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MANY PEOPLE ACROSS the country stayed up last night, glued to television reports from count centres on the other side of the Irish Sea.
As the Taoiseach said today, Ireland and Scotland have always been partners, neighbours and friends so the interest in the independence referendum was significant.
Some among the Irish population drew parallels with Northern Ireland’s situation, while others just wanted to see a massive democratic process play out in a peaceful manner.
How do you feel about the vote today? Are you glad there is still a United Kingdom with Scotland involved? Or are you disappointed that the population decided against independence?
Do you agree with Gerry?
Or with Ed Miliband?
Or maybe with J.K Rowling’s democratic musings?
Let us know your thoughts below.
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Ironically 80% of Irish people voted for independence and the brits wouldn’t give it to us.
Anyone see union john bruton……………….
He is on the phone telling David Cameron how glad he is and how exciting it all was and how he doesn’t like that nasty Salmond man who was so mean in not following Dave and can he have a wolly pop as he is tired from living on state pensions and grants of over 250k a year and wondering why the Irish do not feel like the cuts were evenly spread.
If Britain is better together Ireland should be also sick of these Brits and the comfort blanket ( Union Jack) we should use this to get our Ireland back together. That land up there is ours and I think if we went for it and had a referendum we would stir up great passion in Ireland and we would see a change I think Westminster America and Europe would come out in support of unity they would have to after better together Britain.
Does anyone believe if we had a vote for land up there it would be peaceful like the one in Scotland? I’d love it to be ours but at what cost?
The problem with Scotland is that its full of Scots.
I think if people I’m the south were asked if they wanted the north back there would be a NO vote, their economy is in bits , no industry, huge security costs , infrastructure in bits overloaded public service, we think we’re broke as a nation now and complain about austerity, the cost of a United Ireland would be crippling for our economy. Most who think a United Ireland will be all sunshine and roses are those complaining about water charges and high tax shiny much tax would we pay to run that basket case land on top of our own
The trouble with Northern Ireland is that it’s full of scots also.
Touché Sean Touche.
Spider monkeys
In fairness to Bruton, and he was never eloquent, his issue is that home rule and ultimately independence could have been achieved peacefully with no resort to the violence of 1916 and the consequent repression and reactive violence of the war of independence and civil war. He may have a point and conceivably we might have had a United Ireland with home rule by the mid 1920s. But knee jerk reactions to what is a nuanced argument mean we will never have that debate, because what he is saying goes against all our historical conditioning and the glorification of 1916. Personally I disagree with him because I think the Unionist and Imperialist instinct among the English ruling class could not conceive of an independent Ireland and it was only through violence that they took real notice if what happened. Where we really went wrong was with the election of the narrow minded nationalism and Celtic mysticism of the Cuban b@stard in 1932.
I agree why don’t we stir up some passion
There are a hell of a lot more “Irish” in England as there are “Scots” in NI.
Come to think of it, there are probably nearly as many “Irish” in Scotland. Change the record please.
They live under the rule of the british in ireland the british should live under the rule of the irish it’s only fair
By all accounts most of them prefer it that way.
Freman 14
Think you’re right, NI. Is a lovely part of the world, well most it,with a lot of decent people unfortunately it’s a basket case and has been for decades. Should re unification ever happen then all hell would break out. If the “Unionists” can get worked up and riot for days because they’re not allowed to walk along a bit of road, or because the Union flag is not being flown daily from Belfast City Hall.then imagine the result if the Tricolour going up.
The security cost would be huge, the Irish Army would in all probability have to support the police. Are people aware that te present PSNI is roughly half the size of the Garda? Where is the money to come from.
The Brits would be only too happy to see NI go.
You going to go against everything I say aren’t ye Martin. No mater what I say.
We’ve had the GFA, we’ve had the referenda, the issue has been settled for the foreseeable future according to the wishes of the people. It’s democracy that disagrees with you.
