The parades this year passed off peacefully, thanks mainly to the dignified response of the Nationalist communities in sensitive areas. The bonfires once again were provocative causing hurt to nationalists – as intended. They also caused considerable damage to property and to the ozone layer. The burning of an effigy of Martin McGuinness in a Twelfth bonfire was a despicable act. It should not have been allowed to happen. The throwing of Catholic religious objects on the pyre showed contempt for the people who profess the Catholic faith. All of that must be condemned and should not be allowed to happen in future. Surely, the police should be more proactive.
There were some speeches at the Twelfth this year denouncing ecumenism and those Protestants who were too close to Catholics. One Orange speechmaker in Fermanagh called on Protestants to stop using RIP after the names of the dead. That was a Catholic practice and to be condemned.
The ‘Twelfth’ saw the emergence of the DUFP -the Diehard Unionist Fascist Party, which specialises in building taller and taller bonfires and burning effigies of Nationalists/republicans and burning Catholic symbols. The new party has some noteworthy spokespeople -some of whom are already well known. Jamie Bryson, is the spokesman for ‘The protect arr bonfires and arr Culture’ group. Then, there is Willie Frazer, the south Armagh diehard who loves publicity stunts. This new party would appear to have the support of many in the media including Stephen Nolan , Ruth D Edwards, Eilis O’Hanlon and Eoghan Dudley Harris from Cork. The new party the DUFP is ably assisted by ‘the man from RTE’, Tommie Gorman who has a special insight into northern politics having spent the last 20 years wandering around Stormont in search of the latest political gossip.
It seems that we have now entered a new phase in the north of Ireland and that the new party (DUFP) will be seeking to replace the DUP and overthrow the Good Friday Agreement. Their aim is a return to one party Unionist rule in Stormont. After all, it served the unionist cause very well for 50 years. We can expect this new party to offer the greatest resistance to any talk of reunified Ireland.
It would be funny, if it was not so serious, because lurking in the shadows of these diehards are the gunmen. For the present they-the gunmen- are happy enough with the kind of leadership the DUP is giving. This year they were prepared to support that party in the elections. That will be all right so long as the DUP does their bidding. But the DUP is going to have to make up its mind before long about its future. Is it prepared to be aligned with the DUFP diehards to defend the union at all costs or is the DUP prepared to work with Sinn Fein in a power-sharing executive granting full parity of esteem to the nationalist community? Are the DUP going to implement the Good Friday Agreement or are they not? If they are going to implement the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent agreements they will have to ditch the diehards and the paramilitaries.
It is decision time for the DUP.
Joe
If you are going to use Jude’s site to accuse specific journalists of being loyalist supporters (Nolan being the most obvious example) then you could at least offer some evidence.
But I won’t hold my breath.
No, I couldn’t see why Nolan was included amongst the Fleggerati either.
Bryson is an unelected mouthpiece who was giving a platform on the Nolan show. A very irresponsible thing particularly around the twelve.
My point exactly moser.
moser
Unelected mouthpiece on the Nolan show eh?
We definitely don’t want any more of those!
Gio, if you think it’s ok to give people a platform where upon they can incite others to violence, then ? Also, sounded more like Jamie was electioneering. Gio, you definitely add contrast to this arena, and for that I am thankful.
moser
Did he incite people to violence on the Nolan Show?. Do you have a link?
Very wrong if he did and also illegal.
But the point really is did Nolan support this, as that seems to be the allegation by Joe and others.?
And please don’t go banging your head against any brick walls!
A close observer of Bryson will know that he always falls one step short of incitement to violence.
“Volunteer Bryson? – (remember that!) – is a dog whistler in the mould of Big Ian and the Grand Old Duke himself.
But he always careful to keep his own hands clean.
As an aside, I remain confounded at how Nolan is alleged to have caught Bigotry through his regular contacts with Bryson though – I’m.wondering if Daithi McKay was similarly contaminated by a process of Osmosis presumably…..?
You pair of comedians must have inserted ear plugs when the Nolan Show begins it’s broadcast, that’s plain to see given your comments above.
Jack
Accusing a journalist of bias is a serious thing and can amount to defamation.
Evidence would be good.
I honestly believe, and I think it’s becoming very apparent, that a thick fog preventing rational thinking has descended upon the “Unionist”people or perhaps it’s the years of ingrained bigotry and state sponsored venom directed towards Catholism/Nationalism that prevents them from realising that they are constantly,day and daily, insulting and taunting , maybe unknowingly, their neighbours. A supercilious warning , from Gio, about the law and bias would be amusing if it wasn’t so ludicrous….. it would be much harder to find an impartial and objective journalist…. but then again it’s always been that way ….. same mentality, same result.
Hey gio, your use of the brick wall comment made me burst out laughing also. Honestly did.
moser
I’m glad you got a laugh.
We all take this stuff a bit too seriously at times.
Really it is just a bunch of blokes (mostly) having an argument in the (virtual) pub.
Only without the potential for libel!
Well said gio.
Where and when were Catholic religious objects thrown on the pyre?
I presume that Father Joe is referring to the statue of Mary a couple of.years ago.
He might not be aware that a horrified Themun “rescued” the statue and returned it to its rightful owners.
But the article is about this year.
Yeah, don’t let facts get in the way of a good trope.
Joe rightly condemns the burning of an effigy of Martin McGuinness.
But did he ever condemn the burning to death of real actual people by Martin McGuinness’s movement?
Since Fr Joe obviously feels that Tommie Gorman does not meet his high journalistic standards,maybe he could indicate what journalists he admires.Maybe I’ve missed something,but Tommie appears to me to be a man of some integrity.Perhaps Fr Mc Veigh thinks that he doesn’t accept all Sinn Fein statements as “holy writ” and longs for the days of Daily Ireland and its faithful adherence to the party line.