Worried about Drumcree

[Dogdogdogdig]

I feel like an interloper here and apologies if this isnt in the right place.

im really worried about the decision over Drumcree and I can’t see it ending well today either way.

I have no time for Jamie Bryson or Carla Lockhart and it seems that tensions have been stoked on both sides.

My parents (and one set of grandparents) were a mixed marriage - my mum and dad moved to England in the 1960s, and my granny and grandpa moved back in the late 70s/80s once they retired. Im aware I don’t have enough if a real understanding, but I have enough to be worried.

again, im sorry if this is the wrong place or offensive.

When the full district is permitted to return home. Says it all really.

Shameful behaviour.

Will those in ROI would be more, or less in favour of a UI now if they have to accommodate these provocative and sectarian Neanderthals? I realise their numbers would be subsumed into a larger Republic population, but honestly have we not got enough issues as it is without taking this shitstorm on board.

Ideologically I'm in favour of a UI, but in the real world, it would be fraught with problems. It will take another generation for the polarisation to ease significantly enough for us all to live together I think.

Jeez I think I will move to Portadown. No COL crisis there, no housing pressures, easily accessible healthcare, no hospital waiting lists. Literally nothing to worry about but the right of men to walk down a road. Carla's constituents must be truly blessed.

The Irish Times does regular polling on this. RoI loves the idea of unification, but is not at all interested in the sacrifice it would bring and the NI economy would need to seriously transform before it might be considered realistic. Things like what happens to free NI healthcare when RoI are paying €60 to see a GP is only the start.

I see the DUP are calling on Emma Little-Pengelly to step down from being co-First Minister with Michelle O'Neill.
Predictable, and logical, something is broken between them now.

The two of them were making a good effort at co-existence and working together respectfully, it was emblematic of how a different way of doing things cross-community was possible. Not perfect by any means, but possible, and they were giving it a good go, weren't they?

Now that too has been broken by that unbelieveable parade judgement.

This is where the DUP could actually box clever and put proper effort into fixing the NHS with a particular focus on GPs and helping constituents access GP appointments. As it stands, I (and I assume many others) would be happy to pay €60 to actually see a GP (and I have done - private GPs here are booming and are popping up everywhere). Tackle real issues that matter to people, so that losing for example a free GP service that works actually feels like a loss.

Yes, a UI is a long held dream for many, but that's it - in their dreams! Nice to have but impossible to implement anytime soon I reckon.

As for the NHS, the NI economy (basket case as it is) and so on, I think the biggest flashpoint will be...... Flags.

Which flag would a UI use? Think about that one for a minute, as a microcosm of the problems to be faced.

Keep talking about it aspirationally, but realistically forget it for now, well that's my view anyway.

Here's a stunning example of lack of historical perspective and self-awareness from TUV MLA Timothy Gaston:

"They [Sinn Féin] are using this issue to deflect away from the crippling immigration problems that is engulfing their communities," Mr Gaston added.

Honestly, is he really so dense that he doesn't see what the original 'immigration problem' was that 'engulfed their communities?'

Illegal immigrants who refused to integrate, refused to learn the local language, disrespected the local culture, violently imposed their own laws and religion?

Mr Gaston, Irish nationalists know all about the 'crippling immigration problem' of incomers who refuse to integrate, the Garvaghy Rd residents are still paying the price for it.

I'm hoping that the fact there are two women at the top means there is hope that things will not deteriorate. I think they are doing a good job under the circumstances.

If it were two men on the other hand, I'm nearly sure there would be daggers at dawn.

Sure it is men that have started this all over again. The orange order is a bunch of old farts with nothing else to do but try dangle their wrinkly willies in places they have no need to be.

Gaston is a Huguenot surname. So monsieur Gaston is probably of immigrant stock himself. The nerve of him!

Had to laugh at that... 😂

Little Kingdom springs to mind

Interesting point about the Huguenot name!

Any of the descendants of English and Scottish settlers are 'of immigrant stock' - which doesn't mean in the slightest that they are not now Irish and at home in Ireland, it just makes Unionists/Loyalists getting hot under the collar about immigration a bit of an own goal!

