It wasn't until 2003 that some people in Tyrone - and elsewhere in the Six Counties - realised that the Red Hand symbol was not the exclusive property of loyalist paramilitaries. It has taken some of them a further five years to become offended by its display in support of the GAA.

Borderboy (Monaghan) - Posts: 277 - 14/09/2008 01:19:15    99487

I just called, to say, I love you.

I just called, to say, how much I care!

3inarow08 (Kerry) - Posts: 2455 - 14/09/2008 03:16:59    99496

lifford gael, re: flags and driving through dublin it seems in these sad days of county hating each other ,I remember after the 03 final genuine armagh gaa supporters congratulating tyrone fans after our 1st all ireland win, it was good humor and hugging after the match, nothing like 95,96 when we got bottled through dublin and meath even tho we got beat, thank god and the european fund for ireland, that we got ring roads and motorways to bypass these places , Nordies Abu

williewentwell (Tyrone) - Posts: 1712 - 14/09/2008 14:32:24    99559

"Modern NICS buildings tend not to have a flag on them."

Patrique, I also happen either fortunately/unfortunately (delete as appropriate) work in the NICS and the 'butchers apron' still flies for windsor's birthday etc., roughly 15 official days I believe
As regards there being an equality issue to be addressed by the NICS, this only applies when the item causing offence is of a particular colour or of a political nature. So how does the NICS justify removing a tyrone flag in your car as an equality issue when those wearing a poppy in November in quite a lot of cases remove it from their coats and stick them on their jumpers just to really rub your nose in it.
As for the young boy selling the tricolours in cornmarket, was he standing with the A-team?

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 14/09/2008 19:00:20    99615

lifford gael, don't let one or two idiots give you a bad rep of a place , specially of an incident that happened 16 years ago. finglas gets a bad reputation because of the actions of this small minorty but its a great place to live with a majority decent folk. and when the dubs are playin the blue and navy is flying high down here

lino_de_legend (Dublin) - Posts: 816 - 14/09/2008 22:51:56    99695

Bumpernut,

Elizabeth Windsor is the HEAD of the NICS, that's why they honour her birthday and such. Rest assured we will get a half day if she dies.

The NICS maintains a "neutral" workplace. Poppies, and fainnes and things like that are neutral. A Poppy remembers those killed in a number of wars, including a large amount of people from the island of IRELAND. Only bigots take offence at poppies.

Now only bigots take offence at Tyrone flags as well. However to ensure that there are no Rangers/Celtic jerseys they banned all SPORTSWEAR and supporters items, like flags, mugs, scarves and what have you. I have no objection to Rangers jerseys at work, or even Celtic ones, but the powers that be want to move slowly, as they are trying to isolate bigots, just as they isolated paramilitaries. All takes time.

I suggest if you have any trouble at work with sectarianism, ring union HQ and ask for my e-mail address. I assure you it will stop immediately on my intervention. There is no sectarianism where I work. The staff would not tolerate it.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 15/09/2008 01:03:01    99724

By the way, Bumpernut, when were you last in Belfast? The place has changed radically, hard to watch horse racing in city centre pubs as they are all watching GAA matches.

Things have changed. Look up the internet and discover who the Deputy Prime minister is?

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 15/09/2008 01:05:39    99725

There have been very big changes in Northern Ireland.

I think in my last post I think what I was trying to say didn't come accross properly.

We have moved on a lot I got caught up in the middle of a parade at the weekend wearing a tipp top and not a thing was said to me.

Good things are happening here but with people complaing about a flag flying is a bit stupid.

With every generation coming forward the country is improving.

oisinboy (Antrim) - Posts: 335 - 15/09/2008 10:54:31    99844

Patrique

Firstly, lets sort out your remarks on "Barney" which are very unfair and outdated. I was a CBS pupil before attending six year at St Patricks "Barney" when i went down I was talking to the principal about the possibility of a Gaelic Football team we tryed but the numbers where not there. We then looked into younger teams and myself and Frank Maskey took a third year hurling team that where strong enough. This was ten years ago before all your press read info your throwing out about the cross community team so hurling has been there a while and remains there.

