Very tough decision for SDLP to make tonight.Do they defy big Al and not turn up for this crucial vote or do they toe the Party Line and alienate the local populace and hand a massive coup to Sinn Fein
I cannot see why this is an issue. All the locals want the name, and most of Newry, so it would be very undemocratic decision if the name is taken down.
The unionists don't seen to get upset about the "Andy Tyrie Interpretive Centre" on the Newtownards Road in Belfast.
Sinn Féin councillors have blocked unionist efforts to reconsider naming a Newry play park.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-31703859
Quote from: T Fearon on March 02, 2015, 06:47:33 PM
Very tough decision for SDLP to make tonight.Do they defy big Al and not turn up for this crucial vote or do they toe the Party Line and alienate the local populace and hand a massive coup to Sinn Fein
I don't think it should be a difficult decision at all.
Alas the vote has been blocked but SDLP needed to grow a set and stand up to the shinners.
Quote from: Orior on March 02, 2015, 09:10:43 PM
I cannot see why this is an issue. All the locals want the name, and most of Newry, so it would be very undemocratic decision if the name is taken down.
The unionists don't seen to get upset about the "Andy Tyrie Interpretive Centre" on the Newtownards Road in Belfast.
You cannot conceive of a single reason why some people might be deeply offended by the choice of name? Hard to believe.
Many unionists would have great difficulty with the naming of the Andy Tyrie Centre. A bit of a hoohaa on that might do a bit of good.
Quote from: Agent Orange on March 02, 2015, 09:37:15 PM
Sinn Féin councillors have blocked unionist efforts to reconsider naming a Newry play park.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-31703859
The Shinners and DUP seem to be operating with the same tactics book
Quote from: LCohen on March 02, 2015, 09:56:55 PM
Quote from: Orior on March 02, 2015, 09:10:43 PM
I cannot see why this is an issue. All the locals want the name, and most of Newry, so it would be very undemocratic decision if the name is taken down.
The unionists don't seen to get upset about the "Andy Tyrie Interpretive Centre" on the Newtownards Road in Belfast.
You cannot conceive of a single reason why some people might be deeply offended by the choice of name? Hard to believe.
Many unionists would have great difficulty with the naming of the Andy Tyrie Centre. A bit of a hoohaa on that might do a bit of good.
Can you envisage parents from Glenanne taking their kids to play in the park in Belleek?
Quote from: Orior on March 02, 2015, 10:39:27 PM
Quote from: LCohen on March 02, 2015, 09:56:55 PM
Quote from: Orior on March 02, 2015, 09:10:43 PM
I cannot see why this is an issue. All the locals want the name, and most of Newry, so it would be very undemocratic decision if the name is taken down.
The unionists don't seen to get upset about the "Andy Tyrie Interpretive Centre" on the Newtownards Road in Belfast.
You cannot conceive of a single reason why some people might be deeply offended by the choice of name? Hard to believe.
Many unionists would have great difficulty with the naming of the Andy Tyrie Centre. A bit of a hoohaa on that might do a bit of good.
Can you envisage parents from Glenanne taking their kids to play in the park in Belleek?
No.
And?
I can't imagine tom Elliott or any of his mates going to play in the park so what's the problem. Similarly I don't think too many nationalists would be upset by the names of parks in loyalist areas. Mountain out of a mole hill
Quote from: An Watcher on March 02, 2015, 11:00:17 PM
I can't imagine tom Elliott or any of his mates going to play in the park so what's the problem. Similarly I don't think too many nationalists would be upset by the names of parks in loyalist areas. Mountain out of a mole hill
Ghettoisation is the way forward.
Whilst I can understand that some may want to commemorate such individuals, I don't see how anyone would consider this to be a suitable name for a children's play park.
At the end of the day i always hope Northern ireland and the people living here would see sense. now i actually think they are f**king stupid! Years of oppression under the unionist thumb i expect we know better when we eventually got majority in areas, no, in a way we are doing the polar opposite what the unionists done, only its green and gold and not red and white agenda.
