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 What do y'all know about Ireland, NI & the IRA? |
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 Nov 25 2019, 11:09 AM
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#1
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 there's nothing straight about plump Elvis
Pronouns: they/any
Joined: 21 January 2016 Posts: 13,132 User: 22,895 
        
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Thought this might be an interesting thread given NI's recent prominence in UK politics and the recurrent attack line on Corbyn, while the Tories are literally allied with the DUP.
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Nov 25 2019, 11:39 AM
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#2
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 I'm a paragon so don't perceive me
Joined: 3 February 2011
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Not as informed as I could be. I know the historical background, the basic timeline of the Troubles, the terror attacks the IRA carried out at their height (car bombings). The current political situation I'm not quite sure how to parse - with conflict within living memory my guess is that there is more weight attributed to whether you are a unionist or nationalist in NI than other parts of the UK. So I always try to be careful when making comments on the value judgments of particularly Northern Irish parties - though as can be expected, I'm certainly no fan of the DUP.
I would say I'm as informed on the domestic politics of the Republic of Ireland as much as I am any other Western European country, which is to say I'd know the head of government and their position on the political spectrum but not much else (Varadkar, centre-right - incidentally the differences between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil somewhat escape me). |
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Nov 25 2019, 11:46 AM
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#3
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 Cœur poids plume
Joined: 3 November 2007
Posts: 18,129 User: 4,718 
 
