Folkies supporting IRA

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: GUEST,Alison
Date: 04 Aug 06 - 05:34 AM

Guest, I am not on any side of the fence here, as I am just trying to learn about Ireland. I am British from England. Yes, I do think that our side have played a part in the conflicts. Yes, we have done terrible things to Irish people in Ireland over those years. Irish people have suffered terribly through the conflicts from all sides of the fence here. I never said personally that the any IRA organisation were terrorists, I don't know enough about them to call them that. I said something like, an Irish person who likes to wear a cap of the trio-colours of their flag should be allowed to wear it and be proud to be Irish. I hope I did not to offend you here about the Irish flag. Kind Regards.

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: Paul Burke
Date: 04 Aug 06 - 05:33 AM

He was only writing like that so we wouldn't recognise his handwriting. I didn't know that Scotland was a Celtic, Gaelic rebellion, though, I thought it was that place a bit up past Newcastle.

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 Aug 06 - 04:38 AM

:-P

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 10:05 PM

typical barbaric muderous remark D the G...behave yourself!

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 06:48 PM

I WISH I COULD TALK COMPLETELY IN CAPITALS AND GET AWAY WITH IT...

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 05:21 PM

THE IRA ARE NOT A TERRORIST GROUP THEY ARE A CELTIC, GAELIC REBELLION JUST LIEK SCOTLAND AND THERE TROUBLES WITH THE ENGLISH. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG ABOUT SINGING ABOUT YOUR COUNTRY AND THE HARD TIMES THEY WENT THROUGH, YOUR COUNTRYS HISTORY SHOULD NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. IT IS JUST UNFORTUNATE THAT THE PROVISIONAL IRA HAVE GIVEN IRELANDS FREEDOM FIGHTERS A BAD NAME.

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 05:17 PM

This is an absolute joke this page, whate are you all talking about Britain not being murderous, HAVE YOU NEVER WONDERED WHERE THE NAME 'BUTCHERS APRON' CAME FROM FOR THE UNION JACK.
BRITAIN MURDERED POOR INOCENT PEOPLE IN IRELAND, BURNED THEM OUT THERE HOMES, HUNG WOMEN AND HUNG THEIR CHILDREN FROM THEIR HAIR.   THE IRA YOU ARE THINKING OF IS THE MODERN PROVISIONAL IRA WHICH DID THE BOMBINGS, THE ORIGINAL IRA WERE A FREEDOM FIGHTING FORCE WHO WERE FIGHTING QUITE RIGHTLY FOR THEIR FREEDOM. EXACTLY LIKE WILLIAM WALLACE AND HIS BAND OF REBELS AND BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE AND HIS REBELOUS JACOBITES. BRITAIN ARE MORE BARBARIC THAN ANYONE, WHY DO YOU THINK THEY GET THE KNICKNAME 'THE HUNS'??? BECAUSE THEY WERE JUST LIKE BARBARIC GERMANIA OF THE ROMAN TIMES. SO DONT'T GIVE ME THIS NONSENSE OF BRITAIN NOT BEING BARBARIC AND MURDEROUS.

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 31 Jul 06 - 03:37 AM

You should visit Rostrevor and Warrenpoint which are a few miles from Newcastle. Also Cloughmore stone in the Mourne mountains at Kilbroney park Rostrevor and look out over Carlingford Lough from the beautiful Fiddlers Green. Be in touch.

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: skarpi
Date: 31 Jul 06 - 02:38 AM

Hi Divis , dont worry I will ask for Info when I need it.
I am coming to N-Ireland in February and going down to Newcastle,
Mountains of Mourne and Down-Patrick and then to Portaferry
then to Dublin and back home so maybe we meet in N-Ireland
who knows :>)


All the best Skarpi Iceland.

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 08:17 PM

Hmmmm.

G'night Divis.

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 08:16 PM

Thanks Paul, but you still thought about it ! Don't worry once daylight comes and my return is noticed, the insults won't be far away.
Now zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz's
Sleep well in Hull.
Night from Ireland.

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 08:12 PM

There is a glib response to that, but it could be construed (though not actually meant) as an insult (or a jibe really) in itelf, so I'll not.

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 07:54 PM

Sorry Paul, love the site, not getting insulted. I get enough of that at home.

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 07:51 PM

What, ALWAYS?

Hey if thats so, it says more about you mate than it does about anyone else here! *G*

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 07:47 PM

Paul it's a great place to be, I always get insulted, love it !

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 07:36 PM

You might be right, but yep, she might as well join...bugger the expense! *G*

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 07:31 PM

Thanks Paul I thought guests could, well good reason for her to join us.

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 07:27 PM

She cant if she's a Guest, I dont think...

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 07:24 PM

PM me, that's just click the small pm beside my name if you want any DVD's sent over, always glad Alison to spread the truth.

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: GUEST,Alison
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 07:15 PM

Well said Divis! I am new on here and I am also from England. I do have some Catholic ancestors from Ireland and some current relatives living all over Ireland including the North. It is nice to know there is someone willing to answer questions about Ireland. I will admit that I do not know much about Irish affairs. I am just trying to learn about Ireland and understand the people who live there. Kind Regards.

