Kick the Pope?

[British Citizen]

But British Citizen I now realise that you are not Ifor Bach/Pogon and there I ask you to forgive me for that accusation.

No worries.

As for the Unionists in the Dail - I am nowhere near the most fervent Loyalist in Northern Ireland and I would never entertain accepting 100% Dublin rule in Northern Ireland. Obviously the tens of thousands of other Loyalists who would be even more staunch in their beliefs than me would not accept it either.

If nationalists in Northern Ireland are still crowing about a United Ireland in another 30 years after a generation of peace re-partition and the moving of the border closer to Belfast will become a likely scenario.

[YoungLiberal]

No worries.

As for the Unionists in the Dail - I am nowhere near the most fervent Loyalist in Northern Ireland and I would never entertain accepting 100% Dublin rule in Northern Ireland. Obviously the tens of thousands of other Loyalists who would be even more staunch in their beliefs than me would not accept it either.

If nationalists in Northern Ireland are still crowing about a United Ireland in another 30 years after a generation of peace re-partition and the moving of the border closer to Belfast will become a likely scenario.

Jaysus, what happened to your huge love of democracy? At least, you're being honest, I'll credit you for that.

[abitmoldy]

I posted two links...which is the nutter?

the man behind "Orange Order Exposed"

[SevenStars]

the man behind "Orange Order Exposed"

Nonsense he or one of his friends came on this forum and he seemed to me a very sober, loving Christian...He wants everyone regardless of their political opinion to embrace the Gospel...Can you not realise that the OO marches put RCs off protestantism?

[Northern Voice]

The Truth Seeker - "The Orange Order"

How ludicrous.

The degree system in the Order is hardly something to worked up about, in my opinion.

[damon]

Thanks for the info British Citizen. Shaw's Bridge is down in South Belfast - and I wouldn't want things to be too tame. I'd like a bit of what Caulfield called ''Blood and Thunder'' too, so I would also want to see some parades in places like Shankill Road and Woodvale.

I don't think there's anything wrong with songs like the Billy Boys - and even sung it myself amongst Rangers fans, while keeping it very quiet that I was secretly supporting Celtic. It really depends on what the person's true feelings are - and hopefully that can be just a bit of fun - like calling the referee all kinds of names at a football match - it's not really doing any harm.
I agree with these two guys on that score:

Offside, 6 February | spiked

How about a Celtic-Rangers rebellion? | spiked

I think that I might go and seek out a couple of bands that I have been watching on youtube.
The Mourne Young Defenders are really excellent..

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zanINsYYVwc&feature=PlayList&p=5F470BEFBC2 6B635&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=5"]YouTube- MYD[/ame]

And I would travel to a place like Markethill to see these guys - The Kilcluney Volunteers.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B7_36zylNQ"]YouTube- Kilcluney Volunteers Flute Band Markethill Part 2[/ame]

I wish the two communities could come together on days like that, instead of it being divisive and causing bitterness.

I take your point about some pubs just being in tough areas, regardless of whether they are Loyalist or Republican, but some of the small corner pubs in a place like The Village near Windsor Park do have that look of being ''locals only'' kind of places.
Maybe they're not, but you wouldn't know unless you went in.

Also maybe I was just being a bit paranoid that sunday morning at the Remembrance Sunday parade.
But it was before 11 am and the streets were pretty quiet apart from the people who were on that parade, and they all knew each other. Many of them looked like bouncers in suits. Maybe some stranger without a poppy on might rouse a few suspicions. As well as body language. Millwall fans used to have an uncanny knack of sniffing out supporters from opposing clubs who thought they could just quietly slip in to The Den unnoticed. I have tried it, and the 12 year olds would suss you out and say to the older hooligans ''Look, they're oppos for sure'' at which point you either got a smack in the mouth, ran, or found some police quick.

That people might fly UVF flags is a shame - but I agree that's just the way it can be.

I wonder what would happen if in places like the Garvaghy road, nationalists came out and cheered the parade on. Or at least said that it was welcome to pass through. Not jeer it and cause the bad feeling on all sides. It's hard to hate someone who is being friendly to you.

