Saturday, March 29, 2008
Flag wars in Kilrea
I was brought up quite near Kilrea which contrary to some people’s views is not actually noted for particularly good community relations. The latest problem has been the “tit for tat” flying of flags. Apparently this episode began when the Irish tricolour was raised over the St Patrick’s Church of Ireland church on Easter Sunday. As some form of “retaliation” the Union flag was then raised over the Marion Hall in the town.
This unpleasant silliness has been condemned by both Olive Church the local UUP councillor who is a member of St. Patrick’s CoI and John Dallat the SDLP MLA. I am slightly disappointed to see, however, that Dallat described the misuse of the Union flag as a sectarian desecration (which I entirely agree with) but seemed not to use the term sectarian when describing flying the tricolour over St. Patrick’s. Overall I thought his condemnation of the attack on the CoI was less fulsome than that on the Marion Hall. Maybe I am being too sensitive.
Turgon @ 12:37 AM
“There was no easily accessible picture link for the Marion Hall so I could not include it. I think the CoI in Kilrea is a very attractive building. It looks even better seen from the centre of the town. I decided to include a link of the picture because I like the building.”
I had promised it to Opus Dei in 1972 as soon as we had ‘put the heretics to the sword’.
Of course these days we would probably need to enable a smidgeon of cross-party support.
Posted by on Mar 29, 2008 @ 05:44 PM“I really hope that cottaging has a different meaning in Canada than it does in the United Kingdom!”
I spotted that as well and moved towards Pettigrew et alia. I will have you know, I campaigned against squirting contests in Canada,
(I couldn’t make this up)
I really did, on health grounds of course, nothing to do with the fact that it was undertaken in gay strip clubs.
Posted by on Mar 29, 2008 @ 05:49 PMTurgon, it’s the Marian Hall and I’m fairly certain it’s here outside Kilrea. I can’t spot any photos of the hall.
Posted by on Mar 29, 2008 @ 06:40 PMJust to correct you Turgon it was not a Union flag on the Marian hall it was a Govt of Northern Ireland flag more commonly misnamed as an Ulster flag.
Posted by on Mar 29, 2008 @ 07:20 PMI don’t live a million miles from Kilrea and knowing the area pretty well, i would suggest that these flag flying actions were most likely undertaken by local idiots as there are alot of young people on both sides around kilrea (like many towns and villages) who like to dable in petty politics but have little understanding of republicanism or for that matter unionism, for who celtic/rangers provide some warped version of politics. i am am not tarring all young people from kilrea with the same brush and acknowledge these idiots are small in number.
As an irish republican i can’t stand sectarianism in any form and knowing that it was the british (ably aided by both catholic and protestant churches) who cultivated the religious hatred in Ireland from the aftermath of 1798 to the present day, i urge some-one to school the young people around kilrea on the finer facts of this.
Using the national flag of Ireland for divisive actions like this is a disgrace. i was under the impression republicans had got the point were we are secure enough in our own politics to fly the flag in limited, specific and respectful manners.that is why i am sure that the instigators of this do not represent irish republicans and if they had any aspirations of calling themselves irish republicans they would not stoop to these actions, mimicking the activities of loyalists regarding flags.
Posted by on Mar 29, 2008 @ 07:31 PMWhat was that I was saying about blaming a few out of order kids and saying themmuns are the really sectarian ones?
While ignoring the reality that the communalist politics practised by all the major parties is inherently sectarian.
Posted by on Mar 29, 2008 @ 07:38 PMThe primary meaning of “fulsome” is the negative one (that is, offensive, unctuous). The confusion around the word means that it’s probably best avoided.
Posted by on Mar 30, 2008 @ 12:35 AMI think you are being a little bit sensitive, Turgon. Dallat’s press release said:
“The congregation of the Church of Ireland have my deepest regret that their church was used to fly a tricolour on Easter Sunday. Likewise as a member of the Catholic community I deeply regret that the Marian Hall, built in honour of Our Lady, was ALSO [emphasis added] desecrateded by the sectarian flying of the Union Flag.”
I think ‘also’ implies that the former as well as the latter flagflying was desecration. I think you’d have to have been looking in order to find something like that.
Posted by on Mar 30, 2008 @ 01:42 AM“was ALSO [emphasis added] desecrateded by the sectarian flying of the Union Flag.”
I think ‘also’ implies that the former as well as the latter flagflying was desecration. I think you’d have to have been looking in order to find something like that.
Nice try 1967, but if that’s the case, surely the Union flag would ALSO have to be flown from the other building?
Posted by on Mar 30, 2008 @ 10:15 AMEvery village and town has it small brained idiots, and when you take a close look at those involved in sectarian behaviour , like erecting flags on lamp post and painting kerbs etc , you will always find the scum of society. Most have not the brains they were born with, and more often than not come from dysfunctional family backgrounds. Most follow sectarian Scottish Football teams , purely because it gives them a outlet to mix and belong to a much larger group of like minded small brained scum. Their like has always been with us and always will be , sadly we will just have to grin and bear it as their seems to be no solution to this problem.
Posted by on Mar 30, 2008 @ 02:01 PM“Every village and town has it small brained idiots, and when you take a close look at those involved in sectarian behaviour , like erecting flags on lamp post and painting kerbs etc , you will always find the scum of society.”
Sounds like independence day in America.
Posted by on Mar 30, 2008 @ 05:08 PM“Nice try 1967, but if that’s the case, surely the Union flag would ALSO have to be flown from the other building?”
I am not sure what you mean. Enough of the pedantic press-release analysis already, it is clear what the man meant.
Posted by on Mar 31, 2008 @ 04:07 PM“Sounds like independence day in America.”
There were aliens and spaceships and stuff in that, we’re talking about Kilrea,
what we have doesn’t have Jeff Goldblum in it, if it did, we might hang out a few more flags.
Posted by on Mar 31, 2008 @ 08:14 PM“it is clear what the man meant.”
It clearly isn’t.
Posted by on Apr 02, 2008 @ 11:08 AM
