Proud to be irish ?

godscop

Ok, im irish and i love my country. During the celtic tiger i felt we turned into a greedy, materialistic nation. Now the bubble has burst i think we bury our heads in the sand. Lets worry about the rubberbandits, x factor, sprouts, anything other than the mess we are in. Our children will ask what did we do about the government ? We can answer we went on facebook and went to the pub and voted for mary byrne. I despair of this country and what we have become.




*puts on helmet*

humanji

Bored today, are we?

GrizzlyMan

I like cake and jumpers

Black Swan

I miss rashers!

cruiser178

godscop wrote: »

Ok, im irish and i love my country. During the celtic tiger i felt we turned into a greedy, materialistic nation. Now the bubble has burst i think we bury our heads in the sand. Lets worry about the rubberbandits, x factor, sprouts, anything other than the mess we are in. Our children will ask what did we do about the government ? We can answer we went on facebook and went to the pub and voted for mary byrne. I despair of this country and what we have become.




*sucks on helmet*

jimthemental

I will always have pride in the flag, we have a right to do this but I will not have pride in the country until some form of justice is brought down on those responsible for our loss of sovereignty and dignity money troubles.

Antomus Prime

I for one am 100% proud to be Irish but I do agree that people these days tend to not bother with the important thing (government, banks, debt.......) and focus more on the things you have listed. Now obviously I cant speak for everyone but ive noticed it around.

But to answer the question Yes I'm proud to be Irish and nothing will ever change that!!!

godscop

humanji wrote: »

Bored today, are we?

Ok lets talk about the merits of sprouts:rolleyes:

Pyr0

Strangely enough, I've never seen many people of other nationalities openly question their loyalty or pride towards their home country. Do many others do this or is it just an Irish thing? I don't know how many times I've seen this asked in either AH or other forums on boards.

thebigbiffo

yes, the country is going down the swanny. now can we all just suck it up and stop complaining like someones depressed granny on speed?

saywhatyousee

you have to be at least 30km outside the pale before you can call yourself irish

PeterIanStaker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cmz0lyc85wE

humanji

godscop wrote: »

Ok lets talk about the merits of sprouts:rolleyes:

Or talk about the merits of generalisations and reactionary threads?

Kylo Ren

Let them eat cake?

GrizzlyMan

Keno 92 wrote: »

Let them eat cake?

Jumpercakes

Wagon

Yes. But a lot of people are ****.

dizzywizlw

More Irish than the Irish :P


We went from a nation of nationalistic ignorant sheep farmers to Latte sipping, ugg hoarding discgraces....


I'm waiting to see the pride, unless of course it's a pride to be part of a group of people that may complain a lot but never admit defeat, unless Fianna Fail are involved.

Krusader

I love sprouts, chilli sprouts FTW

thebigbiffo

rabble

rabble rabble

rabble rabble rabble brian cowen rabble imf bail out rabble

ffs

Kiera

Crosáidí wrote: »

I love sprouts, chilli sprouts FTW

That would be one mega crap!

Kylo Ren

GrizzlyMan wrote: »

Jumpercakes

Saw that coming!

"I've no willy"

Krusader

saywhatyousee wrote: »

you have to be at least 30km outside the pale before you can call yourself irish

Yeah 'cause all the action was in Sligo in 1916:pac:

padma

I for one am happy to be Irish in this life. Sure SOME people became greedy and materialistic post 98 or so. Thats there disease, not mine. Who am I to judge them? I honestly do not think about them or see them as a reflection of the Irish collective consciousness.

We in Ireland have been the most generous per head of capita in giving to charity. Is that greed? or guilt? or a genuine sense of kinship with people who have so little? I certainly wouldn't say I'm proud to be Irish, as I see pride as not a very positive thing, more I see it as a superiority complex.

Yet, definitely happy and grateful to have been born in Ireland. Inside there is still a lot of Love for the Irish people felt when I am talking to Irish folk and socialising amongst us. I genuinely think if I sat at home on the laptop all day, or watching Irish t.v I probably would feel the same as you. Now I'm not saying that you sit at home all day in that capacity, but am saying that the media and television in general will drive anyone to feel seperate from their neighbours simply because they are tuning in to others opinions from their couch, or unhealthily judging this country and it's people from the couch.

Just go out and do some voluntary work, meet the people and you will find the beauty thats within others. No-one can take that away from you. Despising a people because of what you see as harmful and greedy takes you away from finding the beauty that that person has within. There is good and bad in everyone, just time to remember that the next time the brain starts judging others and the country as a whole.

bonerm

saywhatyousee wrote: »

you have to be at least 30km outside the pale before you can call yourself irish

I make that about half the population of the entire country don't qualify then.

