United by a sporting spectacle
- 26 Feb 07, 02:22 PM
White City, London 鈥 In the end, my dilemma of who to support in the at Croke Park was solved, but not quite in the manner I intended.
Scores of you replied when I outlined my divided loyalties 鈥 born, schooled and living in England to Irish parents, and from a long Irish family line.
Many shared my dilemma, some scoffed at my neutrality, while others were simply dismissive.
I was called a Whether that was with English or French mustard had not been made clear...
I should start at the evening before Saturday's showdown because that is where my problems really began.
Having not very manfully tried to ward off all week, combined with a heavy workload and the Ukrainian kitchen fitting saga, it had been a testing few days, and I deserved a beer.
Croke Park admission was not forthcoming, at least not at a reasonable price, but a late ticket emerged to see my beloved West Ham in a relegation 18-pointer against Charlton at The Valley.
A victory for the Hammers, then stoked up for Croker, I thought. And then it all went wrong.
Suffice to say, I was very unwell on Saturday. Bed-ridden. And not comforted by the kitchen drilling and Ukrainian sighs at a tiling mismeasurement.
Let鈥檚 face it, who needs a fright on the tiles after a night on the tiles?
I came round to text messages from south east London and made the mistake of hearing the latest football scores.
The unhappy , but there was a bigger match to look forward to.
Sure enough, as the TV tension built ahead of the historic anthems in Dublin, I felt a lump in my throat. Oleg and Alex had put the bill in front of me.
We shared an Australian lager, watched the anthems, and my new eastern European friends half-understood my Croke Park history lesson. 鈥淭here must be a lot of police there,鈥 said Oleg, with a worrying smile.
WATCH THE HISTORIC ANTHEMS AT CROKE PARK
(; words to )
What surprised me was how proud I felt when God Save The Queen was belted out at this bastion of Gaelic sport.
Proud of the English players and fans, proud of the Irish players and fans, and proud of the GAA visionaries who had
And then I cheered every point, from Wilko鈥檚 opening penalty through the four Irish tries.
I revelled in the Irish win, but felt for England鈥檚 inadequacies. I went with the flow, and realised it was OK to do that.
It felt good to be associated with two proud sides.
The Irish and English will do sporting battle again in a fortnight 鈥 at horse racing鈥檚
When wonder horse comes to the last leading in the Gold Cup, I will have no divided loyalties.
The horse was bred in France, has an English trainer and will be ridden by an Irishman. And I have a 14-1 voucher from the autumn.
Merci, Good Health, Dyakooyu and Slainte!
Wales 27-18 England
Comments Post your comment
What a wonderful feast of 6 nations rugby. one match unfortunately spoiled by the inane remarks and attempted commentary of Butler and Moore. Both not bad players in their day but lousy commentators.Moore inparticular should be dropped from further 大象传媒 screened matches.
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Greetings from Dublin where we have celebrated the greatest sporting occasion ever to be held here. We welcomed England to Croke Park with pride, we respected their anthem and players, had fun with their supporters in the bars before and afterwards, we consigned history to its place and let the future emerge. This new future is one where we shared that, we will share Cheltenham in a few weeks, we share Roy Keanes emergence as a great manager, and we share the many great golfers from both sides of our Islands. Sport which creates divisions is not sport, its a trabal war, other codes have much to learn.
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Greetings from Dublin where we have celebrated the greatest sporting occasion ever to be held here. We welcomed England to Croke Park with pride, we respected their anthem and players, had fun with their supporters in the bars before and afterwards, we consigned history to its place and let the future emerge. This new future is one where we shared that, we will share Cheltenham in a few weeks, we share Roy Keanes emergence as a great manager, and we share the many great golfers from both sides of our Islands. Sport which creates divisions is not sport, its a tribal war, other codes have much to learn.
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Personally, I would like to see neutral commentators. This would prevent home commentators over-hyping their supposedly great players and just sticking to describing the action as it happens.
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Magnificent Rugby from start to finish!!!. Maybe a thought could be given to having all threee matches on a single day for the entirety of the championship. It creates a wholly different atmosphere to the occasion - even for those of us, whose "spectator" participation is to be had through the good old TV Screen.
A particular round of applause needs to go to ALL those involved - in whatever capacity - at the Ireland v England match at Croke Park. It was just an awesome experience to see all the emotion and the unconditional respect shown to, and indeed from, each set of fans. They did everyone proud!!.
I am in no doubt whatsoever, that there were those - and unfortunately many existed inside the media with all the unnecessary pre match hype - who were anticipating, if not wishing, that they would be provided with a "sparring" session inside the ground between mambers of the crowd. Of course it did not happen, and was never likely to. This was a Rugby following crowd after all!.
All three matches were - in their different ways - thrilling games, with Italy providing the biggest shock of the day, Ireland getting back to something like their best form - what a difference BO'D makes!! - and France holding off a spirited performance from an improved Welsh team. I hope by the way, there will be more late kick offs. They add a different dimension.
A great way to spend an entire sporting day!!.
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Rubbish, Brian Moores commentary is both insightful and interesting he is a person who has eben at the top and uses common sense over the top of his English Bias. The game was both as interesting as it was fast with the Irish Backrow outplaying the english so much that martin corry looked bemused at times...The Dynamism shown by the Irish put the English guys to shame and it is definitely something that needs to be worked on. The Enlgand pack at the moment has got about as much fear factor as a team of synchronised swimmers...
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Magnificent Rugby from start to finish!!!. Maybe a thought could be given to having all threee matches on a single day for the entirety of the championship. It creates a wholly different atmosphere to the occasion - even for those of us, whose "spectator" participation is to be had through the good old TV Screen.
A particular round of applause needs to go to ALL those involved - in whatever capacity - at the Ireland v England match at Croke Park. It was just an awesome experience to see all the emotion and the unconditional respect shown to, and indeed from, each set of fans. They did everyone proud!!.
