DO U THINK WINDSOR PARK IS INTIMIDATING FOR CATHOLICS?

[ExiledGael]

Haven't voted, but the simple answer to the question is yes, and I have been so spare the bullshit.
Would like a situation where I would feel free to go at any opportunity but despite the improvement in the situation it is still intimidating

[MW]

The Sean South song dates from the 1950s .
While you can quote statistics to prove the "hitting back" was overdone it doesnt alter the fact that Catholics/Nationalists were treated disgracefully in the 6 North Eastern Counties with the full backing and participation by the Authorities from 1922 to .....1972/1985/1994/1998 ( take your pick). But of course Unionists are still in denial about this and prefer to run with the theory that everything was wonderful till those awful "terrorists" started upsetting the applecart in their Nirvana.
As for Sean South he was trying to achieve what would be the preferred option of the majority of the population of County Fermanagh - to belong to a free independant Irish Republic.
The last time I looked most Western Governments support the Yanks' (or are afraid to stand up to them) disgraceful murdering campaign in Iraq. I havent heard any of these Countries International Soccer teams objecting to this.

I'm not getting into a debate on the Troubles on this thread too. And your last sentence is completely, bizarrely, irrelevant.

The point is, the RoI team merrily listened to a song celebrating the attempted murderer of Northern Irish police officers. Strange how this is never mentioned in the usual whining gripes about 'that night' from the usual suspects.

Indeed. And one way to look at it is that perhaps it's more serious that the RoI team and coaching staff, played and sang along with a song glorifying a terrorist thug for his actions in trying to murder Northern Irish policemen, and a signnificant minority of the NI supporters singing sectarian songs, some of which glorified terrorists.

To be honest there is a bit of a difference in singing a few rebel songs in the privacy of a bus and what went on in public at the ground.

[MW]

Singing republican songs doesn't make you a die hard republican even though that seems like a bit of a contradiction. The songs are just filled with emotion. Did I read somewhere that after Munster won the Heineken Cup they all sang Sean South in the changing rooms?

There's seems to a a fundamental double standard at play here which I've seen before.

Imagine if the Northern Ireland football team or the Ulster rugby team prepared for games or celebrated victories by singing even pretty innocuously worded 'traditional' songs like 'The Sash' or 'Derry's Walls', never mind a song glorifying a UVF terrorist from, say, 1966. There'd be an outcry. FFS even if a miniscule number of supporters sang the same thing there'd be a shitstorm about it.

[SammyG]

Singing republican songs doesn't make you a die hard republican even though that seems like a bit of a contradiction. The songs are just filled with emotion. Did I read somewhere that after Munster won the Heineken Cup they all sang Sean South in the changing rooms?

There's seems to a a fundamental double standard at play here which I've seen before.

Imagine if the Northern Ireland football team or the Ulster rugby team prepared for games or celebrated victories by singing even pretty innocuously worded 'traditional' songs like 'The Sash' or 'Derry's Walls' (never mind a song glorifying a UVF terrorist from, say, 1966). There'd be an outcry. FFS even if a miniscule number of supporters sang the same thing there'd be a shitstorm about it.

MW

You forgot the fundamental 'sure it's just a bit o crack' rule which must be applied when discussing Republican terrorists.

[Chrisowc]

after all they did abuse a linesman fromrepublic the  about a year or so ago so they arent all that evolved are they?

Where the fu*k did you manage to come up with that sh*t!!??!

Republic of France? Peoples Republic of China?

I'm sorry.  I have been to many football matches, Windsor Park and beyond, and I can assure you not once have I cared where the blind b*****d came from!!

[stew]

after all they did abuse a linesman fromrepublic the  about a year or so ago so they arent all that evolved are they?

Where the fu*k did you manage to come up with that sh*t!!??!

Republic of France? Peoples Republic of China?

I'm sorry.  I have been to many football matches, Windsor Park and beyond, and I can assure you not once have I cared where the blind b*****d came from!!

Chris, I meant to say he was from the republic.

He got dogs abuse, it was talked about on this site and the owc crew admitted he took a bit of stick but sure it was all a bit o craic har de har har!

Actually some condemned it but stated that it was just a few drunken louts with a 20p ............................never mind.

[Chrisowc]

after all they did abuse a linesman fromrepublic the  about a year or so ago so they arent all that evolved are they?

Where the fu*k did you manage to come up with that sh*t!!??!

Republic of France? Peoples Republic of China?

I'm sorry.  I have been to many football matches, Windsor Park and beyond, and I can assure you not once have I cared where the blind b*****d came from!!

Chris, I meant to say he was from the republic.

He got dogs abuse, it was talked about on this site and the owc crew admitted he took a bit of stick but sure it was all a bit o craic har de har har!

Actually some condemned it but stated that it was just a few drunken louts with a 20p ............................never mind.

What are you on about?

[Friend Of Our Fathers]

I have to admit its a surprise seeing a load of Unionists with no interest in GAA posting in a GAA forum. Anyone who thinks Windsor Park isn't intimidated for nationalists or catholics is absolutely deluded the naked sectarianism may no longer so open but you don't have to look far to find their bigotry remains and as for all this talk of WP being inclusive try putting that into action by bringing an Irish flag or the real Ulster flag into the stadium I'm sure the locals would be happy about that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3ZgfdQeBjs

[dillinger]

I have to admit its a surprise seeing a load of Unionists with no interest in GAA posting in a GAA forum. Anyone who thinks Windsor Park isn't intimidated for nationalists or catholics is absolutely deluded the naked sectarianism may no longer so open but you don't have to look far to find their bigotry remains and as for all this talk of WP being inclusive try putting that into action by bringing an Irish flag or the real Ulster flag into the stadium I'm sure the locals would be happy about that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3ZgfdQeBjs

Of course that was not in W.P.

I'm a Unionist.
So you assume i have to have no interest in GAA?

Would this count as sectarianism on your part, or maybe some other nism?

[theskull1]

Its certainly a narrow and dated perspective IMO.

[thebigfella]

Why the fcuk has a 6 year old thread resurrected to state the f**king obvious?

[orangeman]

I have to admit its a surprise seeing a load of Unionists with no interest in GAA posting in a GAA forum. Anyone who thinks Windsor Park isn't intimidated for nationalists or catholics is absolutely deluded the naked sectarianism may no longer so open but you don't have to look far to find their bigotry remains and as for all this talk of WP being inclusive try putting that into action by bringing an Irish flag or the real Ulster flag into the stadium I'm sure the locals would be happy about that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3ZgfdQeBjs

Did any of them take a piss in that video or did they stop on the road past Whitehall chapel on the road home to relieve themselves ?.

[naka]

who cares
wouldnt darken its doors  to watch a 6 county teamnor would i go to the aviva to watch the 26 county team

credit to rugby at least it makes great strides to be all inclusive

[Cold tea]

Rugby is also competitive whereas the two soccer teams are pure shite.

[T Fearon]

Only three weeks ago the Cliftonville goal keeper and centre forward had to be given a police escort from Windsor Park, after being threatened when they took their seats to watch Linfield V Glentoran, though in fairness it seemed to be only one guy who was causing the hassle.

But whether it's one or thousands, it hardly matters, and the answer is yes, the place is intimidating for any identifiable catholics who go there alone or as part of a smallish group,particularly at a Linfield game, maybe not so much for international football, but not to the throngs of Cliftonville supporters who relish their trips there.