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I can understand the differences between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil but what I don't understand is how they've remained the two main parties for so long after the Anglo-Irish treaty, and why the divide hasn't become a left and right one like it is in most democracies.
(I know that there's also Labour and Sinn Féin as other large-ish parties) |
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Nov 25 2019, 07:21 PM
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#4
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 Howdy, disco citizens
Joined: 16 January 2010
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I know a little bit, given that I'm from Northern Ireland and my grandfather was Vice-President of Sinn Fein.
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Nov 26 2019, 03:13 AM
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#5
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there's nothing straight about plump Elvis
Pronouns: they/any
Joined: 21 January 2016 Posts: 13,132 User: 22,895
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QUOTE(Brett-Butler @ Nov 25 2019, 07:21 PM)  I know a little bit, given that I'm from Northern Ireland and my grandfather was Vice-President of Sinn Fein. I figured you might have quite a bit to say! Didn't know that last bit tho  that must be interesting as an influence?
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Nov 26 2019, 08:15 AM
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#6
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Shakin Stevens
Joined: 29 December 2007
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I'm from NI and did a MA in Irish Politics.
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Nov 26 2019, 08:17 AM
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#7
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Shakin Stevens
Joined: 29 December 2007
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QUOTE(Harve @ Nov 25 2019, 11:46 AM) I can understand the differences between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil but what I don't understand is how they've remained the two main parties for so long after the Anglo-Irish treaty, and why the divide hasn't become a left and right one like it is in most democracies. (I know that there's also Labour and Sinn Féin as other large-ish parties) Up until the 1970s it was basically an arguement about who was the most republican with Fianna Fáil normally being the clear winner. There after they mainly have been both populist parties usually having to go into coalition with a smaller party. They both hate SF not because of any principle but because SF represent a threat to their control of the populist nationalist vote in the ROI. Another big reason is that irelannd developed differently than the uk - its always been a rural democracy with few industrial areas making left right politics a bit more blurred and distinctive. This post has been edited by Steve201: Nov 26 2019, 06:58 PM |
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Nov 26 2019, 08:31 AM
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#8
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 Paul Hyett
Joined: 4 April 2006
Posts: 25,346 User: 364
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QUOTE(Steve201 @ Nov 26 2019, 08:17 AM) Up until the 1970s it was basically an arguement about who was the most republican with Fianna Fáil normally being the clear winner. There after they mainly have been both populist parties usually having to go into coalition with a smaller party. They both hate SF not because of any principle but because SF represent a threat to their control of the populist nationalist vote in the ROI. If/when Ireland is reunited, surely there will no longer be a role for SF anyway? |
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Nov 26 2019, 06:57 PM
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#9
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Shakin Stevens
Joined: 29 December 2007
Posts: 46,140 User: 5,138
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There probably will depending on how smart they are politically - theres a lot of SF members in NI who are right wing in rural areas and Marxist in urban areas like Belfast where they are competing with PBP etc.
Depends how things work out and who gives the most brown paper envelopes 
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Nov 26 2019, 10:17 PM
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#10
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Howdy, disco citizens
Joined: 16 January 2010
Posts: 12,775 User: 10,455
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QUOTE(LaJüpe @ Nov 26 2019, 04:13 AM) I figured you might have quite a bit to say! Didn't know that last bit tho that must be interesting as an influence?Definitely, I grew up with the stories about what happened to him in the 60s and 70s from my mum, and how Ian Paisley directly led to his business being destroyed and him being imprisoned (one of the reasons that I could never in a million years vote for the DUP). He'd left Sinn Fein by the time I was born (he objected to its absentionism, among other issues), and as a staunch Catholic he definitely would not have liked it in its current form, but remained fairly well known in republican circles, as well as being a dedicated advocate of the Irish language. I guess that my interest in politics does come through him a little bit, although I'd never call myself a republican and have never been involved in any of that stuff myself - I'd say I'm more of an "apathetic nationalist" than anything else when it comes to the constitutional question of a United Ireland. |
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Nov 26 2019, 11:17 PM
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#11
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Shakin Stevens
Joined: 29 December 2007
Posts: 46,140 User: 5,138
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Would he have had Aontu sympathies?
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Nov 26 2019, 11:26 PM
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#12
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Howdy, disco citizens
Joined: 16 January 2010
Posts: 12,775 User: 10,455
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I believe he would (although he died 10 years before they were formed), although I don't know how he'd feel about their absentionist policy.
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Nov 26 2019, 11:31 PM
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#13
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Shakin Stevens
Joined: 29 December 2007
Posts: 46,140 User: 5,138
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So his attraction to SF was due to his life experience during the defining years of the troubles rather than being a doctrainaire republican I would guess?
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Nov 26 2019, 11:36 PM
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#14
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Howdy, disco citizens
Joined: 16 January 2010
Posts: 12,775 User: 10,455
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I couldn't answer that for sure, but he was involved in Sinn Fein well before the Troubles began.
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Dec 10 2019, 07:38 AM
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#15
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Cœur poids plume
Joined: 3 November 2007
Posts: 18,129 User: 4,718
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https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/20...ce-can-dup-hold
The New Statesman ran an article targeted directly at Brett-Butler. |
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Dec 10 2019, 12:27 PM
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#16
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Howdy, disco citizens
Joined: 16 January 2010
Posts: 12,775 User: 10,455
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QUOTE(Harve @ Dec 10 2019, 08:38 AM) https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/20...ce-can-dup-hold The New Statesman ran an article targeted directly at Brett-Butler. I don’t think I’ve ever read an article so obviously meant to be for me before. |
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Dec 10 2019, 07:05 PM
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#17
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Cœur poids plume
Joined: 3 November 2007
Posts: 18,129 User: 4,718
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QUOTE(Brett-Butler @ Dec 10 2019, 01:27 PM) I don’t think I’ve ever read an article so obviously meant to be for me before. So who are you as an 'apathetic nationalist' voting for. |
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Dec 10 2019, 07:18 PM
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#18
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Attack Dog/Sass Queen
Joined: 29 January 2008
Posts: 16,022 User: 5,342
   
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I have the gist of the ~~situation~~ in Northern Ireland/The North of Ireland/The Six Counties but not super up on the exact timeline of everything that lead to the situation (although I know you could go back to the 12th century if you want to). Watching historical documentary "Derry Girls" a lot though, so I'm sure I'll totally be able to sit an A-Level on it before long.
Fun fact - my Grandfather was born in an IRA safehouse in the 1920s. |
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Dec 10 2019, 08:00 PM
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#19
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Howdy, disco citizens
Joined: 16 January 2010
Posts: 12,775 User: 10,455
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QUOTE(Harve @ Dec 10 2019, 08:05 PM) So who are you as an 'apathetic nationalist' voting for. Haven't decided. "None of the Above" is still leading the way. |
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Dec 11 2019, 12:58 AM
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#20
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Shakin Stevens
Joined: 29 December 2007
Posts: 46,140 User: 5,138
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Ive said to you before Brett vote John!!
Imagine the feeling seeing Dodds face when he loses!!! |
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