I’m getting a boner from all the freedom!!!

how are they defending our freedom excactly?

Look at all the freedom!!! We’re dripping in it thanks to those brave heros and their service and all the freedom whoopass their giving to those terrorists!

I might be hallucinating but a couple months back were israel not firing stray mortars into un territory when they were trying to hit the syrian army ?

Ian, that’s anti Zionist and racist and sexist and homophobic to say anything negative about Israel.

A real army?
You mean one that colonized other countries?
Occupied smaller nations by divide and rule?
Created concentration camps?
First army to use chemical weapons? Shoot unarmed civilians and deny it to the present day?

If that’s what a real army is then I’m very happy with a fake one, thank you very much.

It’s says “Lt Col” not “Cpl”

Fyi Antrim, the Irish army was real enough to win independence. In fact they were quite comparable to the YPG at the time

Why did you say he was a traitor? A traitor to what or who?

St Patrick’s Day is not the property of nationalists. Anybody who thinks so is deluded.

They didn’t win independence, they were told by Lloyd George to accept the terms of the treaty or be destroyed.

Who are the Irish army anyway, it’s my understanding that many would call the Free State army traitors. Sure didn’t they borrow guns from the British to pummel their fellow Irishmen after they’d supposedly won this independence you talk of?

True, St Patrick’s shouldn’t be politicised but it was today in Belfast with the flag burning etc

They did win independence you clown. 26 counties are completely free and there’s no British troops roaming around. Even Churchill and Thatcher acknowledged we won our independence. You’re Queen, whom you are subordinate to, bowed down before our war dead only a few years. The ultimate recognition that they were true patriots and freedom fighters. She also has recognized that they won indepdence. Forgive me if I don’t pay much attention to the opinion of an anonymous trouble maker like you.

You think the current army are somehow linked or responsible for the actions of an army almost a century ago. An army which contained many ex-British soldiers and members of the brutal Dublin Guard. They were a different army. Unprofessional(destroyed buildings needlessly), brutal (Ballyseedy) and political (landed gentry, Blueshirt controlled).

So who shelled the Irishmen with the British guns then, if Ireland is independent why are there still republican groups waging militant campaigns?

I’m not bothered about the 26 counties here by the way, it’s not my country. I’m just telling you how it is, the British wrote the terms of the treaty and most Republicans accepted them, the other Republicans carried on fighting and were beaten by the free state army with Britain’s help. Right or wrong?

Yeah it sucks when people burn your country’s flag, doesn’t it Aontrim?

I never said for a minute that we are fully independent. 26 counties were won by force. The other will be won democratically. I’m not denying the Free State army were Irish or used British artillery. They are facts. It was wrong but it was a harsh, knee jerk reaction to a campaign that was escalating rapidly. Also the campaign by dissidents is minuscule and supported by a tiny minority. They will
never achieve a United Ireland.

Doesn’t really bother me as I don’t get wound up by somebody burning a flag that they likely bought themselves. It won’t be the last union flag burned.

To do it during St Patrick’s day when there’s children etc out for the day enjoying themselves is wrong, it takes the shine of the day especially when at the other side of the country in Derry the ABOD were marching along with the St Patrick’s parade and everything passed off peacefully.

It’s still your island though. That’s typical unionist narrow mindedness. You know in the early 19th century, there’s records of unionists having beloved that ‘Ulster’ was joined into Britain and not commented to the rest of Ireland.
Sure they wrote the terms by how does that make the slightest difference to being independent? That was the same for a whole host of
Countries. Besides the treaty was altered many times after and is now redundant. The British didn’t really help the free state army. Yes they provided some weaponry and personnel but the campaign was almost exclusively Irishman against Irishman. Probably the most futile war that has took place on this island.

There never will be a united Ireland. If you really wanted it your govt would use this supposedly great army to take NI off us, sure how hard could it be.

Lyons are you not out parading somewhere?

How is it my island, I don’t believe in the island as one country. I believe in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Sure Republic of Ireland has a different flag, national anthem, currency, police force, judiciary, laws, in some cases language. That’s like saying France or Germany is my country.

I’m sure you’d have said the Fleg on Belfast city hall would never have come down if I’d have asked you 5 years ago. Also saying something will never happen considering that the nationalist population will soon overtake unionists is kind of wishful ignorance really. In the under 21 demographic Catholics are already in a majority. Now I’m not equating this with a UI but it’s a common fact that only 1% of Catholics vote for unionist parties. When NI was created it was one third Catholic, now it is 45% and growing by the day. If you don’t believe that take a look at how nationalist representation has increased Almaty every election for the assembly. Unionists such as Ruth Patterson and Arlene Forster have said made reference to a united Ireland in many years time. Also unionists are preparing for SF to get to most seats in the assembly in the near future. That will mean a SF first minister. But if believing it will ‘never’ (great unionist word) happen helps you sleep by night by all means do. I’m sure the statistics are just propaganda and gosh to you, someday you’ll wake up and wonder how it all happened.

Never said our army is great, it’s main external duty is peacekeeping unlike butchering civilians in Iraq,Libya,Afghanistan,(need I go on?). Also NI relies on another nation for security and just about everything else. If the North ever had it’s own army I’m sure we’d wipe the floor with them. Not that I’d ever want to see such a thing. We’ve had too many Irishmen kill eachother in the troubles for nothing. It’s easy to be brave in a ‘country’ which relies on foreigners to protect it, fund it, represent it and subsidize it. Someday the English will wake up to your ‘country’ and realise there are better things they can spend £12 billion on. It’s not as if the 6 counties actually contribute anything to the union. Or, wait for it…The Somme! 1690! The Orange order! Yep most people in Britain are delighted they are paying £12 billion for all that mumbo jumbo.

