National Forum

Non-Gaa Forum

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Replying To Seanfan:  "The voters elected the successful candidates."
Thanks for that, you learn something new every day.

tireoghainabu (Tyrone) - Posts: 465 - 27/05/2026 13:19:29    2675991

Link

Anyone who thinks that there are two countries on the island of Ireland is living in some strange world.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4336 - 27/05/2026 14:05:16    2676008

Link

Replying To tireoghainabu:  "Thanks for that, you learn something new every day."
You asked how they get elected!

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 586 - 27/05/2026 14:33:34    2676029

Link

Replying To tireoghainabu:  "I was just watching the news on RTE , and a Fine Gael counciller for Monaghan stated that people from Monaghan and Tyrone are from two different countries, who elects these people?"
also @BarneyGrant -

Ah lads. Let's not delude ourselves. Fact of the matter is:
The Republic of Ireland is an independent, sovereign country.

Much as you dislike the term or the reality of it, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (of which Northern Ireland is obviously a part) is a separate independent, sovereign country.

It therefore clearly follows that people from Monaghan and people from Tyrone are from two different countries, no mater how much you or they would like to be regarded as being from the same.

If it really was all the same country, how then do you explain the two different governments, different currencies, different education systems, different healthcare systems, different policing systems, etc., etc.?

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3711 - 27/05/2026 15:05:06    2676048

Link

Replying To Pikeman96:  "also @BarneyGrant -

Ah lads. Let's not delude ourselves. Fact of the matter is:
The Republic of Ireland is an independent, sovereign country.

Much as you dislike the term or the reality of it, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (of which Northern Ireland is obviously a part) is a separate independent, sovereign country.

It therefore clearly follows that people from Monaghan and people from Tyrone are from two different countries, no mater how much you or they would like to be regarded as being from the same.

If it really was all the same country, how then do you explain the two different governments, different currencies, different education systems, different healthcare systems, different policing systems, etc., etc.?"
Two different states. Not too different countries.

The fact that there are two different states, currencies, education systems etc just illustrates how absurd it is.

An arbitrary line drawn on a map and now recognised even by the republican movement that refused to for three quarters of a century.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4336 - 27/05/2026 15:34:28    2676063

Link

Replying To Pikeman96:  "also @BarneyGrant -

Ah lads. Let's not delude ourselves. Fact of the matter is:
The Republic of Ireland is an independent, sovereign country.

Much as you dislike the term or the reality of it, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (of which Northern Ireland is obviously a part) is a separate independent, sovereign country.

It therefore clearly follows that people from Monaghan and people from Tyrone are from two different countries, no mater how much you or they would like to be regarded as being from the same.

If it really was all the same country, how then do you explain the two different governments, different currencies, different education systems, different healthcare systems, different policing systems, etc., etc.?"
I have travelled all over the country following Tyrone and various Munster hurling finals and never once did I meet anyone who seen me as anything but a fellow countryman, but I suppose there's always one.

tireoghainabu (Tyrone) - Posts: 465 - 27/05/2026 17:49:18    2676124

Link

Replying To Freethinker:  "I suppose unless a credible alternative coalition of left or left of centre emerges, this situation will pertain. Soc Dems are making steady progress, it must be said. To me, Labour are standing still. I think SF are stagnating under current leadership. Their leader, while very articulate, has great diction and really loves delivering a good ould sound bite in Dail debates, but does anyone take her seriously anymore ?? Their front bench is in dire need of a shake up. Same tired old spokes persons for years with different, more militant factions on the extremes whittling away at their base. It's difficult to be all things to all people, and have all the answers. PBP, I'm not sure if I would like to see any of them in charge of anything, particularly their two most prominent members. So, where are the alternatives ??"
I agree that until a credible alternative emerges, this current political situation probably will continue, and more FF & FG isn't healthy. We need to get away from personality politics, if the current crop spent as much time dwelling on how to make the Country more efficient and successful, and less time rehearsing how to dodge questions, we might get somewhere.

SF for a while looked like a viable alternative in terms of vote percentage, but have stagnated, in their efforts to grow their voter base they have left some of their legacy supporters disillusioned. They need to refresh and develop a roadmap that differs completely from the FF & FG manifestos, but I suspect they would be afraid to do that.

Social Dems are growing, but the height of their ambition is to maybe be a junior coalition partner and score a couple of pension building ministerial jobs for the hierarchy. I don't see any alternative roadmap for the Country, just individual tweaks..

Labour lack the leadership and long-terms strategic planning to become a major player, too happy to settle for junior coalition partner and that kills small parties. PBP, Green Party, none of them appeal the broader public.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3057 - 27/05/2026 21:03:44    2676160

Link