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ON 15 SEPTEMBER 2015, I woke up in the Galway Bay Hotel at 7.45am and switched my alarm off.
My phone rang a couple of moments later and my life changed forever.
My aunt’s name flashed up on my phone.
‘Hello,’ I said.
‘Michelle are you with anybody,’ my aunt said.
‘No I’m down in Galway, is my Mam ok,’ I replied.
‘Your Mam’s fine…. oh, Michelle,’ she said.
‘What Anne, what’s wrong?’
‘It’s Derek, Michelle. He’s hanged himself.’
‘Is he ok, is he still alive?’
‘No sweetheart, I’m so sorry, he’s gone, honey’.
My life changed from that day on
My whole heart literally shattered in pieces. I remember nothing more that was said after that. I crumbled to the floor, shaking like a leaf and howled. How I didn’t wake the whole hotel I do not know. I literally lay in a ball on the floor howling. I wouldn’t even call it crying, because there were no tears. I was just screaming.
Then I remembered my work colleague was in the next room. I managed to get myself off the floor and banged her door down. I don’t even know what I said to her but she took me into her arms and just hugged me.
I felt sick
Then I needed to be sick. I heard her on the phone to somebody and it was then I decided I needed to go. I needed to get into our car and just go.
My Mam was in Spain with her partner, my Dad was on the way to Spain with his wife and I couldn’t bring myself to pick up the phone and call either of them. I rang my husband. God only knows how he understood what I said but he took control and told me it was going to be okay and they would get me home.
I asked him to contact my Mam and my other brother, Robert. I didn’t even think of how he would manage to make them phone calls. I howled again. I kept repeating my baby brother is dead! I called my best friend and sobbed down the phone, she couldn’t even understand what I was saying and when she finally got me, she sobbed too. She said she was coming to get me.
Something came over me then and I somehow managed to compose myself enough to get dressed, pack my bag and me and my work colleague got into the car. I insisted I was okay and wanted to drive. I just needed to get home.
I had to get to Derek
I needed to be with Derek right away and tell him it was going to be okay. I rang my husband again and told him under no circumstances was Derek to be left alone, that he needed one of us there with him at all times. He told me the medics, fire brigade and undertakers were already there. I didn’t care. I told him Derek didn’t want to be alone.
The rest of that day is a blur, but it’s a morning that will never, ever leave me, and something that replays in my mind over and over and over many times a week.
On that day, my baby brother Derek, who was just 24 years young, decided he couldn’t take any more of this life, and made the decision to end his life.
The few days that followed were the most horrendous days I have ever had in my entire life. My Dad arriving home, my Mam arriving home, going to meet with the funeral home, organising the funeral, having to pick out a coffin, a coffin. Coffin shopping. It made me sick to my stomach, I had to leave the room.
Picking prayers and readings for his funeral, booking somewhere for the afters, arranging flowers, songs, picking out the plot for his resting place. I don’t know now how we all managed to do those things. If I had to do it over I honestly do not think I could cope.
The worst was waiting to see my baby brother when he was brought home for his wake. Wake. Funny name. It’s all just so surreal now, like something you would see from a film.
Here he was. Getting taken out of a hearse in a coffin. Myself, my brother Robert and our Mam and Dad had to hold each other up. It was horrendous. I can’t even breathe when I think about that moment. He was brought in and laid out in his bedroom. When I saw his beautiful face, he looked so peaceful. He was smiling, so handsome. His hair was so lovely too. He loved his hair. I was so afraid to touch him. It honestly just looked like he was sleeping.
The funeral director helped me to touch his face and to give him a kiss, and then something came over me. I couldnt stop kissing him, rubbing his hair. He wasn’t to be left in that room alone. Somebody needed to be with him at all times and I told everybody the same. There were crowds of people in my Mam’s for them days, family and friends from afar and they were all so unbelievably amazing to us all.
We would not have coped without them all around. But I didn’t care who was there, I spent most of my time by Derek’s side. Rubbing his hands, his hair, kissing his face, playing him music and singing to him. I was in a daze and only felt okay when I was beside him. It hadn’t sank in that he was gone.
I am writing this, firstly, to raise awareness, secondly to make anybody with suicidal thoughts aware of what is left behind, and lastly, to let you all know about the amazing work done at Pieta House
He was just 24
Derek had turned 24 just 24 days before he took his own life.
He had suffered with depression for quite sometime, alongside drug addictions. This successful attempt had not been Derek’s first attempt to take his own life. In April 2015, he made an attempt, and thankfully then, he was not successful.
