Oh yes but what I meant is, I never realise the impact in what is going on in Belfast would affect England/Scotland/Wales though.

I don't quite understand it myself but the Clyde region seems to wish it was Irish and there is a lot of clashes between Celtic and Rangers fans. (Catholics = Celtic. Protestants = Rangers.)

Both sides in Northern Ireland are horrid. The people up there have been through enough as it is, and having stupid Loyalists antagonize and provoke stupid Republicans (and vice versa) just drags both countries (Ireland and the UK) back to a time they'd wish never happened. Sinn Fein are a bunch of dirtbags, and none of the Unionist parties are any better. The fact that Sinn Fein may even gather 20% of the vote in the next general election in the Republic is just scary. I know that many of the newer members of Sinn Fein weren't involved in any terrorism or violence but as long as you have that tosser at the top then they'll never be taken seriously.

The flag protesters are now blocking a road leading to a hospital, meaning ambulances can't get there quick enough. I don't use the word lightly, but they are scum. Pure scum. If just one person dies as a result of their blockade, then there will be blood on their hands.

If I was an Ambulance driver I'd either go to a different hospital from the outset (time permitting of course) or just run the scum over.

The latter decision is what I would've done as well. Most of the violent protestors are probably people who have nothing better to do and blocking an entrance to the hospital is just WTF. Clearly they are too clueless to realise that ambulances need to arrive at the hospital for emergency situations. -_-

Now that Christmas is over we're back to "normality", with hundreds rioting, and many police officers being injured. No wonder I'm ashamed to be from Belfast most of the time.

And now they're trying to bring it down to the Republic. I think everyone on this island can remember the scenes that unfolded last time the Loyalists came to Dublin to 'protest/march peacefully'. :/

Oh this is a MESS. Northern Ireland is such a dump, can't wait until I graduate out of university to get out of here.

The flag protesters are now blocking a road leading to a hospital, meaning ambulances can't get there quick enough. I don't use the word lightly, but they are scum. Pure scum. If just one person dies as a result of their blockade, then there will be blood on their hands.

 

I work in the hospitals and I remember trying to get out of work that day took an hour and a half instead of 10 minutes because all traffic was being diverted through the grounds. There was no way in hell any ambulances were getting through any faster than that.

 

It's all a bit ridiculous, I can't believe it's all kicked off again, people with nothing better to do with their time than sit on the dole and cause mayhem for everyone else. It's so damaging for trade in the city as well, there is literally no positives to be gained from it.

There was a "debate" on this issue on The Nolan Show last night. Made me utterly ashamed to be from Belfast. David Ford of Alliance did speak rather well though.

 

You can watch it on the iPlayer here. If you can go 5 minutes in without going into a blind rage, then you're a better person than me.

Sadly such an outcome was fairly inevitable I think, obviously being a Unionist I'm biased, but Northern Ireland is still part of the UK and as such flying the Union Flag every day is not something I think should have been up for debate. As ever though, this proves that despite all the lauded 'change', not so very much has actually changed here.

 

 

I think this is a very simplistic view of the state of N.Ireland its not a simplistic state within the UK as England,Wales or even Scotland its a divided state in which 2 or more identities lie so why should a union jack sit on top of public space that everyone owns for 365 days a year - surely a compromise is to still fly the flag but of 18 designated days?!

I think this is a very simplistic view of the state of N.Ireland its not a simplistic state within the UK as England,Wales or even Scotland its a divided state in which 2 or more identities lie so why should a union jack sit on top of public space that everyone owns for 365 days a year - surely a compromise is to still fly the flag but of 18 designated days?!

I'm not entirely sure what your last point is because it's terribly written but a compromise as regards which flag flies is fine. 18 days a year is laughable for the British flag, though. Would it kill them to fly the Union Jack half the year and the Irish one the other half? Anyone with sense should have known deciding to fly the UK flag for only 18 days per year would have caused fighting.

Its not really laughable - the majority of British councils fly the flag on designated days throughout the year, why would Belfast fly it 365 days a year?

 

I doubt we should even start on the flying of the Irish flag because it would be a nonstarter for unionists to suggest flying the 'flag of a foreign country' even though alot of people in N.Ireland look to the tricolour as their national flag - which return to the first point i made that N.Ireland hasnt got just a British identity.

A local football match between Cliftonville & Crusaders was called off after flag protesters stopped travelling fans from getting into the stadium. Because as we all know, it was football that got the flag taken down in the first place.

 

Just as well I'll be leaving soon.

One of the instigators of the flag protests, Willie Frazer, is in court today charged with inciting tension and leading unlawful protests. I'm sure he will go to court and defend himself in a dignified and honourable....

 

http://img.u.tv/galleries/7/7/7/777/620x349/frazerwillie_26092013.jpg

 

Nope. Went to court dressed like Abu Hamza. For some reason.

One of the instigators of the flag protests, Willie Frazer, is in court today charged with inciting tension and leading unlawful protests. I'm sure he will go to court and defend himself in a dignified and honourable....

 

http://img.u.tv/galleries/7/7/7/777/620x349/frazerwillie_26092013.jpg

 

Nope. Went to court dressed like Abu Hamza. For some reason.

Nothing like creating a good impression.

For anyone wondering what the flag problems in NI are all about, wonderful local comedian Jake O'Kane has summed it up very nicely (and hilariously) -

 

For anyone wondering what the flag problems in NI are all about, wonderful local comedian Jake O'Kane has summed it up very nicely (and hilariously) -

 

Well that's all very clear :lol: