We, as society, didn't reward Sinn Féin with government positions. We, the Nationalist people, rewarded Sinn Féin with government positions when we the people voted for them.

Everything's so simple, isn't it Seamus? The only problem with that being that we, as society, voted for the agreement that included the d'Hondt scheme that allowed those votes to be translated into government positions. Since we, as society, were fully aware that Sinn Fein would almost certainly get enough votes for at least one seat we, as society, rewarded Sinn Fein with government positions. After all, in most other systems 26% of the vote wouldn't guarantee anything.

But yeah, way to pick out the big issue here.

I am an Irish Nationalist. I am from Dublin. I am too young to remebmer most of the troubles. But I'll tell you what I do remember. I remember the center of Omagh being ripped apart along with 29 people and two unborn twins. The motive for this act of total insanity, Some guys in the Real IRA didnt like the peace process. And now they want to start it all over again. I have nothing more to say about the Real IRA except to wish the PSNI good hunting.

No the major reason I made that comment is that in general I agree with the majority of your post. It was just that last paragraph that I disagreed on. I don't agree with the RIRA. The war is over. Time for the peace.

(PS, I also disagree with the whole calling it Londonderry thing but I'll let that one slide)

I couldn't agree more with you on the "time for peace" quote, Seamus.
Unfortunately in a comment on another topic on this blog you say that you support the right to overthrow an "occupying force" by whatever means possible.
Those tossers in RIRA probably agree with that sentiment of yours and are yet to see the light.
Would it not be have been more consistent to have opposed violence from any quarter and you can then speak from a morally stronger position?
That having been said - as I stated earlier - good on you for your present "time for peace" stance and let's hope that anyone, from whatever quarter, who continues on a violent path is removed from the streets post haste.

I personally am a Pacifist. I don't like war. But I see a difference between peace and a lack of violence. The situation between 1962 and 1969 was non violent but not peace. I would prefer to fight for my country and cause war than sit back and have my religion and nationality discriminated against in my own country. I think both Ireland and the world have changed since 1969, and in my opinion, for the better. We now, for the first time in the history of this island, have a real chance of peace. It is time to take it. The question of the constitutional position of the North has not been answered, but it will never be fully answered no matter what the outcome is. If the North stays in the UK it won't have been answered. If there is an independent North then it won't have been answered and if there is a United Ireland then it still won't have been answered. It is an unanswerable question, but now that there is a mechanism in place for Republicans to achieve our aims peacefully, we are obligated to attempt to achieve our aims peacefully rather than by force of arms. I am a committed Republican, I believed in the Armed Struggle but we now need peace without the fear of the war from the RIRA, however well intentioned their campaign may be. We don't need the war anymore lads so stand down and give peace a chance.

Seamus, why was the IRA started?
It was to rid Ireland of the British and bring a 32 county soverign Ireland.
What is the RIRA objective?
To rid Ireland of the British and bring a 32 country soverign Ireland.
The RIRA, as well as everyone else are aware that no only are the British still presnet here but they still have British army bases here. Just because you can't see them doesn't mean they aren't there. Ireland is used as a British army training base.

The RIRA are simply carrying on the objectives of the founding fathers of the Irish BrotherHood.

The Sinn Fein sold out, they are not part of the British crown that we have for so long fought against and that's where they will remain as long as they sit in Stormount.

On the point of them bringing the army back out to the streets;
The occupying army are hiding in their bases, away from sight, they are still very much here, they are still very much active but they are hiding in their heavily fortified bases, draw them back to the streets and rid Ireland of the British crown once and for all.

Joe Cahill R.I.P. once stated that if the the Republican movement can achieve a United Ireland peacefully, then we are obligated to do so. The IRA would not have been able to free Ireland by force of arms, what hope to the Real IRA. The Good Friday Agreement, while distasteful in parts, puts in place a mechanism to secure the peaceful reunification of this country and for the sake of all the people of this island we have to take that course of action.

Yes, but as you see, those sitting in Stormount, those that claim to be Irish are bowing down to British wishes, there is not going to be a united Ireland through political means. Just look at the situation now, we are closer to a seperated country that a united Ireland.
British army bases are still in Ireland, British army troops are still in Ireland and are still deployed in Ireland for training.
To fight an army you need an army, not a few men sitting talking and moving no-where.
People want and need peace but they also want freedom and a united Ireland.
Fighting brought about the border which, was said to be temporary which would eventually lead to a united Ireland, back in '16. Without it all of Ireland would be under British rule.
Think about it, where are we moving politically at the minute?

