There are things which happen that leave you winded. Open-mouthed, speechless. Not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
It seems that in a loyalist parade in Banbridge (Yes of course, Virginia, it may have been marching in circles, but I have no verification of that) their trusty band played and sang a ditty called ‘No Pope of Rome’. The PSNI failed to target the group, even though lines in the ditty are obviously offensive.
To the tune of ‘Home on the Range’, it goes thus:
“Oh give me a home where there’s no Pope of Rome, where there’s nothing but Protestants stay, where seldom is heard a discouraging word and flute bands play The Sash every day.”
Eat your heart out, Oscar Wilde.
I think the PSNI should be given a pass on this. They might have approached the band and recorded their rendering on a phone or something; or they could have been convulsed with laughter to the. point they could hardly stand, let alone approach loyal sons of Ulster batin’ hell out of drums and shrieks out of fifes.
SDLP member Colin McGrath said that “it is disappointing that the police are prepared to sit back and do nothing at this stage even though the evidence has been presented to them by video.”
Don’t blame the PSNI, Colin. You know as well as I do that our beloved Ulster is under severe threat from the Pope and all his abhorrent entourage. The Hillhead Flute Band was only doing what it exists to do: defend Ulster and show what you think of idolatrous taigs.
One of the PSNI’s most senior officers is set to be challenged over a police failure to target an offensive anti-Catholic anthem as a hate crime.
Policing Board member Colin McGrath was speaking after ‘No Pope of Rome’ was played and sung at a loyalist parade in Banbridge at the weekend.
Footage circulated on social media shows the lyrics, which mock the Catholic faith, were chanted as Hillhaven Flute Band played the tune, which shares the same air as ‘Home On The Range’.
I would have no objections to this band showing off their incredible music skills if it weren’t for the brazen hypocrisy of unionist politicians who constantly berate republicans for their choice of song. Let the loyalists insult the Pope and the republicans honour their fallen. As long as they keep to their own areas then I don’t see any problem. It’s when they try to antagonise the other side that problems arise.
Very good jude
Thank you, James…
It goes both ways Jude, the song I heard was Home on the range, the same was some bands play fields of athenry etc. but sure what about the republican bands who play Republican pro IRA songs? What about the glorified loonies who go up on a stage and glorify the Ira of the past with their pro Ira songs. Suppose standing on a stage asking your audience to quote “kill your local MP(Kneecap)” is Deadon but a band playing a tune and an audience singing something else .Get that band off the road they should be banned. Goes both ways Jude xx
No Patrick, you’re comparing apples and bananas here and missing the point. xx
If only the loyalist bands played cowboy songs all the time. They don’t though do they?