How many people in the south care???

[Wasp]

At least on his bus people from different background wouldn't be scared, nor would they be intimidated or insulted by anti-Irish songs etc.

Saying that the other time I went was great crack, loadsa drink, loads singing and loadsa crack, well apart from me not knowing the words to some of the songs so I just went la la la la

[Jim]

Can't go to a match without plenty of drinking before hand. ;D Can see where the fella is coming from but would he be like that if there wherent any kids around and no one that would get offended?

Ha, me and my mate (protestant) use to sing the billy boys all the time when steamin', then into God save Ireland.

[earl]

blueangel said:

i'd back that - generally the english know little about ireland generallly and n.ireland is not a major source of interest for many people here. Except for cliches about the IRA the general knowledge here regarding the north is poor - I've found myself explaining the differences between nationalist and loyalist to relatively well educated people here more than once. The old joke I've used here and elsewhere about the Orangeman who goes to Britain for a job and is pissed of when he gets to London when the cabbie in the taxi he hires says, 'Where to Paddy' would tell you a lot about how many people here view Ireland generally.

I once had to explain to this one that Cavan was in Ulster, not Leinster and that it was in the ROI and that it wasn't a part of Monaghan!

[earl]

wasp said:

But there are also many English people who do have a clue. Jim my point was that you were saying most people in Lpool and Manchester are in favour of a UI, I beg to differ, well on Liverpool anyway because it is very much a case of depends who you are talking to. For the first time ever this year I said to an English gent I am from British Ulster and he replied oh you are from N.Ireland.

How many people out of 60 million or so English residents do care WASP?

[Jim]

Think thats bad? My flatmate sat me down one night and demanded I tell her the entire history of Ireland.

[Wasp]

Earl at the last poll it was 49.8 million give or take a few. I think they are going to march in Brixham to show there support.

[Wasp]

FFS Setanta I was being sarcastic. When has any poll had 49.8 million people take part. Even the question was stupid asking me how many out of 60million care. Things are really getting daft here and out of hand.

[bearhunter]

And don't foget that 68.5 per cent of statistics are made up.....

[Jim]

And another 12.45% are only based on partial facts.

[Jim]

I think they would because you've still got working class eejets who think its 70s and Britain rules the waves. The fella that sits down in the pub with a pint of bitter complaining about the pakis, the níggers, and the krauts (thinking its offensive to polish somehow someway ), while reading the Sun.

Tekkin ar jobs, tekkin ar wimmin, tekkin ar muney.

[Wasp]

I think they would because of the broad support they have, also Jim made a good point on the sun. Anyway it is only in recent years that I have realized the depth and support that there is. I was mainly of the notion that the English didn't care, hadn't a clue etc and the majority would have sided for a U.I.

But not now, of course there are plenty who don't care, plenty who would support a U.I and plenty who would want to retain N.Ireland. I know quite a few English loyalists personnally and they know plenty who support N.Ireland. But then again it all depends on the circles you are in and who you talk to.

Like how many people in the republic would want a U.I now, how many don't care and how many would want the current status quo to remain where all sides have a bit of everything.

[Jim]

Well I still think they generally dont care, they dont hear much about us. The last time I saw anything to do with NI on the BBC North west news was Stormont going back up, pictures of McGuinness, Paisley, Bertie and Anto outside the building. England has changed so much in 30 years that most dont care because its not their interest. I dont think the immigrants and their British born kids care about NI in the least its just not part of their politics and the only ones that would probably really care would be the Irish-English, around London Liverpool and Manchester.

If you look at who votes for what party it'll be easier to generalise. Those who vote Labour would be more likely to want a UI, because Labour have traditionally aligned themselves with the SDLP. Those that vote Conservative would not want a UI, those that vote Lib Dem would most likely take the same stance as Alliance, those that vote Respect would be in favour of a UI and it was actually on their manifesto a while back, and those that vote BNP would be outright against it, they're policy is to bring the Republic back into the UK.

Then the Scottish, who are more concerned with their own ideas of independance and union than ours.

The population of this island is just too big to put a yes or no on it, there has to be at least 70 million people.

I think in the Republic people will care more because its part of their direct history, republicanism is accepted there as part of the state, technically anyone who has no problems with the status quo in the south are republican by default. Chances are most would just agree with keeping the region of NI autonomous which is the SDLP stance.

[Wasp]

Jim another part which has alot of connection is the Torbay and Southport areas. Also Middleseboro, Newcastle, Canterbury and Sounthend to name a few. Not just London, Lpool and Manchester.

[Wasp]

So all those born in Ireland would want a U.I. Yet those who are born in Ireland and still live their have a la sizeable portion who would rather leave things as they are. Don't figure.

Being Irish doesn't mean an automatic U.I. Republic is proof of that and I believe Earl also said he would not want one now as things stand to your own annoyance.

[Bilk]

Sept 20, 2007 16:10:58 GMT Harry said:

Is it possible to put a figure on how many residents of ROI actually have an interest in NI?? Now most of the chaps i've met from ROI haven't a care about it and are just ordinary fellas, proud to be Irish but with no interests in the going ons of the North. I'd put a estimate that less than 40% of southern people really care whether Ireland is United and at 40% i'm pushing it!!! How do Republicans from up here view their comrades from the south and vice versa?? I've always had a feeling that there is sometimes some friction in regards to those who had to endure the troubles and those who merely offered support from the safety of home???

Now the FF have decided to beef up their representation in the north does this indicate a shift and maybe shows that more people care down south than i thought??? With SF poor showing down south and with them being the only party pushing the border issue i see this as a better indication of support in the south and it pleased me greatly to see it ;D ;D,

I'm coming to this very late so forgive me if I'm going over old ground. I have in the past, and still do, spend a lot of time in the republic, I have a lot of very dear friends there who disagree totally with my politics but still like me. It's a nice feeling, yes! we can disagree about our histories and such without wanting to kill each other. We can even discuss such matters without coming even close to falling out.
Now these friends tell me, that while in the past they would have fought and yes, perhaps even died for a UI, today it's the last thing they want. The reasons they give are many and varied, but strangely enough, well to me anyway, few if any are to do with the behaviour of unionists. Well not unionists alone!
Most of them just hate northerners. They are the scum of the earth they say, and in their lovely Irish way with a twinkle in their eye, "Present company accepted of course". They cannot understand what all the fuss is about. "Sure aren't we all Europeans now anyway, so what does all this crap matter anymore". I love these people and their simplistic outlook on life, maybe we could take a leaf out of their book. I think the real threat for republicans to a UI, comes not from unionists in the north, but from these people. Let us remember, if a referendum for a UI ever does take place. They too will have a vote.
So in a way they do care, but not in the way that republicans might think, or even hope.