I am in no doubt whatsoever, that there were those - and unfortunately many existed inside the media with all the unnecessary pre match hype - who were anticipating, if not wishing, that they would be provided with a "sparring" session inside the ground between mambers of the crowd. Of course it did not happen, and was never likely to. This was a Rugby following crowd after all!.
All three matches were - in their different ways - thrilling games, with Italy providing the biggest shock of the day, Ireland getting back to something like their best form - what a difference BO'D makes!! - and France holding off a spirited performance from an improved Welsh team. I hope by the way, there will be more late kick offs. They add a different dimension.
A great way to spend an entire sporting day!!.
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I am also of Irish Descent although i was brought up in England and now live in Belfast. (Confusing for all concerned)
As the only person in a crowded Irish bar to be wearing an England rugby top on Saturday, I was understandably a little nervous.
However I was also proud of the way England were treated. Very respectful. Until play started of course.
Scoring the first points through the prolific Johnny Wilkinson allowed me my only two minutes to gloat to my Irish girlfriend during the entire match.
Shared some friendly banter with the boys at the bar. And hung my head in shame as we were absolutely played off the park by a brilliant Irish side. A great game of rugby nonetheless. The Irish lads were even nice enough to by me a pint in commiseration after the game. Bring on France.
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Agree fully with the last post...Watching the english being destroyed and at the same time listening to Moore's pathetic excuses on why the Irish were playing them off the park was actually becoming very very amusing at around the 3rd converted Irish try! I hope the 大象传媒 never lose the rugby coverage but surely the "we's" and "our's" that the english comentry seems to dwell on should remain for 大象传媒 England viewers and not the rest of the home nations!
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I am a diehard England man -played for 25 years, travel to at leat one away match a season and rarely miss a game at Twickenham. I was privileged to have a seat inside Croke Park On saturday. We'd been told by the TV ever since we arrived about booing our anthem and a protest of some sort aginst Enland. How wrong they were. Even though England was absolutely duffed up by the Irish it was a pleasure and a privilege to be part of a magnificent sporting occasion. The Irish, all of them - team , crowd at the ground and back in the pubs afterwards - were fantastic. They were all thrilled with their performance but not happy in our humiliation. It didn't take long for the post- match depression to get washed away by the infectious good humour of the Irish - as I say, happy for them and sad for us at the same time. Fantasic experience.
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I too am of Irish parentage and live in Dublin and I can honestly say it was a day to be proud in Ireland and its people. A true 'Cead mile failte' was offered to all and great rugby was played.
I was honoured to be at Croke Park and the respect shown was unbelievable with both teams being given a standing ovation when they appeared. It goes to show that 1973 was not forgotten and true Irish rugby fans have respect and warmth for the England teams, because of it.
Hopefully Ireland can now push on and challenge for the ultimate prize in Paris.
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What a game Saturday at Croke Park, can't wait for Wales to play there next year. Everyone involved with Saturday should feel proud of themselves, the GAA, Irish and English,supporters, How can the IRFU go back to Landsdowne Road after this? I just hope the GAA, continue to allow Croke Park to be used for rugby, what a stadium, simply fantastic.
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Just want to agree with Frank Cronin in post 2. As an Englishman l thought the whole event was a credit to the Irish. The respect paid to the team and the anthem was that of a mature and grown up nation. It was all spine tingling stuff. We got stuffed but in a way it didn't matter because there was a lot more that was won. Lets hope all our battles are now sporting
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did anyone not notice how bad the referee was???
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While not always appreciating the comments of Brian Moore I think it very unfair to accuse him of bias in his commentary. He is just as critical as the rest of us, if England are guilty of inadequate play, and he is also quick to praise good play by the opposition. Who can blame him for showing a little support for England (Did not the great Bill McLaren do the same for his beloved Scotland?).
I still feel that a certain number of supporters have a rather large chip on their shoulder where anything English is concerned!
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I must admit - I always struggle over this concpt of split loyalties - I am born in England of Irish parents - I have a strong cockney like accent - and I am bloody proud of it - but as for shouting against Ireland - "Never Ever" could I dream of such a thing! I am 100% undiluted Mick - Loyalty to the family would always come first! I could never be otherwise - and I must confess I really don't figure what the problem is!
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comment on post 15,your mindset is old and ugly,I was born in dublin and was in the minority,but always felt the Irish rugby team was from the whole island .I travelled to the 6 counties on many occasions to play againest Ballymena and all the great clubs up there,this was the 70s when everyone was full of hate and killing but the rugby crossed all lines ,and we were treated as equals and respected as we did to them on home games.You REALLy need to move into the 21 century
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15. At 06:24 PM on 26 Feb 2007, mark j wrote:
Mark J get a grip.
Your version of sport is better served over in Israel with your teams Nazi Salutes.
Ireland has grown up as a nation and whilst I don't like "Irelands Call" i will put up with it for the couple of players who don't know our national anthem (Ireland that is not Ulster).
Slainte
Daithi
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comment on post 15,your mindset is old and ugly,I was born in dublin and was in the minority,but always felt the Irish rugby team was from the whole island .I travelled to the 6 counties on many occasions to play againest Ballymena and all the great clubs up there,this was the 70s when everyone was full of hate and killing but the rugby crossed all lines ,and we were treated as equals and respected as we did to them on home games.You REALLy need to move into the 21 century
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What a fantastic occasion for all involved in Rugby on every level imaginable, especially for the Irish of course, but the way England (after the match) and their supporters (throughout the afternoon) was also a pleasure to see. On saturday, i was proud to be Irish and proud to be a Rugby fan!
Unfortunately some people just cant resist trying to spoil a good party when they see one and this blog is no exception thanks to the idiotic comments of Mark J above. I only hope that you dont have children Mark, because it is they who will suffer from your ignorant and bigoted sentiments. I suggest you stick to football and for the benefit of mankind, no one takes the idiotic poison which you so desperately wish to spread, at all seriously.