Krusader

Kiera wrote: »

That would be one mega crap!

Trust me, you'll love it, chilli flakes now not chilli powder

AnneFrank

I'm proud of the Ireland of old,The Michael Collins era when we fought for our country,now we just roll over and dont even protest,and if there ever was a war now i'd have no faith in the new generation of metrosexual men who care more about poncing up in front of a mirror than actually being men.Our culture is slowly getting diluted away with every passing year
For what died the sons of Roisin

Kiera

Crosáidí wrote: »

Trust me, you'll love it, chilli flakes now not chilli powder

The flutter might love it, not me!

godscop

padma wrote: »

I for one am happy to be Irish in this life. Sure SOME people became greedy and materialistic post 98 or so. Thats there disease, not mine. Who am I to judge them? I honestly do not think about them or see them as a reflection of the Irish collective consciousness.

We in Ireland have been the most generous per head of capita in giving to charity. Is that greed? or guilt? or a genuine sense of kinship with people who have so little? I certainly wouldn't say I'm proud to be Irish, as I see pride as not a very positive thing, more I see it as a superiority complex.

Yet, definitely happy and grateful to have been born in Ireland. Inside there is still a lot of Love for the Irish people felt when I am talking to Irish folk and socialising amongst us. I genuinely think if I sat at home on the laptop all day, or watching Irish t.v I probably would feel the same as you. Now I'm not saying that you sit at home all day in that capacity, but am saying that the media and television in general will drive anyone to feel seperate from their neighbours simply because they are tuning in to others opinions from their couch, or unhealthily judging this country and it's people from the couch.

Just go out and do some voluntary work, meet the people and you will find the beauty thats within others. No-one can take that away from you. Despising a people because of what you see as harmful and greedy takes you away from finding the beauty that that person has within. There is good and bad in everyone, just time to remember that the next time the brain starts judging others and the country as a whole.

I do voluntary work, i have job thank god. Many friends have emigrated. How are this government still in power ? It woudnt happen in any other country.

Krusader

padma wrote: »

I genuinely think if I sat at home on the laptop all day, or watching Irish t.v I probably would feel the same as you. Now I'm not saying that you sit at home all day in that capacity, but am saying that the media and television in general will drive anyone to feel seperate from their neighbours simply because they are tuning in to others opinions from their couch, or unhealthily judging this country and it's people from the couch.

You are right, listening to Turbs, Kenny and the other Gombeens all day on RTÉ would disillusion anyone

starbelgrade

godscop wrote: »

Ok, im irish and i love my country. During the celtic tiger i felt we turned into a greedy, materialistic nation. Now the bubble has burst i think we bury our heads in the sand. Lets worry about the rubberbandits, x factor, sprouts, anything other than the mess we are in. Our children will ask what did we do about the government ? We can answer we went on facebook and went to the pub and voted for mary byrne. I despair of this country and what we have become.




*puts on helmet*

Just what AH needs on a Thursday lunch-time.... a good dose of self flagellating, misery.

sbsquarepants

saywhatyousee wrote: »

you have to be at least 30km outside the pale before you can call yourself irish

Culchies aren't Irish! They're just culchies:mad:

saywhatyousee

bonerm wrote: »

I make that about half the population of the entire country don't qualify then.

not even a third 1.2 million out of slighty over 4

bonerm

saywhatyousee wrote: »

not even a third 1.2 million out of slighty over 4

How were you able to arrive at that figure?

The population of Leinster is 2.2 million and vast majority of it lies within 30km of the pale boundary. I'd say the only major urban area that doesn't qualify is Waterford City. There's 1.6 million in the greater Dublin area alone.

Sykk

Did you accidentally the whole thing, OP?

godscop

Sykk wrote: »

Did you accidentally the whole thing, OP?

* scratches head *

Bodhisopha

I'm ashamed to be Irish. I can't go one day without a Fr Ted reference.

padma

godscop wrote: »

I do voluntary work, i have job thank god. Many friends have emigrated. How are this government still in power ? It woudnt happen in any other country.

As someone who does voluntary work, you obviously mix amongst the people every day. Thus giving you an insight in to humanity which a lot of those who were only interested in their bank accounts have missed out on. Yet, as I stated earlier there is good in everyone.

It is a sad reflection of the whole situation that people are emigrating. Yet my point is that not all Irish people became materialistic, sure if you lived in the machine of the country D4 or along that stretch you would see gross materialism etc, but they are a minority. Some in the so called middle income bracket got big loans for big cars and 3 bedroom cardboard houses and paid over the odds. In relation to overpaying for their homes, who can blame a couple with 2 kids wanting to pay a mortgage rather than paying a landlord?