We’ve had the GFA, we’ve had the referenda, the issue has been settled for the foreseeable future according to the wishes of the people. It’s democracy that disagrees with you.
we are bankrupt and carrying an 11 billion deficit annually on top of all our euro debt,so where do we get another 10.8 billion it costs the Brits every year To support that place borrow it from the Germans we all know how well that went.
It wouldn’t be worth it
Your a real brain box. The Ireland of island is a failed political project-both north n south. You seem to think any future arrangement would entail sticking two failed administrations together as a recipe for a future proxy status quo. Have a bit if imagination! New Ireland, new rules. Scrap the proclamation. A constitution fit for a modern era based on a civil, open society and human rights. Church completely separated from state. Thing big!!!! Or on the other hand your are always welcome to b a prisoner of the past and all the shite that scars it.
You obviously don’t understand colonial dynamics n mindset. No nation/ union/ state (whatever uk is) willing gives up land. Secessionist movements are always resisted n oppressed. You would stop a united Ireland n the possibilities that would bring just to appease a bunch of people who reckon the white South Africans are soft for abandoning apartheid. Truth is a semi fascist, catholic nationalism has augmented this counter culture of resistance and must start at some point to make peace with our Protestant fellow countrymen.
I think London bullied them into voting No.
Or bribed them.
Cameron wouldn’t allow for the DevoMax option, until there was an chance of him losing, then came in like a knight on a steed offering things that the SNP had originally wanted put to the people in Scotland anyway.
Actually a lot of no voters said they were afraid to speak out because of the bullying and intimidation by the yes side. The Yestapo could be quite confrontational.
Whatever you can say about it they at least got the chance to take their own decision. We live in one of the very few areas in the world where a nation goes about creating a republic like this. Too often it’s straight to military action which rarely improves things for anyone.
People are very easily bullied if that’s the case Proinsias. As Donald Rumsfeld once said there were too many known unknowns (or something similar) when it came to independence. The situation is very different to Ireland of 100 years ago where states now provide many more services and the globalisation of the world economy.
Thats true Sean, however it will take a general election and. Labour government in the UK to deliver Devo- max. It is hard to imagine NI getting more as they are already heavily subsidised by the UK taxpayer.
the people of Scotland only had to look across the water at us,it must have been worth a half million votes to the No camp they have not had to endure the suffering we have had,and before someone says Independence is priceless tell that to people who can’t afford to feed their kids or those relying on free meals provided by various charities.
They took the easy and save option..
They Should Have taken there Country back, Just My Opinion
Sounds like the title of a self-help book.
They voted and its all done and dusted. They have been promised more powers and they deserved that much so its win win really. I’ll say this though about modern democracy. The media decides what to print and the people base their opinions on that. The only poll that gave the YES a lead was from Murdoch who has an axe to grind at the minute with powers that be in UK. So lets all take a minute to let that set in. Murdoch can make or break you politically. That’s real power. The power to put people in power. He who cant be named is trying a similar business model here and he’s getting away with it.
What you chose not to report is as important as what you chose TO report.
Peace out, I love you to DEATH.
Yet the no side won, so what’s your point?
You obviously didn’t read my comment, Justin so I’ll repeat the general thrust in lay mans language.
If we don’t go back to a 4-4-2 system we haven’t a chance of winning this cup.
I agree but Rupert really has the power to which you refer and not enough people acknowledge that.
agree Capitane,
the media are hugely powerful & influential with any electorate. They were a significant factor in todays result. Most of the British media were strongly campaigning in favour or ‘No’ – including the BBC.
All kinds of ‘scaremongering’ tactics were used by the media.
They got the result they wanted in the end.
The Capitaine knows his onions! 4-4-2 or alternately the Christmas pudding formation is the only way to go!
It’s great that we live in a part of the world that a decision like this is sorted in a polling booth instead of with tanks rolling across borders and military coups which leave everyone stuck in the middle.
@Cosmo- Absolutley, Rupert Murdoch is one of the most influential man in the world.
@Zoe- They certainly did. Vast majority of the British media slated the yes campaign. Youth/internet savvy voters were on the yes.