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comment on post 15,your mindset is old and ugly,I was born in dublin and was in the minority,but always felt the Irish rugby team was from the whole island .I travelled to the 6 counties on many occasions to play againest Ballymena and all the great clubs up there,this was the 70s when everyone was full of hate and killing but the rugby crossed all lines ,and we were treated as equals and respected as we did to them on home games.You REALLy need to move into the 21 century
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Laura,
Are you trying to say that the referee had anything to do with the wholesale thrashing of the English Rugby Union team by ireland? Your comment reminds me of the Scottish 2nd Divion coach whose team, had just been soundly beaten by Celtic 12-0, complaining that the 11th goal was offside.
Will we have to hear the same nonsense in two weeks when France dispatch England in short order? Will anyone from England ever lose gracefully? Ever?
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15. At 06:24 PM on 26 Feb 2007, mark j wrote:
Mark J get a grip.
Your version of sport is better served over in Israel with your teams Nazi Salutes.
Ireland has grown up as a nation and whilst I don't like "Irelands Call" i will put up with it for the couple of players who don't know our national anthem (Ireland that is not Ulster).
Slainte
Daithi
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What a fantastic occasion for all involved in Rugby on every level imaginable, especially for the Irish of course, but the way England (after the match) and their supporters (throughout the afternoon) conducted themselves was also a pleasure to see. On saturday, i was proud to be Irish and proud to be a Rugby fan!
Unfortunately some people just cant resist trying to spoil a good party when they see one and this blog is no exception thanks to the idiotic comments of Mark J above. I only hope that you dont have children Mark, because it is they who will suffer from your ignorant and bigoted sentiments. I suggest you stick to football and for the benefit of mankind, no one takes the idiotic poison which you so desperately wish to spread, at all seriously.
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both english and irish can both hold their heads high. the english for playing there and the irish for their gret reception. the healing of history has made a great leap forward. regards from new zealand.
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both english and irish can both hold their heads high. the english for playing there and the irish for their gret reception. the healing of history has made a great leap forward. regards from new zealand.
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post 15
the problem with poeple like you is your narrow mindedness the irish national anthem has always been played
the anthem of rugby in ireland is 'irelands call'
the irish rugby team is and has always been a cross border thing with heroes on both sides of the silly little line on a map
to name but a few great irish rugby players
WJ McBride
Mike Gibson
David Humphries
(all Ulstermen )
they never minded so why do you?
i was born and raised in belfast (an ulster protestant and proud of it) i played rugby for 20 odd years i never considered there to be a republic of ireland rugby team maybe you could learn that sport can bring people together
with the blind ingnorance you show of not only the facts but also your history your politics of sectarianism and a belief that all irishmen are trying to take our precious little jewell and rub out our little dotted line on the map is the beliefs of a sad person the world has changed and its time you changed with it.
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Post 15: Mark J. I find it so unfortunate that whenever Irish rugby at national or provincial level is discussed in these forums (or indeed other websites) there is always an Ulster fan waiting to poison the water. I am from Connacht and get great joy in supporting ALL 4 Irish provinces and was shouting as loud as anyone when Ulster won the HC.
Please dont poison this great feeling everyone who witnessed this game has. Its such as shame.
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Spot on Alaska Dave !
Re split loyalties I have an Irish grandfather and I have never felt so "Irish" as on the day, which was utterly magnificent in all respects. Oh to be part of that pride and passion, I still have a bloody great lump in my throat !!
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Post 15: Mark J. I find it so unfortunate that whenever Irish rugby at national or provincial level is discussed in these forums (or indeed other websites) there is always an Ulster fan waiting to poison the water. I am from Connacht and get great joy in supporting ALL 4 Irish provinces and was shouting as loud as anyone when Ulster won the HC.
Your thoughts, and no doubt your demeanor, are pure poison.
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Post 15: Mark J. I find it so unfortunate that whenever Irish rugby at national or provincial level is discussed in these forums (or indeed other websites) there is always an Ulster fan waiting to poison the water. I am from Connacht and get great joy in supporting ALL 4 Irish provinces and was shouting as loud as anyone when Ulster won the HC.
Your thoughts, and no doubt your demeaner, are pure poison.
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how sad that mark j must sour every anglo irish meeting with sectarism be it sport or politics. croke park portrayed how mature and respectful and peaceful the vast majority of irish people are mark j is still living in a time warp and is truely still bitter . grow up like the rest of us come out of the stone age
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post 15
get a grip and go back under the bigoted rock from where you crawled out of
as a proud ulsterman comments like yours sadden me for i had hoped we could live together in this wee small island your comments are both factually wrong (the irish national anthem has always been played. nothing has changed there)
ireland call is the anthem of rugby i doubt if willy john mcbride cared that there where irish flags everywhere when he played ( him being a big ballymena lad)
the world has moved on from the politics of division and sectarianism if the gaa can change their constitution to allow foriegn teams to play at croke park then that is a step in the right direction for reconciliation. you have got it so wrong the rugby team has since day one represented ireland as a whole this we as rugby players past and present hold dear because it takes above the politics of hatred to which you obviously espouse to
thank god we are intelligent enough to be able to treat with our fellow sportsmen with respect and fairplay
we dont need little dotted lines on an old map to tell us who we can play with your politcs are dated rugby and sport can do without your petty minde rantings
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Tickets
How can so many tickets end up on ebay?
Why do people who buy tickets off ebay not report it to the IRFU and ask them to explain/trace who originally got the ticket and ensure they don't get tickets again.
As for distribution- my son got 2 tickets through school- last year the school got 5 times more tickets than this year- can the IRFU explain that?
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Re Post 15 - Mark J...a complete and utter tool. You're as bad as those small minded, backward looking, sectarian idiots who were outside Croaker on the day protesting against "Foreign Sports" while wearing jerseys for a Scotish football club...ie Celtic.
Get a life man....or rather still, shut up and let the vast majority of people on this island live theirs without having to put up with your inane drivel.
Thankfully, your kind are getting smaller and smaller in number (on both sides) and some day soon you will all follow in the footsteps of your kin, the dinosaurs.
