apologies dubmeath i didnt realise you were being so lateral in your analysis. well done

reddoctor (Tyrone) - Posts: 1241 - 15/09/2008 18:11:53    100357

North Side Gael,

There must have been 49 different people taking the p#ss about the Pope. Seriously, you should have heard them

And I must confess, an NICS story. A certain Chief Executive insisted that someone be sent home from work, because there was a Barcelona FC insignia on the sleeve of his shirt. Said Chief Executive, in a new post, goes to America on official business, and appears in a photo in the NICS magazine in a TYRONE shirt. The photo was leaked to the press, who featured it on the front page calling for him to be sacked.

Now the issue should have been that it was a SPORTS top, not a GAA top. But in Norn'Ireland little chance of that. It was funny when the Radio phoned us for comments and the union rep was trying to explain that he himself was a Tyrone supporter. Only in the North. By the way, we didn't leak the photo, although we got blamed. Someone else beat us to it.

And by the way, North Side, do you read the Antrim County yearbook? The 6 page article at the front of last years about the woes of following Antrim was written by someone caled "Patrique". You should be used to me by now.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 15/09/2008 21:18:15    100427

I was up in dungannon on friday night last and noticed one part of the town was red and white and the other half was the old red white and blue, it was the very same in armagh city in 2002 and 2003 with the colours up there.

sdicndt (Louth) - Posts: 42 - 15/09/2008 23:00:57    100467

In these tough times, here's a way to save money in Tyrone - two sets of bunting for every town and village. In support of the county GAA teams, the red and white bunting would go up, and when the men in sashes march, some blue bunting would be added! Even the Red Hand flags could be neutralised to satisfy both sides and peace and harmony would reign for a thousand years.

Borderboy (Monaghan) - Posts: 277 - 16/09/2008 08:56:36    100527

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.

What an utterly ridiculous comment. We've just come out of a thirty year conflict, and your comparing it to a football rivalry that isn't ultimately that bitter. Jeez. And if anything, it's Kerry fans that seem to be more disapproving of Tyrone et al than vice-versa, though it's still only a bit of banter at the end of the day. The Bomber and Mick O'Dwyer have been up here lately, and from what I know they weren't lynched - what a surprise, huh?

MichaelO (Tyrone) - Posts: 820 - 16/09/2008 09:23:11    100539

Its just too easy lads! Snuffy style on this issue is simple: Theres the flag!....I double dare any man to remove it!....Behold what will happen to ya! Done the same on the site in Australia when the Pope died and some were giving out about their newspaper being full of stories about him! Put up a centrespread picture of the Pope on the wall of the smoko shed not to be removed until the great man who singlehandedly brought down communism in Europe was in the ground!......The first man to complain about it would not live out the rest of the day!......Job done!....Get back to work lads! I had a lot of 'near misses' on the site that week! Regards, Snufalufagus.....Laochra Gael

Snufalufagus (Dublin) - Posts: 8100 - 16/09/2008 10:11:43    100578

Its crazy one wee flag can start such a debate.

Northern Ireland has imporved but we still have a long way to go.

oisinboy (Antrim) - Posts: 335 - 16/09/2008 10:26:54    100598

Michael O,

Just want you to let you know that Ididnt make those comments. Kind of looks like it was me from your post.

thykingdomcome (Kerry) - Posts: 1206 - 16/09/2008 14:11:48    100842

I'm from Omagh, its the county town of Tyrone. The support for our county team is as rabbid here as it is all over Ireland in the respective towns, in which Gaels make up the dominant portion of the population. Every year we watch the marching season come into bloom with the colours of red white and blue. We get blocked off our roads regularly in summer weekend evenings, the bunting and Unionist flags remain throughout the Nationalist town throughout the entire summer because our past has proven that a live and let live mentality is essential to peaceful living in this predominantly Nationalist town. This year much like 2005, 2003, 1995 and 1986 we have drowned the town in a sea of red and white, to support 2 teams who we are very proud of competing to represent the geographical area of Tyrone and its people regardless of creed or colour in All Ireland Finals on the same day. No sooner had we our flags flying proud than the complaints began to flood in from certain elements of the Unionist Community. Stand up and take note! specifically you GAA supporters who believe that you are more Irish than your Northern counterpart, and you have more right to be part of the greatest festival in the world than him/her. We support our county through thick and thin regardless of what the media have claimed this season. The Ulster Gael flies their flag all to often where it is not wanted, in an attempt to show pride in their team, yet our Irishness is often questioned by Southern Gaels who can fly their flags wherever and whenever they like. Whether we win or lose this Sunday in either the Minor or the Senior All Ireland Finals it will not have been brawn or Irishness we will have been lacking. Good Luck Tyrone Minors and Seniors.