He was disturbed, and advised by a doctor that was called to attend the hospital to speak with a psychiatric specialist. We all took him to the hospital that night and were sat in the A&E department for a few hours. He was finally called in and seen to by a specialist and was in and out quicker than I had time to get a coffee.
There was ‘nothing wrong with him’ they said.
They couldn’t help him there. He was referred to his local GP/ psychiatric care with a referral letter in his hands. I was in shock. My whole family were in shock. He was sent away after making an attempt to take his own life with a letter in his hand.
The following morning I contacted the unit he had been referred to to see when he could go in, and they said they had received the referral and gave me an appointment for him on the phone. It was for two months’ time. Two months – are you actually kidding me, I asked.
Seeking help
I kicked up a bit of a fuss on the phone and told them exactly what I thought. I couldn’t understand it. We tried and tried to get professional help for Derek at that time, but all we ended up getting was help from counsellors. That’s all that was available. We didn’t know where to turn to as a family, all we could do was encourage Derek to go for counselling, which he did.
He went for a one session and that was it. Help for people with mental health issues in this country is not readily available, in fact the mental health system in Ireland is an absolute disgrace, and Derek is proof of that. Our professionals sent him home and told us all there was nothing wrong with him.
Well, why is he 6 feet under now? Derek could have been saved with the right professional help and I firmly believe this. He didn’t want to die. He had mental health problems, and with the right treatment and care he could still be with us today. We are just one of many families let down by the lack of support for people with mental health issues.
On average 500 people per year take their own life in Ireland. Approx 400 of this number are men. A study of young Irish men aged 18-34 years revealed that 78% knew someone who had died by suicide, 42% knew more than one person, and 17% had a close friend who completed suicide. Those figures are just crazy.
If only they knew what they were leaving behind. Let me tell you what it’s like being one of many people left behind, affected and totally devastated by my brother taking his own life.
Dealing with his death
I cry, a lot. Mostly when I am alone. My own mind is now probably my worst enemy. I sometimes question my own sanity and pray that my mind will just STOP, stop making me think of things that I can’t bare to think about. Like last night, I lay in bed trying so hard to get some sleep, but my heart was beating so hard I could feel it in my back, and my mind was playing out the moment Derek took his own life, it was as if I was there with him at the time and I was replaying a memory. I just want it to stop sometimes.
I try very, very hard to put on a brave face when I am having a bad day. The bad days are the worst. I’m angry, I question everything.
Why Derek? He was harmless, he had a heart of gold and he was probably one of the most affectionate and loving men I know. He always told us he loved us. He always rang my Mam when he had a few drinks on him just to tell her he ‘loves the bones’ of her. He was so funny too, he always knew how to make us laugh from the time he was able to talk.
I had my rows with him through the years, gave him a hard time for some of the choices he was making in life and about his drug use, but only because I cared and wanted the best for him. It does still make me feel guilty now. I always gave him a hard time for having his friends in my Mam’s when she wasn’t there.
The last time I saw him
It’s funny the way things go, because as I mentioned earlier, my Mam was away when Derek died, but the last time I saw him, which was the Saturday night (he died on the Tuesday morning) I was going out for a few drinks and wanted a few before I headed out.
My mam said to me that there was some vodka in her apartment that I could take, so I text Derek (Dez) and said I would be over to get some and he said no bother. When I got over he had a few of his friends and their girlfriends there and they were all having a few drinks and watching the footy, and for once I didn’t bark orders for them to leave, I sat with them for a bit having the chats and me and Dez had a few laughs together.
I went in to get the vodka and it was some brand that’s like 40% vol and Dez said: ‘You know that’s 40%’ and my cousin, Alan, who was there with Dez said ‘not any more it’s not’ and they all burst out laughing.
The feckers had drank most of it and topped it back up with water. We had a laugh and I left them with the watered down vodka and told them to have a good night. Dez gave me a hug and said thanks Chelle. I knew he was thanking me for not giving out to him for having crowds there.
That was the last time I heard his lovely laugh and the last hug I got from him. That’s a memory that I think of a lot and when I say I would give my two legs to do exactly the same thing I did that last time I saw him. I would say I’d give my arms too, but I want to keep them so I can hug him and never let go.
A broken heart
My heart is broken. My heart is broken not only for me, but for my family too. My Mam and Dad.
How can parents bury their own child. How are they coping? When I think of how they must feel my heart feels like its shattering into a million pieces. They are the strongest people I know and they are there for me and my brother, Robert and encourage us both to talk about our feelings and ask how we are doing every day as do we with them. But how do they do it when their own hearts are broken. I worry about them both every single day.
My brother Robert. He’s the biggest heart of gold and is the worlds number one worrier. He worries about everybody and always wants to be sure that we are all okay even though his heart has been ripped out.
