Saturday, February 25, 2006
March called off after violent clashes with Gardai
As both the BBC and RTÉ report, the march in Dublin, organised by Willie Frazer and FAIR, has been called off after a counter-demonstration by Republican Sinn Féin descended into violent confrontation with Gardai officers, the BBC report that journalists were also attacked. Irish blogs cover it too, with some photos at the Dossing Times - lifting an image from the Dublin traffic cameras site - and Back Seat Driver Dick O’Brien provides an eye-witness account
Pete Baker @ 02:35 PM
Again, this was Brian Boru (mine) post. Again I am “Yokel1” on this thread.
“This was only 300 people from a movement with no electoral representation in the South. It is not representative of Southern opinion. We don’t like this march but we were willing to tolerate it in in the name of the right to free speech and freedom of expression. Kindly stop tarring us with the one brush. But then that is something Unionism is good at. “
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:39 PMshame on whoever allowed this march in the first place...
That would be the Minister. He was right to allow the march but by doing so he took on a responsibility to ensure it went ahead in safety. He has failed and should consider his position.
shame on those who condemn the rioters
The rioters are beneath contempt. The shame today is all theirs.
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:40 PMthat post with the facts/opinions on it was by KEVYMC not COMRADESTALIN.
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:41 PMProds are quite welcome in Dublin, Sam McAughtry, Gordon Wilson: a pack of Loyalist bigots complete with paramilitaries are not. Anyone surprised?
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:42 PMYokel (4.28):
Oh so if you don’t like it you withdraw, maybe thats the problem with large parts of unionism
Actually I was referring to the fact that this once good site has now been overrun by nationalists and esp republicans.
In case you dont know, last year say this site was nearly split 50/50 but now for every 10 comments made 6 are republican 2 nationalist 1 unknown and then maybe 1 unionist…
Get my point yet??
You cannot have a good debating site with communities n the extreme majority… just doesnt work.
If you don’t stand up frankly you weaken your cause and yes I am telling you that
You want my opinion..... this parade shows the true colours of southern republicanism! The Unionist/Loyalist was (going to be) peaceful and respectful, both unionist parties were represented and FAIR was parading on behalf of victims…
People like Brian Boru who take every chance to mention Rossnowla really do annoy me, rossnowla is 1 exception in th Republic- mainly because its in a protestant area and the actual village is more of a caravan park with many of the tourists being Northern Protestants!
-Fermanagh Young Unionist-
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:42 PM‘There’s going to be plenty of time to get the detail on this in tomorrow’s paper and for days aferwards.’
Of course and the ‘people of Ireland’ will be able to digest the fact and lay the blame where it undoubtedly lies
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:43 PMFYU, thsi is not a debating forum, its a pontification forum, it always will be so just pontificate like the rest of us. Why be put off by the fact that some people are posting obssessed?
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:47 PMyokel 4.47:
Didnt understand a word of that....
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:49 PMYokel
Actually, no. This should be an area for discussion.
The fact that most, currently, prefer to pontificate is, unfortunately, indicative of the general state of things.
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:51 PM‘’In case you dont know, last year say this site was nearly split 50/50 but now for every 10 comments made 6 are republican 2 nationalist 1 unknown and then maybe 1 unionist…’’
Come on FYU—quit whinging and start debating/ pontificating. If there aren’t enough Unionist voices on Slugger for you, then your expertise is obviously needed. How boring would it be if this board was a Brit or a chucky love-in?
GLC.Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:52 PMIndicative of the country, the people in it anyway
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:56 PMJo:
Actions speak much louder than words. I have to say that Henry has shown by far the most consistency of any of our commenters on this issue: even from before the Love Ulster demonstration was due to take place.
Try the Dossing Times and Back Seat Drivers links above for reports and pictures. There’s breeze blocks and planks and all manner of stuff being thrown.
There is not a Loyalist to be seen. Those are Dublin cops, ordinary Dublin citizens, and even their own people they are throwing bricks at, Dublin cars and Dublin polital parties.
Now there will be time for a calmer judgement on this when the smoke clears. But I don’t think you can blame the Love Ulster people for this anymore than you could blame Civil Rights protesters for being attacked at Burntollet.
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:57 PMFermanagh Young Unionist, do you apportion any blame on the marchers themselves? The route of the march past the GPO and the Garden of Remembrance in particular seemed almost designed to provoke. If the rumour is true that ‘Love Ulster’ was going to carry a banner of a Loyalist bomber, then do you approve of this? I have heard this rumour on forums online but do not know if it is true or not.
“You want my opinion..... this parade shows the true colours of southern republicanism! The Unionist/Loyalist was (going to be) peaceful and respectful, both unionist parties were represented and FAIR was parading on behalf of victims…”
It does not show the true colours of southern republicanism. I am a constitutional republican and speak for most in saying these rioters did not represent me. They also attacked the Progressive Democrat offices btw. Not one Loyalist marcher was injured, unlike a number of Gardai who were taken to hospital. If RSF are representative of Southern republicanism then why do they have no elected representatives in the South, and why did their campaign against the GFA only attract 4.5% support in the referendum? They are a fanatical and tiny rump. You should get your facts straight.