The government is still in power unfortunately because 2 or 3 years ago some people voted for them to be in power. Why there hasn't been a military coup in this country is beyond me, considering the scandals of corruption at the top. The absolute power that this government has had over the past few years is phenomenal while pretending to have their hands tied behind their backs by the bigger powers to be, money.

The only reason fianna fail stayed in power is because of their own ego, they wont let go of that power no matter what. Anyone in their right mind when the poo hit the fan would have turned to the Irish people and said lads I'm out of here. I can't seem to do anything right for the people, Im incapable of fixing this problem, I can only help the bankers and the top guns. Everything I do is a mistake, I'm gone, go find another government to sort this mess out because we're incapable of doing so. Retire from politics and emigrate themselves if need be, but their own ego urged them onwards.

Yet maybe there is a bigger picture here. The country of Ireland could be tired after such a long history overcoming a colonial power, to suddenly finding itself having to confront the greed of capitalism that is coming from our own. But to say that all Irish people are greedy captains of industry is not correct. Ireland and in general the system of capitalism is made up of the workers and the company owners and fortunately the workers are the majority. Therefore we should think like the workers, not start believing and endorsing what the big corporate businesses sprout to us daily.

saywhatyousee

bonerm wrote: »

How were you able to arrive at that figure?

The population of Leinster is 2.2 million and vast majority of it lies within 30km of the pale boundary. I'd say the only major urban area that doesn't qualify is Waterford City. There's 1.6 million in the greater Dublin area alone.

well waterford is in munster so how would it.there is 1.2 million in county dublin..how far does the greater dublin area stretch?the residents of dublin seem to think it is the biggest city in the world

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

AnneFrank wrote: »

I'm proud of the Ireland of old,The Michael Collins era when we fought for our country,now we just roll over and dont even protest,and if there ever was a war now i'd have no faith in the new generation of metrosexual men who care more about poncing up in front of a mirror than actually being men.Our culture is slowly getting diluted away with every passing year
For what died the sons of Roisin

"Sons of Roisin...?" New one to me!

I can see your point and agree with some of it, but this idea that an Irishman needs to fight in order to prove himself as both Irish and a man is ridiculous. And some of our culture being washed away is not nessecarily a bad thing. Take for example a complete unwillingness to question those in power that led to massive child abuse scandals and the current economic mess.

bonerm

saywhatyousee wrote: »

well waterford is in munster so how would it.there is 1.2 million in county dublin..how far does the greater dublin area stretch?the residents of dublin seem to think it is the biggest city in the world

Sorry I meant Wexford not Waterford. Basically I'm saying if you marked the Pale boundary and then went out 30km in all directions from it you'd have the guts of 2million people inside that area.

godscop

padma wrote: »

As someone who does voluntary work, you obviously mix amongst the people every day. Thus giving you an insight in to humanity which a lot of those who were only interested in their bank accounts have missed out on. Yet, as I stated earlier there is good in everyone.

It is a sad reflection of the whole situation that people are emigrating. Yet my point is that not all Irish people became materialistic, sure if you lived in the machine of the country D4 or along that stretch you would see gross materialism etc, but they are a minority. Some in the so called middle income bracket got big loans for big cars and 3 bedroom cardboard houses and paid over the odds. In relation to overpaying for their homes, who can blame a couple with 2 kids wanting to pay a mortgage rather than paying a landlord?


The government is still in power unfortunately because 2 or 3 years ago some people voted for them to be in power. Why there hasn't been a military coup in this country is beyond me, considering the scandals of corruption at the top. The absolute power that this government has had over the past few years is phenomenal while pretending to have their hands tied behind their backs by the bigger powers to be, money.

The only reason fianna fail stayed in power is because of their own ego, they wont let go of that power no matter what. Anyone in their right mind when the poo hit the fan would have turned to the Irish people and said lads I'm out of here. I can't seem to do anything right for the people, Im incapable of fixing this problem, I can only help the bankers and the top guns. Everything I do is a mistake, I'm gone, go find another government to sort this mess out because we're incapable of doing so. Retire from politics and emigrate themselves if need be, but their own ego urged them onwards.

Yet maybe there is a bigger picture here. The country of Ireland could be tired after such a long history overcoming a colonial power, to suddenly finding itself having to confront the greed of capitalism that is coming from our own. But to say that all Irish people are greedy captains of industry is not correct. Ireland and in general the system of capitalism is made up of the workers and the company owners and fortunately the workers are the majority. Therefore we should think like the workers, not start believing and endorsing what the big corporate businesses sprout to us daily.