He adored Derek and did everything he could to protect him. He was always there for Derek no matter what and they were as close as brothers could be and everyday on Whatsapp. Rob still goes to send Derek links on articles about football or whatever.
Talking about our feelings
He is a broken man now, but still makes sure everybody else is okay before himself. He’s also probably better than any counsellor out there for getting you to discuss your feelings. He is one of a kind and I love him very much. It hurts me seeing him hurting so much.
Hes kept busy with his 3-year-old torment of a daughter, Emma. Torment in the sweetest way is what I mean! My only niece. Derek’s only niece. Boy, did he adore her.
She’s the funniest, craziest little wagon there is. She is talking now and he will never get to see all of that. She will never remember the love that Derek had for her or the bond they had. She loves her uncle Derek and talks about him all the time.
At Christmas when my Mam got upset at dinner time she said, is Nanna upset because she’s missing my uncle Derek. She’s a clever little cookie. She sings the new Adele song and I cry every time. It makes me think of her and Derek and how he didn’t get to see how amazing she is at singing. She’s actually a shocking singer really, but it’s funny and she entertains us all and that’s what I mean by amazing.
They are just some of the things that go through my head. Some of the pain I feel, and some of the sorrow that I carry around with me most days. Don’t get me wrong. I have good days, mostly, but this last week has been a really bad few days for me and I’m trying to pull myself back out of them. I have an amazing family and friends around me that always pull me out of it so I know I will get through it.
Pieta House
My Mam has taken her heartbreak and put it into something that is there to help prevent any other family from going through exactly what she has. She is now on the Committee for Darkness into Light Fairyhouse.
When somebody talks about taking their own life, that’s taken courage to say it out loud, and it needs to be taken seriously.
Think about what you are leaving behind. Try and understand that you are so loved and everyone in your life will do anything to save you. Life is very precious, don’t take it away from yourself.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post, and please sign up to take part in Darkness into Light or Donate to Pieta House.
If every one of the readers or followers finds it in their hearts to donate just €1 each, that will be almost €20,000 raised for a charity that is extremely close to my heart. You can donate HERE. If you or anybody you know is having thoughts of suicide or self-harm please get in touch with Pieta House here.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. It means so much to me that we could help save another family from this heartache, and also save many more precious lives.
For you Dez. I love and miss you every second. Thank you for the strength you give me, for the good days, and keep looking over us all. I feel you with me sometimes. Rest in paradise my love.
Michelle Ross is a 29-year-old fashion and beauty blogger. You can visit her website here needsnotwantsblog.com
This article was originally published on 9 March 2016
Pieta House, the Centre for the Prevention of Self-Harm or Suicide, offers a specialised treatment programme for people who have suicidal ideation or who participate in self-harming behaviors. The service is free of charge, but donations are welcome. The specialised treatment programme offers a comprehensive service aimed at individuals and their families who are affected by:
Darkness into Light
Michelle is appealing to everyone to sign up to this years Darkness into Light walk which takes place around the country.
Register for your place in Darkness into Light 2016 HERE. It takes place on 7th May 2016 starting at 4.30am.
Early bird registration is available from now until the 28th of March and is just €20 per person to take part. After the 28th March it will be €25 per person. All registration fees go directly to Pieta House. Remember this year for the first year, you can select Fairyhouse as your chosen venue.
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I’m living in London and I’ve seen quite a few hotels flying Irish flags. Don’t see the problem with Union Jacks being flown in Ireland. There’s no difference. The only people that would have a problem with this are the usual angry types that are insecure about their own national identity.
That’s true & u don’t hear the English moan about it or be negative about it.
@Declan
I bet if there was a role reversal in history, you would hear some of the English moan about it.
Insecure about their national identify? Do you think the go around thinking Am I Irish? Am I British? Am I European? WHAT AM I? LOL
That’s a very valid point, Luke. “If” is a very big 2 letter word. Having said that, I do think it is time to move on. Put the past where it belongs – in the past & move on. Moving on is my point. Sláinte.
Like the English will give one toss about whether their flag is flown here. If a hotel or a business thinks that putting up the flag of any country is going to make one jot of difference then they are not going to last long.
There were more English tourists in Ireland when their soldiers were going home in body bags in the North and there were lots of tension than there are now but now that that has stopped they notice their flag isn’t everywhere and are really sore about that.
So lets not point out that the reason that English tourism is down, like many other places is that the find the country too dear, a rip off element and the exchange rate was awful against the Euro.
It might have been an idea for the people writing the report to actually look at the obvious elements than presuming that the English are stuck in the 18th C. This report is all a bit stage oirish.