We end up with areas west of the bann with no flags policy, Irish language on all signs ( if i wanted to know Irish i would have kept it on at school) and everything a cold house for unionists, on the other side of the bann, flags fly all year in their dominated councils, more parades and the catholics in the minority will be minized. Its nearly a bit like the Nazis tramping the Jews, then when they got on top taking time out to tr**p the Palestines.
Naming play park after a hunger striker no matter what you believe is wrong, its children playing here you idiots, i know what opinion i would have if some park in portadown was named after Billy Wright. I have no problem with Kevin Lynch been called that, that's a decision made by a local GAA club and it now a club with a history of hurling titles behind the its name. but a play park is supposed to be for all no matter religion, creed or colour and if the people of Newry cant see this, well maybe there very little hope for this place.
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on March 03, 2015, 12:16:18 AM
At the end of the day i always hope Northern ireland and the people living here would see sense. now i actually think they are f**king stupid! Years of oppression under the unionist thumb i expect we know better when we eventually got majority in areas, no, in a way we are doing the polar opposite what the unionists done, only its green and gold and not red and white agenda.
We end up with areas west of the bann with no flags policy, Irish language on all signs ( if i wanted to know Irish i would have kept it on at school) and everything a cold house for unionists, on the other side of the bann, flags fly all year in their dominated councils, more parades and the catholics in the minority will be minized. Its nearly a bit like the Nazis tramping the Jews, then when they got on top taking time out to tr**p the Palestines.
Naming play park after a hunger striker no matter what you believe is wrong, its children playing here you idiots, i know what opinion i would have if some park in portadown was named after Billy Wright. I have no problem with Kevin Lynch been called that, that's a decision made by a local GAA club and it now a club with a history of hurling titles behind the its name. but a play park is supposed to be for all no matter religion, creed or colour and if the people of Newry cant see this, well maybe there very little hope for this place.
I see your point about the Newry playpark, but throwing the Irish language into the mix means you are either a WUM or are suffering from a severe cash of cultural cringe.
Unless you're sending in a demolition crew, I'm quite sure the park will continue to exist.
Next question.
Oh learning Irish doesn't make me feel anymore Irish, except when i got lost in Galway when all the signs were in Irish years ago. The school i was at nearly all the pupils dropped Irish after 3rd year, no body wanted to learn it, then again we didn't want to learn Spanish or french either to be honest, But i find lets put the Irish language first on all signs in certain councils childish, Does it make u feel anymore Irish. Just the way all you die hard Irish supporters support English soccer teams, hardly supporting Irish roots,
The problem with Irish is it's left too late to start teaching it. If it were taught in primary school from the age of about 5 the language would be in much better shape. Starting to learn a language after the age of ten is a hundred times harder, so it's no wonder most people pack it in at the first opportunity.
I did Irish in relation to translating the names for the football team sheets for years but that's as far as it got, too many lads these days have names you couldn't translate into Irish.
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on March 03, 2015, 12:29:13 AM
Oh learning Irish doesn't make me feel anymore Irish, except when i got lost in Galway when all the signs were in Irish years ago. The school i was at nearly all the pupils dropped Irish after 3rd year, no body wanted to learn it, then again we didn't want to learn Spanish or french either to be honest, But i find lets put the Irish language first on all signs in certain councils childish, Does it make u feel anymore Irish. Just the way all you die hard Irish supporters support English soccer teams, hardly supporting Irish roots,
Whatever your opinion, there are people who would like the proper version of placenames etc and there is no reason for unionists to find this objectionable, so it should not be conflated with the McCreesh park issue.
Quote from: Eamonnca1 on March 03, 2015, 12:32:27 AM
The problem with Irish is it's left too late to start teaching it. If it were taught in primary school from the age of about 5 the language would be in much better shape. Starting to learn a language after the age of ten is a hundred times harder, so it's no wonder most people pack it in at the first opportunity.
