RIR to have homecoming parades?
The News Letter campaign to have a homecoming parade for the RIR seems to bearing some fruit with negotiations ongoing. The notion has also gained cross-party support in Westminster.
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“Unionism Decayed 1997-2007″ by David Vance: book review
I initially wrote this when the book was first published three years ago; whilst certain elements of it now sound dated, its basic premise that the period of 1997-2007 was a period of irreversible decay for Northern Irish Unionism can still be argued as a valid opinion. My own feeling is that it did indeed [...] read our review » -
Legion of the Rearguard – Dissident Irish Republicanism by Martyn Frampton, Book Review
Are you confused about ‘dissident’ Irish Republicanism? Anxious about its existence and its seemingly increasingly deadly capabilities? Martyn Frampton’s new book, Legion of the Rearguard: Dissident Irish Republicanism (Irish Academic Press, 2011) serves both as a primer on active dissident groups and a timely analysis of their historic significance and contemporary capabilities. This book clears [...] read our review »
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Hearing the Other Voice from the Grave: Why Should we Listen to David Ervine’s Stories?
Ed Moloney’s Voices from the Grave: Two Men’s War in Ireland has received considerable attention in the press and in the public realm since its publication earlier this year. Although the book relates the experiences of the Provisional IRA’s Brendan Hughes and the PUP/UVF’s David Ervine, much of the discussion has focused on Hughes’ stories [...] read our review »
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will it be up the falls road to connelly house to meet next years recruits?
A Homecoming Parade of Shame would be more appropriate where all right thinking people could stand and give the slow clap as they trundled by.
A homecoming parade for the UDR/RIR would be a hugely-deserved mark of respect for the men and women who defended Ulster at home and abroad.
Quis Separabit…Faugh A Ballagh!
After six months preaching religious tolerance and equality our heroes deserve to have flowers thrown at them
A Homecoming Parade of Shame would be more appropriate where all right thinking people could stand and give the slow clap as they trundled by.
Posted by Paul on Jul 24, 2008 @ 12:54 PM…………………………………………
The brave men of the UDR/RIR gave their tomorrow for your today. Would you be willing to give the same sacrifice for your warped ideal of a 32-county Ireland? Somehow I don’t think so. Show a bit of respect.
Paul,
its a pity you have no respect for people simply doing their jobs, and very brave jobs at that.
do you have no respect either for the families of those out fighing out there who have so many sleepless nights worrying about their sons/daughters etc?
No matter if you agree with the politics of it all, you should really wise yourself up and show respect for those soldiers. If you oppose the war then oppose the politicans, not the soldiers who while in the army had no choice but to go where their government tells them
Some mark of respect should be shown, but not an excuse for political oneupmanship or indeed dragging local parochial stuff into it. The squaddies would probably cringe at that.
will this parade be for just the hetrosexuals and child molesters or will the odd legless gay be allowed to wheel in the parade also.
Paul’s comment is quite unfortunate. Men and women have died for our freedom through the generations and whether or not one agrees with the current conflicts, you cannot help but admire the job our troops perform, often under veruy difficult circumstances.
Paul should think that if things had turned out differently in past conflicts, he would now be unable to criticise the role of the army.
A parade is the least the troops deserve. Unlike that poor old ”slave” Ronaldo, they are true heroes…
Will any unionists found shouting ‘Faugh a ballagh’ at the homecoming parade be prepared to renounce opposition to the Irish language?
As long as they agree to abide by any parades commission ruling i have no problem.
The Irish Guards have recently been fighting in Iraq. Surely they should be included.
Let’s say one of these guys killed 10 civilians, why would you want to through flowers at them and call them heroes?
How on earth is the RIR defending Ulster in Afganistan or Iraq?
Not one Unionist would ever stand up and say that the war was wrong and not one RIR man would have the integrity to resign over it. Unionism just seems to kow tow to the “Our boys done a good job” line without ever questioning what exactly they done or why they were doing it.
The world views Unionism as war-mongering sheep who meekly bow and act on any whim just to be loyal.Pathetic
Concerned Loyalist, i note you still evade my previous post, you obviously are simply a loyal drone. Jesus wept.
Unionism – Ireland’s Shame
The world views Unionism as war-mongering sheep who meekly bow and act on any whim just to be loyal.Pathetic
Unionism – Ireland’s Shame
The most pathetic thing in this post is your self indulgent false empowerment to enable you reckon you speak for “the world”.