Thanks for a great post. Its just so sad to see friends emigrate. Its heartbreaking. But the attitude with alot of people is shut up moaning and get on with it. Talk about anything other than the real world. My best mate left, his wife and 2 kids stayed behind. He sends money home to pay the bills. He wont see his family for a year. It was heartbreaking looking at him saying goodbye to his kids.

syklops

godscop wrote: »

Ok, im irish and i love my country. During the celtic tiger i felt we turned into a greedy, materialistic nation. Now the bubble has burst i think we bury our heads in the sand. Lets worry about the rubberbandits, x factor, sprouts, anything other than the mess we are in. Our children will ask what did we do about the government ? We can answer we went on facebook and went to the pub and voted for mary byrne. I despair of this country and what we have become.




*puts on helmet*

Im going to tell them that I flew home and voted FF out.

saywhatyousee

bonerm wrote: »

Sorry I meant Wexford not Waterford. Basically I'm saying if you marked the Pale boundary and then went out 30km in all directions from it you'd have the guts of 2million people inside that area.

30 km from the gpo all direction ill be kind and give 1.4 million
can we move on it was a joke in the first place

bonerm

saywhatyousee wrote: »

30 km from the gpo all direction ill be kind and give 1.4 million
can we move on it was a joke in the first place

Based on what? Where are you getting these numbers? Besides you're moving the goalposts now, first it was the pale, now the GPO.

Snakeblood

AnneFrank wrote: »

I'm proud of the Ireland of old,The Michael Collins era when we fought for our country,now we just roll over and dont even protest,and if there ever was a war now i'd have no faith in the new generation of metrosexual men who care more about poncing up in front of a mirror than actually being men.Our culture is slowly getting diluted away with every passing year
For what died the sons of Roisin

Ah cheer up and watch the Quiet Man.

saywhatyousee

bonerm wrote: »

Based on what? Where are you getting these numbers? Besides you're moving the goalposts now, first it was the pale, now the GPO.

well the gpo would be the center of the pale is it not?

karlog

I've a horse outside.

godscop

I love sprouts

bonerm

saywhatyousee wrote: »

well the gpo would be the center of the pale is it not?

You didn't say the centre of the Pale. You said 'at least 30km outside the Pale'. As much as culchies would like to believe it the Pale isn't just Dublin City. The Pale goes all over the place from Louth to Meath and Kildare.

padma

godscop wrote: »

Thanks for a great post. Its just so sad to see friends emigrate. Its heartbreaking. But the attitude with alot of people is shut up moaning and get on with it. Talk about anything other than the real world. My best mate left, his wife and 2 kids stayed behind. He sends money home to pay the bills. He wont see his family for a year. It was heartbreaking looking at him saying goodbye to his kids.

It is an awful thing to happen to someone, to be driven to emigrate to find work to pay the bills back home. We had 12-15 years where that wasn't needed anymore and unfortunately we are back to that situation again. At least there is a store of music engrained in to the Irish psyche if we tap in to it can ease some of the heartache felt. Not much help, but it is a little and can and should teach us that all this was here before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8wcY6u8AEg

In the City of Chicago
As the evening shadows fall
There are people dreaming
Of the hills of Donegal

Eighteen forty-seven
Was the year it all began
Deadly pains of hunger
Drove a million from this land
They journeyed not for glory
Their motive wasn't greed
A voyage of survival
Across the stormy seas

To the City of Chicago
As the evening shadows fall
There are people dreaming
Of the hills of Donegal

Some of them knew fortune
Some of them knew fame
More of them knew hardship
They died upon the plains
They spread throughout the nation
They rode the railroad cars
Brought their songs and music
To ease their lonely hearts

To the City of Chicago
As the evening shadows fall
There are people dreaming
Of the hills of Donegal

In the City of Chicago
As the evening shadows fall
There are people dreaming
Of the hills of Donegal

Eighteen forty-seven
Was the year it all began
Deadly pains of hunger
Drove a million from this land

Pace2008

As has often been stated, it's no great achievement to have spawned in a particular nation. "Patriotism is the conviction that your country is superior to all other countries by virtue of the fact you were born in it."

We are evolutionarily predisposed towards harbouring tribalistic tendencies. I think in this modern, interconnected global network, this is an instinct which we should endeavour to overcome. By definition, the one trait every person on earth shares in common is being human. Having said that, I do think that we need to look out for each other as you would your family members - this means putting them first, wanting the best for them, provided doing so doesn't involve ****ting all over everyone else in the process.

I had two very influential teachers in school: one who taught me Maths for the Junior Cert, the other English for my Leaving. To paraphrase the most memorable words from the former: "Being a patriot is not about wearing your country's colours, or watching Michael Collins 20 times, or singing rebel songs. Being a true patriot means treating your compatriots with respect, working to pay your taxes and making yourself as useful and employable a member of society as your ability allows”

If he had the right of it, I suppose I’m proud to be Irish.

Oh, and I boo the English teams during sporting events, if it means anything.