You can catch up via an intensive programme watching sport on TV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBWhJUh7wPk
I'm sure the new alliance of the Catholic Church and the DUP will rally round to . . . how was that meant to work again?
I don't agree with naming a play park after anyone no matter who they are. It's a bloody play park!!! But it has been called this for 14 years now so you have to really question why bother at this stage. As for the Uncle Andy interpretive centre, don't get me started on those boyos!!! Give my head peace :P
Quote from: Eamonnca1 on March 03, 2015, 12:32:27 AM
The problem with Irish is it's left too late to start teaching it. If it were taught in primary school from the age of about 5 the language would be in much better shape. Starting to learn a language after the age of ten is a hundred times harder, so it's no wonder most people pack it in at the first opportunity.
This isn't the problem.
The problem with Irish is that there is not one single human being on earth who speaks Irish, who doesn't also speak English equally well or better.
Therefore doing anything - website, road sign, leaflet, minutes - in both languages is an unnecessary duplication, and a thorough waste of money.
By all means our Gaielegors are entitled to enjoy their cupla focal. But for the 99.9991% of us who will always read a sign in English first, stop wasting our effing money on this duplication.
Quote from: thewobbler on March 03, 2015, 09:58:23 AM
Quote from: Eamonnca1 on March 03, 2015, 12:32:27 AM
The problem with Irish is it's left too late to start teaching it. If it were taught in primary school from the age of about 5 the language would be in much better shape. Starting to learn a language after the age of ten is a hundred times harder, so it's no wonder most people pack it in at the first opportunity.
This isn't the problem.
The problem with Irish is that there is not one single human being on earth who speaks Irish, who doesn't also speak English equally well or better.
Therefore doing anything - website, road sign, leaflet, minutes - in both languages is an unnecessary duplication, and a thorough waste of money.
By all means our Gaielegors are entitled to enjoy their cupla focal. But for the 99.9991% of us who will always read a sign in English first, stop wasting our effing money on this duplication.
I agree totally. Best thing to do would be to have one school in each town to which all children in the area should be sent. No more of duplication of services by having schools all over the place. Oh and the first language of the new schools would be Irish - thereby your concerns would be address - as there would be no more duplication and after a few generations everyone would speak Irish fluently.
The only thing you need to know about this contrived controversy, the UDR memorial in the middle of Lisburn erected by Unionist councillors and paid for by all ratepayers in the area.
(http://www.jeffreydonaldson.org/images/sized/images/uploads/7-406x450.jpg)
(http://www.lisburn.com/archives/info/news-2011/news-2011-images/lasting-legacy1.jpg)
(http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/88/89/2888927_71981a4c.jpg)
There is nobody who can play Gaelic football who cannot also play soccer, why are we bothering with it?
Quote from: Ulick on March 03, 2015, 10:20:14 AM
The only thing you need to know about this contrived controversy, the UDR memorial in the middle of Lisburn erected by Unionist councillors and paid for by all ratepayers in the area.
(http://www.jeffreydonaldson.org/images/sized/images/uploads/7-406x450.jpg)
(http://www.lisburn.com/archives/info/news-2011/news-2011-images/lasting-legacy1.jpg)
(http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/88/89/2888927_71981a4c.jpg)
That UDR guy is a Liverpool fan?
Quote from: AZOffaly on March 03, 2015, 01:11:08 PM
Quote from: Ulick on March 03, 2015, 10:20:14 AM
The only thing you need to know about this contrived controversy, the UDR memorial in the middle of Lisburn erected by Unionist councillors and paid for by all ratepayers in the area.
(http://www.jeffreydonaldson.org/images/sized/images/uploads/7-406x450.jpg)
(http://www.lisburn.com/archives/info/news-2011/news-2011-images/lasting-legacy1.jpg)
(http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/88/89/2888927_71981a4c.jpg)
That UDR guy is a Liverpool fan?