@Ted- The pudding is outdated. The flying V, now there’s an attack formation. Flying ducks got great results with it. Also, I agree its great these decisions are made through the ballot box. However the enormous media bias worries me.
Money talks in any language…..
I did, you say Murdoch pushed the yes side as he has an axe to grind and can make or break you politically! Yet NO won, I still don’t get your point, smart arse response and all you seem to be confused about what you said, is all I’m saying.
Conspiracy Theories
1.
What about the misappropriation of the votes at the Dundee count? A deliberate fire was started and when the building was evacuated members of the British secret services (Mi5) interfered with the ballot. The “official” count was only published after everyone was allowed back in after the “fire was extinguished by the local fire brigade”.
Initial reports it as an “electrical fault” on ITN and subsequently established as a false alarm.
Lo and behold – The referendum count in Dundee was hit by a second fire alarm this morning.
Just an hour-and-a-half after the Dundee International Sports Centre was evacuated by a “false alarm”, work to establish the city’s vote result was disrupted again.
The alert was raised around 3.10am. The cause is not yet known.
2.
Over 90% turnout in Glasgow yet the “official” amount claims it was only 75%?
Dundee and Glasgow with the correct count would have swung the result and Scotland would now be independent.
Conspiracy theories – they have started now.
Hi Justin, all joking aside. Murdoch released one poll and then backed off. He gave them a little rattle to let them know who the boss is. He didn’t drive on his agenda this time. Just gave them a little zap. If you look over how he directed his rags to report on the campaign you’ll see that. It was still heavily NO biased. Or as he would claim ‘balanced’
The no vote would of had a higher result if a labour government was in power . Many people voted yes as a protest vote against the Tories . The no votes campaign could also have been better .
i have my doubts these powers will materialize, why should Scotland have a better deal than England, NI or Wales? It will cause resentment that’ll only lead to more problems for them.
Indeed Frainc, this will have a ripple effect through the empire. Big problem solved, lots of smaller ones in the post for westminster. Should be interesting. All in all I’m happy for Scotland. They are in a better situation than they were before the election started as Cam changed his tune when the Yes poll lead came out.
It won’t be until next years UK general election that we will see what extra powers are given. However it looks like England will also want more powers to form their own parliament without Scottish MP’s being involved.
To be fair to everyone living in the UK we might in future see more English devolution going to regions on a geographic basis rather than demographic. The north-east of England is a wasteland compared to the south east of the country. Plans being put forward in the south for high speed rail and new airports are at the cost of neglecting other regions needing investment.
Well the Scots listened to both sides of the argument and came to a decision peacefully. Well done Scotland and good luck to you and your people in the future.
they were bullied and they haven’t a hope of getting devo max.
Truth the process has already started.
All the promises that were made are now being rowed back.
An overwhelmingly majority of people in Scotland want Devo Max.
I thought that Westminister might wait till Monday before it started shafting the No voters who are in favour of that.
Terrible Decision by the Scottish
fairy unfair referendum coverage , the Celebrities were drafted in to make sure the people voted No , the same old mantra we had here for lisbon and nice was thrown at the scottish people , all this rubbish about jobs being lossed and banks failing , society breaking down , the whole world and planet imploding on itself , the sun disappearing forever .
the same old scare tactics from the No side in Scotland as we had from the Europhile Yes side here in Ireland….
Even UKIP were behaving like europhiles , They wont like it much when the Europhiles use the same scare tactics on the British People come the IN / OUT referendum in 2016 or whenever.
Ironically the Banks and Jobs were lost after we voted yes , there is actually less Jobs now than there was before the Lisbon Treaty ratification
I didn’t really care but a yes vote would’ve been more entertaining to watch.
Seanie you must be looking at a different news source .BBC and Sky have both stated the process is starting.
Of course they were bullied but it backfired. The ‘yes’ mob were like the knuckle-draggers that are often parodied in tales of the old Gorbals and Salmond was the head bully and he showed their true colours several times and no least when he flew off in his private jet after his defeat, not an outdoor privy mind you, oh no, a private jet.