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 06:25 PM

skarpi, I am enjoying reading your posts here. I have been away since Tuesday morning and I just had to get back on to see what I have either been blamed on or called ! It's great to see you here. There are many members like yourself with an understanding to the problems we face here in Ireland. Now you will see some anti-republican posts appear from time to time, never get annoyed at them, the rest of us find them a source of amusement ! It's so funny how some seem to think they are informed about Irish affairs, really they just search the net to find figures and throw up well doctored accounts at us. As you are no doubt aware our war came to an end exactly a year ago and we are now confidence to finding a peaceful political settlement. Please note this does not suit everyone, sorry, it doesn't suit one member. We have come far in the last twelve months and it's great to see it. Remember if you require the truth about anything concerning Irish history, don't hesitate to ask, always glad to help. You know yourself always best to ask someone who has lived through it than someone who can only read about it and who gives nothing more than consistently Biased one sided accounts.

Again great to see you here.

Divis

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: skarpi
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 03:56 PM

Skarpi, I don't remember you mentioning that airport anecdote, and it was me that took you back to the airport. Maybe you are confused by what Brendy posted here about your hat, at the time. Your hat looked nothing like anything any Irish guy (or Brit) would wear, and had a complicated pattern. I don't think anyone could have read political significance into it, although it might possibly have provoked reaction from any fashion-sensitive observers. *G*

Dear Peter , brendy told me that it would not be a good idea to wear it at the airport , in the mean time after you left us an English man
told me to take it off ................ it have the Irish color on it
and I like it a lot but if it s gonna be hot next february I am not gonna wear , but in " in the airport " i am ....

And Peter are you coming to Portaferry ??


Your hat looked nothing like anything any Irish guy (or Brit) would wear, Peter I am an Icelander ......

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 01:59 PM

fascinating Peter Fionn - about communists.

My cousin Bernard had the advantage (ho hum!) of an education from Irish catholic priests. When were little kids in the 1950's, we were quite inseparable - he used to assure me that communist soldiers in the eastern bloc spent all their time throwing catholic babies onto bayonets. the priests had told him to hate English communists like Frank Cousins, the trade unionist.

what I mean is the catholics had set their face pretty firmly against the communists at that stage - and it was a theme you found echoed in american tv drama series at the time - coomunists as enemies of the church.

That's just my recollection, but I should have thought most communists would have had a pretty thin time of it in Ireland at that period. Correct me if I'm wrong in my surmises.

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 09:57 AM

True Giok, very true

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 09:52 AM

In the same way as those who condemn the Israelis for bombing women and children in south Lebanon conveniently neglect to mention the suicide bombers who do the same to defenceless Jewish women and children in buses and cafes.
The people who condemn any post that they construe as anti Irish, feel free to insult the Brits in their rebuttal, and see nothing odd about it.
Truly prejudice like beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Giok

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 08:33 AM

Nor "Soldiers of the Queen" in Derry.

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 08:19 AM

I am pretty amazed that someone thinks he can sing a song eulogising terrorists without offending people.

I really would not recommend "The old alarm clock" in Guildford.

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 07:57 AM

As are the anti-Irish comments on these threads. Good point WLD

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 05:34 AM

Nic toczek the performance poet used to do a gig round America where he burned the American flag, and it always got a response.

whereas you could burn the Union Jack most places in England and no one would give a shit - maybe a few right wing nutters, but they would probably be offensive anyway,

the national flag seems to mean more to the generality of American people than it does to the English.

Its a bit like the anti-English comments, that are on these Irish themed threads. It would probably be upsetting to most English people that someone should want to make such a comment, but the comment itself would be largely water off a duck's back - it wouldn't really register.

The English and patriotism is a bit like the English and their spiritual life - not at all straightforward. The English are deeply Christian - how could they be otherwise after all these centuries of it being part of our culture, but the churches are in ruins everywhere.

My Irish friends tell me that they have their own set of complicated cultural responses to all these things - stuff that an English person would never pick up on.

Sometimes you feel that language isn't the best means of communication. we just need to know each other better.

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 04:39 AM

Oh yes we had a certain Comrade William the Conqueror arrived at Hastings in 1066, that was one in the eye for the ruling classes.
Giok

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: Amergin
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 01:51 AM

Quote: "I remember how absurd it was that in the late 1060s and early 70s the Belfast branch of the Communist Party of Ireland"


Odd, I didn't realise communism was around in the 11th century.... BG

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 08:25 PM

At least stallion has brought a new dimension to these Mudcat wrangles, with some very perceptive points - especially about the class divide in his first post. I remember how absurd it was that in the late 1060s and early 70s the Belfast branch of the Communist Party of Ireland was unable to canvass in the working-class districts of east Belfast and Shankill Road because its first objective was a united Ireland. The British and Irish Communist Organisation (BICO) on the other hand had no such difficulty - its primary objective was socialism north and south of the border, from which it was hoped unity would follow.