More than likely as Everton is the only Catholic club in Liverpool ;)
We won it 5 times. We won it 5 times. :)
Quote from: thewobbler on March 03, 2015, 09:58:23 AM
Quote from: Eamonnca1 on March 03, 2015, 12:32:27 AM
The problem with Irish is it's left too late to start teaching it. If it were taught in primary school from the age of about 5 the language would be in much better shape. Starting to learn a language after the age of ten is a hundred times harder, so it's no wonder most people pack it in at the first opportunity.
This isn't the problem.
The problem with Irish is that there is not one single human being on earth who speaks Irish, who doesn't also speak English equally well or better.
Therefore doing anything - website, road sign, leaflet, minutes - in both languages is an unnecessary duplication, and a thorough waste of money.
By all means our Gaielegors are entitled to enjoy their cupla focal. But for the 99.9991% of us who will always read a sign in English first, stop wasting our effing money on this duplication.
It's about identity. Northern Irish road signs are shite- as if all the names came from English.
Bilingual signs carry more information and the cost is negligible .
If you want to save real money cut pensions. ;)
2 unsustainable trends in UK spending are health and pensions
Quote from: seafoid on March 03, 2015, 01:38:49 PM
Quote from: thewobbler on March 03, 2015, 09:58:23 AM
Quote from: Eamonnca1 on March 03, 2015, 12:32:27 AM
The problem with Irish is it's left too late to start teaching it. If it were taught in primary school from the age of about 5 the language would be in much better shape. Starting to learn a language after the age of ten is a hundred times harder, so it's no wonder most people pack it in at the first opportunity.
This isn't the problem.
The problem with Irish is that there is not one single human being on earth who speaks Irish, who doesn't also speak English equally well or better.
Therefore doing anything - website, road sign, leaflet, minutes - in both languages is an unnecessary duplication, and a thorough waste of money.
By all means our Gaielegors are entitled to enjoy their cupla focal. But for the 99.9991% of us who will always read a sign in English first, stop wasting our effing money on this duplication.
It's about identity. Northern Irish road signs are shite- as if all the names came from English.
Bilingual signs carry more information and the cost is negligible .
If you want to save real money cut pensions. ;)
2 unsustainable trends in UK spending are health and pensions
Which party is going to take that on? Never going to happen wholesale but bound to be reductions in various areas of Health and a reduction in pensions, most companies have to have a scheme of sorts for their employees. It will end up in happening but very stealthy
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on March 03, 2015, 01:52:35 PM
Quote from: seafoid on March 03, 2015, 01:38:49 PM
Quote from: thewobbler on March 03, 2015, 09:58:23 AM
Quote from: Eamonnca1 on March 03, 2015, 12:32:27 AM
The problem with Irish is it's left too late to start teaching it. If it were taught in primary school from the age of about 5 the language would be in much better shape. Starting to learn a language after the age of ten is a hundred times harder, so it's no wonder most people pack it in at the first opportunity.
This isn't the problem.
The problem with Irish is that there is not one single human being on earth who speaks Irish, who doesn't also speak English equally well or better.
Therefore doing anything - website, road sign, leaflet, minutes - in both languages is an unnecessary duplication, and a thorough waste of money.
By all means our Gaielegors are entitled to enjoy their cupla focal. But for the 99.9991% of us who will always read a sign in English first, stop wasting our effing money on this duplication.
It's about identity. Northern Irish road signs are shite- as if all the names came from English.
Bilingual signs carry more information and the cost is negligible .
If you want to save real money cut pensions. ;)
2 unsustainable trends in UK spending are health and pensions
Which party is going to take that on? Never going to happen wholesale but bound to be reductions in various areas of Health and a reduction in pensions, most companies have to have a scheme of sorts for their employees. It will end up in happening but very stealthy
There are graphs here on the trend in social security and health spending by the UK Government and the trend is only going one way.