Paul = Nationalism’s blush…
The DUP are no more interested in honouring soldiers, its just another stunt to make up for a a banned march, appease the natives and a chance to rub their “Britishness” in others faces.
Shame on them for using the soldiers as pawns.
Paul
If you think the Afghanistan war is shameful, then take it up with the politicians, not the poor soldiers who were sent there to risk their lives.
It is your attitude that is inappropriate: not the idea of a parade.
If you oppose the war then oppose the politicans, not the soldiers who while in the army had no choice but to go where their government tells them
What about those who joined after the illegal invasion of Iraq started no one made them join.
Yet another one of these ill-conceived New Labour stunts which doesn’t readily transfer to ‘the province’. Fair enough parading in Dundee, Deptford or Dagenham (notwithstanding the fact that a very sizable percentage of the British public consider the various ‘wars’ in which their government have involved them to be profoundly unjust) but parading in Belfast where (a) a significant percentage of the population have similar views to those in England as to the legitimacy and justice of the ‘wars’ in which the parading troops have been involved and (b) another significant percentage of the population have no affinity with and marginal (or in many cases strong) hostility toward the British Army seems simply bonkers. File this one with lessons in Britishness for all schoolchildren, the swearing of an oath of allegiance to Britain by all schoolchildren and all of the other hammy stunts proposed by Brown over the course of the last year or so. All marginally amusing bits of nonsense for those on ‘the mainland’ but well past their sell by date for those in ‘the province’.
Willowfield, i blame the soldiers as much as the politicians, they could, if they had an ounce of integrity resigned.
I suspect the loyal banners were packed away, indeed we have seen footage of them and the enthusiatic zeal on the faces of members of that discredited force eager to stick the boot in ‘for God and Ulster’ pathetic
Poor soldiers ? Pass the vomit bag Willow.
Poor Iraqi and Afghan civilians more like it.
Although I’m on record as opposing the Iraqi War I would not be opposed to a welcome home parade for these soldiers .
I read recently that some 10% of ‘recruits’ going into the RIR and Irish Guards are from the Republic . Many Dubliners turned out to pay their respects to a young Dubliner who lost his life in Afghanistan or Iraq a year or so ago.
Whether we agree with the ‘politics’ of the war the ordinary squaddies deserve some recognition for their brave efforts against the Taliban.
And news just in (yesterday )
‘A Dublin-born soldier in the Royal Irish Regiment is said to be recovering well after being injured in a bomb blast in Afghanistan.
Martin Delaney of Lusk, Co Dublin, was travelling in a British army Land Rover that struck a roadside explosive planted by Taliban insurgents on Friday night.
The 23-year-old suffered shrapnel wounds to his face and legs and had to be treated at the Camp Bastion field hospital.
Mr Delaney joined the Royal Irish Regiment about three years ago.
Earlier last week, a Ranger from Belfast lost his leg in a similar bomb attack in Helmand Province.
There are around 500 soldiers from the Royal Irish Regiment First Battalion, fighting in Afghanistan.
They are joined by about 100 troops of the Second Battalion from the Territorial Army, based at Portadown, Co Armagh
end of .
Paul ,
‘Willowfield, i blame the soldiers as much as the politicians, they could, if they had an ounce of integrity resigned.’
If you had an ounce of intelligence you would’nt make such a comment
You don’t resign from an army at war unless you have suicidal tendencies . Integrity doesn’t stop bullets from a firing squad.
‘Poor Iraqi and Afghan civilians more like it.’
True enough . The Afghans have not known peace since the Russian invasion in the late 1970′s . Allowing that country to be ruled by the Taliban would be unconscionable . Even Barack Obama understands that !
Willowfield, i blame the soldiers as much as the politicians, they could, if they had an ounce of integrity resigned.
That’s not the nature of serving in the armed forces in a democracy: you are duty bound to serve the Government of the day, accountable to Parliament.
This is not a tinpot dictatorship where policy is determined by the Army, you know.
Paul,
you are obviously totally ignorant to the rules within the army, you cannot just simply resign because you dont want to fight in a particular war.
Yes and indeed you are right about the “poor iraqi and afgan citizens”. It is sad to see them getting killed by car bombs and by the taliban.
God bless the RIR and the other soliders though from trying to stop the taliban from killing their civilians though.
just remember the taliban lets it people do very little. and if you dont accept what they say then your tortured and killed.