I suppose then you consider the Mayday rioters some time ago in London to show the “true face” of Londoners too?
“People like Brian Boru who take every chance to mention Rossnowla really do annoy me, rossnowla is 1 exception in th Republic- mainly because its in a protestant area and the actual village is more of a caravan park with many of the tourists being Northern Protestants!”
Actually I think it’s a Catholic area.
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:59 PMi think that RSF did their part well proving to unionists that their culture is not welcome in a UI
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 05:00 PM“i think that RSF did their part well proving to unionists that their culture is not welcome in a UI “
Not welcome to RSF maybe. But no-one supports RSF down here. LU could have chosen their route better.
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 05:03 PM“Indicative of the country, the people in it anyway”
No it wasn’t.
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 05:05 PMActually Mick, the CR movement as a whole was widely opposed to the march on Derry in Jan 69 and saw it as provocative and sectarian in intent, emulating the OO claim to territory - which indeed Farrell and Devlin planned it to be...:)
What was the occasion for the violence other than the planned march then? Friday night hangovers?
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 05:06 PMI just want to say something to all our republican readers who are telling us that these marchers do not represent them.
You might like to think that you can pretend this has nothing to do with you, but this is a game of the lowest common denominator.
I consider myself a peaceful unonist who abhors all political violence, but the fact is that I will forver be associated and liked with the few hundred protestors who were involved in the Holy Cross protests, there actions are routinely and frequently thrown back at me as being the true face of unionism.
And just as everyone around the world who saw those pictures and saw those protests as the ugly face of unionsim, so it is with these riots today.
You might want to disassociate yourself from them, but the truth is you can’t.
the message will ring around the world that Dublin does not want a prod about the place, as clear and simple as that.Rather than try and tell me that these riots do not represent you, you would better spend your time debating how you deal with those elements within your midst who have forever stamped their actions on the face of Irish republicanism.
As I look at the news images today, I get the uneasy feeling that we have a new Burntollet.
Don’t underestimate what has just happened.Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 05:15 PMWell, I’m not judging the rioters. We’ve seen as bad and much worse in the last two weeks in Belfast. If they wish to express their politics by ripping up Dublin then that’s their political perrogative.
I’m only arguing that you cannot pin the blame for the rioting on a small group of Unionist marchers (who by all accounts barely got off their buses), however provocative you might see it.
The decision to riot was entirely the rioters: a political action against the idea of Unionists marching in the Irish capital.
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 05:15 PMThat post of 5:15 was by TAFKABO
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 05:17 PMRent-a-Thug protesters / RSF / SF what really is the difference?
SF preaches to RSF for having gone down a road SF travelled on for years. SF has no credibility on this one as even doing the ‘right’ thing will show them to be hypocrites….
Rent-a-Thug, RSF and SF all seem to be swimming in the same cesspit They are an embarrassment to the very cause they claim to support. Go home bhoys!
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 05:21 PMMicK : Come off it.
I am arguing as are others are arguing (and I have exapanded the argument on JOBLOG) that these people have an image which is not identical with Unionism (a badge which incidentally I share) but with being anti-Agreement,
and concerned primarily with agitation on the streets to impede a political settlement in Northern Ireland -somethign which has a democratic mandate acorss this island and which they wish t frustrate. Thats why they got people riled. Not excusing it, but dont try and paint this planned march as anything other than sheer Provo-provocation. Theyre not Peace People 2!Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 05:27 PMLet’s knock on the head the idea that the GPO is some kind of shrine which would be violated by the sight of an Orange march. If it can stand looking across at the Ann Summers window than it can take the sight of Willie Fraser.
Even if the marchers wanted to provoke a reaction that’s no excuse for allowing yourself to be provoked.
The thing about 1916 was not the venue. It was the ideas.
The Republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens, and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and all of its parts, cherishing all of the children of the nation equally and oblivious of the differences carefully fostered by an alien government, which have divided a minority from the majority in the past.
The rioters spat on that concept today and don’t deserve to be called republicans.
Oh!and about the tricolour. Take it down from the mast Irish traitors. You don’t understand it.
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 05:38 PMJo:
Alban Maginness: “It is disturbing that marchers have been prevented from peaceful demonstration. This action of extreme republicans simply plays into hands of those of unionist right who cannot conceive unionist rights being upheld in a New Ireland.”
Gerry Adams: “There is no justification for what happened this afternoon in Dublin. Sinn Féin had appealed to people to ignore this loyalist parade and not to be provoked by it. Our view was that it should not be opposed in any way and we made that clear”.
RTE’s Charlie Bird is one of the injured.
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 05:42 PM‘’If it can stand looking across at the Ann Summers window than it can take the sight of Willie Fraser.’’
A truly terrifying juxtaposition Henry! Lol.
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 05:44 PM
