Messages

[IMO they should be stripped of their citizenship.]

4000 is a "record" number. I wonder when the record keeping began. 

My nephew was one of the officer cadets who made it to the three day assessment. He was saying most of the boys in the barracks were intending to join up with the Brits if they weren't successful. IMO they should be stripped of their citizenship.

I don't really understand why someone would want to join the british army, but that's just ridiculous.
This isn't a dictatorship, free will exists.

In a dictatorship they'd be shot. I agree 100% with Ulick on this one. Why the hell should any Irishman be permitted to join an army that has shot and murdered Irish citizens for 100's of years right up to the present. They have the free will to do so if they so wish, Ireland should have the free will to tell them to leave their passports at the ferry when they leave.

Over the past 100 years or so, many more Irishmen have chosen to serve in the British Army than have chosen to join the death squads of the various paramilitary groupings on the island. Perhaps its the latter who should be stripped of their citizenship.

One man's paramilitary is another mans patriot. The double standards and hypocrisy of those denouncing the armed struggle here whilst shipping arms to Libya/Afghanistan/South America etc... Without any notion of what it was like to be Irish in the North after partition and up to recently. Where at every turn you were reminded of your inferiority to the British Majority and membership of the GAA made you a target for State as well as Paramilitary violence as with Aiden McAnespie. I am not for one minute condoning armed conflict any where and what we have now though not perfect is a hell of a lot better than the 50's and 60's, but it is easy to sit in your living room and tut.

Or maybe you just don't know people from the 26 counties find that term offensive as it is the Irish Republic.

Why? You were originally the Irish Free State. It is a term spoken out of envy in this part of the world.

who are these free stater people you refer to in the thread title?

People who don't live in the occupied 6 counties obviously!!

Don't you just love the confidence rolling down from the Mournes like mist. Hopefully the bright summer sun will see it off!!

Apples, The current Down team has no pedigree at senior county level as they have won nothing yet. But that doesn't mean that Armagh have. David McKeown was roll calling your team alleging pedigree based on Hogan cup, University, minor and U21 success. Down has that same success and so if that's pedigree then we have pedigree too.

Armagh has one county All-Ireland champion (McDonnell) until it is proven that R.Clarke can return. That is hardly pedigree for the current team.

So if schools and under-age is pedigree then Down have as much pedigree as Armagh

If All-Ireland finals is pedigree then Down have more than Armagh cause more of our players have played in won

If history is pedigree then Down have spades more than Armagh

May 28th, when you are looking up your guide book to find out how to get to your first round qualifier in the Midlands, you can reflect on how much pedigree Armagh have.

You will note that I didn't claim it had pedigree, I just said that Wobbler had no room to talk given Down's recent history.

Two seperate issues here, firstly we have cobblers or wobblers going on about pedigree, I could take that from a kerry or tyrone man but not from some one from a county that has done nothing of note from the early 90's at senior level. Secondly what county POR from is irrelevent he was dodgy with down and thats why some Armagh people don't rate him. But enough of us are saying give him a chance.

Oh and most Armagh people now consider Tyrone to be the Old Enemy and the bench mark for success.

When did this become a fishing thread?

I have said before on this thread POR was not an exciting choice as manager but at least he started us of playing a bit more positive football, and he achieved promotion, the disappointing Championship was more to do with the negative influence from his assistants and yet Dublin where there for the taking. Lets see how he does with a full panel, and bear in mind also most of those minor and U21 players from the last couple of years still need time to develop. But I read with amusement the posts from Down fans who think that last years lucky run to the AI final marks their rebirth they could be in for a shock. 

Winning something once does not give you a pedigree.

Usual Down Sh1t!

As a neutral observer I would have to say the current Cross team has a lot more potential than previous incarnations. In my opinion the previous team was set up to grind the opposition down, it had some great footballers not least of which was Oisin, the current team is still capable of doing that but has a greater number of superb footballers. I think the best is yet to come.

I would have thought a joint GAA/IRFU stadium would have been a good concept especially for Belfast. Would mean more Ireland rugby matches could be held in the north while Casement and Ravenhill could remain in place for smaller games and possibly undergo some upgrades to bring them up to scratch. I agree with what Bingo says and even from a non-GAA point of view it is a huge waste of money. I hope it gets shelved.

I would agree with you on an IRFU/GAA venture. I suspect that all Ulster Finals will now go to Casement and probably some AI qualifiers as well. One thing you could not do is let the England in Disguise supporters any where near it, given their appalling behaviour in the Aviva.

Remaining in the top flight this year should be considered a successful year for Armagh from a league perspective.  Still being in the Championship in August time would be a big achievement.

Totally agree. Staying in Div1 would be an achievement and important for development of the team going into next year.

Beating Down is possible although hand on heart how many Armagh fans think we can win Ulster this year? QFs would represent a decent season. Like many still not convinced about POR but the players seem to be putting in the effort for him and the time to judge him will be end of championship.

I have never been overly convinced by POR, however given our limited resources the 3 Kernans, Jamie Clarke, David McKenna and young Morgan would at least give him some better options. Judge him on the season, a semi and survival in the league are realistic ambitions.

[no players in from other clubs or county's..]

When the dust has settled down and looking back at crossmaglens st patricks day win with a bit of hindsight, there are are a few things that stand out and make the win quite remarkable, 1.. After a tough battle with cullyhanna, a good young and up and coming burren side, beating the all ireland champs of o9 and 10 it certainly cant be said they had an easy run.  2.. Looking through the starting 15 and the subs, they are to my knowledge all home grow,en players, no players in from other clubs or county's.. 3  And finally winning an all ireland coming off the back of a armagh championship defeat, with two rookie managers with no experience in management, makes for a amazing truly remarkable win.. congratulations and well done crossmaglen

Makes a change for them 

Is that the taste of grapes going slightly sour?

Best team won, Lennon showed today why the jury's still out on him. A poorer quality team did them good and proper. Lets play 6 goal Sammy till the end and leave 18 goal Stokes on the bench. It wasn't working upfront.

Grumpier in old age but have come to detest what St Patrick's Day stands for.

It used to be a religious event but is meant to be more cultural now. That means 13-year olds stocking up on drink to crack open around midday with the parent oblivious as they're leathered by 2. You can attend cultural events in Downpatrick or the like but it's slowly turning into a 12th of July in green.

Myself, I'm painting myself green and dancing from foot to foot to be sure around a crock of gold. Then I'll get wired into the poitin around 10pm and sing Will You Come To The Bower. Upara.

It's a bag of shite. Armagh spends a clean fortune on it every year and I'm at a loss as to why. I'm happy to be in work.

Suppose it just means more to real Irish people rather than ye British Irish up North....

What religious and cultural events will you be attending? Youse boys in the south have a notoriously poor work ethic so in the event of a united Ireland someone needs to work.

Thats a laugh, sure ye all sponge off the British Civil Service.

As opposed to sponging of the IMF and German Civil Service?