Although we’ve moved on from British hatred and such, I still would find flying a Union Jack in Dublin to be highly insensitive and morally wrong considering the connotations that come with that flag. The Union Jack is the symbol of Irish oppression and it would be an insult to the many Irish people who died while being oppressed by the British, but also the men and women who fought tooth and nail to get this country independence and preserve it. May we not forget the past, because those that do are doomed to repeat it. But in saying that, don’t let the past cloud the future. Lets just be weary and considerate.
Spot on man
As the Queen said herself “Let us bow to the past, but not be bound by it”.
The Tri-Colour is flown all over the UK on Irish bars, Irish shops etc and yet it’s the same flag that the IRA used as a symbol when it was continuing it’s campaign of terror against the British Public…but you never hear of a word spoken against the flying of the Irish flag in the UK
We have to do the same thing that the British Public have done, disassociate the negative connotations that come from the actions of the few and fly it in respect of the ordinary British person who will holiday here.
@Liam
The IRA have no connection with the Irish State. So whether they fly the Irish flag, the Mexican flag or even the Google flag, it has nothing to do with the Irish State and so should not be associated with this great country. The difference is, when the Union Jack was being flown over here, it was because of the British Government, not terrorists, so you’re not comparing like with like.
@ Luke I find your final point of “Lets just be weary and considerate” a bit odd.
Do you mean warey? or do you intend being considerate and tired??
@Janet.
I think YOU meant to say “wary”. And yes, I meant to say wary. Typo. These things happen. :)
@ Luke ooops obviously I need a spelling lesson too :) all the best
The Tri-Colour is hardly flown in public all over the UK in fairness. Also is there any actual evidence that British tourists are put off by not seeing the Union Jack when holidaying here, or is it just speculation?
@Janet.
You too. :D Agus athbhliain faoi mhaise duit!
@ Luke Go raibh mhíle maith agat!! :)
“Hello, I’d like to book a double room for the weekend, but I before I do that I just want to know what flags you’re flying outside?”
I can’t believe people get paid to come up with this shit.
Also, I once met an English girl in a pub who came over on her own to see Cork. She was rather excited by what she expected to be was a certain degree of hostility to her. I brought her around to sites around Cobh and the like to see some of the legacy left behind by her ancestors. I’d say a lot of English people get a kind of thrill coming to Ireland, and couldn’t give a shit about a Union Jack outside some establishment.
If it ain’t broke don’t try and break it, this another example of overpaid morons doing unnecessary work for the state. If Ireland is good value, people will come. End of story
I was actually laughing until I read that these proposals were actually in an official report.
Why do people visit other countries? Is it to experience exactly what they have at home? No. People visit new places to experience something that is unique, different, exciting. Something that cannot be found anywhere else.
What does Ireland have that is unique, different and exciting? Our language, our culture, our colourful history, our own take on the world around us. A more vibrant and confident promotion of these assests will be much more benficial for tourism than flying the flag of another nation.
Bíodh misneach againn.
Abair é.
RG you are talking aboit rhe people that give out about not being able to get ‘proper food’ like ‘fish and chips oe burgers’ when they visit other countries. And who give out that everyone doesn’t speak English when they go on foreign holidays.
might as well hang the German and imf flag
sure why not the Liverpool FC flag also ? :)
:)
Don’t see how that would work
Why not ? It’s a national flag like any other national flag flown in Ireland. The English, Welsh & Scottish flags are flown independently & the world doesn’t end. It is flown at the entrance to Dublin airport. Time to move on from the past.
I dont see a problem with it, if English people felt more welcome it can only have a positive effect on tourism. Some of the attitudes on here will keep us firmly nailed down in the past, culturally and economically.
What a ridiculous idea.
Nearly every hotel i’ve been to has 3flags flying, the Irish,US and EU .. as much as the UK wants to pretend they are not a part of the EU, they are and that flag is flying for them and the other 25countries. I seriously doubt UK tourists are going home from a trip to Ireland and telling people ‘they had no union jacks flying, don’t go there whatever you do’
Symbol of irish opression, what a recommendation.
While you at it why not fly the nazi flag too
Comparing the Brits to Nazis? Seriously?
Perhaps it would be worth establishing why it is so expensive for tourists to holiday here before hoisting union jacks across the country.
http://www.rte.ie/news/money/consumer/alcohol-prices-in-ireland-dearest-in-europe.html
What a load if nonsense! As if anyone worries about what flags are flying on a hotel! Ireland’s way too expensive to visit for most people! Filthy city centers don’t help either!
