A United Ireland. Opening up the discussion.

[AustinPowers]

I said he might have a point regarding the Provo 'campaign" in the 26....murders, bank robberies, kidnappings,extortion....
Now go away and gave a good sh1te for yourself.

I said he might have a point regarding the Provo 'campaign" in the 26....murders, bank robberies, kidnappings,extortion....
Now go away and gave a good sh1te for yourself.

As opposed to the Old IRA who never carried out murders or robberies etc etc.

Anyway, as I'm sure you well know, Micheal wasn't talking about the IRA activities in the 26. He was talking about the troubles in their entirety. Nor were his remarks down to the "cut and thrust of debate with Mary Lou" as you previously surmised, but in a one-to-one sit-down interview. He simply took exception to the interviewer noting that there were atrocities committed by both sides, and had the brass f**king neck to do so just seconds after accusing SF of trying to rewrite the history of the troubles. There is no excusing his absolutely shameful remarks no matter how hard you might try to obfuscate and misrepresent them.

I don't think I have  the appropriate enough words to justify  what I think  of MM

Don't forget his  comments  when  pushed by Mark  Carruthers on his attendance at an  old IRA commemoration. Apparently they're totally different to  the Troubles era  IRA commemorations  SF attend. 

Arsehole.

[Look-Up!]

I said he might have a point regarding the Provo 'campaign" in the 26....murders, bank robberies, kidnappings,extortion....
Now go away and gave a good sh1te for yourself.

I said he might have a point regarding the Provo 'campaign" in the 26....murders, bank robberies, kidnappings,extortion....
Now go away and gave a good sh1te for yourself.

As opposed to the Old IRA who never carried out murders or robberies etc etc.

Anyway, as I'm sure you well know, Micheal wasn't talking about the IRA activities in the 26. He was talking about the troubles in their entirety. Nor were his remarks down to the "cut and thrust of debate with Mary Lou" as you previously surmised, but in a one-to-one sit-down interview. He simply took exception to the interviewer noting that there were atrocities committed by both sides, and had the brass f**king neck to do so just seconds after accusing SF of trying to rewrite the history of the troubles. There is no excusing his absolutely shameful remarks no matter how hard you might try to obfuscate and misrepresent them.

Couldn't agree more with this comment.

[Rossfan]

I said he might have a point regarding the Provo 'campaign" in the 26....murders, bank robberies, kidnappings,extortion....
Now go away and gave a good sh1te for yourself.

Shooting gardaí doesn't go down well with the average person. Maybe there's a mistaken assumption that the gardaí are viewed similarly to the RUC were.

That's a fair point. As does the shooting of civilians by the state. And trying to imply that there was only one side in the troubles should be enough to end a politicians career in the south but it doesn't seem to be the case. 

Yes, a ridiculous statement, I can't think of any reason or justification for it.
What I will say is that I hadn't heard of those comments at all until I saw them on this thread.
They had very little coverage in national media, and I would say minimal impact on anyone's voting intentions

Which is a point in itself that it wasn't considered newsworthy.

Being said on the 6Cos BBC meant few people "down here" would have seen it.
First I heard too was on here too.
I'm not aware of any SF TD or candidate making any fuss either.

Again the North isn't an issue in elections here.

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

It's brought up a lot by FG & FF.

[Tubberman]

It's brought up a lot by FG & FF.

What is, the North? I don't remember a word about it during leaders debates

[Armagh18]

It's brought up a lot by FG & FF.

What is, the North? I don't remember a word about it during leaders debates

They tried to blame Mary Lou for the state of the nhs in the north so it was mentioned

[Tubberman]

It's brought up a lot by FG & FF.

What is, the North? I don't remember a word about it during leaders debates

They tried to blame Mary Lou for the state of the nhs in the north so it was mentioned

OK, in reference to SF hypocrisy, fair enough.
But i don't think the North itself was an "issue" in the election.

[trueblue1234]

I said he might have a point regarding the Provo 'campaign" in the 26....murders, bank robberies, kidnappings,extortion....
Now go away and gave a good sh1te for yourself.

Shooting gardaí doesn't go down well with the average person. Maybe there's a mistaken assumption that the gardaí are viewed similarly to the RUC were.

That's a fair point. As does the shooting of civilians by the state. And trying to imply that there was only one side in the troubles should be enough to end a politicians career in the south but it doesn't seem to be the case. 

