Get ready to wave them flegs - Lily Windsor's coming

[armaghniac]

I also heard Christy saying that the sliotar moved at 150 mph. That seems very fast. Lar and Benny Maher looked a bit sheepish when he said that

Probably ashamed at the lick arse using imperial measure.

[Evil Genius]

Maybe I'm being a little sensitive, but did anyone notice the British anthem being played at the garden? Could that be taken as an insult to the men there remembered? Why did the Irish government allow it?

As I understand it, all visiting Heads of State are invited to lay a wreath in the Garden. I assume their respective National Anthem is played along with the Soldiers Song, therefore it would be an snub to the Queen (and the UK) if GSTQ were not  played.

Or to put it another way, if it was a concession by the Republic to play GSTQ, it was an equal concession by the Queen to honour those Irish people who had died fighting against her Crown.

[Nally Stand]

When is she due to make her statement?

Interesting that only 1 of the 9 Ulster counties accepted invitation, speaks volumes that those most affected decided not yet, this to me should be respected more than any other viewpoint.

Exactly.

Interesting on the Hogan Stand website:
"Representative of every county board in Ireland were present when the Queen was welcomed to GAA Headquarters today, but it has been revealed that representatives of the Antrim, Armagh, Derry, Fermanagh and Tyrone county boards snubbed the invitation to be present at Jones Road..... It was known that there was a degree of unhappiness at the decision by the GAA to invite Queen Elizabeth to Croke Park, but there was no public comment by GAA officials on the subject after Christy Cooney instructed all county boards to remain silent on the issue."

That would sicken one's happiness. No debate allowed thank you very much says Christy.

[Evil Genius]

For a man nearing 90 that Prince Philip is looking well.    Oh and I am aware that he hasn't worked a day in his life.

And may I ask what it is you  do for a living? 

After leaving Gordonstoun in 1939, Prince Philip joined the Royal Navy, graduating the next year from the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, as the top cadet in his course. He was commissioned as a midshipman in January 1940. Philip spent four months on the battleship HMS Ramillies, protecting convoys of the Australian Expeditionary Force in the Indian Ocean, followed by shorter postings on HM Ships Kent, Shropshire and in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). After the invasion of Greece by Italy in October 1940, he was transferred from the Indian Ocean to the battleship HMS Valiant in the Mediterranean Fleet. Amongst other engagements, he was involved in the Battle of Crete, was mentioned in despatches for his service during the Battle of Cape Matapan where he saved his ship from a night bomber attack. He devised a plan to launch a raft with smoke floats that successfully distracted the bombers allowing the ship to slip away unnoticed.

Philip was also awarded the Greek War Cross of Valour. Duties of lesser glory included stoking the boilers of the troop transport ship RMS Empress of Russia.

Prince Philip was promoted to sub-lieutenant after a series of courses at Portsmouth in which he gained the top grade in four out of five sections. In June 1942, he was appointed to the V and W class destroyer and flotilla leader, HMS Wallace, which was involved in convoy escort tasks on the east coast of Britain, as well as the allied invasion of Sicily. Promotion to lieutenant followed on 16 July 1942. In October of the same year, at just 21 years of age, he became first lieutenant of HMS Wallace and one of the youngest first lieutenants in the Royal Navy. In 1944, he moved on to the new destroyer, HMS Whelp, where he saw service with the British Pacific Fleet in the 27th Destroyer Flotilla. He was present in Tokyo Bay when the instrument of Japanese surrender was signed. In January 1946, Philip returned to the United Kingdom on the Whelp, and was posted as an instructor at HMS Royal Arthur, the Petty Officers' School in Corsham, Wiltshire.

[Evil Genius]

This visit is one of series of things where someone had the courage to go ahead even though there is unfinished business. The entire Stormont project at present is one such example, why should nationalists assist in their own occupation?

Because they believe the line that SF spins?
Of course that prompts the question as to why SF is spinning that line, to which my answer would be that they were left with nowhere else to go, just like eg Paisley, when he realised the price of a seat in Government was that it be alongside his sworn enemy, McGuinness.

The Ministerial cars etc are no hindrance, either...

They do so because, on balance, it is advanced unity in this country. I think, on balance, this visit advances unity in this country.

As a Unionist, I beg to disagree. For it is clear that under the GFA, the only way we will have unity is if/when a majority of people in NI vote for it.
And as every election since the GFA has demonstrated, there is absolutley no movement on that score. And when you consider that the demographics (Prod v RC birthrate etc) has continued in the Catholics' favour since then, it suggests that the younger generation of RC's may no longer voting for Nationalist parties in the way previous generations did.
As for the future, it is my hope that a better and more fairly governed NI, especially with Republicans "inside the tent", may actually lead some of the next generation from the Nationalist community eventually to throw their lot in with Unionism (at least whilst the ROI economy is tanked, whilst the UK/NI economy holds up).
But we'll see.

And taking a GAA perspective, if Queen Liz can visit Casement aerodrome, why can anyone in NI from the unionist tradition not visit Casement stadium?

Her Majesty had no choice but to land at Casement Aerodrome.

That's where the runway is...

[Eamonnca1]

Interesting that only 1 of the 9 Ulster counties accepted invitation, speaks volumes that those most affected decided not yet, this to me should be respected more than any other viewpoint.

Oh, so Down wasn't affected by the troubles then? That business in Loughinisland didn't happen? Nobody was blown up in Warrenpoint?

