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One lapse, which had me throwing something at the telly on Saturday, was when he explained why they were going on so much about the historical context to viewers, as he put it, "on the mainland". I forgave him, though, because of the positive balance in his ledger. Unfortunately, this usage has now entered the language of the British media because we've allowed it and, of course the public will follow. The pass is lost and we will have to live with the consequences unless we start protesting (at official level, even) to the media, the press council, whatever.  Which reminds me – I must fire off am email to the BBC. I invite anyone here who feels likewise to do the same.

Hardy

That interview was where Jarlath invited Inverdale to attend a gaelic match and the rest is history.

BTW, they never did settle for what to call these two islands collectively - i.e Iberia for Spain and Portugal, Hispaniola for the Dominican Rep/Haiti. Across the water, they'd still like it to be known as the British Isles........

I've used the term "British Isles" myself when writing papers and theses in undergrad and grad school. Its simply the term that used when referring to these islands in an ecological or geological context.

It all makes for a typically feisty fixture at Anfield on Saturday lunchtime, with this local derby held in as high regard as ever.

"The rivalry for this fixture has got bigger and bigger over the years and the games are built up more and more," Gerrard said.

The rivalry may have intensified in recent years, but the quality of these games has dipped dramatically. Its either a dull goalless draw, or one of the two teams plays absolute muck e.g. the game at OT earlier this season or the cup match last season. We all enjoy these games if our team wins, regardless of the quality, but when was the last really good Liverpool v Man Utd game, one that neutrals might enjoy, where both teams played fairly well and there were lots of chances? Has there been one since the '03 league cup final? (I'm not saying that was a classic, but it was a decent match that could have gone either way)

United were poor last night and on sat against fulham! Fergie obviously believes in John o'shea for whatever reason i do not know. He offers little affect to any side. Rooney is playing poorly amd if United want to win the league he will seriously have to get his finger out of his hole! they're relying too much on ronaldo, giggs and scholes and if 1 gets injured from now to the end of the season well then united are simply f*cked!! though 9 points is a nice lead! hopefully liverpool give chelsea a good hammering

Liverpool don't play Chelsea again this season, unless they get drawn together in the Champions League.

I can't see United throwing this away now, provided they don't lose to both Liverpool and Chelsea. The matches are going to start to run out soon for Chelsea to close the gap, and even when playing poorly, United are always likely to come up with the goal or two that they need.

[I am fully aware you win nothing in Feb/quote]

On the contrary GDA - you win the McKenna in Feb this year. Thought you Donegal folks should know that 

Not saying that we would not have enjoyed beating youse, but does your four successive McKenna Cups give you much satisfaction, beyond the emotional significance of the '04 one?

So as we're saying, February don't mean shit!

Damn right J70 some of these armchair fans back home could do with going out and actually supporting the team instead of making pronouncements that we are now after Round 3 going to win the league.I

Who you calling an armchair fan!!! 
I never said that the league was won, as I am fully aware you win nothing in Feb!!! 
BTW J70 wasn't having a go, I just think that credit should be given when due, and I feel that McIver has made some great strides with this current team, both on the pitch and with regard to discipline. Yes granted they may explode later in the year when it counts, but optimism is not a crime!!!

It seems we are in agreement then!

Disappointing game, but another fine result and completely dominated throughout the team.
The Tyrone game the next day will be a key marker for the summer ahead - both teams have serious reasons to want that one, so bring it on indeed.

The great thing about the Donegal setup compared to a few years ago is the fact there is no reliance on any specific individuals. For the first time in years we have a set of guys warming the bench who are likely to make a real difference when introduced. The competition for places will be fiercely contested and there are still a few waiting in the wings (Colin Kelly? Michael Doherty? and 17 year old Michael Murphy all on the fringes) who may have a part to play later in the year.

Lets just hope they can all stay off the beer and we could finally see some silverware this year. A 1st ever League title should be the target now - so we can bury the losing run since 92.

Well said Aodhruadh, a bit of positive mental attitude is whats needed, and if we get beat sure J70 can tell us all how he said so!!!
The campaign has only started lets see what it brings.

I'm sorry GDA, I'll try in future to send some positive energy across the Atlantic to the boys!

BTW, I never set we'd get beat, or that we won't have a good year or denied that progress is being made. I'm just not ready to stick my neck out at this point in time and say that we will have a good year, which is not the same thing! NOTHING IS WON IN FEBRUARY!

Not a great attacking performance, but the two points is all that matters. Nice to beat the Dubs at long last as well, although they were apparently very poor on the day. Another two or three points and we should have secured a Division 1 place for next season.

Jesus J70 give the team some kudos!!! So we won because Dublin were poor on the day! So were Cork and Mayo poor on the day as well!! We are well and truely entrenched in Div one for next year and the only question now is do we go for the NFL crown???

Sorry Gaoth Dobhair, I've witnessed too many false dawns and shocking let-downs over the years with Donegal to get too carried away with a few league wins! I'm definitely optimisitic about our prospects, given the growth in the depth of the squad, and its nice that we're probably going to stay in Division 1, but I'll reserve judgement until we meet Armagh and possibly Tyrone in May and June. Thats when it matters. Its only eight days since we got thumped by the Tyrone reserves, albeit reserves augmented with a few top-notch "subs".

Yes, but why do you under sell the team, possibily we may get beaten by Armagh or Tyrone, but that is for the Summer, we are riding thte crest of a wave in the league at the minute, so just enjoy it, doom and gloom may come later but deal with it when it happens please don't pre-emept (sic) defeat when we are winning.
Its always easier to say "oh were shite, were inconsistant etc.." why not just have belief in the team and the manager (who I think is the difference).

