Orange marches belfast

[Pippin24]

I’m visiting Belfast today to see extended family. My dad’s family are from Ireland/n Ireland I try to get over a few times per year. I’m in my aunts house and we had planned a picnic in the garden which has steadily been interrupted by orange bands marching up a down a road not far from her. It’s a terrible noise and apart from the assault to the ears seems entirely pointless- I cannot believe in this day and age this is still happening.

it’s a mixed area faith wise and my aunt is so embarrassed about it. My husband has just arrived back from a walk where he managed to see some of the march and has informed me that there are a shit ton of the marchers drinking - singing anti catholic/Irish songs and generally behaving badly. Surely there are rules around this? Grown men with younger kids marching drunk and causing a disturbance. Culture is one thing - this isn’t it. Rant over!

@Abitofalark didn't though.

Its important to educate people.

Yes, but @Abitofalark didn't get anything wrong. She was talking about the historical situation.

Southern Ireland irritates me too, but you could have phrased your response differently if you wanted people to know the country is called Ireland.

I think I was pretty clear.
I said it's not called Southern Ireland.
You are being pedantic.

Okay, maybe I'm being pedantic, but you were correcting someone who didn't need correcting. Not nice.
I'll say no more.

All that polyester must be so uncomfortable

And their poor knuckles from dragging along the ground as they march

It's good though, it means we can all see who they are

I was not correcting anyone. I was just stating a fact that unfortunately many people get wrong all the time.
You have been coming at me because I did not word it to your liking and then you call me not nice.

Okay, I am saying more 😁(I'll shut up soon I promise!)

You quoted pp and then made your comment re the name of the country.
Whether you intended to or not that comes across as correcting pp.
As I said, it might have been better to phrase things differently if that was not your intention.

I agree people get the name wrong all the time and I agree it's very annoying.

Okay, I see your point, we were both getting a bit too worked up about this 😳

Yes, I really will shut up now!!!

It is simplistic to state that it only exists because of English / Scottish

No, it's not.

It exists because of British Colonialism.
That is the bottom line.

Stand by your Bushmills comment? It was a truly ignorant comment. You've had several posters say so, yet you stand by it. That says a lot about you.

Your comment also suggests a total lack of realism and understanding.

That is what NI is like. It's a few years on from something approaching a decades long civil war. It's not set up to suit you and your tourist activities. The world isn't set up to suit you and your tourist activities.

But does that matter really?
Whether it's the 12th or the run up?

Yes, it does matter who was responsible for something.

That is part of recognising that not everyone within a community/identity,/movement ...are exactly the same.

The anti Jewish marches were allowed in London and the police reinforced the message that Jews should keep off the streets while it was happening. There's been hate preached by Muslim extremists. Everywhere except Liverpool allow far right marches, so let's not pretend that other groups don't do this.
They did used to be peaceful affairs with the drummers and girls dressed beautifully. But there is once again back and white thinking. They can police the anti social behaviour, as long as it is applied to the whole of the UK.

Also Cavan!

You forgot The Purple Sons of Tubal Cain @DotDashDot24 . Always thought that would be a cracking name for an acid rock band.

Then there's the British Israelites . They think Brits are the lost tribe of Israel and the Ark of the Covenant is buried under the Hill of Tara. I don't think they march though? Probably too busy digging up County Meath. Name for a reggae band maybe.

Sorry about the derail. But the subject lends itself to a bit of lighthearted fun. Got to look for the positives.

That is part of recognising that not everyone within a community/identity,/movement ...are exactly the same.

I know that @DotDashDot24. I thought I'd made that clear enough?

there's a small minority who think it a great idea to burn the Irish flag or images of politicians etc...I mean, obviously it's a small minority of thuggish behaviour...

You do realise that (shock horror) the town of Bushmills doesn’t exist simply to appease tourists on whiskey tours? It’s a Protestant stronghold, of course the locals are going to celebrate their unionist persuasion and why shouldn’t they? Don’t like it, don’t visit. It’s really that simple. Did you also get offended by the union jack flags/bunting/tablecloths everywhere around the UK for the platinum jubilee?

I think what people are surprised at is having such a display of Britishness in a place most of the world thinks is Irish! In my experience abroad we are considered Irish no matter where in the Island of Ireland you reside. Having to explain the difference to well meaning visitors without it descending into a political discussion could prove tricky.

the Dubliners refer to us as ‘nordies’ - we are perceived- as a whole- to be argumentative. Europeans who visited the bar I worked in would consider Belfast volatile in places.

The whole run up can be a pain, but watching the programme last year on the Twelfth, it was obvious that there were squillions of tourists there from all over the world.

We were out eating in a restaurant and got talking to American visitors last year who were delighted to have filmed a band in carrickfergus.

The Hibernian parades are popular also.

Both 'sides' culture is a lot more complicated than hatred, and actually too complicated for me😁

As I posted before, the difference here is unbelievable, its certainly far from perfect, but it's coming from a place of huge conflict, so to expect it to turn itself into 'The Quiet Man' from a place of tearing lumps out of each other for generations, in a short time is a tad simplistic.

I think what people are surprised at is having such a display of Britishness in a place most of the world thinks is Irish! In my experience abroad we are considered Irish no matter where in the Island of Ireland you reside.

I'm not sure why most of the world would think Northern Ireland is "Irish" given its been on news reports for decades due to terrorism.

I went to to West Africa after uni and an acquaintance's host family Dad knew that Northern Ireland exists and what was happening there. He was straight onto the subject as soon as he asked where I was from and realised I wasn't English like her.

If some people in the rest of the world are living under a rock or are ridiculously ignorant; that's not really anyone's problem but their own.

Lol, that's an entirely new one on me. I had to Google it.

Likewise the British Israelites.

It's all sounding a bit book of Mormon-ish.

I just read a bit about the British Israelites and, surprise surprise, the beliefs are actually something adopted by the Mormon church.

I was surprised to see a tourist destination which it actively encourages is so blatantly sectarian. Not a pleasant look for impartial visitors . It is intimidating and outmoded. Who do you think Bushmills whiskey is marketed at ? And don't like it don't come attitude is very narrow minded in a NI that is supposed to be beyond all that.
And for what it is worth I would have felt equally uncomfortable if it was covered in Republican symbols.

We were out eating in a restaurant and got talking to American visitors last year who were delighted to have filmed a band in carrickfergus.

Anytime I see parades and festivals in other countries, like the summer festivals in Japan; or a time I saw Morris (so) dancers practising in England; I think it's so unfortunate that our parades - with all the history, the banners, the effort at learning instruments and tunes, the practising for months, the traditional songs, the uniforms (which a delightful poster upthread was derogatory towards ...."they're polyester, knuckle draggers in polyester", yeah, most clothes are polyester and most of these people are working class, and they're worn a few times a year so why exactly would they be merino wool & silk? You've definitely got the right focus here), the family & community element etc ......are mired in the issues that they are.

Genuine question - If you don’t want to witness the realities of a post conflict society then why visit? Bushmills is a regular town that simply happens to have a whiskey distillery, not Disneyworld.