How about giving tourist something to come and see and something that will give Dublin an Identity as such.. In London you have the Big Ben, London Eye etc, New York you have Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn bridge etc, Dublin, well.. Ehm, The Spire??? (that btw no body understands what it actually is)
We have The Spire. It’s the biggest one finger salute u could create !!
if u can be arsed reading this……..i wsnt!!
Reason for construction of The Spire
The monument was commissioned as part of a redesigned street layout in 1999. O’Connell Street was perceived to have gone into decline from the 1970s. Some people blamed the appearance of fast food restaurants and the opening of bargain basement shops-all using cheap plastic shop fronts-visually unattractive and obtrusive, the existence of a number of derelict sites, and the 1966 destruction of Nelson’s Pillar following a bombing, by former IRA members, as reasons for the decline in a once famous and attractive street.
In the 1990s, plans were launched to improve the streetscape. The excessive number of trees in the central reservation, which had overgrown and obscured the street’s views and monuments, was reduced dramatically. This was controversial, as the trees had been growing for a century.[5] Statues were cleaned and in some cases relocated. Shop-owners were required to replace plastic signage and frontage with more visually attractive designs. Private car traffic was re-directed where possible away from the street, with its number of traffic lanes reduced, to allow more ‘public ownership’ of the street for pedestrians. The centrepiece of this regeneration was to be a replacement monument for Nelson’s Pillar, the Spire of Dublin, chosen through an international competition by a committee under the then chairmanship of the Lord Mayor of Dublin Joe Doyle from a large number of submissions.
[edit]
Can you not see it? It’s a monument to Dublins’ heroin problem.. A giant needle in the middle of O Connell Street..
I hate it. I shudder to think what the other entrants into this competition were like if that was the winner..
As already stated, The United Kingdom is the largest source of trade for the Republic of Ireland and most of our visitors come from there too.
As such, you’d expect to see it flown at Hotels, airports etc [Like the US flag is on most that have flag poles]…there’s no harm in being polite and adding to our already world renowned welcoming nature.
well said Liam
id like to see evidence of that fact Liam, cos everywhere i look it’s not british i see…. but other form of europeans 2 put it politely !!
Joke, would flying a union jack honestly make any difference? These people need to make real recommendations.
It’s a very minor recommendation at almost the end of the report. There are far better and more important recommendations contained in the report, though I suppose “controversy” helps with page views.
It is pretty much their own recommendation re British tourists and is really just a cop out and space filler. The English aren’t coming to Dublin because they don’t see their flags. English tourism to Ireland has been declining to here since the 90′s. It is as ludicrous as saying that the IRA ceasefire triggered the decline so maybe we should have more adventure elements in Dublin as the English might get a rush on the danger.
Does the uk fly our flag?
Yes.
When the day comes when state councils and buildings in NI are obliged legally to fly the Tricolour alongside the British flag then I would have no problem with us in the South flying the British flag alongside other nations flags at our tourist sites!
So the authors of the report believe I am immature because I don’t agree with their findings but I presume they are happy enough to take my money to pay for the report……..
I’ve no idea why you think they are calling you “immature” for disagreeing with their report. That word isn’t mentioned at all in the report or even in the above article.
specific to the flag flying element, theres a certain degree of sense, many large hotels and tourist centric locations fly the Irish, US, EU and some other major trading partners / high volume visitors flags also but generally not the UK flag. i think it makes sense to do so for such establishments or at least a rotational basis with other major european nations flags.
Could never recall seeing the german national flag being flown in the UK..odd.
Funny that!
Having looked through the report, the Union Jack flag is an almost throw-away recommendation which appears about three pages before the end of the report. To be honest I think there are far more important and interesting ones that could have been included in the headline by the Journal.
As for suggestions to improve tourism (as asked for in the article) I’d suggest that the GPO should be developed into a 1916 Museum before 2016. I’d heard this was going to happen, but I’m not sure if it will.
I’d also heard the Government was looking to force Bank of Ireland to handover the College Green branch, so hopefully they will do that and they’ll turn it into a War of Independence and Civil War Museum (the building in question was where the first Dáil sat so it is historically important). I’d also love to see College Green turned into a pedestrian plaza area, possibly with the new Luas link-up running through it (think Zagreb in Croatia).
The Writers Museum based on the Four Nobel Laureates is an excellent idea. Litter is also something that needs to be worked on as I find certain parts of the city quite bad in this respect.
I also think an iAmsterdam style card needs to be introduced for Dublin (especially now with the Leap card system in place). The iAmsterdam card allows unlimited public transport access for 24/48/72 hours and includes entry to most museums in the city, as well as offering an amazing amount of discounts.
On a point of accuracy the First Dáil was in the Cabinet room of the Mansion house, ergo the turning of the sovereign seal ceremony there on Jan 21st at noon.
