Friday, May 11, 2007
On the green grassy slopes of the boyne
First Minister Ian Paisley and RoI Prime Minister Bertie Ahern are to meet at the Boyne site today. Paisley has rejected opposition claims that it will boost Bertie Ahern and Fianna Fail’s election campaign. The visitor centre is due to open next spring.
Fair Deal @ 08:37 AM
Mr Paisley said it would show “how far we have come when we can celebrate and learn from the past”.
How disgusting to listen to that sort of remark from him of all people. How far WE have come? Cheek of him. How far you have come since you started your 50 years of hatred campaign would more like it.
Posted by on May 11, 2007 @ 09:05 AMI think with that above statement Ian Paisley is trying to denude any intelligent thinking, which is actually coming up with those claims in the first place.
It’s all a stage managed publicity stunt on both parts but I still can’t get my head around the complete volte-face of the DUP with its long-standing principles.
At least Sinn Fein had a strategy which you could second guess and which most people knew was going in this direction; but, the sheer underhandedness of the DUP to get where it is today is despicable, given the fact that it just wasted more time, created power vacuums, doubts which led to tension, all seemingly done in order to see that old octogenarian sit in a leather embossed seat at Stormont.
Politics, either recently in France or Northern Ireland too is all about stoking up fear, presenting the worse perception of what could ever happen, articulating that view and then offering up yourself and your Party as a means to overcome this perception.
So having acheived this, it’s just another bit part in the Paisley Empire PLC, Stormont and Churches and wealthy families.
For those with a clear mind and steady sense of purpose of the last 10 years, DUP politics are more than revolting they are unprincipled.
Posted by on May 11, 2007 @ 09:06 AM‘RoI’ doesn’t have a ‘Prime Minister’.
Posted by on May 11, 2007 @ 09:10 AMPith,
You beat me to it by 1 min but bang-on you are too.
It’s a disgrace, and the commentator on Hearts and Minds last night was totally right with his take on how people feel about it all - people are not impressed with the two little ethnic wind-up merchants now sitting up on the hill all smiles.
I noticed on Slugger the profound shot of Paisley and Adams, noted as being the money shot but it was the headline close below it which stated 3,700 dead and to me that summed up the failure of both their politics. I felt uneasy at seeing it.
Posted by on May 11, 2007 @ 09:12 AMCorrect Kevin,
and there is no such place as RoI no matter what the soccer team would have you believe. It’s Ireland, Éire or Éireann. Page one of the Irish Constitution.
And i think Prime Minister in Irish is Priomh Aire? So Bertie is certainly not prime minister.
Posted by on May 11, 2007 @ 09:15 AMTaoiseach Bertie Ahern, not Prime Minister Ahern. Unless you know something Gordon Brown doesn’t....
Posted by on May 11, 2007 @ 09:20 AM:-)
Posted by on May 11, 2007 @ 09:29 AMNo matter what’s denied or promoted, Bertie has timed this as an election ploy, no bones about it, and would feel he’s probably owed and now calling in some of the perks from what he’s put into the whole thing. Top of the headlines, pushes policy issues into the background, and makes the southeners feel guilty if they were to boot out such a world statesman....
Posted by on May 11, 2007 @ 09:54 AMWell done on Mr Paisley for attending the site of the biggest papal victory in Irish history.
How times have changed.
Posted by on May 11, 2007 @ 10:01 AMIan Paisley scores election points in the ROI.
who’d a thought it?
Election Checklist 2007
1. Kiss a baby.
2. Hug a pensioner.
3. Shake the Big Man’s hand.Posted by on May 11, 2007 @ 10:03 AMTalk of kissing:
“I get down on my knees, and do what must be done
And kiss Achilles’ hand, the killer of my son.”
Posted by on May 11, 2007 @ 10:14 AM“And i think Prime Minister in Irish is Priomh Aire?”
Yes but what’s “Taoiseach” in English?
Posted by on May 11, 2007 @ 10:44 AMThe literal translation is leader.
Posted by on May 11, 2007 @ 11:07 AMErm....good point Ian. Kind of Clan Chief I think.
Although, at a push, I’m not sure it’s incumbent on FD to refer to Bertie as Taoiseach. I’m sure he would refer to President Sarkozy rather than Président Sarkozy.
On Raidió na Gaeltachta, Blair is PrÃomh Aire not Taoiseach.
Not legging it to get offended on this one :-)Posted by on May 11, 2007 @ 11:14 AMpeople are not impressed with the two little ethnic wind-up merchants now sitting up on the hill all smiles.
Well, they voted for them. You make your own bed and you have to lie in it.
Ian Paisley scores election points in the ROI.
I am Tommy. None of this is real. I am actually playing pinball. I am very good at pinball. No-one else can sense my demented dreams where Ian Paisley pops over the border to help the Taoiseach with an election stunt…
Posted by on May 11, 2007 @ 11:17 AMThe Battle of the Boyne lasted less than two hours, some say even around 30 minutes. What an influence those few minutes have had on Irish history, even though the two kings fighting were English (one originally Dutch).
Posted by on May 11, 2007 @ 11:22 AMThe Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland will surely get little electoral credit for this.
Posted by on May 11, 2007 @ 11:23 AM“people are not impressed with the two little ethnic wind-up merchants now sitting up on the hill all smiles.
Well, they voted for them. You make your own bed and you have to lie in it.”
Having said that the argument is now running that the people kicked them off the street purposefully into Stormont so as to give our heads peace, if you like. At least this way they could do their arguing without violence but with the power they were craving and have now got. Hopefully it will lead to transparent politics, in so far as they can now be judged as to effectiveness of policy and ability.
Before, it was cloak and dagger politics and propaganda victories - now we will see what they are made of via Northern Ireland Assembly Offical Reports. Testing of their mettle.
Posted by on May 11, 2007 @ 11:40 AMmerrie
“The Battle of the Boyne lasted less than two hours, some say even around 30 minutes”
Depends what you choose as your start and end point of the battle. Anyway it was hardly the Williamites’ fault the Jacobites scarpered so quickly ;-)
Posted by on May 11, 2007 @ 11:46 AMJust what DID they put in Paisley’s tea recently?
Was it a near-death experience that prompted his summersault?
Don’t get me wrong, I hope all of this works, but never surely has such a transformation been performed on the political stage.
Posted by on May 11, 2007 @ 11:53 AMFair Deal:
>> the Jacobites scarpered so quickly ;-) <<
You are right there, FD.
And then there was that panic that overcame the Irish at Kinsale. With regard to Kinsale I sometimes wonder whether Babd the goddess of war actually made a visit on that day.
Posted by on May 11, 2007 @ 12:22 PMAfter the momentous events today (and the few past weeks) I hope Unionists will be willing to pay a visit the Boyne site in county Meath.
Let a bit of optimism prevail.
Posted by on May 11, 2007 @ 12:43 PM>> never surely has such a transformation been performed on the political stage<<
GavBelfast: I think there were intimations that Paisley was turning a couple of years ago, but events overcame this. A false start. Also there are other Irish events which are similar, though not necessarily political:
1. Lundy at the Siege of Derry
2. The re-conversion of Miler Magrath
3. At the last minute James II changing his mind about fighting William of Orange at the Boyne.What nickname would you give Ian Paisley?
Posted by on May 11, 2007 @ 12:52 PMLikewise Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom whereas the North of Ireland is not! And for the record where is Derry in Northern Ireland - not even the courts recognise it:P
Posted by on May 11, 2007 @ 01:16 PMMiler Magrath
I always wanted to set up a Miler Magrath Summer School on Ecumenism…
Posted by on May 11, 2007 @ 01:27 PM