I think you can look at 3 articles a month by just registering. 40% of social security is pensions
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/7a81db82-89f9-11e4-8daa-00144feabdc0.html
Interesting
Going by the unionists logic anything named after the royal family would have to be removed. State sponsored acts of terror would fall under the same category surely.
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on March 03, 2015, 02:21:17 PM
Interesting
Scary
there won't be anything left by the time we retire at age 77
Live stream of the debate in Stormont now:
http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/assembly-business/live-coverage/video-live-stream-1/
Quote from: seafoid on March 03, 2015, 01:59:05 PM
There are graphs here on the trend in social security and health spending by the UK Government and the trend is only going one way.
I think you can look at 3 articles a month by just registering. 40% of social security is pensions
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/7a81db82-89f9-11e4-8daa-00144feabdc0.html
And NI is not in great shape, with 50% more in public employment than Britain or the Republic.
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/a40aa234-c0f6-11e4-88ca-00144feab7de.html?siteedition=intl
Quote from: Ulick on March 03, 2015, 10:20:14 AM
The only thing you need to know about this contrived controversy, the UDR memorial in the middle of Lisburn erected by Unionist councillors and paid for by all ratepayers in the area.
(http://www.jeffreydonaldson.org/images/sized/images/uploads/7-406x450.jpg)
You're right. And SF had no problem with that, given that the majority of people in Lisburn didn't. Oh no, wait...
UDR monument sends out clear message nationalists not welcome in Lisburn23 August, 2006
Sinn Féin Group leader on Lisburn Council Paul Butler today described the proposed memorial for the UDR in Lisburn City centre as deeply insulting to the many victims of this unionist militia.
Cllr. Butler said:
"It is high time that Lisburn Council stopped pedalling the myth that Lisburn is a City for All,. The council excludes nationalists and republicans from the top positions, it insists on breaking equality law by flying the Union Jack 365 days every year and has now decided to place a monument to the UDR militia in the city centre.
"The UDR was involved in the murder of many nationalists and it has been acknowledged by the British government as being the source for much of the loyalist death squads, weaponry. If monuments are to be erected to the UDR then it should be in non contentious areas or indeed within the military bases from where they operated. A city centre is no such place for such a memorial of this kind. A clear message is being sent out that Catholics and nationalists, the victims of this force, are not welcome in Lisburn, a fact which will have to be acknowledged by any potential future investors in the area.
"Tonight within the Lisburn Borough a local family will hold a vigil to remember their son killed 20 years ago. It is widely accepted that the UDR are involved in this murder, yet UUP, DUP and Alliance Councillors think that it is appropriate that a monument to the killers of Michael Power be erected in the centre of the Council area in which he lived."
http://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/7394
If it's not right in Lisburn, it's not right in Newry. The hypocrisy is ridiculous.
I'm sure the SDLP have no issue with having a UDR monument anywhere. Same lot who jumped in with the unionists to remove the word 'Derry' from a plaque at the Guildhall last year.
Quote from: Maguire01 on March 03, 2015, 05:57:16 PM
If it's not right in Lisburn, it's not right in Newry. The hypocrisy is ridiculous.
The Shinners are ahead you Maguire, it is not right in the city centre, but is OK as an expression of the "local community".
Perhaps unionists could get their own house in order before poking their nose into others
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/businesses-flee-uvf-extortion-in-east-belfast-reveals-mp-long-31032332.html (http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/businesses-flee-uvf-extortion-in-east-belfast-reveals-mp-long-31032332.html)
QuoteBusiness owners are leaving east Belfast to set up elsewhere because of the level of control loyalist paramilitaries have in the area, it has been warned.
MP for the area Naomi Long said that jobs and financial investment have been lost because a number of employers felt they had no other choice but to sell up.
Ms Long said that business owners have told her they believed "the neutrality of the area had been compromised" to such a degree that they could "no longer bring a mixed workforce into the neighbourhood".
"Unfortunately the trappings of paramilitarism does drive businesses out of this constituency and has done so," the Alliance MP told the Belfast Telegraph.