It really should, the fact that the American flag is flown on virtually all establishments of accommodation and international commerce while the Union Jack isn’t – in Ireland – is frankly ridiculous; and so not surprisingly offensive to many ‘the British visiter who make the short journey to probably visit close family & friends!
True true
It’s a non-issue really. I have seen the Union Jack flown on a hotel or two in Dublin. Granted it’s a rare sight but I’m not convinced that it’s a big issue for tourists coming from Britain.
It would be more important to focus on the point about Dublin’s main attractions. We may not have much money but there are still things that can be done, how about bringing some life back to O’Connell Street? Or encouraging towns around the country to develope their own potential with their own resources (yes they are limited) etc
A âMuseum of the Four Laureatesâ to capitalise on the fact that Dublin is the only city in the world with connections to four Nobel laureates in literature (WB Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, Samuel Beckett and Seamus Heaney).
A daily public food market in the current fruit, vegetable and flower market off Capel Street.
A âculture swapâ with Beijing, which Dublin was recently twinned with. This could include a branch of a major Beijing museum opening in Dublin.
A Museum of Irish History at the GPO.
so why do they almost all fly the US flag (an english speaking nation) and the EU flag which has 23 official languages and 3 working languages, do they have staff that can speak all 23 ?
The flag is not the problem.
The fact that a lot of people do not know their countries Independence day is.
So when is Ireland’s independence day?
And what is this Turning of the Sovereign Seal ceremony?
Did you ever attended, seen it or even heard of it.
It’s the 93′rd one this year. Everyone are welcome folks.
12 noon 21 of Jan 2012 Round room, Mansion House, Dublin.
Why fly the union flag??? sorry to tell you this the flag is only known as the union Jack when flown at sea.
Would flying the indevidual flags which form the Union flag be less offensive??
ie. the English, Welsh, Scottish.
Just a thought
There is no representation of Wales on the Union Flag. The flag is made up of St Georges Saltire representing England which is a red cross on a white background. The Scottish Saltire which is a white x shaped cross on a navy blue backgeound and St Patrick’s Saltire which represents Ireland. The UK do not associate themselves with the EU flag. I remember that two English women refused to use the Blue Channel to pass through customs at Dublin airport because they ‘weren’t part of rhe EU’.
Why don’t we build a massive dome resort in the midlands with LED display walls on the inside displaying 24/7 sunshine and gardens with blossoming flowers all year round! It could have waterparks, restaurants, pubs, sports amenities and sandy beaches(sand imported of course!) we could also raise an orphan child in the dome and call him Truman and feed him on a diet of potatoes and ham!
Not pushed about flying anyone’s flag, but there was far more of substance in the report than this one item. Best we focus on those REAL ideas than this one item which has been merely higlighted to stir up some controversy.
The flying of the British flag makes a lot of sense but I don’t know. I just wouldn’t be able to hack it :3 Twould be very close to the bone
Hey Michael it’s only the Union Jack of it’s being flown on a ship!
WRONG: The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom.
Im surprised its not flown already, its always welcoming to see the Irish flag fly in a foreign country, its time to move on continue to build relations and leave the past where it is.
We fly the EU flag so that covers all 27 countries AND another thing I would worry about is your company becoming a target by the narrowed minded of society.
The Union Jack represents something that the people of Ireland have always been opposed too, that is, imperialism, oppression, foreign rulers. It would be far more fitting to have an English flag flown, and a Welsh one, Scottish one and Northern Irish one. Hopefully thats the idea they will go with.
For goodness sake, get a grip. It’s a throwaway and stupid remark in a report that has some other good ideas. Journal.ie just picked up on the sensationalist stuff – and they are entitled to as media, depressing as that is. Any country that relies on tourism needs basic perception points – ours can’t be the weather, cleanliness of our streets or our high speed infrastructure – people come to Ireland for landscape, good humour, welcomes (they still exist), food, an escape from dismal urbanity, physical activity, history, music, a bit of letting it go that they don’t get at home. A flag doesn’t make a pish of difference to that and certainly won’t influence their decision to come in the first place. What will though are prices. And our government have totally buggered that one. Instead of increasing taxes they should have taken the radical move to decrease levies and taxes, promote the fact throughout the world and make this country more attractive for visitors from a financial point of view. No-one cares about flags – I don’t expect to see the tricolour flying in Spain, Italy or Norway. Scrap the levies, reduce the taxes and,…. remember there’s a hell of a lot more to Ireland than just Dublin.
But the queens visit was gonna sort out tourism so there is no need to worrying about flying flags.