As long as there’s no tri colour on city hall or stormont I’m indifferent to a Union flag being on them. I know not many nationalists vote for unionist parties but that doesn’t mean they want a united Ireland, most nationalists are happy in the UK according to random surveys and in the last census most people said they were Northern Irish/British as opposed to Irish, there were vastly more UK passports that Irish passports too. I don’t think I’ve anything to fear as far as the future of NI is concerned, the way things are going I’ll be long dead before there’s even a border poll.

Stop replying, the guy must be slightly disturbed, he spews anti Irish rubbish all day every day, yet he seems to do nothing but interact with Irish people on an Irish news website constantly.

You absolute fool. It’s still the one island even if there’s 2 states. You’re stuck with us like it or not. Whatever happens in the South impacts you in the North and vice versa. Just look at tax harmonization, transport links, Heath centers, etc. A lot of people think that Ireland is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. How someone would disregard the other 3/4 of the island because of bigotry is beyond me. You know Stephen Nolan. He himself possessed that same bigotry until he visited the south. And he the world didn’t collapse when he went south, you might be interested to hear. I myself have been to every county in our beautiful isle. And I am immensely proud of each and every one despite what state or flag they are under. Political bigotry which you have displayed is just ignorance. I highly recommend you watch the documentary of when Nolan went South.

Show me where I wrote anything anti-irish.

I’m displaying a political opinion, how you can brand me a bigot is baffling. Unionism is a valid and perfectly legal political ideology so please withdraw your insult.

You are using the anglicized version of Aintroim (Antrim) which is good to see. Good to see not all unionists have abandoned the county system.

NI doesn’t rely on another nation for security either, the British army are the army of the UK which includes NI, thousands of people from NI represent this army. Even when the troubles were on the majority of the security work was carried out by the UDR and RUC. Our security now comes from the PSNI, there’s no military presence here now at all so who is this foreign nation we rely on for security?

Jamesy is still s hit stirring under another different name. Did you have a good St Patricks day?

Over 800,000 Irish passport holders in the 6 counties. Rising by 30,000 a year.

Never said it wasn’t. It’s your bigotry towards the other 26 counties on this island that I am highlighting. You think that you have no link whatsoever to the Republic, despite sharing the same island as them.

So in other words, if NI was attacked in the morning by another country you think the North could withstand without help from other countries in the union? Don’t make me laugh, you rely on the English, Scottish and to a lesser degree, the Welsh for security in military terms.

They get a £10 billion bailout every year from the English taxpayers. The Tories will have this cut over the next 5 years. Grim times ahead for the northern region.

I just said the rest of the island wasn’t my country, that’s an accurate statement.

If another nation attacked NI the UK armed forces complete with its NI members would be defending us, just as people from here fought at various times throughout history with the rest of our forces to protect these islands.

Still think you’re a typical unionist bigot incapable of understanding others viewpoints. Not only are you anti-Irish but you seem to relish conflict on this site by merely commenting on articles that have even the tiniest relation the Ireland/North/U.K and nationality,etc. That all tells me all I need to know about you.

The Irish defence force was born out of the British army . Everything about it is a direct copy of the British system . The organisation of its units to the drill moves they use . The Brits pass everything onto them . Many of its soldiers where ex Brit soldiers from the Irish regiments that where disbanded . They where the same army under a different flag .

Ignore those silly polls done during the height of a recession. One poll 500 people surveyed another bbc poll 1000 people surveyed. Do you really believe that is a true reflection of the population of the 6 counties? Deluded if so. With all the cut backs and austerity in the north over the next 5 years watch those polls change. All the polls done in Israel over the last 4 weeks said Netanyahu will be strongly defeated. How wrong they were.

I fully understand different viewpoints, you want a united Ireland, I don’t, it’s that simple. That doesn’t mean I hate you, far from it. I have plenty of good friends that are probably of the nationalist persuasion, it doesn’t change my opinion on them as people. It’s unfortunate that you automatically call me a bigot just because I’m a unionist and I made one accurate statement saying the ROI isn’t my country. I said nothing bad about your nationality, religion or anything else.

And can you please answer my earlier question if you get a chance?

Firstly Liam, who are you to declare or suggest anyone is a traitor? And by your remark, do you also class Tom Barry of the Cork Flying Columns a traitor too? Seeing as he was an officer of the same regiment as the person you referred to as a traitor. As were a large number of other members of the flying columns, they received their training in WW1.

Antrim,
“Majority security work carried out by UDR, RUC etc” not disparaging either served with both but didn’t see vast numbers in Creggan, Bogside, Falls, Ballymurphy, Anderstown, t
Turf Lodge, Ardoyne Eric. Few UDR active Mon-Fri between 7am and 7 pm either. They couldn’t most were working.
Regular Army carried out most of the security work.

Guys, I don’t think Antrim was being a bigot. He seems to be speaking honestly and without any disrespect. As far as I can see he’s just happy to be northern Irish and part of the 6 counties. Just because you don’t agree with him there’s no need to be calling him names. If he prefers to be part of the UK well that’s his preference, not yours.
Antrim, I’m taking a shed load of red thumbs for you now, hope you appreciate it!!

Antrim,
No military presence rubbish Hollywood, Lisburn etc and who deals with IEDS ip there think you’ll find they’re Regular Army (RLC) as well

Steve it was often said that the RUC were the main bulwark against and the main target of the PIRA. Everytime there was an army patrol there were RUC on it with them, the army were only there to provide security to the police who were there to do normal policing duties, something that had to be done 24/7.

Cheers tinkers for taking a balanced view of what I was trying to say.