A champion day....a champion game....sport as it should be.
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Post 15. Catch a hold of yourself and listen to the drivel you're coming out with. It is people like you who cause so much headache amongst the rest of us. Please just disappear and don't bother sharing such bigoted, unwanted and disgraceful rubbish on a SPORTS forum again, people like you really let Northern Ireland down. Wise up. (by the way I'm from northern ireland and I can assure you all Mark J is in the very small minority)
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Hello Mark J (post no. 15)
Funny that one can read so far down the list of posts from people on both sides of the Irish Sea, only to come across your comments. Honestly, do you march that badly out of step on the 12th July?
If the match in Croke Park shows anything, its that the day of your mindset is over. You are like pacific salmon who have reached the top of the river.
You just keep sticking your fingers in your ears and going LA LA LAAA! The shared voices of song and good humour between all the home nations, France and Italy will continue to drown you out.
Fantastic weekend, reminiscent of Munster glory in the Millennium Stadium 2006. Thanks to all concerned, winners and losers all.
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Just to the other Ulster boys on here. My comments were in no way directed at you or your thoughts. I hope you enjoyed the day as much as I did.
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Don't worry James, every Irishman knows that people like Mark J are not representative of people in Northern Ireland, protestant or otherwise. He is a fool. I'm from Sligo and love the fact that the Irish team unites people of both traditions on our island and the idea that it is a "Republic of Ireland team" is ridiculous.
Anyway, what a great day for Irish sport....awesome stuff!
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Don't worry James, every Irishman knows that people like Mark J are not representative of people in Northern Ireland, protestant or otherwise. He is a fool. I'm from Sligo and love the fact that the Irish team unites people of both traditions on our island and the idea that it is a "Republic of Ireland team" is ridiculous.
Anyway, what a great day for Irish sport....awesome stuff!
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It was a great day for all of Ireland and shows how good we Irish can be when we work together in a common cause. Rugby is unique in that it is played all over Ireland by people of all classes and creeds and represented by one Irish team.
Irish soccer fans must have watched in envy as an Irish team showed it is certainly amongst the top five or perhaps the top three teams in the world.
Like many rugby fans from the South of Ireland, I greatly welcome the participation of and great contribution of Ulster players to our Irish teams. I am saddened when we have to watch them remain silent during the playing and singing of "Sinne Fianna Fail", an anthem which is the anthem of only part of the Irish nation and a legacy of past violent and tragic divsions.
Ireland grew up on Saturday. Irishmen and Irishwomen sang "God Save the Queen" to welcome and honour our English visitors. It is now time for Ireland to find a new national anthem which loks forward and not back and which reflects what all Irish people have in common and not what keeps us apart.
"Ireland's Call " is not the answer but it is a step in the right direction.
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How proud am I? Extremely!! Irish born, breed & reared and living in Yorkshire. I think every man, woman & child who supported the boys on saturday can't put into words how they actually felt before, during & after the match that was to rewrite history in many ways. I am so proud in hearing the english anthem, as I have lived here for many years and have alot of respect for modern day life in England, who greatly embrace all that is "Irish"! If Ireland are not competing I will always don an English shirt & I know that is likewise for alot of English people also! The Irish anthem & Ireland's call, normally a bit of a lump in my throat, as I am an avid supporter of the Irish Rugby team. Saturday reduced me to tears, on seeing the whole Irish team either balling out the songs, crying or both. So proud to put on an Irish shirt! It felt like they were fighting for the honour of their countrymen & women. They played like true warriors & sports men. Gone are the days of rugby been understated in Irish life. I say bring on the world cup and we will certainly be very proud of the boys who have become a fantastic team under the guidance of Eddie!!! Whatever the boys do I know I will always be proud to wear an Irish shirt!!!! Whether we win, lose or draw in any sport, local, national or international level we always behave like true "Gentlemen / Gentlewomen". That is what makes me so proud to be Irish. I Know it is the taking part that counts, as this was what was drilled into me as a child, no doubt to prepare me for losing & that mentality is why we are liked all over the world!! I think the way that the Irish rugby team has progressed under the guidance of Eddie O'Sullivan we will give them all something to think about & maybe a run for their money!!!
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Michoubidou get a grip mate. ! One person moans about the ref and the a nation is condemned to being poor losers?
The chance of anyone posting here knowing anything about the laws is not high, so stay calm. Having said that we all know bett er than the Ref and had a better view too, if slightly clouded by well deserved liquid hospitality.
Ireland were great, England were terrible or as good as they were allowed to be whichever perspective you take. As always and no surprises here, the Irish were great hosts.
Ireland sent England back to the drawing board and no one in England is going to disagree.
We (everyoneinengland)will want England to win the World Cup. Its not arrogance, or colonial superpowersim now dead gone mad, its what supporters do. We wont run off to change Nationality.
We wont admit that we feel desperately embarrassed by our performance since winning the world cup and our failure to correct it.
And we wont blame the ref.
We will have a few beers with our mates, re select the team, reconfigure the players contracts, fire the incompetent in the RFU (bear with us this could take a while) and plan our success in the World Cup.
When we get knocked out of the World Cup , but not before, we will rejoice in Irelands success in the World Cup.
We will hope Ireland make a better job of being World Champions than we did.
And it wont be arrogance that makes us think we will beat Ireland next year, World Champions or not. Whatever the score we hope you have a great time when you're here.
Drink up and move on.
lots of love, everyone
Rugby Won, Press and Politics 0
a great home win for Rugby
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Great match and good to put one over England.
However, I can see Mark J.'s point of view to a certain extent although his argument could have been been put in less emotive language.
After all, its an 'irish' team so it would be good to see flags from both northern ireland as well as the republic of ireland in the stadium. I also thought it strange before the match that there was talk of a bad reaction by the crowd to the english/british anthem. After all, isn't the northern irish national anthem also the british anthem? I can see why some sections of the Northern Ireland community might feel alienated.
Nevertheless, hope Ireland go on to do well in the world cup.