The butchers appron and the tricolour have no place in any workplace thats for certain, i wear reebok ones myself and the mates from the otherside give me stick about the "jack" on them. However this was a case of a car flag a method of transport to and from work this is illegal and the european courts would take that case im nearly certain. If they have to have the flag for windsors birthday maybe we should have the tricolour up for President McAleese's birthday? Just a thought for you. As for the Pope half day im sure someones been pulling your leg. Im also a civil servant unfortunately.

North Side Gael (None) - Posts: 1076 - 15/09/2008 10:56:06    99847

I remember cruising down the newtonards road for the first time in september 2000 with my 4 new Kerry car flags flying high and proud. Totally forgot that they were there of course. I was looking for DEE street which is a very interesting place in its own right to say the least. Couldnt find it anyway so had to pull over onto the footpath and get out of the car and ask for directions. I was fairly nervous at the time anyway because I was thinking my number plates would draw attention to me and I hadnt really experienced such a Unionist area with all the curbing, flags, art and Murals before. It was only afterwards I was half way down the A1 on my way home that I realised I had all the flags up and I nearly fainted. I must have looked like a right **** puller with my 4 lovely new big green and gold flags in the middle of all the red, white, blue and orange. Forgive me if I was badly wrong to feel that way and maybe I should never have been worried about the newtonards road but, to me seeing it for the first time, I was anxious even without knowing I had the flags up.

thykingdomcome (Kerry) - Posts: 1206 - 15/09/2008 11:35:27    99901

thykingdomcome

lucky man to get out of there. if it was 9 o'clock on a saturday night or something i doubt you would have been so lucky

samin10 (Armagh) - Posts: 2434 - 15/09/2008 11:45:29    99912

thykingdomcome,
The sad thing is you were probably safer there than in certain republican parts of the north, given the attitude some so called Gaelic Football fans up there have towards Kerry. It's a pity really.

scholesy (Kerry) - Posts: 180 - 15/09/2008 13:51:18    100048

Desperate for Tickets, will travel countrywide for tickets for Football Final this Sunday

Burnsey (Down) - Posts: 561 - 15/09/2008 13:59:58    100058

'Only bigots take offence at poppies'

I must say Patrique thats one that i cant let slip by, do you really believe that the vast majority of those wearing a poppy in 'this here wee pravince' wear them simply because they honour British war dead. Lets call a spade a spade here, there is an ulterior motive in wearing a poppy in the north. Its all about marking territory and rubbing the other sides nose in it. Would I take offence at an Englishman/Welshman or Australian wearing a poppy, the answer is no. So, if your accusation about bigotry is directed at yours truly then look elsewhere!
As for visiting Belfast, well having spent the last 30 odd years living/working/socialising in Belfast and i'll try and be a bit more diplomatic than you managed. I certainly do not require my passport to go beyond Castle Street, I am also well aware that Art Garfunkel is DPM and that the political scene is shifting, albeit slowly.
We are getting sidetracked a little bit here, my original point was that because the tyrone flag was apolitical and not offensive in its design, ie: colours, then I would have refused to remove it, if that resulted in some sort of disciplinary hearing then so be it!!

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 15/09/2008 14:15:13    100066

scholsey, you clearly know nothing about the north. sssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhh

samin10 (Armagh) - Posts: 2434 - 15/09/2008 14:37:34    100102

lads the war is over, its now winning all irelands that count. were finished fighting lets play football the south better get used to the fact.

reddoctor (Tyrone) - Posts: 1241 - 15/09/2008 14:51:03    100125

Great post reddoctor. Instead of bringing that Derry Free Corner banner with you why don't you bring one with Brain Free Corner - it would suit far better.

Dubinmeath (Dublin) - Posts: 1123 - 15/09/2008 14:57:05    100134

Patrique - what do you maen by "if" Lizzie Windsor dies? Is it true then, that she is one of the undead? I always suspected as much. I mena, lets face it, only a zombie could look that miserable 24/7.

festinog (Galway) - Posts: 3143 - 15/09/2008 14:59:53    100142

dublinmeath didnt take alot of brains in the rain in the last 8 old chap. brain freeze i think might have applied to pc plod and the boys in blue.

reddoctor (Tyrone) - Posts: 1241 - 15/09/2008 15:28:56    100175

Reddoctor - was thinking more in terms of yourself (and your superb posts) than the Tyrone team when referring to the Brain Free Corner.

Dubinmeath (Dublin) - Posts: 1123 - 15/09/2008 15:40:11    100187