The troubles i've seen

[Donagh]

It was a lot of nonsense, made for the UK audience. Didn't really cover any issues in great details.

I'm glad someone said it. Pile of pish - I turned over to the Blame Game after five or ten minutes. Eammon Holmes of all people asking a bunch of privileged C-List celebs how they survived the Troubles when they all lived abroad anyway (apart from Paddy). Yeah right Eamo...   

[Doogie Browser]

It was a lot of nonsense, made for the UK audience. Didn't really cover any issues in great details.

I'm glad someone said it. Pile of pish - I turned over to the Blame Game after five or ten minutes. Eammon Holmes of all people asking a bunch of privileged C-List celebs how they survived the Troubles when they all lived abroad anyway (apart from Paddy). Yeah right Eamo...  

Now Donagh, in fairness Gloria Hunniford had a very tough time living in Hillsborough during the troubles i'll have you know.

[Evil Genius]

It was a lot of nonsense, made for the UK audience. Didn't really cover any issues in great details.

I'm glad someone said it. Pile of pish - I turned over to the Blame Game after five or ten minutes.

So you condemn it on the basis of "five or ten minutes" viewing?

Eammon Holmes of all people

I actually missed the first few minutes(!), where I believe it was disclosed that Eamonn's family was forced out of their home by sectarian violence. Of all people.

a bunch of privileged C-List celebs how they survived the Troubles when they all lived abroad anyway (apart from Paddy). Yeah right Eamo...  

I assume by those "C-List celebs living abroad" you include the following:
Gloria Hunniford. As a reporter on local television, one of her earliest stories was to go to the scene of the Abercorn Restaurant*, where terrorists planted a no-warning bomb in a busy restaurant, thereby murdering two people and maiming 130 other men, women and children. Presumably you missed her describing seeing womens tights and hangbags in the debris. And although she didn't mention it last night, you will be aware that by marrying someone from "the other side" in the Portadown of the 1960's, she was exposed to all sorts of sectarianism?
James Nesbitt. Described how his father went into town one afternoon, parked his car in a public car park, left the scene only to hear the car next to it explode.
Andrea Catherwood. Daughter of one of NI's leading and most prominent industrialists who as such, was considered a "legitimate target" by the IRA, and required armed protection. Gave the impression (it wasn't quite clear) that her family moved home for a safer location due to this. Lived in NI from her birth in 1967 until going to University in Manchester to study law in the mid 1980's. On graduating, returned to NI to work as a journalist for UTV. Since then, has reported from other trouble spots around the world, including:
"In November 2001 she was the first British journalist into Mazari Sharif after the Northern Alliance captured the city from Taliban forces. She produced a number of reports, which received wide coverage in the British press. Catherwood was reporting from inside the prison at the beginning of the Taliban prisoners uprising when one exploded a concealed grenade that killed five people. Catherwood was injured in the knee by shrapnel"

What the Hell would people like that know about the Troubles, eh?


* - Abercorn Restaurant
On 4 March 1972 a bomb exploded in the Abercorn Restaurant in central Belfast killing two people and injuring over 130; many of the injured lost limbs. The nature of the bombing and the extent of the injuries suffered meant that the attack left a lasting impression on the public in Northern Ireland. No paramilitary organisation claimed responsibility but it is widely accepted that the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) was responsible for the bombing.
http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/glossary.htm

[Doogie Browser]

Thats right they all deserve medals for their heroic acts of gallantry during the troubles, can't have been easy for them.
I know, lets have a march from Havelock House to Ormeau Avenue for all these poor celebs who endured so much during the troubles, Jimmy Nesbitt can lead the parade driving his old fellas car that was 'nearly' blown up and Gloria can report on the parade drawing on her disturbing experiences.
Donagh can organise a protest at Donegall Pass against the brave Celebs of Ulsters third television.  Sunday would be a great day for it sure.