Do you not wish these savages – who do not let their people have the basic human rights they should be entitled to – were stopped and the people of that country freed from such a regime?
Why do Unionists seem to think that soldiers bear no responsibility for what they do or where they fight? It’s all the politicians fault!
What is so noble about volunteering to kill whoever Brown/Blair/Thatcher (insert politician of the day) deems necessary to keep the oil flowing? ‘Yes Boss, who do you want me to kill today boss?’……… How very noble.
k,
yet again another ignorant person I see.
One wonders what people like you would say if we folded up the army and then our country was attacked but we had no means to defend ourselves.
You would most likely be one of the first to shout and complain about no army being there to defend you and your family
Traditional Unionist,
I can assure you I’m far from ignorant. I’d be very happy if you folded up your army. Where I grew up, they were the ones attacking people. They didn’t defend me and my family, they were too busy calling us Paddy b******s as they wrecked our house.
Gallant heroes my arse.
k
Soldiers do what they are told. They didn’t “wreck your house” – and I don’t believe that for a second – because they wanted to.
I actually don’t think many of the soldiers in the Irish regiments of the British Army want to be hauled out on parade for parochial political purposes.
But i’m glad they exist, and they should be thanked appropriately.
Here Here K, The UDR/RIR didnt defend anyone I know, Fecking shame on Mr Delaney joining a bunch of blood thirsty terrorist and occupying another country. Feck them all, let them have a march of remorse and shame and then surrender
Typical Unionists. In a state of denial as usual. Anything that portrays the British army as anything other than heroes must just be enemy propaganda.
Over the course of the troubles, believe me, the British Army went way above the call of duty in inflicting misery upon the nationalist population. While I’m sure they were always polite and approachable in Bangor and Hollywood, the reality in areas like West Belfast, the Creggan and Newry was very different. When they were searching (wrecking) houses they took a lot of pleasure in making crude sectarian remarks.
It wasn’t confined to Ireland. I remember seeing a documentary a few years ago about them travelling to the Falklands/Malvinas back in 82(?). They were all singing songs about ‘going to kill a spick or two’.
I don’t believe that the British Army is very different than those in the rest of the world. We’ve seen plenty of evidence of abuses by various forces in recent UN missions and the Yanks don’t seem to have too high an opinion of most of the Iraqi people. It’s a common military tactic. Dehumanise your enemy therefore you’re not killing other human beings, you’re killing Huns, Towelheads, Paddies etc…
As for ‘parochial political purposes’, that’s the whole reason for the existence of an army! They’re not a self defence force or a well armed home guard keeping the homeland safe. Their role is to enforce the will of the Imperial Paliament in London upon whomsoever the current group of politicians deem it necessary.
Look at the history of the British Army. How many wars were truly self defence and how many were wars of exploitation and conquest?
Any form of home coming parade will inevitably become a celebration of the British Army and ALL that it stands for.
So WW2 was a war of exploitation and conquest k?
For the Wehrmacht maybe. The Irish Guards were among the 1st on the Normandy beaches, Sir John Gorman among them. Pretty good job they did too.
Driftwood, WW2 was probably the nost justified war that the British engaged in but how many others have their been?
Even having said that, why do you think the British fought in WW2? It wasn’t to save the Jews, no-one could have known the full horror of the holocaust in ’39. It wasn’t to defend democracy, the British kept more nations under subjugation (in the form of the Empire) than any other combatant.
It was simply to prevent the Germans from becoming more powerful than the British Empire. If you read any of the political history of WW2, you’ll see that Churchill was quite willing to horse trade entire nations with Stalin. Only the Americans seemed to have an ounce of morality and a genuine desire to promote democracy (in Europe anyway if not in Asia).
I have more respect for conscripted British soldiers in WW1 and WW2 (actually I have sympathy for conscripted soldiers from any country) than for the present lot who have all volunteered to do Gordon Brown’s bidding whatever it may be.
Woo hoo, sure the more parades the merrier in NI for there are too few parades as very one knows.
BTW, recruitment figures are down for the British Army, the lowest in recent years. They are now considering recruiting members from the British Commonwealth countries overseas.
Perhaps the loyal folk of NI are not doing their duty like their fathers and signing up in numbers, and that’s very diasppointing really when one considers the history of Irishmen in the British forces over the centuries.
However, I believe recruitment figures from the ROI are up in recent years. At least the British Army can always rely on the Free Staters!
A homecoming parade for the UDR/RIR would be a hugely-deserved mark of respect for the men and women who defended Ulster at home and abroad.