nialldo (Tyrone) - Posts: 81 - 16/09/2008 16:24:35    101009

I want to add to my previous comment by stating that I seem to have generalised against all southern Gaels where it was not my intention. I'm fully aware that it is only an element of less intelligent southern Gaels who have the gall to state such claims, however a persistent niggle it remains.

nialldo (Tyrone) - Posts: 81 - 16/09/2008 16:46:47    101054

nialldo - hope you managed to get it all off your chest. Can't see how it helps though. Maybe stop giving a rats ass about what others think, remove the chip and getting on with it would be better.

Dubinmeath (Dublin) - Posts: 1123 - 16/09/2008 17:07:44    101072

Hey Dubinmeath, were here to comment on the issues facing Gaelic games supporters in the North.
Based on a recent article highlighting the flag issue in Strabane, the truth is that bias continues to exist in the North and regardless of whether you would like to admit to it or not, certain biases continue to exist in the South also.

Tell me, what do you bring to the party?

Ach you know something?
Your right!
Lets all just forget about it eh?

nialldo (Tyrone) - Posts: 81 - 16/09/2008 17:35:21    101098

The fact that Sam Maguire was a Protestant is neither here nor there (as most Irish heroes could be so described) but he would have to be from Cork, wouldn't he? I mean to say that Kerry have had to win the cup named after him on a regular basis to overcome their natural aversion to all things from the big county. Maybe that is why winning Kerry captains give it a good shake on being presented with it; each time they do, they shake a little piece of Cork out of it.

Nonsense aside, I shared a house with a cricket loving denizen of Ballyclare overseas in the nineties, and we both agreed that the Irish flag is a bit of a disappointment. While his objections were predictable and understandable, I agreed with him because there is a more suitable alternative: the yellow harp on a green background. Not only is that a more pleasing sight to the eye, but it was followed by Catholic and Dissenter in 1798. Sporting occasions would be much more fun if it was adopted, not least because it is so easily mistaken for the Italian tricolour.

plike (Kerry) - Posts: 569 - 16/09/2008 17:39:08    101102

Well as you pointed out in your correction (before I posted) you weren't getting at everyone. However I don't think posts like this serve any purpose other than to cause a mass throwing of the eyes to heaven. There are minorities, bigots etc - in all walks of life. Have you seen some of the rubbish aimed at Dub fans on here? As for what the media write!!! I just wish you'd shed the 'victim' mentality and by all means be proud of your county and their achievements - rightly so. You don't need to go around looking for acceptance or approval from anyone else - in any county. If anyone things you are less Irish that is a bigger problem for them than for you - so don't let it bother you.

Dubinmeath (Dublin) - Posts: 1123 - 16/09/2008 17:50:12    101115

nialldo. Excellent and true post. Looking forward to meeting the Tyrone fans again next weekend. Always had a great crack.

Real Kerry Fan (None) - Posts: 2957 - 16/09/2008 19:41:06    101183

I have a question are unionist more non-irish than unionist or "british". (although it is no right to call them british because they are not)

HokeyPokey (Tyrone) - Posts: 1744 - 16/09/2008 20:52:56    101222

Does anyone remember all the Argentinian flags along the South Armagh border during the Falklands War in 1982. This was a peculiar time. They were put there overnight to taunt the British Army in the observation posts. Got to them too!

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 16/09/2008 21:05:38    101228

Unionists hate England and the English more than Nationalists. Nationalists hate the Republic of Ireland (Free State) more than Unionists. Amazing but mostly true, for a variety of reasons. You should go and watch Norn 'ireland V England at soccer, real, bitter hatred.

As for the visitor to Dee Street, not the best part of the world. Mind you I was at a funeral over that way recently, and then round to the chippie called "For Cod and Ulster" where you can order a "Gerry Adams" a "Big Ian" a "Drumcree" and various other specials. Now this chippie is the only example of someone making money and fun out of the troubles on the loyalist side, there are hundreds on the other side, mostly based in thriving West Belfast.

But that chippie is a start.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 16/09/2008 23:14:50    101295

The BBC website has a picture gallery of Tyrone supporters flying their flags across the county (and in Donegal as well).

Isn't everything rosy.

link

Wests_Awake (Galway) - Posts: 877 - 17/09/2008 13:01:12    101659

Fair play to the GAA supporters in the 6 counties, prouder irish people you will never meet

bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4649 - 17/09/2008 14:22:31    101726