"Of course there are moderate 'unionists/protestants', I currently work with one who is now involved with a club in Belfast. Not once has he mentioned the flag or national anthem as an issue and given that he was just recently at the all Ireland final it proves this discussion is irrelevant to the people who will embrace our games and culture"

Good point. I also have a unionist friend who has been to an all ireland and she has not mentioned the flag or anthem. I must ask her however is this out of fear, lack of interest or what! I will ask her this weekend.

I dont just want flags gone from the GAA in case some of my points were misunderstood. I want them removed from all walks of life on both sides as it only increases tribal feelings and fear

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 09/10/2015 16:20:31    1797540

Doirecityfc
You have not a hope in hell of getting flags removed as for starters the Unionists won't have it. How would they celebrate July 12 without Union jacks/ union flags and they would have very little fun if they could not burn the GOOD OLD TRICOLOUR. Don't forget it's always been the Unionists policy to take to the streets in protest against any law / any thing that would try to weaken their ties with Britain.
Do you think that the Unionists have moved forward much since the GFA. I don't think so and their leaders probably still hanker for the days when they done what they liked when they had power.
Also what if the British government sent a few thousands of these refugees they are taken in to places like east Belfast Larne Portadown or heavenly populated Unionists/ Protestants areas. ?? How would the unionists react??
I don't think we will have to worry too much as I can't see many Unionists/ Protestants joining GAA clubs membership is there for any of them but not at the cost of our National Anthem not being played before games or indeed the Tricolour not being flown at games
As regards the age of the flag/ NA 1921 was the birth of the 26 counties so as with different countries who got their independence ( and especially from GB)that country choose a new flag and indeed a new national Anthem
And the one thing about all the nations who got independence ( again especially GB) was that they all fought bloody wars against the country who ruled them
Plus the FREE STATE GOVERMENT of 1921 laid claim to the territory comprising the Six counties which in my opinion was justified and legitimate
So again as redandblack30 states we keep our flag , we keep our National Anthem and we honour the men/ women who achieved independence for 26 counties but in the last struggle (1969-1994) we also honour the men/ women who gave their lives/ spent time in jail( and years at that) so that they could overthrow a corrupt sectarian state that was founded by the gun
A state that gave no justice, no nothing except subject them to unjust laws and rode roughshod over their civil liberties. The suffering that was inflicted on the Nationalists in the Six counties over the years yet they stood by the Tricolour/ Irish national anthem. NEVER SHOULD WE WANT TO CHANGE THE NATIONAL ANTHEM OR THE TRICOLOUR.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 09/10/2015 18:37:43    1797564

Considering they are in Ireland after growing up in England I think they are in a fairly neutral position to pass judgement Doire. Do you not?

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 09/10/2015 19:29:42    1797573

In the Republic of Ireland. 95% of schools are currently under the patronage of one organisation. That organisation has very strong views on many things - such as homosexuality, the 'traditional' family, advances in medical science, views on other faiths and those of no faith. That organisation demands that a disproportionate amount of time is spent spreading its doctrine (which in some cases ignores facts and contravenes accepted objective knowledge).

My point here is that southern Ireland is one of the most intolerant places in the civilised world. Our government has been criticised numerous times by the UN/EU for the intolerance of our primary schools (present tense). How can the majority in this country be accepting of the 'other' when our schools are telling us nothing of the 'other'? We are taught only about ourselves, our culture (or what our culture should be). This is generally reflected on here. People are quoting our constitution. Our constitution states that all citizens of the state should be equal. Actually this has always been utter fantasy. It will continue into the future as our public infrastructure is years behind the civilised world.

There are some good points being made here and Jarlath Burns could probably concentrate on other things. However, I am with Doire City. Do we need these flags and symbols? Does it matter if others hold on theirs? Somebody has to be progressive. 90% of matches that I go to have no flag flying and no anthem (I go mostly junior club games and underage matches) and I don't notice they are not there.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 09/10/2015 19:58:12    1797579

What i see is alot (not all ) but alot of ulster Gaels seem to not understand is the vast majority of civilians in the republic is we view it as we have had enough of your past (both republican and loyalist) we want our future, where your not labeled by your religion / race/ sexuality etc etc. Both sections should live in harmony and i feel flags and anthems only entrenching not very bright people i.e. dup mlas or shinners.
Why is it the extremes always try to stoke up hatred and division? To remain in power. Just like the nra in America and the tea party movement.
The more fear and mistrust of the other the better for the politicians (use that term loosely) they want the gullible fools belting out gstg or a na b.
It keeps them in their jobs.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 09/10/2015 21:03:38    1797595

royaldunne
County: Meath
Posts: 8307

1797595
What i see is alot (not all ) but alot of ulster Gaels seem to not understand is the vast majority of civilians in the republic is we view it as we have had enough of your past (both republican and loyalist) we want our future, where your not labeled by your religion / race/ sexuality etc etc. Both sections should live in harmony and i feel flags and anthems only entrenching not very bright people i.e. dup mlas or shinners.
Why is it the extremes always try to stoke up hatred and division? To remain in power. Just like the nra in America and the tea party movement.
The more fear and mistrust of the other the better for the politicians (use that term loosely) they want the gullible fools belting out gstg or a na b.
__________________________
Typical ignorant comment from this poster, but I guess we should be used to that by now. You make it sound like we have chosen this as a way of life, seemingly oblivious to the fact that half a million Irish citizens found themselves unwittingly on the wrong side of a hastily drawn border designed to maintain an artificial state whose sole purpose was to ensure the primacy of one party and one people over all else. We too want a future, you could say we deserve it more than yourselves given the history of this statelet over the past 100 years, but as I say, not simply at any price.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 10/10/2015 10:55:56    1797638

Time to shut down this debate, we won't remove our tri colour or National Anthem thankfully, now that's the end of this nonsense

riverboys (Mayo) - Posts: 1389 - 10/10/2015 10:57:53    1797639

bumpernut

You gotta remember, the very things you take for granted living in the south ie the flag, anthem, language and games are despised and ridiculed by the people you want to welcome.