On the issue of ‘Flags’. It may interest some of the readers here that every Jan 21st at the mansion house in Dublin @12 noon the Turning of the sovereign seal takes place ( you can view it on you tube) It is non political and has to do with the recognition of sovereignty of all the people of the Earth, I mention it because the sovereign seal (looks like a Harp) is placed on the Tricolour (Based on the Easter Lilly …. Green being the stem, White being the Petals and orange the Stamen) . The Queen herself wore a sovereign seal broach on her visit here and considering David Camerons statement on the Falkland Islands regarding their Sovereignty on the 23rd Dec. I feel if they were to assert the same towards Ireland then no-one would have any problem witt flag flying in any regard.
It’s interesting, enlightening and saddening to read the comments on this article.
The Union Flag is not the flag of our nearest neighbour, it is the flag of a politically constructed state which lies close to us, and of which we were once a part. It’s completely acceptable to fly the flags of our neighbours (ie the English, Scottish, Welsh, Manx, French, Spanish, Icelandic etc), as it is acceptable to fly the standards of their states, teams, associations, clubs, churches etc who visit us in a civil capacity.
The Union Flag is an exception though, as it incorporates an established symbol of Ireland, namely St Patrick’s saltire. This is the red, diagonal cross. It is unacceptable to fly a union flag (especially for commercial purposes) in a territory that is no longer part of that union; ie the 26 Counties. To fly it for political purposes is, in a democracy, a separate argument.
Symbols are – and have been – incredibly important throughout Irish and British history. The Cross of St Patrick may be a symbol which the peoples of Ireland could use for their shared future, particularly amongst unionists and republicans. Its incorporation into the cap-badge of the PSNI is a good example of this. To the best of my knowledge, it is used by Trinity College and the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin too. I think a few GAA or county flags may utilise it. Once Patrick’s cross is removed from the Union Flag, I will be happy to fly the Union Flag outside my hotel. Equally, if it was somehow added to the Tricolour, I’d be happy to fly that flag outside too.
Few comments to your comments Inky.
Some people (namely the entire Irish Government) actually swear their allegiance to the crown of England in this country. Scroll down to article 17 irishstatutebook.ie/1922/en/act/pub/0001/print.html
Irish Sovereignty doesn’t derive from St. Patrick’s cross. But rather from some other ancient symbol.
If you want to learn the history you either learn all of it or none. What is the point of adding the cross to the Irish Tricolour? That’s irrelevant.
The GAA had that symbol on their Medal but it was removed and replaced with a serpent.
I’ve finally found an explanation for the attitude of some people (mostly from the Dublin Pale) to their former Masters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znQe9nUKzvQ
Just for the record, I am a field Negro.
Flying flags won’t boost tourism, I don’t book holidays dependent on what countries fly the tri-colour! Come on! Bord failte, get your finger out and advertise, get people onto airline/hotel sites, and show them our best assets!
Interesting comments re: Union Flag vs Union Jack. Here’s a bit more info…
According to The Flag Institute “in 1902 an Admiralty circular announced that Their Lordships had decided that either name could be used officially. Such use was given Parliamtentary approval in 1908 when it was stated that ‘the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag”. http://www.flaginstitute.org/index.php?location=7.2
The BBC meanwhile says it “disregards the term union flag because of its great potential for confusion”. The BBC also uses the lowercase. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4895076.stm
Thanks for that Michael well you learn something new everyday
Kararzyna Baranowska checked some of what you are saying and it’s food for thought.
Bon Apetite ;)
The full menu is on TNSRADIO.ning.com
Dave is right.
“FLYING THE UNION Jack from hotels, restaurants and attractions could help boost Ireland’s troubled tourist trade, according to a new report.” – that’s like trying to fix a bursting pipe with a piece of gum. Why don’t we convert to a Mathematically perfected economy model refinance the debt counting previous payments towards the debt. Does any one ever heard of MPE and Mike Montagne.
“Following the success of the Queen’s visit, British visitors to Dublin could reasonably expect an occasional public display of their monarch’s colours.” -Maybe they should fly tricolours with sovereign seal on them with the word Eire underneath threw-out Britian, you know to boost their tourism and economy I heard they are struggling as well.
“The report, commissioned by the Dublin City Business Association and called Rejuvenating Dublin’s Tourism Product, states that Ireland’s share of world tourism visitors has fallen sharply since 2000 and proposes ways to reverse the decline.” – Have a look through the report and see if there are any solutions for the reason why the decline happened. Do you know why it happened?
“… They say there is an urgent need for new attractions, and make several proposals for ways to boost Dublin’s attractiveness to tourists, including:
* A Museum of Irish History at the GPO. ”
Great idea it can start by explaining where does Ireland get it’s Independence from?