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Does anyone know what - "siling" means. During the game Moore I think made up this word...I think it was "its really siling out here"!?!? Good on you Moore, shame you never spent as much time learning your own language as learning rugby stats which no one wants to hear.
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In response to the comments made by "Mark J" (is J for Jackass)
Clearly Mark you clicked onto the wrong blog, perhaps you were looking for something with more hatred, & spitefulness and down right ugliness. You stand alone with your nasty comments, and they have no place amidst the wonderful comments made by genuine fans of sport and diversity.
The only positive thing I can take from your comments are the fantastic responses it inspired to be made by others here in this blog towards your 'old vision' of the way this are, obviously you wished to incite angry amongst those here, it didn't work and I honestly feel sorry for you.
So back to sport
What a game, what fans, fantastic.
Credit to Irish fans and credit to the English fans and credit to all the players. And whata laugh we had together in the pubs.
Ps Mark, do you even know what the tricolour symbolises, as it was first used in 1846.
orange 鈥 standing for Irish Protestants
green 鈥 signifying Irish Catholics
white 鈥 representing the hope for peace between them
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Why cant we bring Jamie Noon into the squad! I think hes an oustanding player! Take out farrel and bring in Noon. Why isnt ashton doing this!
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What a great event in Irish history at long last... after centuries of conflict, that England and Ireland can meet on the hallowed ground of( Croke Park) and battle like gentlemen with not an offending weapon in sight but a rugby ball.I'm sure the English fans and their team were full of apprehension comming over to Dublin for the match ie. all the hype in the media, blah, blah, about the English National Anthem being sung/played at Croke Park,to me that was,excuse the pun ... a load of Bull....,to me it was a pleasure to see England playing at Croke Park and I hope to see them playing there in the future.
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As an Englishman (with Irish lineage) watching the game with an Irishman in Australia, I can't remember a sporting event where I felt so much emotion. Not a fan of "God Save the Queen" myself, I was absolutely blown away at the treatment it received in Croke Park, as was my Irish mate sitting next to me. Credit to all there. Frustrated as hell with the game though, but it didn't seem to matter too much this time as the history of the occasion was much bigger than match itself. Congratulations Ireland!
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Great Picture in the Irish Papers todays.
Man in Green of Ireland with a tricolour rapped around his shoulders standing on the (Great) Hill 16(In Croke Park) waving a large Northern Ireland Flag standing beside an man in an English jersey sourounded by a sea of Green/Irish singing God Save the Queen and nobody seemed to bat an eyelid.
BRILLIANT
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To Iwan (post 45)
FYI "Siling" is a perfectly good Yorkshire word meaning, erm, bucketing down. Well done to Brian Moore for using his own vernacular. If England had a few more Northerners like him then they might have a better team...
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As a GAA supporter I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the match on TV. Would love to have attended such an historical event. The result in many ways was irrelevant. I can't see the point in wasting taxpayers money on a new Lansdowne that will only hold 50,000. Hopefully the GAA, IRFU, FAI, the Government, and local residents in Croke Park area can come up with a "win-win" deal for all concerned. When Croker is completed the whole way round (and it will be!) it will be without doubt the finest stadium in Europe if not the world.
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If Mark had looked properly the Ulster flag was flown at Croker on the right of the tricolour and the George cross on the left. What's his problem. Although I wasn't at the match but have been in Croke Park many times (Cork GAA supporter) the whole crowd did a fantastic stadium proud. An English friend of mine was at the match and said it was the best sporting experience he ever had although they were beaten. With regards to Ireland 'growing up' I'm not too sure what that is supposed to mean. We have welcomed British people in Ireland for decades. The past should be remembered and honoured and reflected in the future. The GAA 'grew up' a long time ago with the lifting of the ban and changing rule 42. The English are welcome in our home always and I'm so proud they enjoyed their experience at one of the finest sporting arenas on the planet. Well done Ireland!
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As an englishman it was a great game to watch here in Dar es Salaam Tanzania in the newly opened irish bar - yes there is even one here! Just watched the anthems again and it sent shivers down you spine when the Irish ones were done. After that you realised england didn't stand a chance! There was no way the irish would loose again on this ground against the english. Plus the english side is still ordinary and rebuilding against a worldclass TEAM. Will be supporting Ireland for the world cup, after england loose in the quarter finals!! On commentators I like biased commentators but they have to know the game which I think Brian Moore and co. do. What I think would be better would be to have two commentators one from each country.
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I feel for you man, I really do. It must be just awful to be a neutral at an Ireland England game, wanting to support one but not disliking either. Sometimes watching the team you hate (and I use that word in the sporting sense) lose is just as fulfilling as seeing the team you love win. Combine both feelings together and the feeling is of overwhelming joy..one that you probably miss out in Im afraid. As Rep of Ireland have failed in so many great sporting events in recent years, as my team in Gaelic football "Down" have lost out for years, as my prem team Villa have been so rubbish for decades I take satisfaction in watching England, Armagh and Man U getting knocked out of competitions. Its nothing political or anything..its just the beauty of sport. You have the team you want to see win and the team you want to see lose. Not caring about who wins? In a game like Saturday's I could only imagine for me it would be a horrid affliction to bear. Yes, Ireland winning last weekend may perhaps have left you with a warm glow and some quiet content but surely not this raging incredible high that I and hundreds others our feeling and high that hasnt gone away since Wallace put that ball out and ended that most wonderful of games on Saturday. Thank God I dont have devided loyalties.
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I find it quiet amazing that all the fuss about the anthems, but what about the fact that there were a number of players that did not even mutter a word? The ulster boys were rather sullen looking. The great sporting occasion that this was, whilst the Ireland team is united, it does not mean they are not proud ulstermen.
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Thank you bbc for
1 great coverage of a great occasion
i was at my local rugby club in england wearing my ireland shirt with immense pride and nobody begrudged my celebrations.
because of the noise we luckily couldn't hear the laurel and hardy commentary
and
2 removing markj (comment 15) from this page
the man has need of admission to Purdysburn psyciatric hospital (belfast)for his own safety
the vast majority of NI people detest his comments and will be glad when his kind are banished to history
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You may have an Irish name but you sound like an English Toff.