The only person who merits any respect after the programme is Kielty, first hand experiences and an example to all in society of how to conduct themselves when discussing the 'conflict' without including conjecture and anecdotal evidence about so called celebs brushes with death.

[Evil Genius]

Thats right they all deserve medals for their heroic acts of gallantry during the troubles, can't have been easy for them.
I know, lets have a march from Havelock House to Ormeau Avenue for all these poor celebs who endured so much during the troubles, Jimmy Nesbitt can lead the parade driving his old fellas car that was 'nearly' blown up and Gloria can report on the parade drawing on her disturbing experiences.
Donagh can organise a protest at Donegall Pass against the brave Celebs of Ulsters third television.  Sunday would be a great day for it sure.

The only person who merits any respect after the programme is Kielty, first hand experiences and an example to all in society of how to conduct themselves when discussing the 'conflict' without including conjecture and anecdotal evidence about so called celebs brushes with death.

Nobody is suggesting that any of them "deserve medals" for their experiences. Nor is anyone suggesting that any of them suffered so badly as Kielty, who has received virtually universal praise for the exemplary way he is dealing with his hurt.

But Donagh sneeringly suggested that the other individuals interviewed had no right to comment, since they were isolated from the Troubles, or even overseas entirely. Whereas, had he watched more than "the first five or ten minutes", he would have seen that each was affected to a greater or lesser extent, due to their having been born and brought up in NI during the Troubles, and also in some cases having worked as news reporters covering the Troubles.

This is blatant prejudice (literally) on his part, and could seriously mislead other posters who didn't actually see the programme. Like him.

Indeed, if you were to take Donagh's principle to its logical conclusion, no-one who wasn't born and brought up in the very heart of the Troubles is "qualified" to comment on them. Which would include half the Northern posters on this Board and pretty much all of the Southern posters.

Anyhow, the reason I missed the opening minutes was when I saw the write-up in the TV Guide, I assumed (like Donagh?), that it would just be Eamonn Holmes (whom I don't much like normally), chatting to a few of his NI "luvvie" mates, about how much they all suffered in the Troubles, for the titillation of his English "luvvie" mates etc.

However, when I saw that there was bugger-all else on, I gave it a chance. And I'm glad I did, since if it was hardly Pullitzer-Prize winning stuff, it was still interesting and thought-provoking, and a useful reminder to the rest of the UK of what things were like here, at a time when they need little or no excuse to forget about the whole place. And if it took "C List Celebrities" to attract their attention (indeed to get the programme made in the first place, I suspect), it was hardly any worse for that, since they each had an interesting story to tell.

Of course, that's only my opinion. Perhaps I might be better guided by someone whose views aren't contaminated or distorted by actually watching the programme...

[Rossfan]

...Britons in England,....treated him as "just another Paddy" when he first went across the water. It was they whom he wanted to punch

What did the effin eejit expect. He comes from Co Fermanagh,Ireland. 
Ye Unionists must have some awful bad schools .

[ONeill]

And I'm glad I did, since if it was hardly Pullitzer-Prize winning stuff, it was still interesting and thought-provoking,

Eh? What original thoughts did it provoke?

[ziggysego]

And I'm glad I did, since if it was hardly Pullitzer-Prize winning stuff, it was still interesting and thought-provoking,

Eh? What original thoughts did it provoke?

The Falls Road is a scary place. You'd be better off with a pint in the Rangers Supporters Club

[BennyHarp]

Eh? What original thoughts did it provoke?

Perhaps not thought provoking for those of us bought up in northern ireland, but you have to remember that it was aimed mostly at the English TV audience and speaking to a few of my work colleagues today it certaintly was thought provoking, for the simple fact that most of them never think about it!

[milltown row]

remember reading somewhere that he got c-celebs to do it as most people would watch it. us ordinary people would not be able to potray ourselves well on TV 'like' and 'so i was' and 'heres bes me' all over the place.

as for the blame game Donagh, it's crap. the lad from the New lodge is rubbish