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HERE ARE SOME of the things you may have witnessed, if you’ve been following the Northern Ireland election campaign online.
It’s, frankly, hard to get a grasp on the scale of the phenomenon (sorry).
WHY are Sinn Féin and Sinn Féin supporters so keen on the crocodile references, you may ask…
It’s not because they’re green.
The roots of the meme can be traced back to comments by DUP leader Arlene Foster last month, on the subject of supports for the Irish language.
Her party would never agree to an Irish language act, the former First Minister said, telling supporters “If you feed a crocodile it will keep coming back for more”.
Foster, in retrospect, left herself wide open to a standard reptile-based rejoinder: asked about her comments, Gerry Adams responded with a snappy “See you later, alligator”.
The Sinn Féin crocodile has grown legs in the weeks since Foster’s initial remark – sparking all manner of references on social and in traditional media.
Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly took part in a dancing contest at a Sinn Féin fundraiser at the weekend, for instance, sparking shrill headlines in the Daily Express.
And Gerry Adams has been posting videos from bridges over various rivers as he campaigns with local candidates, joking about the ‘crocodiles’ in the water below (and at one point “DUP ducks”).
Let’s hope no actual crocodiles escape from Belfast Zoo before polls close – it might get confusing out there.
Actually… Let’s hope no actual crocodiles ever escape from ANY of our zoos.
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I do feel sorry for genuine asylum seekers but in reality the vast majority seem to be economic migrants. Also our appeal system is a joke it really needs to be updated 3 appeals and your out. I have a friend who was working in the immigration office in Dublin and has since left and the stories he told me are a joke
@Graham Light: does that justify burning their accommodation down, or…
@Paddington C.: No certainly not
@Paddington C.: Do you know what caused the fire ? Maybe wait until you find out ?
@Pl O’neill: Ya like that was an accident, how dare anyone speculate that this fire was started deliberately.
100 of them to moville, 100 to roosky, 100 to Wicklow and 80 to kenmare all in the space of 4 weeks. Also great tourist towns too! Shame! Why can’t Saudi Arabia take in refugees/asylum seekers! DP costs Ireland €68 million a year. We have to say now from now on.
@Donal: Yawn.
@Donal: Google UN Global compact for migration.
It’s the end of the nation state as we know it.
I used to detest Justin Barrett, but I’ll be voting for the National Party if given the opportunity next time out.
@Donal: Because our politicians keep saying yes to Europe.I would not like one of these centres near me.Let the snowflakes begin.
@Donal: My comment about the building program was removed.
@Donal: DP is very profitable for those running them.
@Patricia McCarthy: Let me guess, you weren’t all on board with the Journal’s progressive pro-immigration policy?
That champagne socialist president has plenty of space in the aras for them in dublin, near all the help they need.
@Adrian: Ssshhh. He is rather busy right now, reading his own poetry.
All for allowing genuine asylum seekers. Let them go through the process and if genuine allow them stay. Ban appeals process this is the biggest problem with our system.
In regards to the fire it does seem very suspicious indeed but it could be genuine also it is a wait and see.
@JesusMoreBullshit: can see this happening more,.
Strange that my comment about being robbed last night by two South American men was removed. I wasnt stating that all South American people are bad.
not a word about this on rte 12 noon news…..
No room at any of the Inn’s for Asia Bibi.
yea right, the place just spontaneously combusted.
It was petrol bombed
@Diar O Doc: Any confirmation on that?
have your say