She added: "We need to try and communicate the impact that has on day-to-day lives. When these businesses were here they were buying their lunch here, filling their cars in the petrol stations here, they were investing in jobs here. When you remove that business you remove those knock-on effects."
Two years ago the PSNI launched Operation MORS to tackle criminal activity by members of the loyalist paramilitary group, the Ulster Volunteer Force, in the east of the city.
Police have insisted that the paramilitary gang is continually being disrupted. The PSNI said there were 175 drug seizures and 115 related arrests in the area last year.
However, residents living in UVF strongholds in the east have told the Belfast Telegraph how they have to "toe the line or face the consequences".
And they claimed the paramilitary group was taking advantage of foreign nationals, forcing them to pay protection money.
"They say that the foreign nationals, particularly the Polish, are good payers. They're an easy target to make big money.
"I know an Orangeman who was warned off by the UVF after he asked his Polish neighbours to turn their music down. He was told by the UVF they were good payers and to leave them alone. It's now cash before the sash," one resident said.
Another added: "They are thugs but you have to toe the line or face the consequences. They can make your life hell if they want."
A large portion of businesses in the area are forced to pay "protection money" to the terror group. The fee is around £15 a week, but at Christmas and over the July fortnight business owners must pay a £500 bonus. If they refuse they face the risk of having their business burnt to the ground.
A businessman told this paper: "I sold up and got out. I just got fed up constantly battling with them and being ordered to hand over my money."
Ms Long said that the police and other statutory agencies must be challenged to stand up to the paramilitaries.
"If they don't, then the ordinary people on the street will not have the confidence to do it," said Ms Long.
She added: "As an MP I deal a lot with people who have issues with paramilitarism. They come to me because they know I have taken a stand against it.
"We do our best but it is not always easy. There are still parts of this constituency where paramilitaries are able to intimidate local residents where they feel they have no say in their own community. We need to work with police and agencies to try and break the hold they have."
Quote from: armaghniac on March 03, 2015, 08:20:47 PM
Quote from: Maguire01 on March 03, 2015, 05:57:16 PM
If it's not right in Lisburn, it's not right in Newry. The hypocrisy is ridiculous.
The Shinners are ahead you Maguire, it is not right in the city centre, but is OK as an expression of the "local community".
That's dancing on the head of a pin. And I was responding to Ulick, who drew the parallel in the first place.
The DUP and the UUP had no problem backing permission for a memorial bench in memory of the notorious
LVF thug Mark "Swinger" Fulton in Craigavon
http://www.irishabroad.com/news/irish-voice/news/OutrageOverMonumenttoKiller031007.aspx
Armaghniac had a post earlier on the thread about NI public spending being 50% higher than elsewhere but it's linked to the situation in OWC where sectarianism can explode at any turn, to be followed by its close relative, whataboutery . The Norn Irn statelet will never be normal. There may be periods of quiet but it'll always "B Special".
James connolly park is the next street beside the play park it's a wonder they haven't complained about it. Probably next on the agenda. A lot of fuss over a park that has been named for years.why now? Not to many people in barcroft would be wanting it changed that's for sure.
Newry is hardly a cold house for unionists. The 12th is held there every few years with no protests or Twadwell type scenarios.
Quote from: Maguire01 on March 03, 2015, 10:51:34 PM
Quote from: armaghniac on March 03, 2015, 08:20:47 PM
Quote from: Maguire01 on March 03, 2015, 05:57:16 PM
If it's not right in Lisburn, it's not right in Newry. The hypocrisy is ridiculous.
The Shinners are ahead you Maguire, it is not right in the city centre, but is OK as an expression of the "local community".
That's dancing on the head of a pin. And I was responding to Ulick, who drew the parallel in the first place.
Sorry did I miss the SF legislation proposing to ban all such memorials? Guess I must have if you've mounted the high horse.
Quote from: foxcommander on March 03, 2015, 02:52:55 PM
Going by the unionists logic anything named after the royal family would have to be removed. State sponsored acts of terror would fall under the same category surely.