I don't think you've been reading my posts, I've consistently said that I don't want rid of the national anthem before every game to please Unionists, in fact I said previously on this thread that getting rid of the national anthem would make little difference in encouraging Unionist participation.

What I have been saying is that I want rid of it before every game (keep it for finals if you want) because it's become a boring procedure and I don't like patriotism being rammed down my throat, I go to Gaa games for the games not to hear an anthem.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 10/10/2015 11:05:50    1797642

Dead right riverboats. This is going nowhere. Brendan, ignore that last post from royaldunne Ignorant goes nowhere near describing it . Next thing if you follow his line of reasoning is that people will not be allowed to shout "come on the Royal" for fear of offending people. Time to shut this thread down. Jarlath Burns stopped talking about this a long time ago.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 10/10/2015 11:06:05    1797644

bennybunny

Excellent post, well said.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 10/10/2015 11:08:59    1797645

royaldunne

The more fear and mistrust of the other the better for the politicians (use that term loosely) they want the gullible fools belting out gstg or a na b.
It keeps them in their jobs.

Spot on royaldunne, this is more or less how politics works anyway, just on different scales depending on region or country. You gather 'followers', feed them plenty of fear to keep them on your side and then either subtly or blatantly encourage them to fight with 'the other side', this works as a great red herring and allows them to remain in power while average Joe is arguing with average Jim over some pointless shite.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 10/10/2015 11:16:53    1797646

riverboys & Greengrass

Shutting down this thread is none of your business or mine, if yous don't like the content then ignore the thread.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 10/10/2015 11:23:24    1797647

Yes it's time for one new flag and one new anthem on our island, sure we could win the World Cup together, Come on Ireland

maroondiesel (Mayo) - Posts: 1197 - 10/10/2015 12:49:07    1797668

Shut down this tripe to many west Brits spouting

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 10/10/2015 12:49:35    1797669

diesel is on to something but we could win 2 world cups at the moment lol

suckvalleypaddy (Galway) - Posts: 1671 - 10/10/2015 13:05:54    1797676

Dellboypolecat

Shut down this tripe to many west Brits spouting

More calls for censorship of opinion, that's a favourite of extremists like Loyalists and the catholic church.

Also I honestly never understood how calling an Irish person a west brit is meant to be insulting, actually it's quite racist towards the British because you're intending the word Brit to be derogatory. Live and let live Del.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 10/10/2015 13:14:35    1797680

Bennybunny what is your substantive evidence for your assertions in relation to what is taught in our schools ? Hteam and royaldunne it is well past time this thread was closed down. It is going round in circles and is at this stage merely recycling already stated opinion.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 10/10/2015 13:36:09    1797687

The GAA is our national games so keep the tri-colour flying and keep the Soldiers Song playing. Erin go Bragh!

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 10/10/2015 14:28:21    1797695

Interesting article today in the Irish independent from T Elliot.

He is referring to J Burns article about removing the Anthem/ Flagfrom our games and also about J Brolly and his article in the SI on the fourth October.
Now he says if Brolly's attitude reflects that of the GAA as opposed to Burns position then the organisation is really in reverse mode as opposed to being a positive , forward- thinking group.
IF ONLY HE WOULD TRY AND CONVINCE THE ORANGE ORDER TO BECOME SUCH A GROUP--- positive , forward- thinking group, stop burning the tricolour or effigies of the pope, obey the parade commission and stop marching through Catholic areas where they are not wanted.
He also states that while Mr Burns would have no objections in removing some of the overtly political activities of the GAA, they would not be accepted by the GAA. And he assumes this is where Mr Brolly stands, not an inch to make the GAA acceptable to the wider community
And he adds further -- it's attitudes such as this that have kept the organisation at a significant distance from many within N Ireland society ( 6 county)
Now IMO he has some neck to try and lecture the GAA. Where did we hear this ---NOT AN INCH before. OF COURSE -- from the Unionists/ Orange order leadership.
Ireland was partitioned against the wishes of the majority, a corrupt, non- democratic six county state was formed leaving the Catholic / Nationalists population at the mercy of the leaders of an Orange state. These people were deprived of the civil rights , their voting rights and discriminated against in jobs , housing ETC
But those Nationalists people kept the GAA alive , they honoured the Tricolour/ Irish national anthem and as most Six county posters want the Flag/ Anthem kept in the build up to the games -- then that's what we do.
We won't go trying to please Tom Elliot as come the 12 of July they won't make much effort to try and please the Nationalists/ Catholic community Insulting them is what they are more likely to do--- burn the tricolour. Or indeed if they had their way -- March all over the Nationalists/Catholic community.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 11/10/2015 12:58:15    1797798