Messages

Jim Shannon says grey squirrels are the Hamas of the squirrel world.

I saw that, what a clampet. I would say he would know a lot about the whole thing, I would also say the back of a stamp would be sufficient to escapstulate his greater thoughts on the matter.

So who do we back?

The standard is poor this year and has been for the past few years, however it entertains us through the months and it's all we have got.

Any score updates for the Dublin championship games?

Annie power done the damage, still managed a few pints lol

The last one is crucial,

Nice wee ante post £1 ew lucky 15 running, vatour7/2, my tent or yours5/1, balthazars king @6/1 one to go, should be fun. Was def money to be made today I balleds it up as usual

Still muling over a few but have a good one lad its some buzz

Regal Encore currently 11/4 def worth a shout @ 3:15 sandown on sat men. Also an ew punt on who's that at Gowran, ran a cracker last day at a big price and got boxed in so give it another try

Few things to do round westport house, think theres a pitch a putt up at it

What I mean is that rather than deliver us a road to unity the peace process has put it a long ways off, if it will ever happen. There is no denying that we are in a far better place than we were before the cease fires. However rather than unionism embracing an Irish dimension or compromising on symbolism and flags etc... they have become more entrenched and secure in the knowledge that the Union is safe and they hold a veto. Nationalist on the otherhand have embraced this whole notion of Northern Ireland as a UK region, we seem to have embraced our "Britishness" and are tolerant of British companies now treating NI branches as they do "mainland" branches. We no longer object to the flying of the Union flag and other really British point of sale used by these retailers (I'm not taliking about tea bags and that wasn't me any way). These are things that are small but are evident of a shift that I don't think SF anticipated. The acceptance of Derry as UK City of culture is another example of nationalists tacitly accepting that NI is an integral part of the UK. Does it matter? I would say from where I stand probably not to most nationalists ( more accurately catholics). In fairness to SF they have not embraced the mother of parliaments with the gusto of the SDLP, but surely only a matter of time. All the compromises seem to be coming from nationalists. The change is maybe some what intangible but there non the less.

A few points just, Unionism is dependent on the union so they are never going to give up on issues of flags etc there is no compromise on these issues for them. yet they are changing whether they like it or nopt(city hall for example)They believe its a british state and these symbols etc are symbolic of Britain so they stay. This has always been the case and always will. whilst i acknowledge what your saying in your post i would say that SF are completly aware of this shift but are willing to accept it and if you like be the bigger person in the strategical political battle.  So in essence its a mean to an end and there is a bigger picture.To the international world its Nationalism that comes across as the group willing to compromise. Take for example the HAAS talks at present i am sure there are a lot of issues the Nationalists are willing to compromise on but unionists are standing firm. Nationalists acknowledge that a shared future must include all sections of the community, their culture has already been eroded over the years in many ways and thus they are gaining the basic rights that would exist in a normal society inclusive of all. Unionism is however the spoilt brat in the debate, making the transition from a society where they controlled all and had the upper hand over the fenians to now realising they can no longer bully. They still though cannot religuish the union as it makes up their core ideological principles they also cannot accept change and are not pragmatic. Theres a bit of old Maggie Thatcher in them. Sf has taken it a wider scale and the International community now looking in know what is going on, the issues of last summer are in a sick way positive for nationalists as they highlight just how the Unionists aren't willing to compromise. But when the eyes of the world are on them and pressure on Britain there are changes they will be forced to accept. So i would say SF are very mush so aware of the shift but to a certain axtent it is tactical. Regarding the embracing of the Parliament i can't see that happening anytime soon as thwere are no real gains from it.

Yes the hurlers is correct

clinker

couldn't believe it when i heard it on the news there tonight , some traveling if nothing else.

May be another thread but just wondering how Mc Geeney can be on the Armagh Backroom staff and the Tipperary hurling one?