What do you folks understand by “devo max”?
Bit like Pepsi Max?
No Scotland anymore. . Just very northern Britain
Fog talking sh*te as usual I see.
there was an item on Radio Foyle this morning telling of pensioners being told they would loose their pensions the next week if they voted yes. their intensions were to vote yes but this changed their minds out of fear. the Scots were also told that there would be check point on the border, passports would be needed, customs men searching cars, no money in ATM’s…….people were terrified into voting yes……although maybe these points weren’t addressed up front!
Personally, I’m very, very proud of the Yes campaign. All inclusive and very positive…..of course with not a gun in site…..the odd fist maybe but thats for another time.
“We’re bought and sold for English gold – Such a parcel of rogues in a nation” Robbie Burns
On the bright side: the genie is out of the box and he can’t be put back in
I think this Scottish referendum just demonstrates (again) the allegiance of the mainstream media to the establishment & status quo, not ‘democracy’, or the people. Apparently only ‘The Scotsman’ newspaper supported & properly put the ‘Yes’ arguments. The rest merely peddled the ‘fear’ and the views of the mainstream political classes. Only a handful of wealthy private interests control near all the media, especially TV. The BBC is no better, and probably worse now than its ever been.
This referendum proves to me, yet again, that we cannot ignore the ‘fourth estate’ if we want meaningful ‘democracy’. (We certainly don’t have it now.) The techniques of mass propaganda, initiated by Bernays & massively developed over the last 80 odd years cannot be un-invented.
The only way forward is to ‘pluralise’ media provision. And the only way to do that is to ensure a significant sector exists free of control of either narrow corporate interests, or direct Gov control. We need a ‘commons’ media sector. The key to it is to ensure & guarantee a revenue income for it that is +not+ determined or decided by either of those potential sources of corruption.
My suggestion is that backed by public funds, every citizen should receive an (equal value) ‘e-voucher’ whereby they can allocate funds, annually, to media providers of their choice. Thus, it will perfectly possible for media providers to live entirely off such a source, and have no dependence on wealthy donors or corporate advertising. And the citizens choose by directly democratic means whose media they want to support.
To ensure that funding is able to provide a sufficiently plural sector, this ‘public commons’ overall budget should be chosen to be a fixed percentage of the total media sector size in annual turnover. I would suggest a figure of 50%, bearing in mind that people are free to cast their e-voucher funds to any media provider, including those that do also seek income from wealthy and/or corporate advertising or donor sources.
To those who say such use of ‘public’ funds cannot be justified, or affordable, they should realise that in the +macro+ economic whole, we already do, as a whole society, provide the same total funds and allocation from real resources. Everything we buy already does include in the price a sum of money that finds its way thru’ advertising or corporate profits to media provision. The only difference is WHO gets to decide where it goes. (One could even advance arguments for such an e-voucher direct democratic funding option/proportion for other services we would to better reflect democratic public choice.)
Sorry mike I got about half way thru before giving up…
What a load of rubbish
Fainthearts
307 years and still can’t let go of the apron strings!!,
Its like Stockholm syndrome along with fear of the unknown verses the desire of independence, it would have been a hard decision for anyone, I wonder how we would have voted if it was us
An awful lot of people here have “learned helplessness”, a psychological block when it comes to taking charge of their own lives.
Always looking to London or Brussels or Washington.
Always imaging the world are laughing at us and our silly Irish ways.
They just want someone to tramp all over them and they’ll think they should be grateful.
it’s easy to spot these people seanie, they’re always looking for the,
“best international opinion”
the latest one being the legalization of cannabis.
Stop projecting Seanie.
1,617,989 Scots can tell their grandchildren they stood up for a free Scotland , the rest will have to lie.
The majority of scots absolutely love centralised rule from Westminster. There is more backbone in a slug than someone who voted NO to be an independent country.