The mechanism in place means that when the North declare that they want a United Ireland, then that will be achieved. We where never going to be able to remove the British by force of arms so we used the Armed Struggle to achieve an agreement that protects the Nationalist people from British oppression while at the same time putting in place the mechanism to achieve a United Ireland.

"Fighting brought about the border which, was said to be temporary which would eventually lead to a united Ireland, back in '16."

You will actually find the border was put in place in 1920, and reinforced in 1921, not in 1916.

"Fighting brought about the border which, was said to be temporary which would eventually lead to a united Ireland, back in '16."

Eh? There was no border in 1916.

I travel back and forth over the border quite a lot. The border is gradually becoming irrelevant due to the development of an all-Ireland economy. (On that point - the sooner the north joins the Euro the better.)

No-one with any common sense/decency wants a return to paramilitary violence.

Yeah, i meant because of events that took place in '16.
There is a "mechanism" in place but while we have Sinn Fein bowing down to the British crown and accepting their presence it will never be implemented.

Only time will tell.

You all say that you want peace and no more war, but as i drive around Derry I cant help but notice alot of British flags, road kerbs painted red, white and blue. I find that quite intimidating. why dont we see white flags as a sign of peace or should we just keep fueling the fire!

Beano I suggest you close this blog down or rename this blog Everything Provo, or give "me"'s IP address to the authorities for inciting violence and hate.
To achieve a "united" Ireland the key is not to unite a piece of land but rather the people. Nationalism but more specifically provo republicanism are guilty of the opposite and have not learnt a single thing. People like Seamus (the Provisional IRA apologist and "it was all the Brit's and Unionists fault propagandist" - do you work for Sinn Fein John? 3500 odd deaths were justified?) and "Me" are a God send to Unionism. Keep up the great work John.

There was never going to be a united Ireland anyway - through peaceful means or not. What has been acheived is equality for the Irish living in Northern Ireland. Personally i'd love to se a united Ireland, but i'm quite willing to settle for a united northern Ireland

And as for Sein Fein 'selling out' - well perhaps they haven't fulfilled all their objectives but that does not undo what they have acheived. Do people forget what Northern Ireland was like for catholics in Thatchers day? A far cry from todays northern ireland.

Maybe our day hasn't come, maybe it never will.. but we should all be grateful for thecountry we live in today

Hope and prosperity to all fellow country men, regardless of colour, creed or nationality.

Love thy neighbour

Here's my question to the RIRA, 'Me', I'd be interested to know what you think about my problem, you see, I am Irish, I was born in Ireland, live in Northern Ireland and as such I am a citizen of the UK, which means some would say I'm British. Now, if the RIRA believe innocent people are legitimate targets for delivering pizza to a British Army base, then I must be even more of a legitimate target as I have a UK passport? So, could you clarify for me, even though I am a fellow Irishman, am I a legitimate target for the RIRA because I am a citizen of the UK?

REAL SOLIDERS WEAR UNIFORM AND DONT HIDE BEHIND WOOLY FACES ONLY COWARDS DO THAT
BUT THE PSNI WONT FIND THE CULPRITS AS WHEN THEY ARE OFFERED IMFO THEY TREAT YOU LIKE AN IDIOTBRING BACK THE TROOPS OR AT LEAST LIFT AL KNOWEN MEMBERS LIKE [edited - Beano]AND COMPANY FROM BALLYMENA A GOOD BEATING MIGHT PRODUCE USEFULK IMFO AS I KNOW THEY ARE UP TO THERE NEAKS IN THIS

I am sick of all these news reports stating that there is no support for this so called "caillis murder."

I happen to know a hell of a lot of people who support this, and if a forein army had set up in Enland they would retaliate

well i love all human life so lets maybe work on that. not here to interfere, can see what both sides mean. c'mon, have a beer

its simple british soldier's are not welcome & know themselves they shouldn't be here if they want peace then go home,every person18 & above who call themselves irish shud b made 2 fight untill the end if any wishes not to then they are not irish & have no respect for their culture there for they themselves should have no choice but to join the british army & fight untill surrender, or should we bow down to the queen fuck that shit if you call yourself irish you shoud be willing to die for ireland R.I.R.A are willing to die for ireland like everyone else should,so all you cards out there stop talking them down,yes innocent catholics & protestants will have to die for the R.I.R.A actions but that is a price every irishman should sacrifice for a united ireland