[oboe]

Thanks for the info British Citizen. Shaw's Bridge is down in South Belfast - and I wouldn't want things to be too tame. I'd like a bit of what Caulfield called ''Blood and Thunder'' too, so I would also want to see some parades in places like Shankill Road and Woodvale.

I don't think there's anything wrong with songs like the Billy Boys - and even sung it myself amongst Rangers fans, while keeping it very quiet that I was secretly supporting Celtic. It really depends on what the person's true feelings are - and hopefully that can be just a bit of fun - like calling the referee all kinds of names at a football match - it's not really doing any harm.
I agree with these two guys on that score:

Offside, 6 February | spiked
your naivety is touching in it's simplicity. You expect Catholics to support an organisation that was established to oppose Catholics?? Not really surprising from someone who thinks it's acceptable to sing songs glorifying the shedding of catholic blood
How about a Celtic-Rangers rebellion? | spiked

I think that I might go and seek out a couple of bands that I have been watching on youtube.
The Mourne Young Defenders are really excellent..

YouTube- MYD

And I would travel to a place like Markethill to see these guys - The Kilcluney Volunteers.

YouTube- Kilcluney Volunteers Flute Band Markethill Part 2

I wish the two communities could come together on days like that, instead of it being divisive and causing bitterness.

I take your point about some pubs just being in tough areas, regardless of whether they are Loyalist or Republican, but some of the small corner pubs in a place like The Village near Windsor Park do have that look of being ''locals only'' kind of places.
Maybe they're not, but you wouldn't know unless you went in.

Also maybe I was just being a bit paranoid that sunday morning at the Remembrance Sunday parade.
But it was before 11 am and the streets were pretty quiet apart from the people who were on that parade, and they all knew each other. Many of them looked like bouncers in suits. Maybe some stranger without a poppy on might rouse a few suspicions. As well as body language. Millwall fans used to have an uncanny knack of sniffing out supporters from opposing clubs who thought they could just quietly slip in to The Den unnoticed. I have tried it, and the 12 year olds would suss you out and say to the older hooligans ''Look, they're oppos for sure'' at which point you either got a smack in the mouth, ran, or found some police quick.

That people might fly UVF flags is a shame - but I agree that's just the way it can be.

I wonder what would happen if in places like the Garvaghy road, nationalists came out and cheered the parade on. Or at least said that it was welcome to pass through. Not jeer it and cause the bad feeling on all sides. It's hard to hate someone who is being friendly to you.

[oboe]

Wouldn't post for some reason. Damon it is niave to expect Irish Catholics to support an organisation that was established to oppose Irish Catholics. perhaps hard for you to appreciate that if you think it is acceptable to sing songs that celebrates the shedding of Irish catholic blood

[centauro]

Damon it is niave to expect Irish Catholics to support an organisation that was established to oppose Irish Catholics. perhaps hard for you to appreciate that if you think it is acceptable to sing songs that celebrates the shedding of Irish catholic blood

Nothing naieve about it. You can watch, or at least tolerate the existance of a parade without "supporting" it. I'm a unionist from N.I. but I went to Dublin at Easter 2006 for the 1916 commemoration parade. The Irish army paraded past with their armourd cars and colums of troops. The whole thing was "foreign" to me, and politically, I wasn't in tune with most of the other spectators. I still enjoyed the spectacle.

Incidentally, there are some pretty objectionable lyrics in the Soldier Song.

[oboe]

Nothing naieve about it. You can watch, or at least tolerate the existance of a parade without "supporting" it. I'm a unionist from N.I. but I went to Dublin at Easter 2006 for the 1916 commemoration parade. The Irish army paraded past with their armourd cars and colums of troops. The whole thing was "foreign" to me, and politically, I wasn't in tune with most of the other spectators. I still enjoyed the spectacle.

Incidentally, there are some pretty objectionable lyrics in the Soldier Song.

1916 was not a rebellion against unionists. The OO on the other hand was created specifically to oppose Irish Catholics. By all means parade and enjoy yourselves but don't be surprised when Irish Catholics don't join in this particular brand of festivities. As for the soilders song whatabouterry so what? it's a dirge. Does that excuse the Billy Boys in your eyes ?The Billy Boys is a song of anti catholic violence and if Damon cannot see why Irish Catholics might find this objectional then he is niave in the extreme