Re: What's Going on in Northern Ireland?
Reply #7 –
Yes we all know that Southern Ireland is a sovereign country but to say it does not depend on Great Britain is stretching the emotional stuff considerably. As the Irish President has said on his State visit here there are large numbers of people who went to Ireland and England in both countries so has an influential discussion point. This does not detract from Ireland being a country in it's own right. Large numbers came to England and Scotland by the way settling here and staying. We can see Irish footprints across the various parts of society whether commercially or in the media and entertainment corners, etc. Recently we gave Ireland a loan of 7 billion pounds at a reasonable rate to help it out of the disaster it had.
As for N. Ireland that part being in the British fold will keep security there as long as is needed (noting the Colonel's point). However there are far fewer troops there than during the "troubles." And that is even during the current situation where murders and attempted ones are still continuing from the nut jobs. Southern Ireland several years ago deleted wanting Ulster inside it which was progressive and sensible. In the North there is no great campaign to be anywhere but where it is. Over the decades I have had a close relationship with N. Ireland. Family connections, family holidays then my own trips and years of taking boys camps there. Great people and always enjoyed the place. Many of my organised camps were during the bother but we seen noting of it.
Since the troubles the number of walls in Belfast actually increased as it happens so shows there are stil those who have not moved on. With terrorists still active the Republic is not that enamoured of the idea of importing that lot so they have moved on. Soon I will be back over in Belfast and other places in the Province and will get the train (of course) over the Border down to Dublin for the day as I am building railways from there in my simulator hobby. There are still some crackers down there but increasingly marginalised by the bulk of the population who aare better educated than years ago and want to be modern, inclusive and sensible. Long may this attitude exist on both sides of the Border.