Believe me, I think McIvor is excellent, and made that point on the first page of this thread! I'm just reserving judgement and not making any bold predictions at this stage. You can see it on this board - after the Armagh game we were written off as no-hopers. Two weeks later, after beating Cork and Mayo, we were elevated to serious contenders. After the Tyrone game, we were poor again! Look at the thread on Cork v Tyrone from last night - lots of Tyrone men lamenting the adequacy of squad players who, seven nights previously, beat a strong Donegal team! Its only February, and we still have plenty to work on, such as winning the breaks in midfield and getting the scores from play, so until we see if those problems can be solved, while I'll enjoy any wins in the league, I'm not going to get carried away.

If they really do believe they are a seperate country, what's stopping them getting their own anthem, like Scotland and Wales.  Are the people of Scotland and Wales any less British than the unionists from the 6 counties, because they have their own anthems?

You'll have to ask them that. Maybe its something to do with the history of Ireland, partition, the troubles, their position of power and wanting to maintain a sense of Britishness in "their" corner of the island of Ireland.

Incidentally, the UK government seems to consider GSTQ as their national anthem: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Gtgl1/GuideToGovernment/AboutBritain/DG_10012518

So what anthem would those from a unionist background use then, if not GSTQ?

How about 'A Nation Once Again'

Perhaps, but don't the unionists use it as their own? As nationalists in Northern Ireland use Amhran na bhFiann?

Nationalists in the 6 counties use it because it's their anthem.  I'm not disagreeing that unionists use it, but it isn't their anthem, it's the anthem of England a seperate country.  How silly did they look when they played England @ Windsor Park and both 'countries' had the same National Anthem

And unionists probably see GSTQ as just as much their anthem as Amhran na bhFiann is for nationalists.

I've no interest in splitting hairs with you over what constitutes a legitimate anthem or a country. The fact is that the unionists use it to affirm their Britishness. If they want to sing it at a match where it is being played for an English team, who are we to tell them its wrong or that they "look silly"?

It seems to me that many would prefer if the unionist community were not associated at all with the Irish rugby team, at least not until they had the sense to denounce any cultural attachments to Britain and to embrace the only legitimate version of Irishness, including Amhran na bhFiann.

Not a great attacking performance, but the two points is all that matters. Nice to beat the Dubs at long last as well, although they were apparently very poor on the day. Another two or three points and we should have secured a Division 1 place for next season.

Jesus J70 give the team some kudos!!! So we won because Dublin were poor on the day! So were Cork and Mayo poor on the day as well!! We are well and truely entrenched in Div one for next year and the only question now is do we go for the NFL crown???

Sorry Gaoth Dobhair, I've witnessed too many false dawns and shocking let-downs over the years with Donegal to get too carried away with a few league wins! I'm definitely optimisitic about our prospects, given the growth in the depth of the squad, and its nice that we're probably going to stay in Division 1, but I'll reserve judgement until we meet Armagh and possibly Tyrone in May and June. Thats when it matters. Its only eight days since we got thumped by the Tyrone reserves, albeit reserves augmented with a few top-notch "subs".

I don't claim to understand or celebrate their attachment to Britishness and the Queen, but that seems to be the situation. Should we just pretend it isn't, or should we enter two partitionist teams in the Six Nations and the World Cup?

The point is it's not their anthem, it's the anthem of England.

Perhaps, but don't the unionists use it as their own? As nationalists in Northern Ireland use Amhran na bhFiann?

Why wouldn't they? Its their anthem.

Maybe I'm mistaken, but is God Save The Queen not just the anthem of England not Britain?  Scotland and Wales are part of Britian and they have their own anthems - so how is GSTQ the anthem of Northern Ireland

So what anthem would those from a unionist background use then, if not GSTQ? Did I imagine seeing Paisley and various unionists on tv singing it at various events and party conferences over the years?

[IRISH MEN]

Don't know if this was asked before but it's a thought that crossed my mind yesterday during the Anthems.
If some or alot of  Ulster rugby fans are prodtestant im sure that means they consider themselves British which also means there national anthem is God save the Queen so i just wondered if these fans would have stood and sang GSTQ while it was being played for England yesterday even though they were there supporting Ireland? Just something i thought of i don't really care or have a opinion one way or the other just wondered

Why wouldn't they? Its their anthem.

For Christ's sake J70 their IRISH MEN how the f**k could GSTQ be their anthem!!!!!  Now no more shit tonight on a night when i'm celebrating Donegal and celtics victories! 

I don't claim to understand or celebrate their attachment to Britishness and the Queen, but that seems to be the situation. Should we just pretend it isn't, or should we enter two partitionist teams in the Six Nations and the World Cup?

From the angles I've seen, I'm not sure if it was or wasn't a foul. If it was, Gerrard definitely played for it (as he is entitled to do) and the defender obliged him. The problem is that kind of crap goes on all the time at corners but is rarely penalized. In this case, the ref was right there beside them, so the defender should probably have had more sense. That everyone disagrees after watching slow motion replays shows how difficult it can be for the referees though! I don't think there was any doubt about the second one.

Don't know if this was asked before but it's a thought that crossed my mind yesterday during the Anthems.
If some or alot of  Ulster rugby fans are prodtestant im sure that means they consider themselves British which also means there national anthem is God save the Queen so i just wondered if these fans would have stood and sang GSTQ while it was being played for England yesterday even though they were there supporting Ireland? Just something i thought of i don't really care or have a opinion one way or the other just wondered

Why wouldn't they? Its their anthem.