Slugger O'Toole

Latest comments from Republic of Connaught (see all)

Republic of Connaught has commented 289 times (10 in the last month).

1. Comment on Normality and rugby
   on 20 May 2012 at 6:18 pm

   Indeed, Mick. And I’m sure the folly will be rectified in the years ahead.

   I’d be happy for a future all Ireland football association to be basedl in Belfast. But Dublin is the capital and more accessibe for people from other corners of Ireland so most games would still be played there. Plus Belfast badly needs a proper stadium.

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2. Comment on Normality and rugby
   on 20 May 2012 at 3:22 pm

   Derry Dave,

   That’s fair enough. But there is a big distinction between supporting the 6 county separatist NI football team that plays GSTQ as its anthem and supporting a 9 county Ulster team which is part of an All- Ireland rugby structure and whose Ulster born players play for an All-Ireland rugby international team.

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3. Comment on Normality and rugby
   on 20 May 2012 at 2:13 pm

   I think that’s naive, Derry Dave.

   The Ulster rugby team isn’t the “our wee country” Northern Ireland Loyalist guff you see at Windsor Park.

   It’s actually Ulster- all nine counties. And there’s more Nationalists in the nine counties of that province than Unionists. So why you would support Leinster above Ulster is beyond me.

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4. Comment on Normality and rugby
   on 20 May 2012 at 1:03 pm

   Unlucky Ulster. They would have had a better chance against a French or English team. Up against an excellent Leinster outfit who have the psychological advantage of having beaten them so often made it a lot harder.

   Lamhdearg,

   Yes, the commentatora and public were all confused about the identities of two Irish provincial sides.

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5. Comment on Normality and rugby
   on 17 May 2012 at 6:18 pm

   Indeed Andrew,

   Why wouldn’t nationalists in Ulster support their provincial rugby team?

   It only when people start trying to call their province a “country” separate from the rest Ireland that nationalists will obviously reject it. ie. the Northern Ireland football team.

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6. Comment on Leinster would probably win 9 times out of 10, but…
   on 17 May 2012 at 6:02 pm

   Good luck to both teams. As a neutral I can sit back and enjoy the success of either team knowing it puts Irish victories in the Heineken Cup level on 6 wins with the English teams and above the French clubs.

   That’s a fantastic achievement for Leinster, Ulster and Munster. Unfortunately Connaught as a province doesn’t have the numbers playing the game here to compete but we’ll win it someday if rugby becomes the biggest sport in the country, which it will if the provinces keep having such success.

   So good luck to Ulster and Leinster. Most neutrals will fancy Leinster but with Pienaar and Ferris in the team Ulster have a great chance.

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7. Comment on #Euro2020: Professor McWilliams open letter from Northern Ireland to the Faroe Islands…
   on 17 May 2012 at 5:54 pm

   Ironic indeed that Ireland will be playing Italy again in a major tournament exactly 18 years after the massacre. It’s a nice gesture to remember those people.

   As for why the IFA aren’t involved in the Irish/Scots/Welsh Euro bid, Mick; why would they be? They don’t have a stadium to offer. If it was held in Ireland then the north of Ireland will logically benefit anyway. We might even have a united team by then

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8. Comment on The citizenship test: Protestants as well as Catholics in favour of fee waiver?
   on 2 May 2012 at 6:01 pm

   Reader,

   I was talking about kids in England or Wales with Irish grandparents etc.. applying for an Irish passport. I don’t think the Scots will entertain that idea. Whereas it’s different for kids actually from Ireland, north or south.

   I am guessing the Scots aren’t going to get into a political row by telling Irish citizens in the north of Ireland they are not entitled to the same rights as Irish citizens in the south of Ireland. However, I believe will get into a row about kids born and raised in England or Wales trying to use the loophole.

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9. Comment on The citizenship test: Protestants as well as Catholics in favour of fee waiver?
   on 2 May 2012 at 5:26 pm

   I would imagine, Mike the first, it will only apply to students born and reared on the island of Ireland where these issues are politically sensitive.

   I don’t see why any normal student in the north, of whatever tradition, wouldn’t just happily get the Irish passport to benefit from the loophole. Unless, like Gregory Campbell, you had some ingrained prejudice against being in any way Irish, of course.

   Had I the opportunity to get a British passport to enable me to get free fees at some college I wouldn’t have thought twice about it.

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10. Comment on The citizenship test: Protestants as well as Catholics in favour of fee waiver?
    on 2 May 2012 at 4:07 pm

    It seems unfair on the Scots. But Gregory Cambell’s suggestion that there should be a waive for all NI students, ie.. those that can’t bear to have an Irish passport, is ridiculous.

    Students determined to be defined as British, Gregory, should abide by the rules and pay their fees.

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