Signs of change in Ballymena…
THE Everything Ulster blogger was pleased to see the UDA mural beside Harryville’s Catholic church removed and replaced with an Ulster Scots design. It was certainly unusual to see photos of the parish priest and a UDA political rep chatting under the new mural – which, unless I’m mistaken (no live pics online yet), features the older Irish version of the Ulster flag – very different from the Northern Ireland flag normally favoured by unionists! Of course, the real test will come in the summer – in recent years, the church has been forced to move services over the marching season because of loyalist intimidation.
In stark contrast to Sinn Fein, erecting photos of IRA Hunger Strikers.
Of course Sinn Fein didn’t picket a protestant church for more than two years, heckling and intimidating worshippers , but lets gloss over that, eh Slug. All that pales into significance when you compared to ten photos.
A sign of change is when the Wombles (the DA) don’t have any writ at all then we’ll see progress.
Dec,
I think that slug is pointing out that while one side is making progress, the other is engaging in provocation. Boots on the other foot for a change.
DK
Slug was comparing chalk and cheese. A 25th anniversary commeration does not equate with a several year campaign in purely sectarian intimidation and violence and the removal of one mural that was erected solely to intimidate does not wipe the slate clean, in my book at least.
Thanks for the link up Gonzo!
“A 25th anniversary commeration does not equate with a several year campaign in purely sectarian intimidation and violence”
Just what was it the hunger strikers were running guns and killing for then? Hmm….
Just what was it the hunger strikers were running guns and killing for then? Hmm….
Self-determination for the Irish people.
I was thinking more “a several year campaign in purely sectarian intimidation and violence”
“Of course Sinn Fein didn’t picket a protestant church for more than two years, heckling and intimidating worshippers , but lets gloss over that, eh Slug.”…
…might be a little more impressive as a riposte if we didn’t remember the IRA, or as they coyly called themselves after the event,the Catholic reaction Force, going into Darkley Gospel hall and shooting dead three parishioners,injuring others. “but let’s gloss over that, eh [Dec]?”
Darth,
Darkley was carried out by the INLA. The CRF are a media invention.
Pat McLarnon: Darkley was carried out by the INLA.
Quite right – The Enniskillen bombing was the IRA.
“Darkley was carried out by the INLA”
oops-wouldn’t do to get our murders mixed up.
so the joint Sinn fein IRSP picket of Dungiven copshop last week, to give one example of cooperation, couldn’t be construed of the Shinners condoning sectarian murder- and of course they helped put the killers of elderly churchgoers behind bars?
“Signs of change in Ballymena” I read.
Wot, they’re giving Liam Neeson the freedom of the town? They’re entering the 20st century? They’re turning their bibles into ploughshares?
Nope, they’re painting yet another mural on a wall.
I just knew it couldn’t be true.
Darth Rumsfeld: “…might be a little more impressive as a riposte if we didn’t (MIS)-remember the IRA, or as they coyly called themselves after the event,the Catholic reaction Force, going into Darkley Gospel hall and shooting dead three parishioners,injuring others. “but let’s gloss over that, eh [Dec]?””
And so we goes, leap-frogging backwards…
Side A: we made a marginal improvement! Yay us!
Side B: yeah, but it doesn’t undo (inset anti-social behavior hear, stretch into recent memory)
Side A, sneeringly: Oh yeah?? I’d talk your more seriously except for (insert less recent and possibly spurious memory of events here.)
et cetera and ad nauseum
As much as I am an advocate of the view that past is prologue, picking each other’s scabs isn’t going to make things better.
Wake me up when you get to the plantation… we can discus “sumptory” laws.
Credit where credit is due. I’m sure the worshipers in Harryville are pleased too. Good to see local people reaching compromises on local issues. Contrast this to the attcaks which were taking place in Aghogill not so long ago. Progress is progress and has to be welcomed and not lampooned.
Now I feel bad.
In my defence I’ll say that I welcomed progress in Harryville on another thread.
It was just the idea of murals that got to me. I mean … murals, they’re so 1960s aren’t they? I simply don’t equate murals with “signs of change”.
But yes, it’s change and it’s good.
darth,
you simply got it wrong, get over it and try better in future.