[Evil Genius]

If you take all the media bullshite out of it, and the mature nation stuff, and the end of the line stuff, what have you left.

You have the titular head of a nation, which has caused huge amounts of pain and suffering in this country, visiting the free part of the island as an invited guest, an equal. And you have her, in a hugely significant moment, paying tribute to those who resisted british rule in ALL of Ireland.

I think those of a republican viewpoint should be encouraged by this as it simply reinforces the notion that 'some day' it will happen, and Britain will not necessarily be averse to it. Of course I could be reading way too much into it, but I think this visit is far more significant and worthy of attention than the rameis that went on about the Royal wedding.

To take your second point bold first, the UK Government has already made it crystal clear (in the GFA) that if a majority of people in NI want a UI, then it (Government) will not stand in the way.

As for your first point (that Republicans should be encouraged etc), as a Unionist I see it differently. That is, the Irish Republic (Government and people) is now comfortable with its nearest neighbouring state and genuinely aspires to warm and respectful relations etc.

And implicit in that aspiration is the acceptance that their neighbouring state's territory includes Northern Ireland.

Or, to put it another way, you have finally got your "Nation Once Again"; the only problem is, it is a 26 county nation, with the hope of acquiring the other six Irish counties receding with every year of peace etc enjoyed by Northern Ireland.

Still, that is only my reading of events; if I'm wrong and Republicans are correct, then I am at least reassured by two aspects of the current visit. Namely, the low numbers of unwashed rabble protesting in Dublin yesterday prove that the great majority of people in the ROI have taken a measured and reasonable stance in response to the visit.
And secondly, the complete absence of SF anywhere to be seen, whilst every other Irish community, tradition and political grouping has been in evidence, indicates to me that unless they "get with the programme", SF are likely to be increasingly confined to the historical margins of any New Ireland, irrelevant, disregarded and powerless.

Which can only be a good thing for Irish people like me!

[Nally Stand]

Interesting that only 1 of the 9 Ulster counties accepted invitation, speaks volumes that those most affected decided not yet, this to me should be respected more than any other viewpoint.

Oh, so Down wasn't affected by the troubles then? That business in Loughinisland didn't happen? Nobody was blown up in Warrenpoint?

Oh so there is no significance in the fact that five of the six counties refused to send representatives?

[Eamonnca1]

What is objectionable about British policy is that they are working to keep Ireland divided, and that is not acceptable.

They're doing no such thing. They can't wait to get rid of the place and they worked very hard to get the GFA in place as a pathway to Irish unity. Some people seem to think the Brits have the ability to just pull the plug and leave tomorrow but are refusing to do so out of spite. It doesn't work like that.

[SLIGONIAN]

Interesting that only 1 of the 9 Ulster counties accepted invitation, speaks volumes that those most affected decided not yet, this to me should be respected more than any other viewpoint.

Oh, so Down wasn't affected by the troubles then? That business in Loughinisland didn't happen? Nobody was blown up in Warrenpoint?

I wasnt having a go at Down although i cant get my head around them turning up and Im glad most stayed away though and was just pointing that out.

[Eamonnca1]

Or, to put it another way, you have finally got your "Nation Once Again"; the only problem is, it is a 26 county nation, with the hope of acquiring the other sic Irish counties receding with every year of peace etc enjoyed by Northern Ireland.

I wouldn't count on that. Every year of peace builds new bridges between catholics and protestants, and protestants will gradually lose this anti-catholic gaelophobia that pollutes their minds.

... I am at least reassured by two aspects of the current visit. Namely, the low numbers of unwashed rabble protesting in Dublin yesterday prove that the great majority of people in the ROI have taken a measured and reasonable stance in response to the visit.

Agreed. The wrekcing seem to be confined to a handful of Celtic shirt-wearing spides who just want an excuse to go out and cause trouble and get on TV.

And secondly, the complete absence of SF anywhere to be seen, whilst every other Irish community, tradition and political grouping has been in evidence, indicates to me that unless they "get with the programme", SF are likely to be increasingly confined to the historical margins of any New Ireland, irrelevant, disregarded and powerless.

SF have made a token of opposition by questioning the timing, saying it was on the anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.  It's a bit of a lame objection, there's not a day in the calendar that's not an anniversary of some atrocity or other.  The only reason they made a token of opposition is to throw a bone to their own hardliners who want to be bitching about something, while in practice they're not standing in the way of the visit and haven't come out and explicitly opposed it. It's just part of the delicate fine line that SF have had to tread between keeping their hardliners on board while engaging with their opposite numbers on the unionist side. They've been doing it for long enough that they've gotten quite good at it.

[The Worker]

great to see iris back on the scene....id still give her 1! 

[mylestheslasher]

I heard Cavan sent Larry really down but he pulled out because the queen lizzie touched his elbow and started drooling uncontrollably. It is pity as Larry could have protected her on his own for 5m euro and saved the state the other 27.

[Maguire01]

No Hardy, Irish Independence is NOT a done deal and it is wholly insulting to say that it is and I would be hugely surprised if you held that view had you grown up in Tyrone. I say that as a whole-hearted supporter of the GFA. The GFA structures which are a stepping stone to Irish Independence are a done deal.

Independence is not a done deal, but the means by which it can become a done deal, is a done deal. 

[Maguire01]

When is she due to make her statement?

Interesting that only 1 of the 9 Ulster counties accepted invitation, speaks volumes that those most affected decided not yet, this to me should be respected more than any other viewpoint.

Seriously? Monaghan / Donegal / Cavan declined as well?