Such a simple question I’m sure many Irishmen in here would know the answer to.
Why is the top of liberty hall not a tourist attraction/viewing area ? I heard its siptu’s canteen?
The recommend showing video’s of Obama, Reagan and Bush in Ireland in a centre to attract America visitors. Howe listening to American Presidents speeches in Dublin, will validate their reasons for coming here. They are slightly more reasonable when they suggest a French Huguenots centre. They quickly descend in to farce once more with a suggestion that it will be voluntarily manned by French Citizens here, among other ways that they will support it. lol
2 basic facts here.
The Journal wants to drive traffic, links and page impressions up. It’s a business and an incredibly fast growing site. Fair play to them, they have created an interactive news source so they went for something controversial, and ignored the really barmy ideas contained within this report.
This report was beefed up in several places with last minute ideas rather than ideas and suggestions based on empirical data. There is also too much looking back and looking sideways rather than here and now. I’m still going to sit down and read it next weekend when I have more time though.
Being a regular visitor to Dublin I would have been most surprised to see the Union flag flying there as would most Brits and as a friend said, “How will flying the Brit flag encourage Brit tourists if they’re not going to see it until they’ve arrived? “
kartarzyna baranowska checked out the symbol aspect very interesting
I understamd the sentiment behind the idea to fly the flag of our biggest trading partner, ive seen many hotels around the country flying American flags etc. however, the union jack is not the right choice. Maybe the George’s cross instead. The union jack is a flag representative of a nation that no longer exists.
Who gives a flying fuck?
Most flag flying businesses in Dublin have a tricolour, an EU flag and an American flag.
The American flag does not make us American.
If something as simple as a flag flying atop a hotel makes some tourists feel comfortable, then fly the flag.
Hopefully they’ll spend more money, and help, if only in a small way, get this country back on its feet.
It seems that some people would like De Valera and Collins to still be alive and fighting than see this country thrive.
That’s just really sad and pathetic.
It seems that some people would like De Valera and Collins to still be alive and fighting than see this country thrive.
Why do you say that. I see you do not understand what Sovereignty is. Where it comes from and who were the actual heroes that fought for this country’s independence.
I would say that it’s sad but not pathetic. We all were misinformed.
Instead of jumping to conclusion without looking at the information I’ve provided look at it first and then draw your conclusions.
To me that’s just the logical reason to do.
“Hopefully they’ll spend more money, and help, if only in a small way, get this country back on its feet.”
Farther more I don’t see how the Irish people as a nation participating in a rat race on an international level going to solve anything. That’s not a real solution only a piece of gum for fixing a bursting water pipe.
Just because you might not know a better solution shouldn’t stop you from searching for one.
Ahh yes the old ‘let’s fiddle with this light switch and try and illuminate the house’ report. The problem stems from the fact that there seems to be no unified strategy in place for Ireland as a tourist destination in general. I wonder has there been a forum held where all the hotel GM’s from across Ireland, Tourism Ireland bosses and SMB’s involved in tourism got together and settled upon a unified strategy for what needs to be done? Doubtful.
The promotion of tourism to Ireland is all over the place, they are spreading their net too far and too shallow instead of looking a few niche markets and capturing these. Look at the Destination Branding done by New Zealand, they focused exclusively on the niche market of adventure holiday seekers. Not only have they captured this market, but the associated ‘coolness’ factor of this niche has drawn in a whole new market that want to be associated with this.
The huge problem with these kind of reports (and any others that jump on the latest trendy bandwagon i.e. social media etc.) is that they are just telling you how to flick one switch on in a room. These reports should be more focused on illuminating the house. If you don’t know how all the switches work together…well you’re just fiddling in the dark.
Flags should be flown when visiting dignitaries are visiting on all government buildings
Hotels fly flags all the time so why not the Union Flag you always see the American up
The union jack just draws them Brits in like it was a big magnet. And British visitors “could reasonably expect an occasional public display of their monarchs colors”? I don’t think reason was involved in the making of this report.
But I do like the idea of flying all three flags of England, Scotland, and Wales instead of the union jack. A sly and effective way of avoiding displaying an emblem of foreign conquest while welcoming the actual people of the UK.
Is it just me or are there a fair few people out there who think that in order to make Ireland appealing to English people we have to gull them into thinking independence never happened and Ireland is still the good old Ireland of British Isles? I think British people are perfectly capable of appreciating Ireland while accepting the fact that we don’t much care for the queen or the union jack or the commonwealth. They have moved on and don’t need to be patronised by union jack waving Irish people.
Anyway, the queen’s visit was supposed to bring the hordes of tourists in its wake. It didn’t work?
have your say