IRA's psychological effect on unionists/loyalists

[Amach na Casca]

Irish people who fought for Britain in WW1 did so primarily because it was a job which put food on the table. They were duped, and conned into fighting with Satans soldiers, out of economic necessity, and empty promises of home rule.They were cannon fodder in the war the same as working class souls from any part of the UK.

As a republican my sympathy lies with the men who died to make Ireland free, but I don't think we should be too harsh on the memory of our poor dead who died in the World War either. Different time, different circumstances.

That said; I would think there is absolute no excuse for an Irishman who decided to fight with teh Brits in this day and age!

[Aindriu]

Irish people who fought for Britain in WW1 did so primarily because it was a job which put food on the table. They were duped, and conned into fighting with Satans soldiers, out of economic necessity, and empty promises of home rule.They were cannon fodder in the war the same as working class souls from any part of the UK.

As a republican my sympathy lies with the men who died to make Ireland free, but I don't think we should be too harsh on the memory of our poor dead who died in the World War either. Different time, different circumstances.

That said; I would think there is absolute no excuse for an Irishman who decided to fight with teh Brits in this day and age!

Well said!

[Cloigeann]

Great now can we get back to topic pleease?

[raff]

My apologies for straying off topic.

[Kerrygold]

Tom Barry's earlier days were a product of his upbringing. He redeemed himself by joining in the fight to liberate Ireland. Redemption is the key to it, we are all capable of making mistakes, some of us are lucky to get/or insightful enough to take another go at it and redeem ourselves.

So those who were unfortunate to get killed and therefore didn't have a chance to redeem themselves are traitors, yet Tom Barry who didn't get killed is not a traitor.

You're clearly an idiot.

[Kerrygold]

Many people joined the British Army during WW1 because it was a wage and enabled them to feed their families.

The same could be said of touts. Would it be crass to denounce them as well?

No, informers 'tout' on their former comrades or there fellow countrymen for money. Big difference.

[raff]

Many people joined the British Army during WW1 because it was a wage and enabled them to feed their families.

The same could be said of touts. Would it be crass to denounce them as well?

No, informers 'tout' on their former comrades or there fellow countrymen for money. Big difference.

No not much of a difference really, both sell out their country men and women for a few coppers from the crown. And re: Tom Barry, if he died in Flanders he too would have been nothing more than an Irish man fighting for Britain.

I am sorry if reality doesn't honour your uncles but that is the horrible thing about life, if I had fallen off a wall while drunk and got killed I would be that fella that fell off the wall and got killed instead of that idiot or p.rick that is arguing with you!

[Inishowen]

The memorials to the 16th Irish and 10th Irish Divisions in France, Belgium, and Salonika read: 'Do chum glóire Dé agus Ónora na hEireann' For the Glory of God and the Honour of Ireland - some of you so called 'republicans' may recognise the quote from memorials closer to home.
There is no doubt that these men were fighting and dying for Ireland.

When the split came in the Volunteers 90% of them went with Redmond to support Home Rule by fighting in the war, only a tiny minority went with McNeil. To sit in judgement on them over 90 years on and label them all traitors is assenine, infantile, and offensive.

[raff]

The memorials to the 16th Irish and 10th Irish Divisions in France, Belgium, and Salonika read: 'Do chum glóire Dé agus Ónora na hEireann' For the Glory of God and the Honour of Ireland - some of you so called 'republicans' may recognise the quote from memorials closer to home.
There is no doubt that these men were fighting and dying for Ireland.

When the split came in the Volunteers 90% of them went with Redmond to support Home Rule by fighting in the war, only a tiny minority went with McNeil. To sit in judgement on them over 90 years on and label them all traitors is assenine, infantile, and offensive.

Please excuse my assenine, infantile, and offensive question but, how in the hell were these men fighting for Ireland?

[Aindriu]

The memorials to the 16th Irish and 10th Irish Divisions in France, Belgium, and Salonika read: 'Do chum glóire Dé agus Ónora na hEireann' For the Glory of God and the Honour of Ireland - some of you so called 'republicans' may recognise the quote from memorials closer to home.
There is no doubt that these men were fighting and dying for Ireland.

When the split came in the Volunteers 90% of them went with Redmond to support Home Rule by fighting in the war, only a tiny minority went with McNeil. To sit in judgement on them over 90 years on and label them all traitors is assenine, infantile, and offensive.

Please excuse my assenine, infantile, and offensive question but, how in the hell were these men fighting for Ireland?

Simple. Had Kaiser Wilhem II succeeded in his quest to dominate France & Belgium he would have carried onto the UK. Ireland was, at that time, part of the UK so we would have been targets for attack. Given this, whatever whataboutery some may wish to attach to it, they were fighting for Ireland just as much as GB.

How about trying to answer my question posted earlier? Would home rule have gone through if the 1916 rising not taken place? Many scholars and academics think it would and that the rising caused the British to crack down on Ireland and abandon plans for home rule.