Margaret Thatcher....

[Denn Forever]

Which side are you on   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbddqXib814

[highorlow]

Micheal D didn't get carried away.

Statement from Áras an Uachtaráin

"I am sorry to learn of the death of Lady Thatcher. To have been Great Britain's first female Prime Minister means that Margaret Thatcher's place in history is secure. She will be remembered as one of the most conviction-driven British Prime Ministers who drew on a scholarship that demanded markets without regulation.

The policies of Mrs Thatcher's Government in regard to Northern Ireland gave rise to considerable debate at the time. However, her key role in signing the Anglo-Irish Agreement will be recalled as a valuable early contribution to the search for peace and political stability.

Lady Thatcher's political career, its impact and legacy will be discussed and debated for many years. What is undeniable is that the strength of conviction in her beliefs was acknowledged by those who robustly opposed her, as well as by those who enthusiastically supported her.

I extend my condolences to Lady Thatcher's family, her friends and political colleagues."

[red hander]

Feels like spring has finally arrived ... what a lovely day it is

[Nally Stand]

Adams aside, have any Irish politicians called a spade a spade today?

[Bord na Mona man]

I don't dispute that she left a severe legacy behind her, but what is the point in getting revved up about it now?
She "died" in a sense when she left politics. Whatever damage was already done.
A significant cohort of people went along with her policies by continually voting her back in. It wasn't a dictatorship.

Whatever about the North of Ireland, I'm not sure why the squeezing of the Northern English working class, or the closure of coal mines in towns we're unlikely to ever set foot near seems to madden Irish people in the context of Thatcher. Is there really such an affinity between the two isles that I've missed?

Say Bertie Ahern dies in 20 years time, how many English will be raging about 'ghost estates' in Leitrim and Anglo bankers?

A completely false equivalence. Margaret Thatcher was a significant figure in world politics whose slash-and-burn policies had a legacy that endure to this day, and her significance was magnified when it came to Ireland where successive governments followed her particular policy prescription to the letter. And yes, we follow British politics much more than the British follow Irish politics. I don't see anything wrong with that, even if the North were not an issue. I'm sure the Belgians give close attention to events in France while the French only pay passing interest to what happens in Belgium. Personally speaking, if I'm wrong for feeling a particular sense of hostility towards her for the manner in which she slandered the people of Liverpool every which way she could, then I'd rather not be right.

Politician in bad policies shocker.
Obviously Eire is insignificant to Britain. The point was not so much the interest level and why Irish person seems to care so much about Ernie the miner from Leeds? Her policies were misguided, but perhaps it's a stretch for blaming her for Irish political stupidly.

Granted, she was in a different league for callousness and intransigence back in the day.
I just find the current circus around her death is great for internet bravado.
Or will champagne corks really be popping like machine fire tonight?

[deiseach]

Politician in bad policies shocker.
Obviously Eire is insignificant to Britain. The point was not so much the interest level and why Irish person seems to care so much about Ernie the miner from Leeds? Her policies were misguided, but perhaps it's a stretch for blaming her for Irish political stupidly.

Granted, she was in a different league for callousness and intransigence back in the day.
I just find the current circus around her death is great for internet bravado.
Or will champagne corks really be popping like machine fire tonight?

I don't know what point you are trying to make. People in Ireland are interested in what happens in British politics. If they sneeze we catch a cold and all that. I don't give Irish politicians a pass because they followed her down the road to ruin of living in a world run by bankers for bankers, but she was the standard bearer for those policies. And so what if there aren't actual physical live parties being staged up and down the land on the occasion of her demise. Are people not permitted to use figures of speech on the internet without having to field the accusation of being a keyboard warrior?

[theticklemister]

Adams aside, have any Irish politicians called a spade a spade today?

Im waiting for McGuinness to offer his condolences any time now.

[Rossfan]

Obviously Eire is insignificant to Britain.

Not even the English call this State that any more FFS.
By the way good riddance to that oul Cnut..... although she did stand up to Paisley and the Unionist bullies when they were trying to get the Anglo Irish Agreement scrapped.

[theticklemister]

Micheal D didn't get carried away.

Statement from Áras an Uachtaráin

"I am sorry to learn of the death of Lady Thatcher. To have been Great Britain's first female Prime Minister means that Margaret Thatcher's place in history is secure. She will be remembered as one of the most conviction-driven British Prime Ministers who drew on a scholarship that demanded markets without regulation.

The policies of Mrs Thatcher's Government in regard to Northern Ireland gave rise to considerable debate at the time. However, her key role in signing the Anglo-Irish Agreement will be recalled as a valuable early contribution to the search for peace and political stability.

Lady Thatcher's political career, its impact and legacy will be discussed and debated for many years. What is undeniable is that the strength of conviction in her beliefs was acknowledged by those who robustly opposed her, as well as by those who enthusiastically supported her.

I extend my condolences to Lady Thatcher's family, her friends and political colleagues."

Tube.

[deiseach]

Obviously Eire is insignificant to Britain.

Not even the English call this State that any more FFS.

I read that as being ironic. Maybe I was wrong.

[BennyCake]

Do many people really care about her at this stage?
She has been irrelevant for over 20 years now.

That bitch did more than most to keep the Troubles in the North going, she was a war mongering, power hungry, milk-snatching whore.  It was on her instructions that certain things happened in the North and they leave very deep scars in many peoples' memories.  Rot in hell you evil bitch!

That's my favourite 

[ballinaman]

Do many people really care about her at this stage?
She has been irrelevant for over 20 years now.

That bitch did more than most to keep the Troubles in the North going, she was a war mongering, power hungry, milk-snatching whore.  It was on her instructions that certain things happened in the North and they leave very deep scars in many peoples' memories.  Rot in hell you evil bitch!

That's my favourite 

Well said BC1...

[Nally Stand]

Statement by Fianna Fáil leader Mícheál Martin:
"Today, on hearing of the death of Margaret Thatcher, our first thoughts are thoughts of condolence for her family.  Our personal sympathy is also with her friends and colleagues within the Conservative Party and the British Government.

Speak for yourself, Mícheál.

[Bord na Mona man]

Politician in bad policies shocker.
Obviously Eire is insignificant to Britain. The point was not so much the interest level and why Irish person seems to care so much about Ernie the miner from Leeds? Her policies were misguided, but perhaps it's a stretch for blaming her for Irish political stupidly.

Granted, she was in a different league for callousness and intransigence back in the day.
I just find the current circus around her death is great for internet bravado.
Or will champagne corks really be popping like machine fire tonight?

I don't know what point you are trying to make. People in Ireland are interested in what happens in British politics. If they sneeze we catch a cold and all that. I don't give Irish politicians a pass because they followed her down the road to ruin of living in a world run by bankers for bankers, but she was the standard bearer for those policies. And so what if there aren't actual physical live parties being staged up and down the land on the occasion of her demise. Are people not permitted to use figures of speech on the internet without having to field the accusation of being a keyboard warrior?

The point is, this affinity with some vague English working classes is feigned just to suit the sort of keyboard warriorism that you mention. When the same oiks are getting water cannoned at England away games, we'll be tut-tutting at what ill-reared blackguards they are.

I'd go to a Thatcher party of there was one happening nearby though. Might be a bit of fun.

[AZOffaly]

I don't really have much affinity for the English working classes, but I do have affinity for Irishmen and women that suffered under her administration. I'll not speak ill of the dead, but I won't be contributing to any book of condolences, put it like that.