To have witnessed the run up & now aftermath to the vote I’m amazed & thankful to live in modern times. People talk about threats from London, but they’re not like the threats we received 100 years ago, or India 60 years ago from London. Not a bullet fired or even threatened, the people’s sovereignty recognised & their decision respected. Doesn’t really matter what way the vote went, under conditions like that they, and all of us in the west, truly are masters of our own destiny.
Such great instances of the modern democratic process must be hard for the anti west brigade to stomach
London was not going to give up its oil resources that quickly.
# Fixed.
or it’s ports
What oil resources does London have, I thought that they were the UK’s…..??
“Perhaps the most arresting fact about the Scottish referendum is this: that there is no newspaper – local, regional or national, English or Scottish – that supports independence except the Sunday Herald. The Scots who will vote yes have been almost without representation in the media.
There is nothing unusual about this. Change in any direction, except further over the brink of market fundamentalism and planetary destruction, requires the defiance of almost the entire battery of salaried opinion. What distinguishes the independence campaign is that it has continued to prosper despite this assault.”
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/16/media-shafted-people-scotland-journalists
What distinguishes independence is the sovereign determination of the people to exercise their democratic mandate and the will of government’s to facilitate it.
Apart from the modern wonder that is social media!
Can someone explain to me the advantage of independence? You still pay taxes and you hang a different colour flag on your wall.
Fear won out over hope plain and simple. Gutted for the 1.6 million Scots who voted for change. How can they possibly be better together when the foodbanks are doing a roaring trade?
The gormless yes voters thought that they would get their hands on the remaining oil money and have the offsales doing a roaring trade. They fell for Salmond’s load of turkish.
The poor ‘yes’ crowd thought that the off -sales would be doing a roaring trade on the ‘oil money’ but Salmond sold them a load of turkish
Ooops comments delayed, must be going via Bearsden.
On the contrary, Salmond has achieved fo the Scortish parliament in Devo-max what he was previously denied by Westminster. The task of setting up an independent country would have been far more difficult.
No need to get personal Fognostical..
Great to see how a referendum is run in a free and fair way in a modern democratic society. Russophiles take note, your beloved “referendums” in Ukraine didn’t even wipe the arse of these standards.
Yes and London didn’t have her government deposed through a coup d’état. Possibly something for our friends in Kiev to consider also.
Funny coup d’état that leaves the membership of parliament virtually unchanged…
The president was overthrown. A new executive was installed. One that was planned in advance.
Jeez Watcher you don’t half spout some nonsense…
John, London doesn’t have a separate government from the rest of the UK and neither does it have a corrupt dictatorship like that of the deposed Ukranian president.
Interesting comments – a lot of hatred going on and comparisons to the Irish situation, they cannot be compared.
I’m also astounded at the fact people have so little faith in the electorate; they way people are going on, it’s like people were held at gunpoint when casting their vote.
If I had lived in Scotland (and I previously did) I would have voted yes for what it’s worth, but that would have been a tactical “I want devo-max” vote.
I constantly wonder as someone who is Irish diaspora that grew up in England, lives in Ireland with Welsh and Scottish ancestory; why do so many people from the various countries of the UK and the Republic of Ireland show so much hatred towards the English populace? I understand people disliking government, but we live in democracies, whether in the sovereign state of the Republic of Ireland, or in the United Kingdom. Ever (wo)man has a vote, everyone has a right to petition their TD / MP / MSP / AM’s, it’s not like any one of us have experienced living in a dictatorship. It’s not perfect, but the status quo works.
Whatever, it doesn’t justify the blatant racism, and disparaging remarks – particularly from those with absolutely no concept of the functional role of the United Kingdom as a sovereign state in modern times.
Just my opinion.
They hate the English because they are working class lefty socialists, for the most part.
I was born in England to Irish parents, and have an English accent, but have always regarded myself as Irish. I am constantly struck by the absence of anti-English behaviour in Ireland given the history.
Believe me, I got very sick of the “blatant racism, and disparaging remarks” directed at the Irish growing up & living in England (and it still exists – even in from right-on Guardian readers: look below the line on any story about Ireland…) .