Pure provocation.

Have you noticed the Orange Order and their supporters have this 'schtick' of 'we are just simple folk commemorating the war dead, even the RC ones'
'we are just 35 men wanting to walk down a road' 'we are peaceful people' ' and this tear-jerker from Mr Gaston
35 law abiding men have a right to return home after 28 years, have been denied that right.

Puh-lease! who has been denied' the right to go home' for 28 years?? what is that all about?
The 'Butter wouldn't melt in our mouths/sure we wouldn't hurt a fly' schtick doesn't align with their origin, their history and the fact that sectarianism runs through the organisation like a place name through a stick of rock.

Jamie and Carla what a duo. They are making complete idiots of themselves especially Carla who as a female cannot become a fully fledged member of the OO and certainly could not walk down Garvaghy Rd alongside the men. So much for equality. As for Jamie, he is known as the pound shop lawyer and it is clear to see why.
Orange Order does not and will not allow Catholics to join. Will not allow any member to marry a Roman Catholic and to do so would mean expulsion. Will not allow members to attend any Catholic service and to do so again means expulsion or severe sanctions. Part of OO pledge is to oppose the "doctrines of the Church of Rome'' in other words Catholic Church. It is clear that their want to march down the Garvaghy Road is all about triumphalism and domination. Nothing else. Ironically their main commemoration is to celebrate the Battle of the Boyne, the 1690 victory of Protestant King William of Orange over Catholic King James II. Guess where the battle site is? In what the OO members say is a foreign country. Go figure.
The march has a long history associated with the persecution of Catholics living along the route. Following the very first recorded march groups of Orangemen marched along the road and attacked local residents. There have been interment murders of Catholics associated with the march including the first recorded murder of 2 young Catholic men who were working in a nearby field who were targeted and beaten to death.
One of those women who stood on the road yesterday was Marie-Therese Murray. Her young son Darren was knocked down and killed 30 years ago after being chased by loyalists. I stand with her as did many thousands of other ordinary people yesterday.
While much of the focus has been on Michelle O'Neill attending, missing from the reports are that the leaders, councillors, MLAs of other parties were in attendance. Claire Hanna, Peader Toibin, Paul Murphy all were there.

Thousands rallied to support the people of Garvaghy Road but very few were at Drumcree to support the OO march. 2 MLAs one MP. Where was Pengelly, Robinson, and the rest of them? Of course this is all very convenient timing for the DUP. Jeffrey Donaldson, child abuser whose behaviour was ignored by many member of that party. is due to be sentenced. Nice bit of deflection there.

Just heard Jamie and his orange army are getting ready to march again. You really couldn't make it up.

Wee Jaimie Bwyson and Carla have been on the news talking to
their “men” appealing for them to stay “calm” in the face of the “unlawful mob” waiting on them down the road.
Jaime all mouth and no trousers as usual Carla at least had the decency to try and avoid the camera! How embarrassing that the OO have had to resort to this Cretin for support. All credibility has been lost at this point.

I'm English, not RC, well old enough to remember some of the more recent history of the Troubles and I think anyone pretending that the planned OO march on the Garvaghy Road is anything other than an act of calculated provocation is disingenuous in the extreme.

Yep anyone that feigns innocence on this are just as bad.

Tiny thing that makes me smile is you never hear 'Roman Catholic' down the end of the island I am on just catholic, usually you can tell who is Protestant by them saying 'Roman' first - well that and seeing where their toaster lives of course but that is a whole different thread ;)

Interesting! I did a Theology degree and got used to using 'RC' in notes and essays so there would be no confusion with the Anglo Catholic 'High' end of the C of E, always just thought Catholic before that.

No idea about the toaster distinctions though!

It has been alleged that protestants put theirs in the press/cupboard and catholics leave theirs on the counter top but I don't know if this is truth or fable lol

Countertop Anglican, but might be different here!

Wonder what is happening with the primary school on the Garvaghy Road, or near it. It was reported to be closed today, and nothing much has changed overnight. Outrageous that kids are having their schooling disrupted by this crap.

Why would an anti catholic organisation kick up such a fuss to march down a road with predominantly catholics living there?