Quis Separabit…Faugh A Ballagh!
[edited by moderator - play the ball] Loyalist,
I am confused. Did you mean to type UDR/RIR, UDA/RIR or UDA/UDR/RIR?
Do you realise that you are inadvertently propagandising for republicans!?
And you are promoting both papish Latin and bastardised Irish!
I don’t think the RIR WANT to be in Afghanistan. But nevertheless that is where they are. And I Imagine it’s not a pleasant environment. Whether or not they SHOULD be there is a different argument to the fact that they are doing a job few volunteer for. I think they deserve better than the armchair republicans- and ‘loyalists’-posting here. Actually I’m not in favour of a homecoming parade. Better pay and housing would be higher on their wishlist, and that would be my viewpoint.
will this parade be for just the hetrosexuals and child molesters or will the odd legless gay be allowed to wheel in the parade also.
Posted by up the rebels on Jul 24, 2008 @ 01:34 PM…………………………………………
This is a parade to commemorate the courageous work of the UDR/RIR both at home and abroad, not a commemoration of the child molestors, rapists, extortionists and mass-murdering bully-boys of violent republicanism…
A homecoming parade for the UDR/RIR would be a hugely-deserved mark of respect for the men and women who defended Ulster at home and abroad.
Quis Separabit…Faugh A Ballagh!
Cretinous Loyalist,
I am confused. Did you mean to type UDR/RIR, UDA/RIR or UDA/UDR/RIR?
Do you realise that you are inadvertently propagandising for republicans!?
And you are promoting both papish Latin and bastardised Irish!
Posted by picador on Jul 24, 2008 @ 08:02 PM…………………………………………
[edited by moderator - play the ball]
Mod,
It works both ways, picador continually plays the man and not the ball when I post the slightest little thing that doesn’t fit in with his narrow-minded republcian ideals…a bit of consistency please!
´´Dehumanise your enemy therefore you’re not killing other human beings, you’re killing Huns, Towelheads, Paddies etc´´
Absolutely spot on, K.
It doesn´t matter what you say, though. The flag-waving sheeple seem to want to have their day in the sun, welcoming back ´our´ boys.
NuLabour will probably make it an act of treason soon not to turn up and cheer the return of the soldiers. That shower are worse than the Tories, I swear. Cuireann siad déistin orm.
CL,
This thread is about the Royal Irish Regiment in Afghanistan. Why did you write ‘Quis Separabit’ when you were describing them as heroes?
Do you know of any soldiers serving in Afghanistan who are members of the muderous bunch of criminals who style themselves the UDA? Because if you did it would be very disturbing indeed and perhaps give further ammunition to those who would oppose such a homecoming parade.
Once again, why did you write ‘quis separabit’?
[edited by moderator - Yellow card] picador. “I wrote it” because “Quis Separabit” was the motto of the Ulster Defence Regiment from 1970-1992…
Shit
The Quis Separabit thing applied to Irish regiments and was usurped by the criminal UDA gangsters.
1 RIR would be disgusted by the comparison. As would Tim Collins. I actually agree with picador here.
There is NO comparison between the battalion fighting in Afghanistan, and the drug dealers under Jackie McDonalds “command”.
CL You are doing the RIR no favours.
Quis Separabit…Who will seperate us?
emmmm……I dunno?
‘The English’ says the Irish Republicans!
‘Our own conscious’ says the NI Unionists!
But just as a side note… I know those who have a great love of the military, have a great love of the uniforms, regiments, war history, bands, Trooping the Colour etc…So I take it then yez were watching the All Ireland Pipe Band Championship on BBC NI. A great fusion of the Irish-Scottish tradition. And it was great to see the St. Lawrence O’ Toole Pipe Band from Dublin crowned overall winners again. (just to mention they are not a military band either!)
K
Why do Unionists seem to think that soldiers bear no responsibility for what they do or where they fight?
No idea – wasn’t aware that was the case.
Certainly not my view – soldiers have a duty to act lawfully within war. But it is not their role to decide to go to war. In a democracy, that can decision can only rest with the Government.
We’re not in a tinpot dictatorship, you know.
K
Did you ever stop to wonder why the Army were less likely to be polite in “republican” areas?
Did you ever think, perhaps, that “republicans” bear some responsibility for the situation by which it was necessary for the Army to be deployed in NI. Did you ever think perhaps that the many soldiers murdered by “republicans” and the tacit and often overt support offered to them by people in “republican” communities might – just perhaps – have contributed to the hostile reaction?