There is a widespread belief that the flipside of republican tradition only contains the various loyalist paramilitary groups. But the flipside of republican tradition is the entire anti-republican tradition, and that active anti-republican tradition is/or was, loyalism, institutions & instruments of administration in NI as well as the British state & army. Unionists don't use logic when they attempt to selectively criminalise republican tradition, but if you were to follow their thinking on this matter, then by definition, all equivalent loyalist and british paraphernalia should be removed.
Quote from: Ulick on March 04, 2015, 02:35:34 PM
Quote from: Maguire01 on March 03, 2015, 10:51:34 PM
Quote from: armaghniac on March 03, 2015, 08:20:47 PM
Quote from: Maguire01 on March 03, 2015, 05:57:16 PM
If it's not right in Lisburn, it's not right in Newry. The hypocrisy is ridiculous.
The Shinners are ahead you Maguire, it is not right in the city centre, but is OK as an expression of the "local community".
That's dancing on the head of a pin. And I was responding to Ulick, who drew the parallel in the first place.
Sorry did I miss the SF legislation proposing to ban all such memorials? Guess I must have if you've mounted the high horse.
You referred to "contrived controversy". If one is contrived, then so is the other - i'm not sure that either are, and I wouldn't support either. There may be minor differences in detail, but the substance of the two scenarios are pretty similar - public places being used by either side to 'commemorate' their side, other side gets offended.
Not sure why the "high horse" comment has been made.
Quote from: Maguire01 on March 04, 2015, 06:27:30 PM
Not sure why the "high horse" comment has been made.
Maybe it's because you never get off it?
Quote from: thewobbler on March 03, 2015, 09:58:23 AM
Quote from: Eamonnca1 on March 03, 2015, 12:32:27 AM
The problem with Irish is it's left too late to start teaching it. If it were taught in primary school from the age of about 5 the language would be in much better shape. Starting to learn a language after the age of ten is a hundred times harder, so it's no wonder most people pack it in at the first opportunity.
This isn't the problem.
The problem with Irish is that there is not one single human being on earth who speaks Irish, who doesn't also speak English equally well or better.
Therefore doing anything - website, road sign, leaflet, minutes - in both languages is an unnecessary duplication, and a thorough waste of money.
By all means our Gaielegors are entitled to enjoy their cupla focal. But for the 99.9991% of us who will always read a sign in English first, stop wasting our effing money on this duplication.
Really? I seem to recall Stephen Nolan doing a 'fact finding' mission for a BBC NI documentary along with Hector about a year or so ago; where a farmer from Connemara was barely, if at all able to converse in English, but was fluent in Irish.
Describing the Irish Language as a waste of money is a bit OTT. I realise it might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is a valuable part of the cultural heritage of this part of the world. Granted some of the duplication (in government literature especially) is unnecessary and perhaps wasteful, I would be strongly in favour of road/street signage featuring The English/Irish and then literal translation. I don't see how providing such information can be seen as wasting effing money.
Quote from: general_lee on March 04, 2015, 07:38:03 PM
Quote from: thewobbler on March 03, 2015, 09:58:23 AM
Quote from: Eamonnca1 on March 03, 2015, 12:32:27 AM
The problem with Irish is it's left too late to start teaching it. If it were taught in primary school from the age of about 5 the language would be in much better shape. Starting to learn a language after the age of ten is a hundred times harder, so it's no wonder most people pack it in at the first opportunity.
This isn't the problem.
The problem with Irish is that there is not one single human being on earth who speaks Irish, who doesn't also speak English equally well or better.
Therefore doing anything - website, road sign, leaflet, minutes - in both languages is an unnecessary duplication, and a thorough waste of money.
By all means our Gaielegors are entitled to enjoy their cupla focal. But for the 99.9991% of us who will always read a sign in English first, stop wasting our effing money on this duplication.