Sort your loyalties out - you cant be both.
I would respect you more if you said what you are, rather than sitting on the gate, supporting the winner.
Sad very sad.
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Thanks all - heartening to read posts 50 and 52 from GAA supporters.
As an aside, I remember being picked up with my brother from Dublin airport by my Irish cousins a few years ago.
We boarded their noisy coach on the way to attend a Republic of Ireland-England soccer match at Lansdowne Road.
A sea of lairy green, white and ahem, gold, faces greeted us.
Then a big chant went up (to the tune of For He's a Jolly Good Fellow)...
"We hate the fe English, we hate the fe English, we hate the fe English...except the two on board."
The game was a 1-1 draw. I smiled to myself when England took the lead, and jumped up and down when the Irish equalised! (We were in the 'home' supporters' end)
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As an Englishman of 50% irish blood I always marvel at the way Rugby unites all of different nationalities and social classes none more so than the bi-annual weekend get-together in Dublin. Why are we surprised that respect was shown from both quarters? It is OK to show national pride and sing your own anthem - on more than one occasion in a packed Lansdowne I have received Irish congratulations (if only on the bravery!!) and been slapped on the back after singing God Save the Queen at the top of my voice!! The comradeshipship this wonderful game generates has provided me with true friends from many nations. This and a great Irish performance (under huge expectation it should be remembered) is what we should be celebrating.
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How much longer will the club vs country issue be allowed to scupper England's chances of getting back to the top level of international rugby? The level of performance shown by England was a joke. A historic match for sure but not for the quality of the english play. Credit to Ireland, they ran rings round a woefully uncreative english side.
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Being at the match, performance aside, it makes me proud to be Irish in the way that we respected the English anthem. I understood that it may have been hard for some people but respect it they did. This event will do Irish people so much good the world over..
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Half time at Croke Park and Paul O' Connell has just scored nine tries and Ireland lead 45 points to nil. 'Feck this' says O'Driscoll. 'The fourteen of us are off to the pub, you can play them on your own Paul'. 'Sound'! says the big man. One hour later, Paul O'Connell bursts through the door of the Shelbourne Hotel. 'Well!' says the Bull Hayes, 'what was the final score'. 'One hundred points to three' says Big Paul. 'Jasus Paulie' how did you manage to let them score three points' asks the giant Peter Stringer. 'I got feckin sin-binned in the last minute' retorts the ginger one. Ahh only jesting Mr. Moore! Live for the moment, we know it wont be like this all the time but it feels rather nice. See you all at Twickenham next year where more than lilely you will dish out a good spanking to us lot. What goes around etc. Thank you all English gentlemen and women for contributing to a wonderful sporting and historic occasion.We were privliged.
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What did the bigot Mark J actually say? You seem to have removed his post. It's all very well being all 大象传媒 and holier than thou about deleting posts, but it makes the thread somewhat meaningless if you remove the thing everyone's talking about like this. And what happened to free speech? And grown-ups being able to deal with nonsense in their own terms? I mean it's not as if the posters on this didn't send what was obviously an the silly bigot off with an elephant-sized flea in his ear on their own.
As for the match I for one was so proud to see modern Ireland come of age as a nation, confidant enough in its own werits not to have to rely on dull old anti-Brit sentiment to define themselves.
A lesson for Scotland and Wales perhaps there?
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As an Ulsterman I fully admit their are bigots in my community, probably even a few racists. And while it doesn't excuse it, I would suspect that the same could be said for the fans of all the other teams involved in the 6N's.
However, it saddens me when the comments of a few are used to judge the behaviour and attitudes of the majority.
Ulster players play for Ireland for many reasons, but if they had political reasons not to, I am sure they could always refuse. Instead they suit up and give their best when asked.
The same can be said of many Ulster fans. They travel with their Irish team and cheer them on as passionately as any other Irish supporter.
We may quibble over selection policies and advocate for our "Ulster" players to get more game time, but surely this shows a desire for inclusion, rather than for division.
Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, I was unable to read the post of MarKJ, but I think from the posts of the other Ulster men and women on this blog, he is in a minority. Ignore him.
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As an Irishman I have the shame to say that I was never in Croke Park before saturday, or pay much attention to gaelic games but my god do they know how to build their HQ. I have been told that it is the 3rd biggest stadium in Europe, for an amatuer sporting body thats not bad at all. I dont want to go back to Lansdowne!!!!
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Agree with comment 64! What did mark J say? Freedom of speech, losing the thread, detracts from this very interesting blog. If you didn't feel it merited inclusion it should never have been put up in the first place.
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I stood in Croke Park on Saturday along side three Irish friends of mine. The welcome the English team received as they took the field brought tears to my eyes and a lump to my throat. God Save the Queen was treated with the utmost respect and with the fantastic Irish crowd this was never going to be any other way. The emotion was only increased by the passion with which the Irish anthems were sung.
The result was almost an irrelevance. The right team obviously won and, unlike the French match, the Irish players seemed to feed on the emotion rather than be handicapped by it.
I flew back to London with the England team and found myself sitting between a sombre Mike Tindall and Martin Corry. The atmosphere throughout the team was funereal and reflected the fact they had been soundly thrashed by a more committed and on Saturday the more talented team. I don't think the occasion was ever going to go any other way.
Congratulations to the GAA for having the insight to take this huge step forward
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I stood in Croke Park on Saturday along side three Irish friends of mine. The welcome the English team received as they took the field brought tears to my eyes and a lump to my throat. God Save the Queen was treated with the utmost respect and with the fantastic Irish crowd this was never going to be any other way. The emotion was only increased by the passion with which the Irish anthems were sung.
The result was almost an irrelevance. The right team obviously won and, unlike the French match, the Irish players seemed to feed on the emotion rather than be handicapped by it.