As for democracy: most elections in the UK are “first past the post” – if you live in a solid Labour or Tory seat, but want to vote Green, it’s a waste of time & effort. The turnout in Scotland was extraordinary because every single vote was going to count (as in the Irish system, of course)
I hear you – likewise, I have experiences anti Englishness in Ireland and anti irishness in England. Like yourself I was brought up as Irish..but in my opinion there comes a time when we have to say “lets live in the here and now – yesterday is no more”.
Your ECT treatment must have fried the part of your brain that remembered the last 900 years of history.
Yes we all hate the English so much starting tomorrow take back the half a million Irish living and working in England,instantly repay the 10 billion we received when we ran around with our begging bowl having just proved we can’t run our own country and suspend the 60 % of our exports that goes to the UK and see how you like that.
It’s very sad that the Scots got cold feet in the end. The entire media was against this, the banks were against this, London was against it. That should be a pretty good indication that the Scots made the wrong decision. The idea that the yes side failed to describe in minute detail how everything would work post independence was a clever ploy for the No side. You have to attain independence first and then work out the details. Their wealth of fossil fuels would have made them a much wealthier country the economic arguments for independence were a no brainer even if you discount the natural desire for a nation to have her own country. On the plus side the yes campaign have secured huge concessions from London. Either they will have made huge gains for Scotland or lain bare Londons duplicity if they fail to follow through on the promises. Time will tell.
… and if it turns out that they have “lain bare Londons duplicity” – what then?
Double standards there John, pity the Russians didn’t think about the people of Ukraine before they invaded.
There will be lots or regret and recriminations, from West Lothian to Self Loathing.
Well the yes side certainly wins the sore losers award.
Going for the old everyone who disagreed with me is stupid argument now.
It was also another example of how the journal’s lefty commenters are out of touch with reality. Going by the comments here a definite yes was coming.
But then it’s not the first time this has happened, nearly best to look at what the journal comments predicts and then expect the opposite.
And then they accuse the government of being out of touch.
@ Denis, how very dare you incinerate that the journalistas are not the sharpest chisels in the toolbox :-)
Well said, Denis.
You blew it Scotland you had you chance to rid yourself of the Brits
There are many Scottish people who also consider themselves British Harry.
You are right but they keep bitching about how hard done by they are
I thing Cameron should acknowledge the right to self-determination to people of eastern Ukraine like he did to the Scots. It would be fair.
http://bit.ly/ZpePA6
It was a fraud, no independent observers, videos of yes votes among the counted no votes, counters switching votes, has no one seen the videos on facebook?
point us to the link joe
Go to youtube and type ‘vote fraud scottish independence’, and thats just stuff that eagle eyed viewers spotted on the news…
Give it a rest, Joe. There were independent observers from both sides.
I hope the vids go viral anyway, plain to see there was fraud going on, just goes to show everyone is living in a sham called democracy, where you pretend you have a choice.
Here are a couple TT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=R9RCe55y0dw – VERY SUSPICIOUS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LbJif7vISQg – Compliation of three seperate – 2nd one has been explained
The UK is mortally wounded whatever way this vote went. 45% of Scots still what Independence. That’s a sizeable minority which will grow, reorganise and come back stronger in time. Northern Ireland is a tinderbox as we all know. The split there is maybe 55/45 in favour of the Union at best. The emergence of English Nationalism and UKIP is bound to further strain the Union. The proposed referendum on EU membership will be divisive if the regions vote to stay in and the English vote to pull out. I believe the UK will eventually implode.
I think you’ll find the split in NI is more like 75/25 in favour of the union. A classic example of pragmatism among the Nationalist population and who can blame them, mother Britain is the meal ticket.
martin
i think you are brainwashed. it’s more like 53%/47% at the moment
75/25?! Just no.
There’s a 5-10 percentage point difference and it’s shrinking.