Yes, a ridiculous statement, I can't think of any reason or justification for it.
What I will say is that I hadn't heard of those comments at all until I saw them on this thread.
They had very little coverage in national media, and I would say minimal impact on anyone's voting intentions

Which is a point in itself that it wasn't considered newsworthy.

Being said on the 6Cos BBC meant few people "down here" would have seen it.
First I heard too was on here too.
I'm not aware of any SF TD or candidate making any fuss either.

Again the North isn't an issue in elections here.

Whether an issue in the election or not. He should have been held to account for his comments. The fact he wasn't says a lot about the media in my view.

[Rossfan]

Well the Independent would agree with him while the Examiner and Times most likely ignore BBCNI.

Have those who are seriously annoyed or upset done anything?
Like write in numbers to FF HQ, protest there or at MM's Constituency office?

[Truthsayer]

Well the Independent would agree with him while the Examiner and Times most likely ignore BBCNI.

Have those who are seriously annoyed or upset done anything?
Like write in numbers to FF HQ, protest there or at MM's Constituency office?

You'd be very busy writing to FF & FG & RTÉ every time that narrative is used. It's been called out... maybe you need to stop tacitly justifying it.. and now trying to put the focus on those who have been deeply offended and/or annoyed (as you describe it).

[Snapchap]

I said he might have a point regarding the Provo 'campaign" in the 26....murders, bank robberies, kidnappings,extortion....
Now go away and gave a good sh1te for yourself.

Shooting gardaí doesn't go down well with the average person. Maybe there's a mistaken assumption that the gardaí are viewed similarly to the RUC were.

I was listening to the Free State podcast today. Joe Brolly talked about Micheál Martin's recent comments re the conflict in the north, and refelected on the difference betwen those remarks and the ones he made at the graveside of Liam Mellows, who was executed by the Free State 102 years ago this week, who he described as "an Irish hero". At another commemoration for Liam Lynch, Martin said "it was Liam who pressed the national leadership to allow IRA volunteers to begin regular attacks on the British. Some have tried to present Liam & his comrades as military fanatics. This is a disgrace & complete mispresentation of history".

Lynch was responsible for issuing the "orders of frightfulness" which sanctioned the killings of TDs, senators, judges and newspaper editors. In one of a series of attacks his men carried out under this order, they burned down the house of TD Sean McGarry, killing his 7 year old son. They shot dead the father of another TD.

Do you see the hypocrisy yet lads? Was Liam Lynch a terrorist criminal? Were the IRA that Micheal eulogised in his commemoration speech a bunch of terrorist criminals?

[Truthsayer]

Joe (who very clearly was not an IRA supporter) also methodically outlined the beginning of 'The Troubles' back when Gusty Spence and the UVF murdered Catholics pre-1968, Catholics being burned out of their homes and when the Civil Rights movement started with marchers being beat off the streets by the RUC... and still Dion Fanning kept saying... "but Joe.. but Joe" while hopelessly trying to defend Martin's disgraceful comments.

[Rossfan]

https://www.shannonside.ie/news/traffic-management-in-place-in-ballinamore-ahead-of-don-tidey-victims-memorial-254774

[bennydorano]

Interesting article

https://www.irishnews.com/news/politics/ending-academic-selection-in-northern-ireland-is-key-to-a-united-ireland-says-economist-ZRFGCWK7FNAIFOJITQG4FTYDQE/

Personally would have thought it would have been a long way down a list of priorities. Interesting to see he also thinks ROI would currently vote no in a unity poll (as do I).

[JPGJOHNNYG]

Interesting article

https://www.irishnews.com/news/politics/ending-academic-selection-in-northern-ireland-is-key-to-a-united-ireland-says-economist-ZRFGCWK7FNAIFOJITQG4FTYDQE/

Personally would have thought it would have been a long way down a list of priorities. Interesting to see he also thinks ROI would currently vote no in a unity poll (as do I).

The Irish news seems to love to post anything that dampens down unity. Fitzgerald has his opinion and runs with it. Others have a different opinion and that's healthy. I do wonder about the Irish news though and it's overall lack of interest in the unity project which seems very strange considering their market. Anyway expect another Shirlow Liverpool poll soon showing support for UI at 30% FFS. The bel tel seems more nationalist friendly these days.