I flew back to London with the England team and found myself sitting between a sombre Mike Tindall and Martin Corry. The atmosphere throughout the team was funereal and reflected the fact they had been soundly thrashed by a more committed and on Saturday the more talented team. I don't think the occasion was ever going to go any other way.
Congratulations to the GAA for having the insight to take this huge step forward
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Ireland moved on in lots of ways on saturday, i.e. respect for the anthem and all the rest. But the best thing to come out of it for me (it being a sporting event afterall) was the way we put the english away. Gone (i hope) are the days of the moral victory after huffing and puffing for 80 minutes. Lets go and win the world cup and show the most arrogant of them all (NZ) that rugby exists outside their cloudy islands. Thanks to all those who replied that idiot earlier (num 15 or whatever). Ps such a shame we didnt beat france.
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Ireland moved on in lots of ways on saturday, i.e. respect for the anthem and all the rest. But the best thing to come out of it for me (it being a sporting event afterall) was the way we put the english away. Gone (i hope) are the days of the moral victory after huffing and puffing for 80 minutes. Lets go and win the world cup and show the most arrogant of them all (NZ) that rugby exists outside their cloudy islands. Thanks to all those who replied that idiot earlier (num 15 or whatever). Ps such a shame we didnt beat france.
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As much as I like a good win over England..especially record breaking ones, ill have to get behind them against France so Ireland can come home with the championship...dont tell anyone though! anyway,how does that song go again.."swing low...???"
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I have been to Lansdowne Road before, but I took my 18 year old son to Dublin for the first time over the weekend. We both sported our England shirts with pride (sorry Grandmother from Wexford) - we're not very good at present but so what, it's still our team. We were stuffed because Ireland were better and more determined.
We sang God Save the Queen in the stadium and had our hands shaken for doing so. We sang Jerusalem in a pub afterwards and were bought pints of Guiness. Thank you Ireland for a great craic and for burying the past under a mound of rugby induced goodwill. Looking forward to welcoming you to Twickenham next year.
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I watched the game in a pub in Dublin, proudly wearing the Green of Connacht rugby. I have to say the atmosphere there was the best I've ever seen in a pub. Everyone shut up for GSTQ, as if it might ruin the atmosphere in Croker itself! It wasw magic...and when the Irish anthems were played it brought tears to my eyes.
I've an Ulster rugby fan as a fellow Connacht supporter by the way. Not sure where his loyalties lie, and I don't care. It's great craic and a superb drinking buddy, who loves his rugby...and that's good enough for me.
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last saturday was an amazing day for rugby and sport in general. as a massive munster and ireland supporter, i thought it was incredible to see god save the queen being sung so proudly by the english team. when the ireland boys, i had goosebumps esp seeing what it meant to them esp john hayes and jerry flannery in tears. what a day. although there has been too much hype about well "behaved" and polite the irish were. i just feel we shouldnt be clapping ourselves on the backs for "letting" england sing their anthem without us jeering. it's all about common courtesy and protocal. landsdowne road often played gstq and it was just a matter of following that protocal. it would have been completely uncivilised of us to do anything but stand in silence and respect.
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Post 22 Michoubidou
All Laura wrote was did anybody else notice the referee was rubbish. That was it, nothing else.
The whole of your rant is based on what you have added in your own head. You don't even know that Laura is English; you have just filled that in the help with your chippy monologue. The whole post is an attack on the English based on what you have made up about what somebody said! Quite a chip there.
Is there anybody in Ireland who isn't chippy, bigoted and always spoiling for a fight? (That's irony, by the way)
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Let us wait and see how the soccer crowd respond to God save the Queen in a few weeks.Then we will know Ireland has not grown, but that the Rugby crowd have different morals.
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Post 63
How can this happen, I'll tell ya why
Paul O Connell can assemble the entire contents of an IKEA store
without instructions or an alan key.
When Paul O Connell was a child, he made his mother finish his
vegetables.
Every mathematical inequality officially ends with " Paul O Connell once forgot where he put his keys. He then spent the
next half-hour torturing himself until he gave up the location of the
keys.When Paul stares into the sun, the sun flinches.
If it tastes like chicken, looks like chicken, and feels like chicken,
but Paul O Connell says its beef. Then it's beef.
James Bond has a license to kill. Paul O Connell don't need any
licenses. Paul O Connell' calender goes straight from March 31st to April 2nd, no
one fools Paul O Connell.
1.6 billion Chinese are angry with Paul O Connell. Sounds like a fair
fight. Paul O Connell played Russian Roulette with a fully loaded gun and won. Paul O Connell once won a game of Connect 4 in 3 moves.
You can lead a horse to water. Paul O Connell can make him drink.
Paul O Connell once ate an entire bottle of sleeping pills. They made
him blink. When you open a can of whoop-ass, Paul O Connell jumps out.
Simon Says should be renamed to Paul O Connell Says because if Paul O
Connell says something then you better do it.
Killing Paul O Connell doesn't make him dead. It just makes him angry.
Paul O Connell does the Sunday New York Times Crossword Puzzle in ink.
When Google can't find something, it asks Paul O Connell for help.
There is the right way, the wrong way, and the Paul O Connell way. It's
basically the right way but faster and more deaths.
When Paul O Connell watches a pot, it boils immediately.
Paul O Connell once killed a group of Samurai Warriors with only a ball
point pen. This lead to the phrase "The pen is mightier than the sword." Paul O Connell has been to Mars. Thats why theres no life on Mars. When the boogie man goes to sleep, he checks his closet for Paul O
Connell. Even people with amnesia remember Paul O' Connell
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Well Little Tim, It is wonderful that our "wee island," can display such unity during rugby internationls such as that of last Saturday, and i agree that it would be wonderful if we could forget about our old divisions. Perhaps if we also had a "United Ireland" in a political sense our combined governments would perform as well as our fantastic rugby team. We could negotiate a new anthem, and maybe proud Ulstermen could immerse themseleves in Gaelic games and proud Nationalists could join the orange order, what a fantastic pospect it all could be.What happened in Croke Park on Saturday proves that anything is possible. Lets turn it upside down, i say.