It’s the first time the slaves have voted for slavery ……if Spain had made same offer to the Catalans they would have bitten there hand off to take it
This vote proves that most Scots are suffering from ” Stockholm syndrome” .
“Scottholm syndrome”?
It was a democratic decision so must be respected. I would venture to say that if hearts were voting the result would have been 60/40 for independence. It’s a win win situation though with all the promises and commitments now being called in. Things won’t be the same again.
How embarassing
Poor Mel is rolling in his grave right now.
Low blow Britain putting fear into the yes voters…… Britain are nothing without Scotland and yet they will continue to treat them like shit…..
Bit sad they didn’t take the plunge but that’s Scottish people’s decision. Hope it turns out they made the right one. Huge sigh of relief and much mopping of brows in Westminster I’d say.
Would hate to be Andy Murray right about now….
As for the not bravehearted Scots, by choosing NO it will mean less competition for Ireland economically so I guess in so way there is a direct benefit for us financially. Shame tho, would have liked to have seen a yes vote
Looking at the map of where the yes votes went it is confined to a little band along the Clyde taking in Glasgow, Easterhouse and of course the Barlinnie. Some of youse who watched the Rab.C. Nesbitt series did not realise that it is a documentary, not a comedy series.
*Easterhouse is like a run down Ballymun or Darndale
Thank God! This is better for everyone.
Lived in Glasgow and the Hebrides. Knowing the scots reasonably well I feel very sorry for them today. Lovely people but they possess a deep self loathing as a culture. Can’t help but aligned that with their inability/unwillingness to paddle their own canoe.
I know a few Scots who just seemed to be utterly ashamed of those who wanted independence but not for any particular reason. I think they were just embarrassed to be seen as argumentative and not being ok with England. Being part of the UK has shaped them and made them ashamed of their own culture and with all the “it’s great to be British” propaganda you see all over tv and even fecking cushions. In our parents time we were ashamed to be Irish too. Most tv presenters had faux-english accents. We only seemed to be proud of ourselves in the 90s, so I’m not surprised they ended up voting no.
Ireland’s independence means almost nothing, we’ve largely failed to assert/preserve/resurrect our own unique culture and traditions. Culturally we are now Anglo American, as is Scotland. We’re all hugely informed and influenced by U.S. T.V. and Hollywood movies and by the BBC and ITV.
beidh a n- lá a thiocfaidh
This campaign highlights peoples insecurities for real change. Maybe it was bad timing or just utter complacency but it mirrors the lack of ambition we have for our own affairs. Irish people don’t want something new. Just for everything to be alright and it would seem the Scots wanted the same. This is the Europe we are living in today. It will be a well oiled machine in Twenty years from now when all of the Austerity has been pushed through.
Most Scot’s would seem to say, why try to fix something that isn’t broken. Scotland already has it’s own parliament and seems quite happy with a shared system of monarchy, all it wants is a bit more money and extra powers in how to spend it.
It is sad that the decision of the Scottish people was stymied by threats from a. the English establishment b. big business c. the European Union. d. Allies of England (Britain) around the world. There is no reason why Scotland would not have been a very successful country. Scandinavia broke into independent countries over 100 years ago and continue to have very close fraternal relations and very successful economies and societies that are regarded to be among the best in the world. That could have been a model for these islands with the friendly and fraternal nations of these Islands engaging in a new and healthier way. For an Irish person the word British has so many negative connotations whereas the words English, Scottish and Welsh have a friendlier more positive vibe. For that reason yesterday’s vote is disappointing for the Irish. However we must acknowledge that Scotland is part of the Island of Britain and therefore the Scots are British whereas the Irish are not British so that is something that we have to accept. There are advantages as well as disadvantages for Ireland in the decision.
Bunch a wimps
So sad for the Scots – scaremongering tactics swung it in the end, and Cameron backtracking on Devomax promises with legislation timelines already:( Just watched the vote rigging clip on You Tube – is that authentic?? Terrible scenes in Glasgow last night – what would those scenes have been like if the Yes vote had come through – #truecolours.
have your say