Tear down every mosque in the uk

[Mo Britain less Europe]

The population divides roughly 50/50 between wanting two different unions. That is still a recipe for trouble. The republicans stopped the bombings because they gained on the political arena and firmly believe - Gerry Adams reminded us yesterday - that history is on their side. But if that doesn't happen they will be pissed off.

If it does happen then you can understand that the other half will feel Carsonesque about joining a poorer more limited country which still hangs on to vestiges of old-style Papism.

So don't count your chickens that Ulster will be peaceful forever and aye.

[Burney]

The population divides roughly 50/50 between wanting two different unions. That is still a recipe for trouble. The republicans stopped the bombings because they gained on the political arena and firmly believe - Gerry Adams reminded us yesterday - that history is on their side. But if that doesn't happen they will be pissed off.

If it does happen then you can understand that the other half will feel Carsonesque about joining a poorer more limited country which still hangs on to vestiges of old-style Papism.

So don't count your chickens that Ulster will be peaceful forever and aye.

It's a vastly different political landscape now, though.

Ireland is a much less priest-ridden and more modern society now than it was even 20 years ago - the sex abuse scandals saw to that. Equally, you now have the generation that drove the troubles dying out and a younger generation who have grown up without violence and have no desire for it. Plus, of course, the manifest injustices that led to the original outbreak of the troubles no longer exist, so the catalyst for violence isn't really there. Also, the sort of blood and soil nationalist and unionist outlooks that bred Adams and Paisley don't really exist in the same way they used to.

Only a fool or someone with no grasp of history would ever think NI is permanently at peace. However, I am more sanguine about the prospect of it now than I've ever been and certainly can't see the means or motive existing for a serious return to large-scale violence in the short to medium term.

[Mo Britain less Europe]

Yes, their enlightened attitude on abortion does them credit too.

This is an Indian summer. Enjoy it, it won't last forever.

[Burney]

Yes, their enlightened attitude on abortion does them credit too.

This is an Indian summer. Enjoy it, it won't last forever.

I don't remember claiming to be an advocate for the Irish state.

I'm merely stating facts as I perceive them. When I was growing up and holidaying with my family in Ireland, contraception, pornography, homosexuality and for some reason a whole variety of British sweets were all illegal, priests and nuns were everywhere, the church effectively ran large parts of education and welfare provision and the telly used to show masses.

Today, they can barely get enough seminarians to fill Maynooth, gay marriage is legal and - god help us - they've given us Mrs Brown's Boys. Yes, abortion is a stumbling block, but to suggest that Ireland is the same priest-ridden sh1thole it was in the 70s is simply to prefer one's prejudices to reality.

Equally, as regards NI, I'm making no guarantees, but I simply don't see the catalyst or the will for a return to violence there. Your assessment - much like your assessment of the Republic - seems to me to be based on a wholly outdated idea of the situation and the attitudes there.

[Mo Britain less Europe]

I don't remember claiming to be an advocate for the Irish state.

I'm merely stating facts as I perceive them. When I was growing up and holidaying with my family in Ireland, contraception, pornography, homosexuality and for some reason a whole variety of British sweets were all illegal, priests and nuns were everywhere, the church effectively ran large parts of education and welfare provision and the telly used to show masses.

Today, they can barely get enough seminarians to fill Maynooth, gay marriage is legal and - god help us - they've given us Mrs Brown's Boys. Yes, abortion is a stumbling block, but to suggest that Ireland is the same priest-ridden sh1thole it was in the 70s is simply to prefer one's prejudices to reality.

Equally, as regards NI, I'm making no guarantees, but I simply don't see the catalyst or the will for a return to violence there. Your assessment - much like your assessment of the Republic - seems to me to be based on a wholly outdated idea of the situation and the attitudes there.

Bearing in mind the political split continues to be almost exclusively a religious one I believe the attitudes there are more outdated than you credit them.

The catalyst (if it ever happens and I hope it doesn't) will be the calls for a referendum to leave the Union.

[Luis Anaconda]

I don't remember claiming to be an advocate for the Irish state.

I'm merely stating facts as I perceive them. When I was growing up and holidaying with my family in Ireland, contraception, pornography, homosexuality and for some reason a whole variety of British sweets were all illegal, priests and nuns were everywhere, the church effectively ran large parts of education and welfare provision and the telly used to show masses.

Today, they can barely get enough seminarians to fill Maynooth, gay marriage is legal and - god help us - they've given us Mrs Brown's Boys. Yes, abortion is a stumbling block, but to suggest that Ireland is the same priest-ridden sh1thole it was in the 70s is simply to prefer one's prejudices to reality.

Equally, as regards NI, I'm making no guarantees, but I simply don't see the catalyst or the will for a return to violence there. Your assessment - much like your assessment of the Republic - seems to me to be based on a wholly outdated idea of the situation and the attitudes there.

Focusing on the important issue - which sweets were banned? Don't remember that but then part of the reason for going to Ireland* was to pick up a supply of Golden Crisp and Silvermints so probably didn't notice any other sweets/chocolates that were missing



*as if I had a choice

[SWv2]

Focusing on the important issue - which sweets were banned? Don't remember that but then part of the reason for going to Ireland* was to pick up a supply of Golden Crisp and Silvermints so probably didn't notice any other sweets/chocolates that were missing



*as if I had a choice

Curly Wurlys.

[Luis Anaconda]

Curly Wurlys.

Well - can't blame them for that

[Mo Britain less Europe]

Was pubic shaving banned?

[Luis Anaconda]

Focusing on the important issue - which sweets were banned? Don't remember that but then part of the reason for going to Ireland* was to pick up a supply of Golden Crisp and Silvermints so probably didn't notice any other sweets/chocolates that were missing



*as if I had a choice

As ever Cork provides the answer

http://www.peoplesrepublicofcork.com...d.php?t=105186