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Post 63
How can this happen, I'll tell ya why
Paul O Connell can assemble the entire contents of an IKEA store
without instructions or an alan key.
When Paul O Connell was a child, he made his mother finish his
vegetables.
Every mathematical inequality officially ends with " Paul O Connell once forgot where he put his keys. He then spent the
next half-hour torturing himself until he gave up the location of the
keys.When Paul stares into the sun, the sun flinches.
If it tastes like chicken, looks like chicken, and feels like chicken,
but Paul O Connell says its beef. Then it's beef.
James Bond has a license to kill. Paul O Connell don't need any
licenses. Paul O Connell' calender goes straight from March 31st to April 2nd, no
one fools Paul O Connell.
1.6 billion Chinese are angry with Paul O Connell. Sounds like a fair
fight. Paul O Connell played Russian Roulette with a fully loaded gun and won. Paul O Connell once won a game of Connect 4 in 3 moves.
You can lead a horse to water. Paul O Connell can make him drink.
Paul O Connell once ate an entire bottle of sleeping pills. They made
him blink. When you open a can of whoop-ass, Paul O Connell jumps out.
Simon Says should be renamed to Paul O Connell Says because if Paul O
Connell says something then you better do it.
Killing Paul O Connell doesn't make him dead. It just makes him angry.
Paul O Connell does the Sunday New York Times Crossword Puzzle in ink.
When Google can't find something, it asks Paul O Connell for help.
There is the right way, the wrong way, and the Paul O Connell way. It's
basically the right way but faster and more deaths.
When Paul O Connell watches a pot, it boils immediately.
Paul O Connell once killed a group of Samurai Warriors with only a ball
point pen. This lead to the phrase "The pen is mightier than the sword." Paul O Connell has been to Mars. Thats why theres no life on Mars. When the boogie man goes to sleep, he checks his closet for Paul O
Connell. Even people with amnesia remember Paul O' Connell
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Well Little Tim, It is wonderful that our "wee island," can display such unity during rugby internationls such as that of last Saturday, and i agree that it would be wonderful if we could forget about our old divisions. Perhaps if we also had a "United Ireland" in a political sense our combined governments would perform as well as our fantastic rugby team. We could negotiate a new anthem, and maybe proud Ulstermen could immerse themseleves in Gaelic games and proud Nationalists could join the orange order, what a fantastic pospect it all could be.What happened in Croke Park on Saturday proves that anything is possible. Lets turn it upside down, i say.
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Well Little Tim, It is wonderful that our "wee island," can display such unity during rugby internationls such as that of last Saturday, and i agree that it would be wonderful if we could forget about our old divisions. Perhaps if we also had a "United Ireland" in a political sense our combined governments would perform as well as our fantastic rugby team. We could negotiate a new anthem, and maybe proud Ulstermen could immerse themseleves in Gaelic games and proud Nationalists could join the orange order, what a fantastic pospect it all could be.What happened in Croke Park on Saturday proves that anything is possible. Lets turn it upside down, i say!
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what dose u r l mean
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President McAlesse was interviewed on RTE radio today. She said that once she went on the pitch she knew there would be no trouble andknew all along that the anthems would be respected. She did not known before hand how the match would go but when she went back to her seat after the teams were presented her husband asked her what she thougjt and she answered 'Martin, God help those English lads - the Irish lads are on fire' She said you could see it in their eyes.
As ever she had the right of it.
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As an ulster man and proud I would like to remind everyone there is nine counties in ulster. I am from Cavan and support the ulster in all sports.
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Given the goodwill created by Saturday, could I invite, on behalf of myself, British people back to Croke Park to watch a Gaelic Football or Hurling match in Croke Park. You won't be dissapointed (unless Mayo are playing.....
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Could I invite Stephen Walsh to stop making overly sentimental pointless gestures. you need tickets not an invitation
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To David gilles
Why should Amhran na bhFiann be changed. It is beautiful and many Irish players POC and D'Arcy in particular have said how moving it was etc. There is nothing offensive to protestants at all in the words.
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I agree with the guy up at the very top Moore was a good player but every six nations match I go to different commentary because Moore is so biased.
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Johnny Dooley:
You can get tickets handy enough for most matches at Croker, including All Ireland semis, unless the Dubs or the Cork Hurlers are playing. I've been in Croker and ended up beside some interested tourists, it has great potential for revenue (if you got to the States, people often go to Baseball for example). Go to Croke Park for a GAA event, and you'll get a better glimpse of the real Ireland than you would in the Guinness Storehouse. I'd love tourists to experience the Munster Hurling Final in Thurles, but you're right about tickets for that one.
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Andy in Dar - Post 54, says he is an Englishman, but then goes on to say that he will support Ireland in the world cup.
What a numpty. True fans support their team through thick and thin.
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I normally listen to the Irish commentary, however at half time i confess to switching over to hear Moore. He was brillantly funny and added to my enjoyment of the match. It was a great day for sport.
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Being English and am obviously an England supporter However, also being a cynic it puts me in a rather annoying predicament. I admit to my shame that whilst I was supporting England last weekend I was expecting Ireland to win. In any case I generally expect the other team in an England match, as to avoid disappointment.
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I went to Dublin and i thought it was abby fabby! as a proud gay i loved how friendly the irish gay community is and i loved the atmosphere! Thanks Gay ireland!
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76 Guy, I think you'll find that it was sarcasm rather than irony. Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, or so they say. You'll find that most Irish people that have posted here are not bigoted.
Not that I agree with moobidoobidoo, or whatever his/her name is...
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please fallow country men let's put our country first as we are in the stage of total development and total break down depending on our behavior, is good we be as one and be appreciative and submissive to our leader,as they have try alot since we came from the ten years of war,
Ernest Gborie,
Bo,
Sierra Leone
West Africa.
232-33-384747.
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