The soldiers of 1 RIR and 2 RIR and indeed the Irish Guards are doing a job, that not many would choose. They know the risks, and are aware that the UK govt tells them where to go (literally).
As far as I know these troops have done/ are doing there job without any accusations of brutality or unlawfulness.
As I said earlier, a pay rise and better kit are the best we can offer them. Rise above sectarianism here.
CL,
“I wrote it” because “Quis Separabit” was the motto of the Ulster Defence Regiment from 1970-1992…
You actually educated me there because I didn’t know that. Of course the UDR were merged / rebranded because of their notorious reputation for murder, collusion and bigotry among other things. But the UDA, for which you are a frequent on-line apologist, keeps the motto ‘Quis Separabit’ alive.
I wonder will people be allowed to protest at these parades.
Willofield,
Then ask yourself this. Why did the Nationalist community, who were originally welcoming to the British Army, suddenly turn against them? It might be because the British government decided it would be far easier and less hassle to turn on those seeking civil rights instead of the apartheid Stormont Unionist regime. Thus orders were given to attack, and ultimately kill, Catholic civilians rather than confront the aggressors. This might explain why the British Army was not welcome in Catholic areas. When they gunned down innocent people in Derry, Ballymurphy & the New Lodge those communities had EVERY right to defend themselves against the perpetrators. If there was any morals and sense of justice within the hypocritical duplicitous United Nations the British Army, especially the UDR & RIR, alongside successive British PM’s and Governments would be on trial with Serbian war criminals for their horrific crimes in the North of Ireland.
My personal experiences of British soldiers growing up was a complelety negative one. This coupled with the ever increasing pile of shit which is collusion means, the british army in Ireland is rightfully viewed by many as muck. That is not however to condemn everyone that serves in the uniform. Having met more than a few British soldiers overseas (albeit, they were from Britain) I have to admit, the majority were thoroughly nice lads. On hearing my accent, conversation inevitably got round to the north, without question, anyone I talked to, believed they had no business in the north. Many also voiced concerns about the lapdog…sorry ‘special relationship’ status the UK has with the USA, which now sees many of their comrades dying in other foreign lands. Not saying this is indicative of the whole service, just imparting my own experience. I recognise that many lads join just earn a crust, but unionism needs to realise that to many people in the north, they are still a colonial occupying army, nothing more.
“I wonder will people be allowed to protest at these parades.”
Na, it might be a case of…Faugh A Ballagh!
aka….Fág an bealach!
or ‘Clear the Way’!
BTW, kinda peculiar how ‘God fearing’, ‘law abiding’, ‘Christian folk’, can be all gung-ho in support of ‘our troops’ and ‘justified wars’ on this thread here, yet condemn abortion on another thread! ‘Murder is murder’ says some individual, yet a war situation where countless die, both civilians and troops, seem to be somewhat acceptable! Does Jesus recommend that? Is there a conflict of ethical beliefs?
“I wonder will people be allowed to protest at these parades.”
Na, it might be a case of…Faugh A Ballagh!
aka….Fág an bealach!
or ‘Clear the Way’!
Very amusing, Greagoir.
Willowfield,
I’ve met many ex-soldiers. I’ve met some at Celtic matches. There’s nothing more surreal than hearing someone who’s just admitted to being an ex paratrooper singing the ‘broad black brimmer’ in the Jungle at an Old Firm game! Half of my family are English and served in WW2. I grew up in what is now considered to be a republican part of Ireland but didn’t come from a republican family and didn’t have a clue about politics or history when I was 16. But put yourself in my shoes for a minute.
How would you react to a 6 foot plus bloke with a rifle and a foreign accent slabbering at your father and mother for not producing a driving license quickly enough?
How would you react to having your house wrecked along with several others in the street to provide cover for a ‘random’ arms find somewhere else in the estate?
Then you switch on the TV to be told how the wonderful ‘security forces’ are there to protect us! My father complained to the barracks about the behaviour of the soldiers. His da (my grandda) was an ex royal marine and he had faith in the system but all that happened was that he was labelled as a troublemaker and for the next 20 years he was constantly harrassed by each new regiment that came into the town.
Is this how the British army win hearts and minds? You seem to excuse all this because the IRA were attacking them. The British army created more republicans by their behaviour than they ever imprisoned. The same is happening in Iraq and Afghanistan today.