphy66 | Jun 14, 2010, 03:21 PM EDT
I hope someone remembers to whisper an Act of Contrition into MY ear.
Southernpride | Jun 14, 2010, 02:57 PM EDT
As an Irish man from Galway. and like most Irish. I'll be supporting England to win the world cup
DrTrelawney | Jun 14, 2010, 02:22 PM EDT
What in the name of heaven does either Bloody Sunday have to do with the English football team in 2010? This really is pathetic. If you applied this attitude to every team then nobody would deserve your support. The Americans and My Lai? The Germans and Auschwitz? The Irish and, well, Warrington, Birmingham, Omagh and a hundred other atrocities. Grow up.
jbarrettlk | Jun 14, 2010, 01:11 PM EDT
If everyone held the same beliefs that you did nobody would get on with any other race. We should learn from history so we can improve our nations and our interaction with others, not repeat old hatred and bile.I am Irish and am supporting the English team, and next time I am in Tipp I will stop in for a drink!
carrickcourt | Jun 14, 2010, 12:43 PM EDT
Old news and history to explain being against the English football team? Odd, but the Irish don't ever forget do they. I oppose the English team because they played against the USA, current history. GO USA!
Searlit | Jun 14, 2010, 12:22 PM EDT
I don't really follow sports too much, but I love Tipperary! I've been to Thurles to see the Holy Cross Abbey, a beautiful, peaceful place of pilgrimage. My great-great grandfather was born in Clonmel, Tipperary in 1838, was married in St. Mary's church in 1862 then both of them came to the US. When I go back to Ireland I will make it a point to visit Hayes Bar, though I don't know when that will be, considering these tough economics times.
Sparklet | Jun 14, 2010, 11:38 AM EDT
Excuse me, but I'm a British citizen and I'm not worrying about a pension!
CanadianPat | Jun 14, 2010, 11:24 AM EDT
Anybody but England! I have lived and worked in London and like most Irish families , have almost as many relations in Britain as we do in Ireland ;however cheering on the Brits just wouldn't feel right! We forgive but never forget!
mjkelleher | Jun 14, 2010, 11:02 AM EDT
This was an amazing scene in the movie, Michael Collins, which if any Irishman or woman has not seen, they should. I heard stories from my family about this, as well as my ancestors being tortured after being arrested for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. They were never interrogated, but left in a dark cell 23 hours a day, then brought out at noon to look up at the sun directly (the jailors would hold their heads up and their eyes open).
McNamara31 | Jun 14, 2010, 09:30 AM EDT
Realist... Spoken with the arrogance and mentality for which the British are known world- wide. How’s the weather in the North these days?
McNamara31 | Jun 14, 2010, 09:19 AM EDT
When the British goalie failed to stop the ball, all I thought was Karma. Karma for the arrogance, karma for oppression, karma for the famine inflicted on the Irish people, karma for the black and tans, karma for all the children who died in the workhouses, karma for all the poor families you threw out to the cold, and karma for not showing up at the Famine memorial service which showed in all the years you haven't learned a speck of empathy.
yesyesyes | Jun 14, 2010, 09:11 AM EDT
Thanks for remembering these kids... Lest us forget...Man's inhumanity towards Man..We are all the same.species.yet the darkness and insanity of man's behavior is not only sickening but scaring..as is evident in your Blog.. Since you are an American - you were rooting for the 'right' team!
Realist | Jun 14, 2010, 08:32 AM EDT
You cannot bring yourself to support England because you've been taught from your granny's knee to nurture a pathological self-pitying victim mentality about anything British. I suggest you consider growing up....lol.
MariaMc. | Jun 14, 2010, 08:16 AM EDT
I fully understand the sentiments expressed by Ms Harty, but the comment about the oil from MPKeaveny, is just ridiculous! BP may well be responsible, but are you blaming a nation for this - if so, what about the Torrey Canyon. Should the Brits blame Americans for that? Or, even worse, how about Bhopal - should the Indians blame the American nation for that? Americans seem to be under the opinion that the Irish are still at war with the Brits. We're not and many of us are supporting England. Many of us live in England. And the majority of us don't hold grudges against a nation for things that happened years ago. It seems to me that the Irish Irish, and the American Irish have a totally different view of life. The Irish take people and individuals for what they are. Some of recent comments on this forum depict a race who have lost touch with reality in the face of world wide hatred.
Southernpride | Jun 14, 2010, 07:13 AM EDT
I'm from Galway and like most Irish people will be supporting England to win the world cup
mpkeaveny | Jun 13, 2010, 09:42 PM EDT
And now the British are destroying the Gulf of Mexico.And the British citizens are only worried about their pensions.Don't expect an apology an time soon.