I have always been interested by the few politicians and leaders who have broken out a bit from the constraining mono-cultural outlook that the troubles forced on so many people - the ones who have attempted to address working people regardless of their polico/religious/national affiliations. People like Glen Barr and PAddy Devlin come to mind.

Skarpi, I don't remember you mentioning that airport anecdote, and it was me that took you back to the airport. Maybe you are confused by what Brendy posted here about your hat, at the time. Your hat looked nothing like anything any Irish guy (or Brit) would wear, and had a complicated pattern. I don't think anyone could have read political significance into it, although it might possibly have provoked reaction from any fashion-sensitive observers. *G*

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: Epona
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 07:27 PM

No, actually. It's customary to burn the American flag if it touches the ground. And, no, we don't jail people for burning the flag, though with our current president, that may be altered.

E

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 06:14 PM

I'm not as thunk as some dreople pink I am!

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 05:50 PM

What has to do with Irish folk music ? Why visit I ask.

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 05:35 PM

I reckon you could be jailed for burning the Stars and Stripes in the US whereas if the Union Flag was burnt anywhere in the UK no charges would be made.
G

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 05:25 PM

No rules about flags here either.
people can and do fly what they like, or none.

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: Epona
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 05:21 PM

And, since we're sidetracking, we let anyone fly their flag here. We're a country of immigrants as you may be aware and so different flags are all over the place. Just because the US flag is this country's official mark, we don't ban anyone's right to be proud of their heritage and culture and fly a flag symbolic of that.

E

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 05:19 PM

Oh Giok, need to check you, under government rules the Irish flag can be flown in Northern corner. It is still Ireland, British government accepts that.

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: Epona
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 05:18 PM

Ooh! I love discussing differences because it's great to learn about other places. But, maybe you should start a new thread? We only have approx. 7 about Ireland going at this moment. Why not make it 8?

E

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 05:14 PM

Epona it is relevant inasmuch as the nationalist supporters in Norn Iron fly the Irish tricolour in a country where the Union jack is the official flag for better or for worse. These people I suggest would never fly the Union Jack, but would happily watch it burned. We do not have laws in this country about how the flag should be displayed, but I believe they do in the US. I was just attempting to point up the differences between our two countries.
Giok

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: Epona
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 05:04 PM

Folkies supporting IRA to the Stars and Stripes being burnt in the US...Taking a cue from Keith on thread drift, are we? In that case, you learn well, young grasshopper.

E

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 03:26 PM

Probably would burn easier than the Union Flag of United Kingdom, less blood on it.

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 03:16 PM

How do you Irish Americans feel about seeing the Stars and Bars burnt in the streets of any US town?
G.

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: GUEST,Alison
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 03:04 PM

Thank you Enda Murphy and Sceilg for your comments here. I am British, but I do have some Catholic ancestors from Ireland and current Catholic relatives who live all over Ireland including the North, and I am very proud to be related to them. I care about people in Ireland and that is why I am trying to learn about them and Ireland. Fair play to you Sceilg, there is nothing wrong about being Irish and being proud of it. I wish you the best for your future as many Irish people have suffered during the conflicts in Ireland. I am lucky to be born and raised in England, as I have not suffered the way Irish people have over those years. I can only picture a thought of what it must have be like for Irish people that had to live in fear of sectarain violence from Loyalists, for example having your house burnt down or losing one of your children through the conflicts. I can only hope that one day there will be peace for Ireland so these hurtful wounds can be healed in the years to come. Kind Regards.

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: GUEST,Enda Murphy
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 06:55 PM

Alison,Sceilg,Epona and skarpi Best wishes tonight from Wexford Ireland.

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: GUEST,Sceilg
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 06:37 PM

Alison what skarpi and you said is correct, be proud, but sadly the loyalists don't see it that way ! Anything green and white is enough to get you beaten up, but their football team can wear it ! It's fine for them to cover the streets over there in Red white and blue and put street arches up where nobody wants them, but they know they have the repackaged RUC behind them. I live in London now and wear my Irish badges with pride and nobody seems to care.

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 06:29 PM

Sorry, that was me, Epona. I've lost my cookie and can't seem to find it. :)

E

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 06:28 PM

I appreciate and understand the defense of your beliefs. Good for you, Skarpi.

E

Subject: RE: Folkies supporting IRA
From: GUEST,Alison
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 06:22 PM

To the person who said this, "I walked through the airport in North Ireland in Belfast with a woollen cap that my wife gave to my before I went to Portaferry 2004 to meet up with my friends of Mudcat and I was asked to take it of becouse it had the colours of the IRISH FLAG ????? I didint take it off and I am gonna wear it next February in Portaferry I have my believes and I stick to them no-one tells me other wise."

A woollen cap with the colours of the Irish flag! This is observed!!! What is wrong about being Irish? I would not want to encourage you to get into any trouble at the airport in Belfast, but if you are Irish be proud of it, it does not matter what anyone says. I guess the reason why they asked you to take off your cap maybe was to avoid any trouble from other people that are anti Irish.