Really? I seem to recall Stephen Nolan doing a 'fact finding' mission for a BBC NI documentary along with Hector about a year or so ago; where a farmer from Connemara was barely, if at all able to converse in English, but was fluent in Irish.
Describing the Irish Language as a waste of money is a bit OTT. I realise it might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is a valuable part of the cultural heritage of this part of the world. Granted some of the duplication (in government literature especially) is unnecessary and perhaps wasteful, I would be strongly in favour of road/street signage featuring The English/Irish and then literal translation. I don't see how providing such information can be seen as wasting effing money.
There were still Gaeltacht areas in northern Ireland in 1920 or whenever the statelet was founded.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1No3JGNGd8
The Unionists had no interest in supporting the language.
It's as much a part of NI's heritage as linen or Jackie Fullerton reporting the hockey scores.
Quote from: seafoid on March 04, 2015, 09:09:03 PM
Quote from: general_lee on March 04, 2015, 07:38:03 PM
Quote from: thewobbler on March 03, 2015, 09:58:23 AM
Quote from: Eamonnca1 on March 03, 2015, 12:32:27 AM
The problem with Irish is it's left too late to start teaching it. If it were taught in primary school from the age of about 5 the language would be in much better shape. Starting to learn a language after the age of ten is a hundred times harder, so it's no wonder most people pack it in at the first opportunity.
This isn't the problem.
The problem with Irish is that there is not one single human being on earth who speaks Irish, who doesn't also speak English equally well or better.
Therefore doing anything - website, road sign, leaflet, minutes - in both languages is an unnecessary duplication, and a thorough waste of money.
By all means our Gaielegors are entitled to enjoy their cupla focal. But for the 99.9991% of us who will always read a sign in English first, stop wasting our effing money on this duplication.
Really? I seem to recall Stephen Nolan doing a 'fact finding' mission for a BBC NI documentary along with Hector about a year or so ago; where a farmer from Connemara was barely, if at all able to converse in English, but was fluent in Irish.
Describing the Irish Language as a waste of money is a bit OTT. I realise it might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is a valuable part of the cultural heritage of this part of the world. Granted some of the duplication (in government literature especially) is unnecessary and perhaps wasteful, I would be strongly in favour of road/street signage featuring The English/Irish and then literal translation. I don't see how providing such information can be seen as wasting effing money.
There were still Gaeltacht areas in northern Ireland in 1920 or whenever the statelet was founded.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1No3JGNGd8
The Unionists had no interest in supporting the language.
It's as much a part of NI's heritage as linen or Jackie Fullerton reporting the hockey scores.
Yes indeed, Sperrins, Rathlin Island and one or two other areas had native Gaeilge speakers as late as the 1970s. Regardless, the clichéd excuses for not promoting Irish get tiresome after a while
Brendan Curran you f**king legend.
I thought my clubmate spoke very well last night, Pat Sheehan wasn't going to get worked up at all....
Quote from: thewobbler on March 03, 2015, 09:58:23 AM
Quote from: Eamonnca1 on March 03, 2015, 12:32:27 AM
The problem with Irish is it's left too late to start teaching it. If it were taught in primary school from the age of about 5 the language would be in much better shape. Starting to learn a language after the age of ten is a hundred times harder, so it's no wonder most people pack it in at the first opportunity.
This isn't the problem.
The problem with Irish is that there is not one single human being on earth who speaks Irish, who doesn't also speak English equally well or better.
Therefore doing anything - website, road sign, leaflet, minutes - in both languages is an unnecessary duplication, and a thorough waste of money.
By all means our Gaielegors are entitled to enjoy their cupla focal. But for the 99.9991% of us who will always read a sign in English first, stop wasting our effing money on this duplication.
Sorry but it is the problem. If more people were capable of speaking Irish and were using it in everyday speech, the need for bilingual government services would be self-evident and it would happen naturally as a result of demand. Right now it only happens as a result of activism that seems to be geared towards winding the unionists up and getting one over on them.