is right. wars at are doorstep

How can you condone violence against unarmed men? All you are doing is likening yourself to islamic fundamentalism? You are calling every irishman "a card" or coward if they don't stand up to be counted for. I agree, every Irishman should stand up and and fight for his/her country, and i've never met one that wouldn't. Yet, where is bravery in shooting a pair of unarmed 23 year olds and pizza delivery boys. Where is the bravery in shooting a PSNI officer in the head in an ambush.
You talk about bravery, yet all we see are mindless killings.
Yes i do wish we had a united Ireland, but lets face facts, IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN. We have come too far as a nation to take a backward step. The only thing that the R.IRA could hope to achieve is to have the armed forces back on the street of Belfast, Derry and countless other towns in the North, how does that help? You want the British army out, so you go on a killing campaign....hmmmm, not the brightest lad are we. Ok the British army have barracks in the North....all of which are due to close or at least they were going to until a pair of gobshites with an AK-47 and a warped vision of the future went on the rampage last weekend. The British Army has bases all over the world, as do the US -Big Swing Of A Donkey's D@ck- How does closing them or not closing them affect you, me or Johnny Murphy down the road?
I do have a couple of questions though. If we actually got to have a united Ireland tomorrow.
1. What do you think would happen the Irish economy?
2. What about Free Health Care and no perscription charges that the North enjoys at the moment? will it be a case of survival of the fittest?
3. Do you think that the Irish government could deal with another 2million people?

The R.IRA, INLA , CIRA just keep prooving to the pulic how out of touch with reality they actually are. Its just such a shame we still have such bigotry in our beautiful country.









Comment from: paul [Visitor]
*****
its simple british soldier's are not welcome & know themselves they shouldn't be here if they want peace then go home,every person18 & above who call themselves irish shud b made 2 fight untill the end if any wishes not to then they are not irish & have no respect for their culture there for they themselves should have no choice but to join the british army & fight untill surrender, or should we bow down to the queen fuck that shit if you call yourself irish you shoud be willing to die for ireland R.I.R.A are willing to die for ireland like everyone else should,so all you cards out there stop talking them down,yes innocent catholics & protestants will have to die for the R.I.R.A actions but that is a price every irishman should sacrifice for a united ireland

rira dont have suport of the people which is vital

diot , irish people would disown you.

paul i really hope you are the next victim of the rira or one of your family

I am a 20yr old male living in N.Ireland. I remeber the troubles, for the part i was present. I was present in omagh on the day of the RIRA bomb in omagh. I watched my mother apply CPR to a lifeless corpse and i as a nationalist child participated in stone throwing and bottle gathering.
I am thankful now when i look back that i have had the privelage of a free education, a free healthcare system and the oppertunity to better my life and that of my future children (if i have any.
As a democrat i reject the RIRA campaign, recognising that a democratic mandate for a powersharing executive was created by a huge majority of the republican community and should be defended as it defends our rights as N.irish citizens.
As a socialist i see no problems with the northern irish system, equality now exists thanks to the turbulance of the troubles. Although the police is still on its way to fully representing the population, the gears are in motion.
It is clear that good cross border relations exist and i wish for these to continue. I wonder though if the people of N.ireland and the rest of ulster would have a voice in a fully irish republic (not the corrupt southern one people refer to today, where people pay for healthcare and the government officials cream off tax money)

I cannot believe how many bigots we still have in this country, and the reason is tribal areas still exist! In the towns and villages in this beautiful country were catholics and prodestants live side by side there is harmony. But in the tribal estates in Northern Ireland ie:Shankill, Falls, Fountain, Ardoyne, etc, etc that the problem lies. These families still don't trust the other religion (and don't use this free ireland thing anymore as there are not too many people alive today that were around when it was 32 counties! You were born on this island when it was two countries so you know no different!) We need to move the families out of every other house and move in a family of the opposite religion, then we might realise that we are actually all christians and therefore very, very alike. Let's forget about the past and make this country great, the country that we were all born and brought up in!

if we are so bad then by protest dont sign on. sure you true irish folk dont want to live on handouts? IT IS NOT 1900 murder is murder would republic be so keen to su[[port you ? druggies and wanna bees leave people in peace. move to the emerald isle if you can find it.

THE BRITISH COME BACK TO OUR STREETS OF NORTHERN IRELAND AND THEY WILL BE SHOT DEAD!!!

LIVE BY THE GUN
DIE BY THE GUN

UNITED IRELAND
UP THE REAL IRA
NORTHBELFAST